Page 57 of Ly to Me (Devils of Alliston Springs #1)
Carver
The Trust
I woke up to soft, tender lips on mine. Hadn’t even opened my eyes yet, but I didn’t need to. I groaned and found Ly’s waist, then pulled her close, locking my arms so tight she’d have no hope of leaving the bed.
“Good mornin’, sweetheart.” I nuzzled into her neck from behind, breathing her in. “Yes.”
She giggled. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, I could wake up like this for the rest of my life.”
“I didn’t ask that, Car.”
“It’s still a yes.” Her body wriggled in my hold, so I held on tighter. “Where do you think you’re goin’?”
“To get dressed. I can’t be naked all day.”
“Says who?”
“Says me .”
“Nah. Stop listening to you, then. Naked is better.” I bit down on her ear, making her squirm.
“Naked doesn’t get anything done.”
“What do you need to—Ly, quit fighting me.”
She turned her head sharply over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes on me. “You expect me to do nothin’ all day long in this big house you built on all this land?”
“Of course not.” I slid my palm up and down her arm. “I’d be happy with whatever you choose to do here. Honestly, I’m still getting used to the idea that the love of my life wants to stay with me.”
Lyra turned in my hold and placed her hand on my cheek. “I’m staying with you this time. I won’t leave. I promise.”
“Yeah.” I nodded, placing my hand over hers. “I know. I just—”
“What made me go…it won’t happen again, okay?”
“You aren’t talking about the bet, right? Because as happy as I am that it bought you that ring, I will never—”
“It paid for this?” She wriggled her other hand between us, flashing the stones on her finger. “That’s why you don’t regret it?”
“Noah was a sorry loser over that. Did you think the bet would be without money?”
“I didn’t take a teenage boy for winning a bet to buy his girlfriend a ring, no.”
I chuckled. “Surprised us both then, I guess.” As she stared at the way the ring shone against the morning sunlight pouring in through the windows, I replayed her words in my head.
She wasn’t talking about the bet. I was pretty sure I wasn’t the reason she left after our conversation in the barn, but now I was certain.
If I had been, she’d have told me exactly what I’d done so it wouldn’t happen again.
Either way, her surety in it not happening again…it wasn’t believable. Calling her out for lying was only going to pop this bubble we’d started to build, and I wasn’t going to chance that.
I kissed her forehead, bringing her focus back to me. “I have a plan for today.”
“Is it staying in and being naked? Because I already told you—”
“No, no. It’s not…well, I mean, if you want to—” Her eyes darkened, forcing another laugh from my chest. “It’s not that.”
“Dress, or one of your shirts again?” I muttered a curse, and she arched a single brow. “So…neither?”
“You need jeans. Long ones.” I rolled onto my back, then reached for my phone on the nightstand, checking the time. “Think you can go get some and be back in about an hour?”
She propped herself above my chest, clutching the sheet to cover her breasts. Instinctively, I reached up to push the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear as she stared down at me.
“You’re trusting me?” she asked.
“I love you. You love me. If you run, I know I’ll find you again. I won’t stop this time.”
“Mmm. Maybe I should run.”
“You run and I’ll fuck you so hard the whole town will hear you screaming.”
“They probably already did at your bar.” I smirked as she rested her chin on my chest. “What’re you gonna do while I’m out?”
“Dream about chasin’ you some more.” She smacked my chest, and I laughed. “I have phone calls to make. Cleaning to do. Groceries to order. The fun shit, you know?”
“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to be doing?”
My smile fell flat. “Why on earth would you think that?”
“Dunno. Just figured that’s how most men… what most men expected of a wife.”
“Listen, sweetheart. I don’t expect you to do anything you don’t want to do.
You want to clean and cook and do laundry?
That’s fine. But I prefer to share the work.
If I see it needs to be done, I’m more than willing and happy to do it.
It’s our house. Our lives together. Sharing everything with you is the only thing I ever wanted, and what you’ve given me by telling me you love me and that you want to stay…
it’s more than I could have ever hoped for.
” I pulled her in by the throat, kissing her parted lips.
“Screw what most men expect. You didn’t get married to most men .
You married me. The only thing I expect from you is to love me even when you hate me. Can you do that?”
Her fingers smoothed over the new tattoo—a necklace that matched her ring. I was right—it did look damn hot on her. “I can do that,” she answered softly.
“Good.” My thumb brushed the line of her jaw. “Now get up here and tell me how much you love me again.”