FOURTEEN
HEATH
“How did I not know you lived here?” She looks around the space as we step inside, and I watch her every movement.
I always had Meadow in mind when I was planning this, but I wasn’t sure until now that she would like it. She seems to appreciate the restored tile floors and the antique railing on the stairs. Most of the woodwork I did myself, but Mace helped me with pretty much everything else.
The two of us bought a pair of historic brownstones that need a lot of work and restoration. Right after college, we knew we needed something to keep us busy, and creating this place for Meadow was my end game. This isn’t just a place for me to stay, but a home for us to raise a family in. Does she see that now when she looks at the room where our kids will take their first steps? Is it weird that it’s what I see?
“Heath,” she says softly as we walk through the living room and to the back of the house.
“Do you like it?” I finally have the courage to ask as she looks at the kitchen.
“Like it?” Meadow looks at me like I’m ridiculous before she goes to the sun porch and stares out at the garden. “You can’t be serious.”
“Come here,” I say and hold out my hand. She turns around, and to my surprise and pleasure, she takes it without hesitation. “I want to show you my favorite part.”
With her hand in mine, I lead her up the stairs and take her to my bedroom.
“Your bed?” She rolls her eyes and snorts. “I’m shocked.”
“Watch that mouth, or I’ll put it to better use,” I say as I take her chin and force her to look up at me. Her cheeks flush, and the way her pupils dilate makes me hard. “I see you like the idea of that almost as much as I do.”
Her tongue darts out, and she wets her lips before I bend down and kiss her quickly. After that, I take her over to a door that connects another room to ours.
Ours.
That’s how I’ve thought of this place since I moved in, and it’s only been a matter of time since she joined me. Now that I’ve got her here, I don’t plan on letting her go.
“How is this your favorite? It looks like an office.” She glances around the sparse room, and I lean against the doorframe as she steps farther inside.
“It’s a nursery.” I say, and she nearly falls over as she spins around to face me.
“A nursery? As in a nursery for a baby?”
“Babies,” I correct and grin at her shock.
“Is there something you need to tell me?” She swallows hard, and I want to laugh.
“Tell me something, Doe. What’s your favorite memory as a kid?” I watch her as she thinks the question over and then finally shrugs.
“I don’t know, there’s too many.”
“In any of your favorites were you alone?”
“No.” She’s quick to answer this time, and I nod.
“All of my favorite memories have my family in them,” I say as I push away from the doorframe and go over to where she’s standing by the window. She leans her back against it, and I brace my hands on either side of her. “My brother, my parents, your parents, and you and Briar. You’re my family, Meadow, and every good memory I have includes you.”
“And you love me like family?” She’s hesitant as she looks up at me through her lashes like she’s afraid of the answer.
“I love you like you’re the air in my lungs.” I bend down and place a soft kiss on her lips. “Like you’re the blood in my veins.” Brushing my lips over hers once more, I smile. “Like the ache in my cock.”
“You love that, huh?” she teases she slides her hands down my stomach to the waist of my pants.
“I love you like forever.” My eyes meet hers, and I hope she can see just how serious I am. “And my forever means having a family.” I slide my hands around her waist and cup her ass. “Starting now.”
When our lips connect this time, the kiss is deep and soul crushing as I carry her back to our bed. She spreads out on the mattress as my mouth goes to her neck and my hands go to her skirt. I practically rip it off of her as I strip her bare and then kiss my way down her body.