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Ten years ago…

“ B eck, please lie still for a second,” I demanded sweetly as he finally gave up wiggling and allowed me to doodle on the back of his calf. “Thank you!” I squealed with delight.

“Anything for you, doodle away.” He chuckled as I rested his leg on my lap.

With precise movements, I carefully drew a whimsical cupcake on his skin. The lines were soft and rounded, giving the drawing a cartoon-like quality that screamed cuteness. As I added the final details, Beckett peeked over his shoulder with curious interest. I could see him watching intently as I finished it off with a small cherry on top of the cupcake, his absolute favourite. A smile spread across my face as I admired my work.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“It’s almost as cute as you.” He laughed as he turned around in the blink of an eye, pulling me on top of him. “I love you, Emily Ryton.”

“And I love you, Beckett Ashmore.”

He reached up and tenderly cupped my face in his warm hands before sealing our love with a gentle, lingering kiss. His touch ignited a fire within me, one that burned brighter than the sun. And in that perfect moment, all I could do was melt into his embrace, knowing that our love would last forever.

“Emily?” I could hear Beckett’s voice, but I couldn’t answer. I was too busy trying to remember how to breathe as my eyes remained fixed on Beckett’s leg.

“Beckett, what is that?” I asked, my voice trembling as I touched the ink that decorated his skin. But this time it wasn’t removable. It was permanent. He had tattooed my doodle on his body and added a bumble bee. “What did you do?”

I jumped to my feet, unsure of what to say.

This man had carried me around with him all these years.

He leapt from the bed with a wince, and within a split second, he stood toe-to-toe with me, gently forcing me to look up at him.

“I love you, Em.” He breathed, the warmth of his breath kissing my skin. “I always have.”

“Even after the lies you heard?”

“Yes, I loved you even then. I loved you enough to let you move on from me if that was what you wanted.” He wiped away a stray tear that escaped with the pad of his thumb.

“But I didn’t move on. I couldn’t…” I let the tears fall. I couldn’t hold them in anymore. There was no point. I had loved Beckett Ashmore since the day I met him in my parents kitchen. Of course, that didn’t fade. I never stopped loving him, but knowing he would leave us soon made it hard for me to open myself up to love again.

Without another word from either of us, he effortlessly lifted me into his arms as if I weighed no more than a feather. Our bodies collided with an electrifying jolt as his strong hands firmly gripped my lower back and arse, securely holding me in place against his chest, their warmth seeping through the fabric of my clothes. My heart raced at the sudden closeness and intimacy between us, igniting a fire within me that burned brighter with every passing second.

I knew he was taking things at my pace, waiting for me to give him the green light. I nodded with a trembling breath, the anticipation building in the pit of my stomach. I hadn’t been with a man since Beckett all those years ago, and although I was nervous, I wanted to let go.

I wanted to feel him again.

I needed to be his… Even if it was for just one night.

He crossed the room with me in his arms, his eyes not once leaving mine. Not knowing what came over me, my lips collided with his and it took less than a millisecond for him to take over . This kiss was so incredibly different from what we once shared but he still felt like home .

My home.

My lips parted, allowing his tongue access. It clashed ferociously with mine, the need and desire we both felt building rapidly. He kissed me with feeling and meaning, deepening the kiss without a second thought. My fingers fisted his hair as I let out a whimper I couldn’t control.

He laid me down on the sheets, his body hovering over mine. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Em,” he whispered before lowering his lips to my neck, alternating between gentle and rough kisses.

He hooked his thumb in the waistband of my satin shorts, tormenting me by pulling them down slowly. “Is this what you want?” he murmured against my neck.

“Y-yes…” I just about managed as I began to lose myself with each passing second.

He pushed my shorts down in one abrupt motion. It wasn’t until his finger skated over my apex that he quickly realised I was naked beneath the satin.

