Page 163 of Jensen

“Baby, I think he had that coming,” he says finally.

“I know,” I manage. “It’s just a shock.”

“I’m sorry you had to be the one to do it. I tried to shield you from it.”

“None of this is your fault.”

“Nothing is your fault either.”

That’s the simple truth of it. Nothing that’s happened to either of us was our fault, and yet, we still have scars we’ll always carry. But that doesn’t seem so bad if I just have someone to share that burden with. He lifts his head, turning to kiss my forehead. I turn at the same moment, and by happy accident, our mouths graze.

Heat singes my lips, spreading through my veins.

He kisses me deeply, like he’ll never let go. I kiss him back, gripping his shoulder, sliding my other hand around his back. The room is still dark, the sun climbing from behind the mountains. Slowly, he starts to move, rocking me in his arms.

Back and forth, our bodies fall into a soundless rhythm. We stay that way until the world stops spinning and my heart hurts just a little less.

“Tomorrow,” he says.

“What happens then?”

“Tomorrow, you and Landis are going downtown to the courthouse,” he says firmly. “None of this waiting around bullshit. And tomorrow night, you and I are going to seal the deal.”

My heart speeds up. He slows down until he’s barely moving.

“You talking about marrying me, cowboy?” I whisper.

“I’m not talking about it,” he says. “I’m saying it. Tomorrow morning, I’m taking your ass to the courthouse. I’ve been through hell and back, baby, just fucking marry me.”

My face cracks in a smile. “You’re so romantic.”

“I can be, but this isn’t about romance. This is about locking down what’s mine.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, I won that fight fair and square.”

“Yeah,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You did.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Let’s clean up and sleep.”

I’ve never felt safer in my life than crawling into bed with him, freshly showered and burrowing into his arms. He opens the adjoining door, and I can make out the shape of Landis fast asleep, never knowing what I had to endure to set him free.

That’s how it will stay. He’ll grow up with Jensen as his father. If he ever asks, I’ll tell him the truth.

But for now, I want us all to heal.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

JENSEN

I’m woken by the sensation of being watched. The hair on the back of my neck prickles. Carefully, I open my eyes and meet a pair of little ones, narrowed. Abruptly, I push myself upright. He’s holding the blanket from the guest room tightly in both arms like it’s a stuffed animal.

“Hi,” he whispers.

“Hey, kid,” I say, clearing my throat. I glance over at the inert lump on Della’s side of the bed.

“I’m hungry,” Landis says. “Can I have pancakes?”