Page 94

“Why are you trying to suffocate me?” she whispers sleepily.

I startle, realize my grip on her has tightened exponentially, and I gentle it without letting go completely.

“Sorry, baby. I was just thinking about how much I love waking up with you… how much I…love you.”

“Do you?” There’s a catch in her voice and I grip her chin between my thumb and forefinger, urging her to look at me.

“I do. I think I fell a little in love with you the first time I saw you lying there in that hospital bed. I was a goner once I got to know you…and once I touched you? There was no doubt you were going to be mine.” I pause. “Unless you don’t want to be.”

To my surprise, she rolls over and pushes me to my back, straddling me.

“Being yours is the best thing I could possibly be,” she whispers, dropping her lips to mine, whispering, “In fact, it’s all I want to be right now because I love you too. So much I feel like I have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure you—and what we have together—is real.”

“I’m real, baby. And what we have is very, very real.”

I slide my arms around her and kiss her as lovingly as I know how.

Our tongues twist and twirl, vying for dominance, and her gorgeous body molds to mine. Exactly as it should. Last night’s lovemaking was above and beyond anything we’ve done before and I’m looking forward to doing it again. And again.

Hopefully right now.

Except my phone is buzzing on my nightstand.

Once.

Twice.

Four times.

Talk about cock blocking.

“I may need to get that,” I whisper finally. “It’s a weekday morning—it might be work.”

She nods. “Of course. Do what you have to do.”

I grab my phone and frown.

ATLAS: Call me.

ATLAS: Are you sleeping? Fucking call me!

ATLAS: Dude, where the hell are you? I have news that can’t wait, and I’m about to get on a plane!

ATLAS: Jesus fucking Christ. Don’t make me come over there…

“Atlas apparently has news,” I say, dialing his number and putting it on speaker.

“About fucking time,” he rumbles by way of greeting.

“You’re on speaker,” I tell him. “Willow’s with me.”

“Perfect. Good morning, Willow.” He’s polite, if not curt. “ I have news that’s undoubtedly going to make your day.”

Our eyes lock for a minute before she says, “Okay. What’s going on?”

“Dylan has twenty-four hours to put your allowance for…” We can hear the rustle of papers. “...the last eighteen months in the account of your choice or face contempt charges. Since I don’t know what your current banking situation is, I gave them one of my account numbers, but I’ll transfer the money to you as soon as you open a new account. Dash knows I’m good for it.”

“Oh, my God.” She seems frozen, and then she squeezes her eyes shut and tears slip out the sides.