Page 34 of The Last Thing (Baker Girls #4)

“But there we were, my friends and I, playing games and laughing about nothing, when I looked up and saw the most handsome man staring at me. He had a kind smile, and he was focused wholly on me. All the music and colorful, flashing lights dimmed as we walked toward each other. We stumbled over saying hello and introducing ourselves, then he asked if he could join me. He took my hand, and that was it. There, on a summer night in the middle of a carnival, I met the love of my life.”

I whip my head to look at Hallie, only to find her smiling at me. A bright, beautiful smile that tells me this is why she asked for the story. She wanted to share it with me, especially that little part.

“That’s just like you two,” Sophia whispers from beside us.

Hallie twines her fingers with mine, staring at me reverently. “Yes, it is.”

As she stares at me with so much love in her eyes, my heart cracks open for her all over again.

I’m exhausted when I finally step into the bedroom and close the door behind me.

“She asleep?” Hallie asks, getting up from the floor where she was stretching.

“Finally.” I lean against the closed door and rub my hands over my face.

Hallie runs her hands up my arms, pulling them down. My eyes land on her as she grabs the side of my neck and drags my mouth to hers.

Though her kisses are gentle, they’re full of desperation. Almost frantic.

“Wilson,” she breathes, barely breaking our kiss. She searches my face, looking deep into my eyes, then a look of pure peace washes over her. “I love you.”

My heart stops. The world stops.

It’s only her, looking at me like this, like I’m everything to her and always will be. The tenderness of her expression is seared into my mind. This is a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

“Hallie…”

She drops back down so she’s on flat feet again, but her gaze never breaks from mine.

“Do you know what I was thinking about tonight while listening to Gran tell that story?”

“What?”

“That they were lucky. They had such a profound love, and they never took it for granted. They showed each other and told each other over and over again how much that love meant. And when Pop died, they both knew how deeply, unconditionally loved they were.” She sweeps her hand over my cheek.

“I realized if you left this planet tomorrow, I could never regret loving you, but I’d forever regret not telling you how much I love you.

And Sophia. And our beautiful little family.

” Tears well in her eyes and her voice breaks. “I love you.”

A tear slips down my cheek, surprising me. I don’t cry easily. I never have. And I didn’t think her words would hit me so hard because I already knew the truth behind them. But hearing her say them?

I lift her into my arms and kiss her deeply. “I love you too, Hellion. With all my heart. All my soul.”

“Wilson,” she whimpers, holding me tightly.

“I love when you say my name like that, baby. Like you’re so fucking desperate for me it hurts.”

“I am.” She kisses up my neck, her movements frantic. “I love you.”

As tired as I was when I walked into the room, I couldn’t be more awake now. More alive.

I set her down next to the bed and pull the oversized shirt off her, revealing her perky breasts and little baby bump. I splay my hand over it. “You’re perfect.”

She threads her fingers through my hair as I suck on one of her nipples. Then I drop to my knees, kissing down her stomach as I go. Hooking my fingers in the waistband of her shorts, I slide them down with her underwear, then stand up and take in every beautiful inch of her.

“You’re mine,” I growl, slanting my mouth over hers in a rough kiss.

She slips her hands under my shirt and drags her fingernails lightly down my back.

Another growl slips out, and she breaks our kiss, her hooded eyes filled with desire.

“Take your clothes off. I need to feel your skin against mine.”

She runs her hand up my arm, and sparks dance on my skin. She’s set me on fire since the first night we met.

Once I’m naked, she skims her hands down my chest. “Sit down on the bed, against the headboard.”

I kiss her cheek before doing as she asked, then she climbs onto the bed and sinks onto my lap.

I fight to keep from moaning too loud as she surrounds me.

“I wanted to be on top, but I needed to be close to you.”

She wraps her arms around my neck as she lifts her hips and drops down again, throwing her head back.

Dipping my head, I suck one of her nipples into my mouth, then tease the other with my fingers.

“Wilson,” she cries.

We’re both trying to be quiet, but the emotion between us is explosive.

I’m leaking inside her, barely holding on. I’ve never needed someone so badly. Never been this close to the edge so quickly.

“Hellion, I don’t know how long I can last,” I groan.

“Don’t hold back. I need to feel you. Us. Please,” she whines.

“I’m right here, baby. I’m yours. Forever. I love you.”

“I love you.”

She moves faster, dropping her head against mine. Our eyes lock as we move like one, lost in each other.

Hallie walked into my life and turned my world upside down.

Or maybe taught me it didn’t always have to be perfectly straight.

It can tilt, tip, and spin, and that’s where the fun is.

Where the magic is. She’s helped me be freer and find myself again.

She’s given me more than words could ever express.

And now, like this, she turns me inside out.

She pulls me from the depths. She makes me better.

I’m not a grumpy single dad. I’m not Deck or Decker. I’m Wilson. I’m hers. And we’re two souls tumbling through this world together.

“Hallie,” I grunt, burying my head in her neck as my orgasm takes me.

“Yes. Wilson…” She spasms around me, milking my cock as she rides her high, taking everything she needs and surrendering herself in return.

When we’re both finished, we sit there, holding each other tightly, lost in the connection between us. The love.

“I’m yours,” she whispers. “Forever.”

Trailing my fingers down her back, I hold her a little tighter. “And I’m yours, Hellion. I have been since the night we met, and I always will be.”

Her lips find mine, and we collapse in bed, tangled together as we lazily kiss and hold each other.

Maybe every night won’t be like this, but as long as she’s falling asleep in my arms, every night will be perfect.