“Open your legs for me.” Without a second thought, I parted my knees as he dropped between them. “Good girl.” He growled against my inner thigh, breathing me in. He traced his fingers up my leg, followed by a trail of kisses that sent my mind spiralling.

His warm breath brushed against my pussy, sending tingling waves of sensation through my body. The rhythmic rise and fall of his exhale created a delicate dance of heat and anticipation that made every nerve in me come alive. This man knew exactly what he was doing to me, and I knew he loved every single second just as much as I did as he fluttered his tongue back and forth across my clit, sending a pulse of desire and need through me.

With every thrust of his fingers after they entered me, I whimpered as I clung to the edge. Blood thundered in my ears as the pleasure crescendoed. He gripped my thigh as he removed his tongue from my clit.

“B-Beck—” I gasped as he sucked on my clit again, my hips bucking from the bed.

“You taste like mine, Em.” His voice vibrated against me, creating a low hum through my body. “Do you want me to fuck you, is that what you want?” His voice low and husky as he bought his body flush to mine, every inch of him pressing against me.

“Yes… P-please,” I whimpered, his fingers fisting my hair to bring my mouth to his, sucking whatever air remained from my lungs. “Please,” I begged. The hold this man had on me was something else. There was nothing quite like it.

“Fuck, I love it when you beg.” He purred against my lips. “I missed it.”

I watched with bated breath as he rose to his feet. With a swift motion, he pushed his sweats down, his cock prominent and eager as it sprung free. The veins etched across its surface seemed to pulse with anticipation.

He teased my pussy with the head of his cock as short breaths left my lips. I awaited what came next.

“Beg me again, Em,” he demanded.

“Please, Beck.” I gave in, giving him what he wanted. He pushed his cock inside of me as I bit down on my lower lip, letting him fill me inch by inch. “I don’t need slow, Beckett,” I whispered.

A primal moan left his lips as he thrusted inside me, harder and faster than before. “I know how you like it, Em.”

“Beck—” I cried out as my fingers dug into his shoulders.

Every word Beckett whispered was like a dark caress, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. "You're mine, Emily," he murmured.

His lips crashed onto mine, hungry and demanding, as if he wanted to devour me whole. I could taste his desire, his need for me, and it sent a wave of heat through my veins.

He pulled away slightly, his eyes locked on mine, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “Fuck, I’ve missed this pussy.” His words were raw as they sent a throb of desire between my legs. “You're fucking mine." His voice sent me spiralling, my body clenching around him, my nails digging into his flesh. I could feel my orgasm building. A wave of pleasure threatened to consume me. "Every inch of you belongs to me." His voice was low and feral, a primal rhythm that matched the pulsing of our bodies. I could feel his hunger, his need, his complete obsession with me.

Beckett's thrusts became harder and faster, his body slamming against mine. His cock pulsed inside me, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. “Fuck!”

"Come for me, Emily," he demanded, his voice a sinister growl. And with his final thrust, I did.

“Beckett!” I moaned, my body convulsing around him. My orgasm tore through me, leaving me breathless and shaking.

“Ah, fuck, Em!” His voice cut through the air as he followed soon after, his cock pulsing as he spilled himself inside me, his body trembling with release. “You take me so fucking well.” He praised me, his hands cupping my face and bringing his lips a mere inch from mine. “You’re still mine, Em. There’s no fucking doubt about it.”

And as much as I couldn't say it out loud… He was right. I was his.

He withdrew slowly, a soft moan escaping his lips before slipping off the bed and moving for the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the room as he returned with a damp cloth. With careful, tender movements, he wiped away the mixture of our arousal from between my thighs, an act so intimate and unexpected.

“Are you okay?” he asked, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“Yes, Beckett. I’m okay,” I assured him as he pulled back the covers.

Ignoring the fact our clothes were all over the floor, he eased me under the blanket before sliding in beside me. He pulled me into his arms, his body already giving in to the desire to sleep.

