Page 57 of All This Time (Blossom Peak #1)

I rest my forehead on hers. “Taking you to Charlotte tonight wasn’t just about spoiling you with good food and romance, or getting away from the chaos. It was about showing you what our life could be like when you’re here.”

“I can’t move here, Fletcher. My business, my dad and brother and niece, and Dilynne are all in Blossom Peak.”

“And I’m not asking you to. We can split our time between here and there.

It’s only a two-hour drive. Plus, I don’t know how many years I have left in the game.

I’m thirty-two. I know Brett Favre played into his forties, but I don’t want to do that.

I don’t want to put my body through that.

Besides, now that my dad is most likely out of a job, Blossom Peak High School is gonna need a new coach. ”

Laney inhales sharply. “But if you play this season...”

“I’m not saying this year, but in the future, that’s definitely something I could see myself doing, especially if it means a quieter life with you.

” Her eyes bounce back and forth between mine.

“I know I’m asking a lot of you, but Laney?

You’re the only woman I want in my life, the only one that I need.

I’m willing to make the sacrifices to make this work. ”

She holds my face in her hands. “Me too, Fletcher.” She rubs her nose against mine. “I’m all in.”

***

After Laney and I sample all of the food we ordered, I escort her back out to my truck and drive her around the city, pointing out my favorite shops, the park where I go running sometimes, and a few museums I said that I’d visit when I moved here, but never got around to doing.

She instantly plans out when we can go to each one, and about thirty minutes later, I head for my house, eager to show her my home and the life I’ve created for myself here in Charlotte.

As we turn into my driveway, I don’t miss the gasp that leaves her lips when she sees my house for the first time. “Fletcher, this is gorgeous.”

“Thank you.”

The white house with pillars that flank the front door is highlighted by the light fixtures on the outside.

A column of windows from floor to ceiling covers the entire right side, offering plenty of sunlight when the sun is out, and views of the city lights below at night since my house sits up on a hill.

The white brickwork and black roofing is what sold me on the place, as well as the black marble steps that lead up the red front door, giving it the mix of modern and classic that I wanted when I decided to purchase my first home here.

It’s not the most extravagant house on the block, but it’s the one that stood out to me because it represented everything I did to get to this place—the sweat, the fear, and the bruises from the game and my father that I endured, yet still came out a success.

I just don’t understand why my father can’t be proud of that too.

When I pull into the garage under the house, I climb out of the truck and help Laney out, leading her inside. I flick on the lights, illuminating the open concept of the first floor.

“This is exactly what I would have envisioned your house to look like,” she says as she slowly walks around, taking everything in.

The entire first floor is open, except for my office in the corner of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The kitchen is white with black marble, the hardwood floors are dark walnut, and my black leather couch takes up most of the space in the living room, providing plenty of seating for the massive flat screen hanging up on the wall.

The decorations are minimal—just a few brass pieces and frames of moments in my career I wanted to remember.

But as I lean against the wall next to the fridge, I cross my arms over my chest and realize that the presence that was always missing from this place is now standing right in front of me.

“And how was that?” I ask.

She trails her finger down the frame of the picture hanging on the wall of me at the NFL draft, holding up my Carolina Thunder jersey. “Clean. Neutral. Modern, yet a space that suits you.”

“We can change whatever you want, make it more of a home. I want you to be comfortable here too, baby.”

Tapping her chin, she hums in thought. “I mean, I guess I have a few ideas.”

I smile. “Can’t wait to hear them.” Turning behind me, I press a button on the control panel on the wall, waiting for the surround system to come to life.

“Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion starts playing from the speakers throughout the house.

“Now, since I didn’t get to dance with you at the wedding, I’d like to have my dance now, if you’d do me the honor.

” I hold my hand out to her, waiting for her to cross the room to me.

Slowly, she walks toward me until she’s close enough that I can pull her into my arms, encasing her against my chest.

“Is this part of my surprise?”

“Yes.” I press a kiss to her temple. “Our first dance, but certainly not our last.”

With Laney in my arms, I move us around the room, soaking up every second, silently expressing gratitude to the universe for bringing this woman back into my life.

“This was my parents’ wedding song,” she whispers.

I lean back to see her eyes filled with tears. “Wow, really?” She nods. “I had no idea.”

“I know you didn’t, that’s why I’m crying.”

“I just really fucking love Celine Dion.”

Laney chuckles. “I just can’t help but feel like this was Mom’s way of telling us she approves.” Our eyes lock as she waves her hand around the room. “You really did this, Fletcher.”

The corner of my mouth lifts as I look down at her.

God, I love this girl.

She believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself.

She was my safe haven from the shitstorm that was my life.

She was and always will be my angel.

“I did, Laney. And I never would have made it here without you.”

