My dick wasn’t pressing against her back. She had space.
“Let me pay the loans.”
Oh yeah, I was fuckin’ terrible at space.
She huffed a short laugh. “Callum, come on.” Her head turned to the side, so I took the opportunity to dip down and touch my lips to her cheek. Her lashes fluttered, then she spun to face me. “We haven’t been together long enough for me to allow you to do something so big for me. That’s crazy.”
“It isn’t crazy. When you love someone, you take care of them. I love you too much to let you struggle. I have the resources, and I want to give them to you. If you don’t let me, I’ll find a way to do it anyway. It’s happening.”
Her lips parted. Her chest rose in a heave. “Callum!”
“No. I’m done fightin’ about this, Little Bird.”
She slapped my chest, right over the tattoo, and I couldn’t say it didn’t sting just a little.
“You can’t just tell me you love me so I’ll do what you want.” Her cheeks were blazing. If I thought she’d been angry before, it didn’t touch what she was now.
“Why not?”
“Because...because…” She shoved at me again, releasing a frustrated cry. “Because I have loved you for almost as long as I’ve known you existed, Callum Rose. I’ve wanted you to love me for just as long. But...but…I don’t want it this way.”
The tension in my muscles relaxed, even as Wren huffed and squirmed in my hold.
“I love you, Wren.” She stopped moving. Her face turned up to mine. “I might not have loved you from the very beginning, but I caught on quick. I fell for your words on the screen, but once I saw you, knew you, there was no gettin’ up. So yeah, I love you. And yeah, this might not be perfect, but I’m an imperfect man. I mess up, but I won’t mess up lovin’ you.”
She whimpered and fell against me, circling her arms around my waist. “I love you too.”
“Yeah. I got that,” I murmured into her hair. “I’m so fuckin’ honored you’re givin’ that to me. I need you to let me give back to you.”
Her hands dragged up and down my back, then clamped around my waist again. “Don’t use your love against me.”
“I’m not. I treasure it. I’m only tellin’ you what I need. Takin’ care of you is a requirement for me. I won’t be able to rest knowin’ you’re struggling. That’s part of me lovin’ you.”
“Let me think about it.”
“My answer’s not gonna change.”
“Then let me wrap my mind around it.” She kissed my chest. “I’m sorry I slapped you. I shouldn’t have done that.”
With a groan at her sweetness, I bent my knees, gripped her under her ass, lifted her off her feet, and walked her to the couch. I sat with Wren straddling my legs. Her hands cupped my jaw, then she leaned forward, grazing my lips.
“Wren.”
“Hmmm?”
“Need more of your mouth, Little Bird. After all that, I have to have it.”
Her mouth came to me, a smile curving the corners. We kissed and touched, whispered promises—not the big ones on the tip of my tongue, but small ones, easy ones to keep and accept—and I was content.
At peace.
Wren hadn’t agreed to what I wanted—no,needed, but she would. I’d make sure of it.