Page 115 of Final Exit

She relaxed in his arms.

Right answer then.

“Okay, move in together. I can handle that. No sense in dating when we’ve already rounded all the bases.”

He coughed to keep from laughing again. “Um, yeah. Exactly.”

“And once I graduate, then we’ll talk about next steps. Maybe.”

“Once you graduate?” He hated the note of panic that seeped into his voice. But having to wait to make Bailey his for four years? That might very well kill him. He already knew that he wanted her, now and forever. He just needed a little time to convince her, but not four years’ worth.

“Are we talking an AA degree?”

She shook her head. “Oh, please. Anyone can get a two-year degree. I want the whole enchilada.”

“A bachelor’s?”Maybehe could survive four years of waiting. Maybe.

She shook her head again. “Nah, I’m talking going all the way.” She slid her arms around his neck. Her breasts pressed against his chest, making sweat pop out on his forehead as he tried to ignore the pleasure-pain of his body’s immediate response and focus on the conversation that would decide his fate.

“What does all the way mean?”

“A master’s degree. Or maybe, hey maybe I could go for a doctorate. That would pretty much guarantee me a career anywhere.”

“What would that take? Ten years?” he choked. “And we... wait... that whole time... to move forward with our relationship?”

“I think you can take your master’s and doctorate programs simultaneously. It might not be quite that long.”

His mouth had gone dry. He didn’t even know what to say. One thing was for sure, the part of his body that had been straining for release a few minutes ago was no longer at attention. He was too damn depressed to be excited anymore.

She framed his face in her hands this time. “Can you wait for me that long, Kade? Can you wait ten years?”

“Yes. It would kill me, but I would wait. I will wait. However long you need me to. I love you, Bailey. Nothing is ever going to change that.”

Her eyes widened, and then the tears started up again, spilling down her cheeks.

Ah hell.

“What did I do wrong this time?” he asked.

“Nothing. You did everything right. You really do love me, don’t you? With all my faults.”

She didn’t wait for his answer. She plastered her body against him, and kissed him like she’d never kissed him before. By the time she stopped, his body was standing at attention again, so hard it brought tears tohiseyes.

She was laughing when she pulled back, her hands moving to his shoulders. “Is that a gearshift or are you happy to see me?”

“Both.”

She laughed again, then tugged on his earlobe with her teeth, her warm breath making him shudder, both with longing and misery in thinking about how long he’d have to wait for her.

“Kade?” she whispered, before moving her lips to his neck, and sucking.

He shuddered,reallywishing her lips were somewhere else when she did that. His arms tightened around her. “Yes?” Had he just whimpered? He sure as hell hoped not.

“Did I ever tell you how much I hated school growing up? And that just the thought of going to college makes me want to curl up and die?”

It took a few seconds for her words to sink in.

“Wait, then you were—”

“Teasing you?” She grinned, then grew serious. “Yes and no. I honestly couldn’t believe that you could really care about me with all my faults, my past, the horrible things that I’ve done.”

“Bailey—”

“No, wait. Let me say it. Everything has happened so fast—in my career, my life, and now, with us. I didn’t trust it. Couldn’t let myself trust it. Because I’ve lost so much that I was afraid that if I really let myself go, if I let myself believe that whatever this is, this thing that’s happening between us, is real, that I’d lose that, too. But if the only way to protect my heart is to never let myself share it, then that’s not really living. I want to live, to love. I want to love you, Kade. I love you. Now. Forever. No matter what happens.”

His hands shook as he feathered them across her face. “I love you so much.”

She smiled through her tears. “I’ve got you. Don’t worry,” she whispered. “I’ll take care of you.”