Page 132 of Kings Don't Break

Her hands come up to cover her face. Her laughter peals out of her anyway, from through her fingers. I grab hold of her wrists and pry her hands away from her face, forcing her to look me in the eye and endure my taunts about how sexy and dirty she got last night.

Knowing it was just for me—she’d never let go in that way for Stricklin or anybody else—made it all the hotter.

“Don’t hide from me now, Kori.” I nip at her jaw, then bury my face in the crook of her neck. I spend a couple seconds inhaling the natural scent perfumed on her skin. That scent that’s Kori’s and Kori’s alone. It’s enough to make me hard on its own.

It does.

My already semi-erect dick becomes harder than steel. Something Korine can more than feel brushed up against her.

Humor flickers onto her face. Her lips quirk as she threads fingers through my hair. “I love waking up to you, Blake Cash.”

“And my morning friend.” I give off a gruff laugh that widens her smile.

“And your morning friend,” she repeats, kissing me on the lips. “I love it all. I love… I love you.”

I lock up, not because the confession’s an unwelcome one; I lock up because it’s an unexpected one in the best way.

We’ve taken things slow these past few months. Korine wanted to wait ’til she was officially divorced before getting any more serious, and we’ve both been sorting through our personal issues. Hearing her say the words—exactly how I’ve felt about her this entire time—is like receiving the most special damn gift imaginable.

Korine’s love. Her trust in me and that she can love me and let me love her after everything she’s been through.

“Kori,” I rasp, squeezing her closer. Dropping kisses all over her face. “You sure you mean it?”

Her brows knit once we’ve pulled apart. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“’Cuz there’s no take backs,” I answer. “’Cuz I’ve been in love with the girl who spotted me in a tree and told me I’d climbed it all wrong. The same girl who used to leave her bedroom window open for me. The same woman who knows how to fix a bike better than any of the guys at the shop. And now that I know she feels the same, I’m never letting her go. Just be prepared.”

“It sounds like we’re on the same page. You’ve been my best friend since before we knew our times tables… and much more.”

We consummate our profession of love in a passionate round of morning sex that gives last night a run for its money. By the time we’re through, we’re both rocked to our cores. We’re slick and breathless and in need of a hot shower. We hop in together, taking our time, unable to keep our hands off each other.

Coffee comes next. Then a small breakfast.

You’d think we have all the time in the world with how lazy and slow we’re being. Eventually, we do have to move on. I drive Korine home in my pickup truck to take over for Yara, Sunny’s home care nurse.

Sunny’s sitting at the kitchen counter when we walk in. She doesn’t miss an opportunity to tease the hell out of us about what we were up to last night. Korine’s mortification shows on her face as she cries out, “Mama, stop!”

I give Sunny a hug, then kiss Korine goodbye.

My next stop is the club. The Steel Saloon’s a ghost town so early in the morning, even if later in the day there’s an event. Mace is throwing a birthday gathering for Sydney. He’s not a celebratory kind of guy, which is what makes the occasion feel even stranger.

I find him in the club office looking uncharacteristically… nervous.

He shoves something into his desk drawer when I walk in. Then shakes his head once he realizes it’s me.

“Thought you were Syd.”

“Why would it matter if I was?” I ask, shutting the door.

“Today’s Syd’s birthday.”

“And?”

His stony expression normally doesn’t give away much. Except for today as he slides a hand over his head and exhales a deep breath. “I’m going to ask her today.”

“To marry you?!”

“Shhh, shut the fuck up!” he hushes, glancing around like he believes Sydney’ll pop up at any moment. When he’s certain she won’t, he nods. “We’ve been together eight months. Eight really good months. Things are… they’re serious. I want this with her.”