I stare at her, at first not comprehending what I’m seeing.
I blink. Blink again.
Then I laugh. And laugh some more.
Throw my head back and keep laughing.
And it feels so good that I don’t care if people walking by or coming out of the church are gaping at us.
This woman. She loves me. She fucking loves me.
Wiping tears from my eyes, I straighten and look at Lennon.
Lennon in a Bloody Sunday concert tee.
Smiling, she holds out a black marker to me.
“King, would you autograph my T-shirt for me?”
Grinning, I cross the space separating us in a few strides. I accept the marker, uncap it and sign my name right across her breast. Her heart.
Tucking the marker in my back pocket, I place my hand directly over my signature.
“I don’t ever want to make any assumptions about you again, Lennon. Tell me what this means. Please,” I whisper. And yeah, I’m begging.
“It means I’ve come for the gift you said you have for me. I figured out what I want to do with it.”
It takes me a second, and only a second, to figure out what she’s referring to. Her heart thuds under my palm, and my heart echoes that beat perfectly.
“What, Lennon? What do you want to do with it?”
“Keep it. Protect it. Nurture it. Treasure it.” She covers my hand with hers. “And give you a gift in return. What will you do with it, King?”
“Fight for it. Share it with my son.Ourson. Keep it safe.” I cup her cheek, sweeping my thumb over her bottom lip. “Never break or abandon it.”
She fists my coat and tugs me closer, rising up on tip toe, and I lower my head to meet her halfway.
“Don’t ever lie to me again. Ever.”
I shake my head. “Not even about whether a pair of pants makes your hips look big.”
The corner of her mouth quirks and then she grins.
“Okay, we can negotiate.”
Laughing, I wrap her in my arms and she throws hers around my neck. I take her mouth in a kiss, and damn, I’ve missed this. Our tongues tangle, and I reacquaint myself with her taste, the feel of her even though it’s only been days. That’s much too long.
I want forever with this woman.
And now we have it.
After so long apart, it’s ours.
ONE YEAR LATER
Lennon
“It smells amazing in here.” Strong, tattooed arms wind around me as a wide, hard chest presses to my back. Soft yet firm lips brush my neck with just a hint of teeth. Desire coils within me, pulling taut and hard under my belly button before spreading through me in a delicious, thick wave of heat. “I’m almost willing to admit this spread is worth letting you out of the bed so early in the morning.”