Page 152 of Love By Design

“He says he will be, and I have to take him at his word.”

“I know he’s your best friend, and I want to make sure you know he will always have a place here. Us being together and living here doesn’t mean your relationship with him needs to change.”

Happiness swelled in the center of my chest, and I managed a nod in reply.

“Thank you.”

“It’s decency,” he said. “Doesn’t need praise.”

“Thank you anyway,” I told him.

A small silence fell, but I could tell he had something else he wanted to say.

“What?” I prompted, tightening the curl of my pinky finger around his.

“What about your dad?” he finally asked. “He suspects we’re involved.”

“It’s not his business.”

“Are you going to ignore him forever?”

“He doesn’t like my designs. He fired me. He expected me to unfire myself to save him.” I paused, fighting down the anger that threatened to bubble up at the thought of my dad. “He doesn’t deserve to know the version of me that you’ve built.”

“I’ve hardly?—”

“Marshall. Sir,” I cut him off. “Stop.”

He laughed, brow raised. “Stop?”

“I’m not the same person I was the night we…well, we didn’t meet, but you know.”

“I remember.”

“I’m not the same,” I said again. “I’m who I am today, I have the things I have because of you. Arguing about this is a limit.”

Another laugh, and Marshall raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, sweetheart.”

“So, I don’t want to talk about my dad right now. Maybe in the future, but not for a while.”

“Understood.” He cradled my cheek in his hand, angling my face toward his and gently pressing a kiss against my lower lip. “Whatever you want, Silas. Whatever you need…that’s what you’ll get from me.”

The earlier wave of emotion was too strong to hold back any longer. Wetness beaded on my lashes before spilling down my cheeks. I covered his hand with mine and nodded, leaning in and bringing our faces close again.

“I know,” I told him. “I know. I’m yours, Marshall. Sir, I’m so fucking yours.”

Feeling bold, feeling strong, I kissed him. I climbed onto his lap and took his face into my hands, using my body and my mouth to make sure he understood just how much I meant it when I told him I loved him, I wanted him. I needed him.

Marshall hummed against my mouth, smiling against my teeth.

“I’m very glad to hear that, sweetheart,” he murmured, trailing his hand lower and curling his fingers around my throat…the best kind of collar. The one I wanted to wear for the rest of my life. “Now why don’t you get on your knees and prove it?”

EPILOGUE

SILAS

Istepped out of the shower, cleaned and prepped, just like Marshall liked for me to be. It had only been two weeks since we moved in together, but I hoped the newness of sharing a space with him would never wear off.

“Silas,” Marshall called out for me from what sounded like his office, and my heart leapt into my throat. Normally, if he got home and I was in the shower, he would join me. Sometimes all the way under the spray and sometimes only in the bathroom itself while I took care of business. I didn’t mind either; I just liked being around him.