I snuggled into him. I didn’t know if it was an old habit or what, but it felt good. Being close to Beckett was something I had missed more than I let on.

“Goodnight, cupcake,” he whispered, enveloping me in his warm embrace.

“Goodnight.”

As the sun crept through the gap in the curtains, I turned to face Beckett, who laid beside me with his tattooed arm wrapped around my waist. The warmth of his breath kissed my skin as he slept peacefully and without a care in the world.

I couldn’t help but admire him for a moment. Although it had been years, he still had that same boyish face I fell in love with. Without thinking, I pushed the hair that rested on his forehead backwards as he stirred and settled into my touch.

“Mmm, that’s nice,” he mumbled against my wrist, causing my heart to jump.

My mind wandered back to the tattoo on his leg. What was once a stupid doodle was now inked on his skin as if it were everything to him.

“I need to know something.” I whispered.

“What do you want to know?” He asked, propping himself up on his elbow, still half asleep.

“What was the bee for on that old doodle?” I questioned as he traced the faint freckles on my arm.

“A bee to me means: Beckett, Emily, Endgame—B, E, E.” He smiled sleepily. “It was a way for me to have a hidden message in there that only I’d know, and I got the cupcake because it was the last thing you gave me.”

“Beckett…” I didn’t know if he meant the doodle was the last thing I gave him or the actual cupcakes I gave him for the plane journey.

“There wasn’t a day where you weren’t on my mind. There wasn’t a match where I didn’t want you in the crowd to dedicate my celebration to every single time I scored.”

“And let me guess, there were a lot of goals?” I already knew the answer. I knew how good he was.

“How did you know that?”

“You’re an amazing footballer, Beck. You always were.” I let out a deep breath, letting the truth flow out of me. “Maybe that’s why I didn’t chase you to be in our lives… I didn’t want to ruin your career. I didn’t want you to resent us.” I searched his eyes for a moment before continuing. “Maybe deep down I knew that if you’d have truly known, you would have come back and left everything for us.”

“Em, please tell me you don’t really think I’d resent you or that you’d ruin my career?” I practically saw his heart breaking as he spoke. “You could never have ruined my career. I was who I was because of your love and support.” He cupped my cheek as I nuzzled it into his palm, reminiscing the familiar feeling.

With one fluid movement, he hovered over me. My eyes met his and I remembered every single moment we shared. It was as if looking into them created a movie reel of all our best memories.

“You can’t mean that.” I trembled as I fought back the tears that threatened to fall.

“I mean every single word. I have loved you from the day I met you. I loved you then, and I love you now. I loved you every day for the years we were apart, and I will love you until my dying breath.” The tip of his nose circled mine as his hair tickled my forehead. “You are my endgame, Em, and if you ask me who I see beside me for the rest of my life, it will always be you.”

This man had been my person since the day we met, and until now, nothing had changed. Hearing him say the things I’d longed for on the lonely nights I was awake with Liam was all I wanted, but a part of me always knew words would never be enough.

“Do you regret last night?” His brows furrowed with worry that I would say yes, but that wasn’t the case. It never was.

“No, I don’t regret a thing about last night. I’ve never regretted a thing about us.”

A boyish grin played on his lips as he brought his mouth to mine. My heart quickened in pace. I was unable to control how my body responded when I was around Beckett.

“I’m sorry I took Mike’s word for it. I knew you too well and shouldn’t have even thought you’d leave me like that,” I whispered against his skin.

“I took his word too. I took everyone’s fucking word, and I was an absolute class A idiot to think you’d move on that quick. But what happened, happened, and yes, we lost years together, but I plan to make up for them.” His gaze dropped to my lips briefly. “No matter what it takes.”

“But—”

“But nothing, Em. Forget about Spain. Forget about everything else and let it just be us for a while.”

“Okay… Just us.” His lips met mine in a gentle kiss. A kiss that was so full of love for me, it made me realise he needed me as much as I still needed him.