Page 118 of Revealing Mark

“I don’t want you to give up something you love for me,” I felt I needed to say. I didn’t want him to have regrets later.

“I’m not. Before, when I needed discipline to help me through what happened with Ethan, I needed it more than anything. In a way, by doing right I was making up for the wrong I had done. It’s taken years to understand that it was just a terrible accident. I don’t need the job like I did before.” His mouth curved into a smile, showing off his dimples, and I felt the familiar tug of something in my chest. The warmth eased the pain and I could breathe easier.

“Really?”

He nodded. “Besides, it’s going to be a full-time job watching over you and making sure you don’t lock yourself out of the apartment.”

I smiled. “I’m not that bad.” The truth was I was worse than that. Between misplacing and losing keys, locking myself out of the apartment, forgetting to pay my bills on time and forgetting things in general, he was going to have his hands full.

“You ready to be my full-time knight in shining armor?” I teased, feeling the weight of the world ease from my burdened shoulders.

He grinned. “Yes, I believe I am.”

“Wait till I get older and we throw kids into that mess.” I winked, feeling a surety about him and us that I hadn’t felt before.

He gave me an alarmed look before he smirked slowly. “I can’t wait.”

He stood waiting for me to close the distance. I rushed to him, and he caught me. His strong arms enfolded me as his mouth found mine in a desperate kiss.

I’d missed him so much in the short time we had split. It feltso good to hold him and feel his muscles bunch beneath my hands. He lifted his head, his smile dazzling.

“I missed you,” I whispered, my hands caressing his face tenderly.

“Ditto.” His response made me laugh.

“Don’t you start.” I elbowed him playfully.

As I gazed into his eyes, I knew we would be okay despite the few hiccups we had already experienced. The ache in my heart eased and swelled with the love I felt for him.

“I think it’s time I showed you how sorry I am,” he whispered before capturing my lips with his. I threaded my hands through his silky hair.

“I’m game,” I murmured against his lips.

He picked me up and carried me to my bedroom. Once he set me down on my feet, our mouths fused together, our hands busied with discarding my towel and his clothes. The need to feel him against me was my only goal.

Once he was naked, he tugged me to him and I went to him willingly. He brushed his thumb over my nipple and it hardened while he coaxed my mouth open to delve his tongue to caress mine. I moaned. His scent overpowered my senses and I felt like I was in a freefall.

We had nearly allowed this to slip through our fingers, which made our union that much sweeter than before.

He laid me on the bed and I watched him with anticipation of what was to come. He got the protection and eased my legs apart to thrust into me. In ecstasy, I arched my back before he moved to kiss me. My nipples brushed against his chest as his body slid against mine. The tempo was slow and deliberate.

The only sound was our hard breathing as we reached our peaks at the same time. I groaned and he shuddered into me.

He kissed me, cradling me to him.

“I love you.”

I felt a little teary-eyed. “I love you too.”

We lay together for a while, enjoying the closeness in the dark.

“I have a few prerequisites,” I murmured before kissing him briefly.

“Anything,” he breathed.

“Your parents are not allowed anywhere near our future kids,” I said.

He nodded. “That goes without saying.” His hands stroked my back gently.