“What are you doing?” I think I know damn well what he’s doing, but I can’t quite believe it.
“Cleo, will you marry me? Will you become part of my family and build our own family together?”
I think about the losses in my life, about how everyone close to me eventually leaves. I think about the last few days and how happy I’ve been with Kray but how much of a risk it is to give my heart to him.
Then I think about Fitzy, about her advice not to miss out on love, and I know without a doubt that this is something I don’t want to miss out on.
“Yes.” The words slip out easily because I know it’s the right thing. “Yes, Kray. I’ll marry you!”
He scoops me into his arms, planting kisses on my lips, my cheeks, my face.
“Where did you get the ring on short notice?”
“I bought it on the ride up here. My feelings about you were so strong, Cleo. I was sure my instincts were right. I just knew that by the end of my stay you’d be mine.”
14
CLEO
Kray’s mouth trails down my neck, igniting my skin and making my entire body tremble. He pushes me up against the bed, and this time I let him kiss me slowly, enjoying every touch of his lips, every caress of his fingers.
He cups my cheek in his palm. The gesture is so gentle it makes me feel vulnerable, and my stomach clenches with tension.
Kray’s dark eyes find mine, and they’re reassuring, his gaze steady.
“I love you, Cleo. I’ll always be here for you.”
I take a deep breath and let the tension release. I let myself give in to his slow kisses and all the feelings they stir up inside me.
I kiss Kray back, my body going limp against his, letting the emotions roll over me. This is what it feels like to belong. This is what being wanted truly feels like.
Kray takes his time peeling off my layers of clothing. The single heater in my studio is never enough to warm the entire room, but our heated bodies slice through the cool air.
I peel Kray’s jacket off, then slide my hands under his black t-shirt, feeling his muscular body, my fingers catching in his chest hair.
He moves his hand over mine and places it over his heart. The steady beat is reassuring, strong.
Kray doesn’t say anything, but the slow kiss he gives me conveys more meaning than any words could. I feel safe with Kray. I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be, right here with him.
My chest opens and my heart lifts. A sense of belonging comes over me, like I’m with exactly who I’m meant to be with.
We stay like that for a long moment, with the steady beat of his heart drumming under my fingers reverberating through my body and settling my soul.
Something shifts in that moment. My world changes, and I know without a doubt that I belong with this man, that I’m his and he is mine for the rest of our lives.
When Kray next presses his lips to mine, it’s with an understanding between us. Our bodies know it, our spirits know it, and our souls know it.
Hooking my thumbs under his t-shirt, I pull it over his head, wanting—needing to be close to him.
Our bodies press together, my breasts pushing against his chest and my nipples scrapping against his thick hair, sending heat through my body and making my core ache for him.
My need becomes more intense, and I lift my hips, letting my thigh graze over his and opening myself to him.
Kray must sense this new urgency because he pushes me onto the bed, his hands pulling at my leggings and stripping my final garments off me.
I’m exposed to him, vulnerable, but I feel safe as his gaze runs over me.
Kray’s hands rest on my thighs as he sinks to the floor in front of me, nestling between my legs. He’s right in front of my most intimate place, and a furl of anxiousness pierces my stomach.