Page 134 of Shadows of Obsession

"You've got this," he'd told me just that morning, pressing a kiss to my forehead as I stared at the calendar filled with bookings and activities. "And you're not doing it alone."

Now, as we sat together on the porch the cabin sipping sweet tea that was more ice than liquid in the summer heat, I watched the sun dip below the horizon in streaks of orange, pink, and purple. The sky looked like it was on fire, the colors reflecting off the windows of the barn in the distance.

I couldn't help but marvel at the incredible journey I'd taken. Just a few short months ago, I'd arrived at this ranch broken and lost, with nothing but a duffel bag and more fear than hope. I'd been running, hiding, barely surviving each day.Look at me now.

With Jaxon by my side and a thriving business taking root, with my own horses and my own income and my own purpose, I felt a sense of belonging I had never known before. Not with Daniel, not even before Daniel. This was different. This was real.

Glancing over at Jaxon, I found him with his head tilted back against the porch swing, eyes closed, completely relaxed as he soaked in the soothing sounds of the woods around us. A gentle breeze rustled the aspens nearby, carrying the earthy scent of pine and the distant chirping of birds settling in for the night.

The tranquility of the moment wrapped around us like a warm blanket, creating a cocoon of peace and contentment that made everything else fade into the background. This is happiness. This simplemoment, right here.

Slowly, carefully so as not to spill our drinks, I set my glass on the porch railing and crawled into Jaxon's lap, straddling him. His arm instinctively came up to steady me even before his eyes opened, his body responding automatically as I settled my weight over him.

A smile crept across his face, his eyes still closed as he savored the feel of me pressed against him. I could feel the warmth of him through the thin fabric of my sundress, the solid strength of his thighs beneath me, the steady rise and fall of his chest against mine.

Jaxon's arms circled my waist, holding me close in that way that always made me feel cherished and safe. My fingers slipped into his hair, gently threading through the slightly damp strands from the day's work.Tell him now.

"I have a surprise for you," I whispered, my voice low and even despite the excitement bubbling inside me, the anticipation of his reaction making my heart race.

Intrigued, Jaxon cracked one eye open, the blue of his iris catching the last rays of sunlight. His eyebrow lifted slightly, curiosity sparking as his hands tightened just a fraction on my waist. After a beat, he closed his eye again, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" he asked, his voice a mix of amusement and genuine interest, rough and low in a way that always sent a shiver down my spine.

My heart fluttered wildly as I finally let the words spill free. "As of this afternoon," I said, unable to keep my smile from stretching wider, "there isn't a single thing of mine left at Connor's." I'm all in. Completely all in.

Jaxon's eyes fluttered open immediately, both of them now, his gaze locking with mine with an intensity that stole my breath. I watched emotions flicker across his features: surprise, then understanding, then something so warm and overwhelming it made my chest tight.

He had expressed his desire for me to move in with him weeks ago, making it clear he wanted me here permanently. And while I had gradually begun leaving some of my belongings at his place during our overnight stays, he'dbeen patiently waiting for me to take the final step and bring all of my possessions over. He never pushed. Never demanded. Just waited.

As he searched my face, his hands came up to frame my cheeks with a tenderness that filled me with warmth. I saw the moment the full weight of my words hit him, the realization that I was ready to fully commit to our life together, to create a shared space that was truly ours, filling his expression with something that looked like awe.

"Anna," he breathed, my name emerging rough and thick with emotion.

Jaxon's arms tightened around me, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, and I felt his chest expand as he inhaled deeply, breathing me in. His lips brushed against my pulse point, a tender gesture that sent warmth flooding through my entire body.

"You have no idea how happy this makes me,” he murmured against my skin, his voice thick with emotion, slightly muffled but no less impactful. "Waking up next to you every morning, falling asleep with you in my arms every night. Knowing it's permanent, knowing this is our home…"

He trailed off, and I felt the slight tremor that ran through him, the way his arms held me just a bit tighter.

My heart swelled at his words, at the sincerity and affection pouring from him and wrapping around me like a physical embrace. I leaned into him, my fingers gently massaging his scalp the way I'd learned he loved, savoring the feeling of being so completely and utterly cherished.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I rested my head on his shoulder, my breath tickling the sensitive skin of his neck. "We were already doing that, Jax," I teased lightly, despite the emotion clogging my throat.

Jaxon pulled back just enough to look at me, his hands sliding down to rest on my hips. His fingers traced lazy patterns there, the touch sending pleasant shivers through me.

"Yeah, but it was here or there," he pointed out, his tone filled with a mix of contentment and excitement. "We wereplaying house, splitting time. Now it's here, all the time, in our own space. No more going back and forth. Just… home."

Home.

I lifted my head fully, meeting Jaxon's gaze in a moment that felt weighty with significance. In the depths of his blue eyes, I saw a reflection of my own emotions. The joy, the gratitude, the overwhelming sense of belonging that had blossomed between us despite all the trauma and fear and darkness we had both survived.

"Our own space," I echoed, testing the words on my tongue and letting them settle into my heart. "I like the sound of that."

Our space. Our home. Our life.

Jaxon's lips curved into a smile that transformed his entire face, making him look younger, lighter, free from the shadows that had haunted him when we first met. He reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear in a tender gesture he had repeated countless times, yet one that never failed to make me feel treasured.

"Me too, baby. Me too."