“Really?”
Kiersten couldn’t have looked more excited as she squatted down and started searching for their second puppy. Rebecca joined in on the fun, and it wasn’t long before she found one that caught her attention. “Oh, Kiersten, look at this one! I think Cat would adore her!”
“She would.” Kiersten leaned over to her and smiled. “But I’m not sure what Viper would have to say about it.”
“This is true.” Rebecca kissed the pup on top of its head, then shrugged. “I think I’ll give it a little time before I broach the subject of a pet.”
Rae was busy watching Rebecca and Kiersten fawn all over their soon-to-be new puppies when I walked over to her and said, “You got a second?”
“Sure.” She picked up the runt of the litter and held it up to her face. “You wanting to take one of these guys home?”
I motioned my hand over to the wall where I had used the roller to paint Move In With Me in large letters and said, “Only if that means you’ll be coming with him.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.” I stepped over to her and placed my hands on her hips, pulling her close. “I’ve tried to be patient and give you the time you needed to adjust after surgery, but I’m ready for you to be at home with me where you belong.”
“Where I belong, huh?”
“Absolutely.” I lowered my mouth to that sweet spot between her shoulder and ear and kissed her softly before whispering, “You’re mine, babe, and I want you all to myself.”
She wound her arms around my neck and smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes, Conor.” She was smiling from ear to ear. “I’ll move in with you.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight, then kissed her long and hard. After we finished up at the shelter, Rae and I headed over to my place, and we spent the night making plans for her big move.
The next morning, I awoke with Rae curled up next to me. Her head was nestled beside my shoulder, and as I lay there gazing at her, I knew she was right where she was meant to be—in my bed and in my arms.
I looked forward to having her right there with me day after day, year after year. The thought had me easing up on all fours and straddling her.
Her eyes remained closed as I hovered over her for a moment, appraising her gorgeous body. I felt a little guilty about waking her up, but the feeling quickly vanished when her beautiful, full lips curled into a smile. I slid my hands underneath her and reached for her lace panties, then glided them down her long, sexy legs. “Hey there, beautiful.”
She never opened her eyes as she murmured, “Hey.”
I lowered my head between her legs, and with my mouth just inches from her, I asked, “How’d you sleep?”
“Good.”
I brushed my tongue across her and watched with a sense of satisfaction as her back arched off the bed. “Do you have any idea how crazy you make me?”
She opened her eyes and looked at me, shaking her head no. I eased my fingers deep inside her, teasing the spot that drove her wild. “I think you do.”
A pleasured moan vibrated through her chest as I ran my tongue along her wet center. I inched my fingers deeper, then moved them—first slow and methodical, then faster and harder.
The sounds of her soft whimpers echoed through the room as I continued to work her over with my mouth. Her taste had my cock throbbing with an uncontrollable need to be inside her, and when I couldn’t wait any longer, I quickly removed my boxers and settled myself between her legs.
I placed my mouth close to her ear and whispered, “You’re mine, Raelyn, every fucking inch of you, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never forget it.”
“And you’re mine.” Tears filled her eyes as she placed the palms of her hands on my face. “I love you, Conor.”
“I love you, too. All of you. Now and always.”
“Now and always.”
EPILOGUE
Raelyn
Three Years Later
I’d always heard that everything happens for a reason, but I didn’t truly believe it until Conor came into my life. If I hadn’t been worried about my aneurysm, I would’ve never been arrested, and we would’ve never met. If I hadn’t been in that car wreck, I might not have gotten the surgery I needed, and I certainly wouldn’t have ended up moving in with him.
Nor would we have gotten married and started our family.
As far as I was concerned, life was good and only getting better.
I was reflecting on that very thing as Haleigh and I sat in the kitchen talking with Frankie and the other ol’ ladies. Haleigh was sharing how she and Locke had just discovered that they were expecting again when Conor came barreling into the room.