She runs her nails down my neck. “Yes, you would have.”

“No, angel. You don’t get it. There were some days in high school when…” I choke down the lump in my throat. “Days when I didn’t think I could take anymore.”

“What?”

“Yeah… Just a few days before I crawled into your room that first night, I thought about how I might…”

She pushes her fingers to my lips, silencing me. “Don’t say it.” Tears fill her eyes again. “I can’t believe you thought about that.”

“I did, until that night when you put ice on my face and gave me someplace safe to hide. And told me that I was a good person who could make it in life when I honestly didn’t know if fighting for my dreams was worth it anymore. When I told you that you saved me, Laney, I fucking meant it.”

She presses up on her toes and wraps her arms around my neck. “Kiss me.”

Our mouths meet in a slow, heated kiss, and I slide my hands beneath her thighs, lifting her into my arms. She gasps softly, her body melting against mine as I carry her up the stairs to my room.

I lay her down gently in the center of my bed, her long, dark hair fanning out around her, her eyes reflecting the light drifting in through the windows.

“I want to touch every inch of you tonight.” My voice is low, reverent, as I begin working open the buttons of my shirt, one by one. “I want you to feel me everywhere, for you to know that no part of you isn’t mine.”

“Yes… Touch me, Fletcher,” she whispers.

“Take that dress off.”

She rises slowly from the bed and stands at my feet, keeping her eyes locked on mine as we both undress. My shirt on the floor. Her dress and underwear pooled at her feet. My pants and boxer briefs kicked to the side.

When she pinches the clasp on the back of her bra and lets it slide down her arms, revealing her bare, beautiful body to me, I reach out and trace her collarbone with my fingers.

She moans as I trail my fingers over her skin and tilts her head to the side as I move my hand lower, rubbing circles around her nipple with my thumb.

“So fucking perfect.”

She reaches out and wraps her hand around my cock, stroking me, dragging her nails gently up and down my shaft.

“Yes, baby. Just like that. Stroke me.”

She leans in, still working me with her hand, and presses her mouth to mine, soft at first, then deeper, hungrier. The combination of her kiss and her touch nearly undoes me.

She pulls back, her eyes heavy with need. “Make love to me, Fletcher,” she whispers.

I cradle her face in my hand, lowering my mouth back to hers before reaching between her legs, testing her wetness.

“Always fucking ready for me.”

“I’ve wanted you for so long that I don’t think that will ever change.”

I lay her back down on the bed, resting my hips between her legs. “I want you so desperate to come tonight that you can’t fucking stand it.”

“Please,” she moans as she reaches between us, lines my cock up to her entrance, and lifts her hips, guiding me inside her.

I only give her a few inches before I withdraw. “I’m going to tease the fuck out of you so you know what I feel like whenever I’m around you—aching for you, craving you, waiting until I can have you again. I’m going to show you how you turn me inside out.”

She whimpers and reaches for my ass, trying to pull me deeper, but I don’t move. “Fletcher...” Her eyes close and she turns her head to the side.

I make short, shallow thrusts. “I’m in control tonight, angel. Trust me to give you what you need.”

When she looks back at me, eyes pleading, I slide in further, loving how her mouth parts as I fill her completely. Then I pull back again, slowly entering and withdrawing from her so she can feel every fucking inch of me, and vice versa.

“So good,” she breathes, arching against me.

“Fucking perfect.”

“Your cock, Fletcher.” She sighs as I pick up my pace slightly, only to slow down again.

“Tell me, baby. What about my cock?”

“You make me feel so full…so wet.”

“You’re fucking soaked, dripping all over me and the blanket.” I lift her legs, pushing them back until her knees nearly touch the mattress. “Let’s see if we can make you messier.”

“Oh.” Thrust. “My.” Thrust. “God.” Thrust. “Fletcher!”

The sound of us fucking fills the room as I pick up my pace again, feeling her grow wetter, hotter, and tighter around me.

“Fuck, Laney. Are you getting close?” I brace myself higher on my hands, giving me more leverage to thrust deeper.

I wanted to make this last, but this angle is making her cunt grip me so tight, there’s no way I’m going to hold out for much longer.

“Yes. Don’t stop.”

My hips start moving like they have a mind of their own, hitting her deep, over and over again until I lean back on my heels, move my thumb to her clit, and fight like hell not to break before she does. “Come for me, Laney. Right fucking now.”

She continues to hold her legs open as I watch my cock sliding in and out of her, glistening from her arousal.

“Fuck. I’m coming!” she screams, twisting her head to the side and gasping for air between each tremor. Pumping just a few more times, I find my release seconds later, collapsing on top of her as we both fight to catch our breath.

“Fletcher… I… That was…”

“I know, baby.” I lift my head, smoothing her hair away from her face. “And it’s only going to get better from here.”