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Just then, the kitchen door bangs open, and in walks Warrick with the cake. All of us whip our heads in his direction right as he looks up to see us staring at him.

“Uh… I’ve got the cake here.” He looks between the four of us. “I was told to bring it in here until it’s time to cut it. Something about keeping it cold so the icing doesn’t melt.”

Hazel is the one to speak up first. “Yeah, let me take some racks out of the fridge real quick so we have space for it.”

She jumps into action while I’m still stuck staring at him. He didn’t shave his beard like I thought he would. Instead, he trimmed it and; I have to say, I’m loving it. He styled his hair and even put on a button-up with his signature Henley on beneath. He moves to follow Hazel as my eyes move to follow him. His ass looks stellar in those dark denim jeans that hug his thighs until the knees where they fall straight down. My lips are between my teeth as I imagine what it would be like to see that ass without the cover of clothing.

“Rose,” whispers past his lips while his eyes stay locked with mine.

A quiet “ahem,” followed by a giggle, comes from beside me, jerking me back into the here and now. I look over to find both Nellie and Willow with hands over their mouths, trying to keep from laughing out loud. My eyebrows drop and I glare at both of them.

“Do you want to be seen checking him out as though you would love nothing more than to strip him naked right here?” Willow whispers to me.

I shake my head.

“Didn’t think so. So, you’re welcome,” she whispers again before looking at Nellie. “Nellie and I are going to get the stuff from Aspen’s cart.”

She jerks Nellie behind her as they rush out the kitchen door. I watch them both walk out as I look at Hazel with confusion on my face. Hazel is looking at the door that just swung shut when she says, “I’m going to start working on the tablecloths now that Caelon and Xavior have brought the tables in.” She rushes out the same door without a single glance back.

The refrigerator door shuts as Warrick turns around. “That was weird.”

Nodding my head, I take another sip of my coffee. He walks over to where I’m leaning against the island and stops only a step away from where I’m standing. I suck in a breath as I stand up in front of him. It’s been three months since we have seen each other and the only thing that I can confidently say that has happened since that time, is that I know I want my mate. I want Warrick. More like need him.

His nostrils flare as he takes in my scent. He reaches up and twirls one of my curls around his finger. “You look beautiful today, Aspen. You always do, but today I have to say…” His fingers run over the ruffled cuff of my dress and trail down my arm. “Today, I love this dress and how stunning you look in it.”

He runs his fingers down the length of my arm, capturing my hand in his. I hold my breath, unsure where this is going, as I watch him bring my hand to his mouth. He gently kisses each knuckle while whispering words of affirmation to me. “Beautiful.” Kiss. “Intelligent.” Kiss. “Worthy of love.” Kiss. “Strong.” Kiss.

My chest is rising and falling in sawing breaths as I flush with arousal. I watch in rapt attention as his nostrils flare wider, pulling my slick scent into him. He gently pulls me the last step forward, slamming our bodies flush together. My arm is now crushed between us as I feel all the hard plains of his body mold around my soft ones.

“Why…” my mouth dries as I try to forms a coherent thought. “Why did you call me Rose? That’s the second time.”

He smirks, “So you did hear me in the bookstore?”

My face heats with embarrassment. “Yes, stop avoiding the question.”

He shrugs. “Not avoiding it. Just proving a point.” He leans down, brushing my hair over my shoulder, and runs his hand down to the small of my back. “I call you Rose because I can’t wait to watch you bloom with each swipe of my tongue, with each moan, with every chant of my name.”

With a firm pull, he erases all the space between us, cocooning us in our mingling scents. I can’t help but close my eyes and bask in it. The rightness of this moment. My soul feels at peace for the first time. He leans in closer, his nose brushing along my shoulder and his breath ghosting across my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

“One day, I will earn the privilege of knowing each and every thing that will make you scream my name. One day, I will be honored with a place by your side. And one day, I will earn your love.” His lips move across my neck as he speaks and my knees begin to quiver. What I wouldn’t give to just give into it right here, right now.

He moves up my neck and ghosts his lips across my jaw line. “Today isn’t that day, but just know that the day isn’t far away. I will do everything I can to earn your love, Aspen, even if it means walking across burning coals barefoot.”

A gasp escapes me at his declaration. “You…” I gulp. “You don’t have to do that for me, Warrick.” I let out in a husky breath.

He cups my cheek with his hand as my eyes open. He is looking at me with pure adoration and it might just be the best moment of my life. I’ve waited years for him to see me.

“You deserve to be loved like the fairy tale books you read, and I’m determined to give you just that. Don’t give in now, Aspen. I can see it in your eyes. I’m sorry that I’ve mistreated you in the past. I don’t deserve to even hold you in my arms like I am now. You should hate me for everything I’ve done to you, embarrassing you in front of others, and flaunting women when I knew you would be around. I don’t want your forgiveness right now. I want to earn it. Can you hold out a little longer for me?”

His eyes are pleading with me, and I can see by the droop of his shoulders that he truly believes that I should never forgive him. He doesn’t believe he deserves love. Maybe that has been the issue all along. Not me, but him?

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry,” Caelon says from the doorway.

We jump apart, breaking the moment we were just having. I watch as Warrick retreats back into himself.

“It’s fine, I have to find Nova anyway to see what else she needs me to do.” Warrick moves toward the door.

“I was actually coming to tell you that we need to run down to You’re Bacon Me Crazy to pick up the catering for the event,” Caelon says while staring at the floor.