by C. Morgan
“I’ll never let you fall. That’s my promise to you.”
His words struck a chord in my heart. And if I wasn’t his before, I was now. He walked us into his house. Up the stairs. Down toward his bedroom. He set me down on the edge of his bed, his shaking hands slowly peeling my clothes away.
“Seeing that asshole’s hands on you did something to me,” he said.
“I know,” I breathed.
He unclasped my bra. “Seeing him corner you. Grip you. Try to control you. I couldn’t stand it.”
“He scared me.”
He kissed my shoulder. “I know he did. But he won’t do it again. No one will ever do it again.”
Then he cupped my cheeks and gazed into my eyes.
“Because you’re mine, Melody. And I protect what’s mine.”
I smiled. “I never want anyone’s hands on me but yours. Ever.”
When he kissed me, the world stopped turning.
Chapter 19
Tyler
My bed captured our naked bodies the second we stripped one another down. I wrapped my arms around her, sliding her up the bed. Splaying her beautiful blonde hair out over my pillow. Moonlight dripped through my windows. I gazed into those gorgeous blue eyes. Eyes I wanted to wake up to every morning. Eyes I wanted to make love to every day.
I wanted Melody. Now and forever. Come hell or high water.
“Kiss me,” she whispered.
My lips met hers, and she wrapped herself around me. Her soft curves welcomed me home as my cock grew against her stomach. I’d never get tired of this. Tired of the feel of her. Our tongues battled together in a wave of passion, and I felt her pussy lips capturing my cock. Her juices spilled over me. Coating my balls and welcoming me inside her. She opened her body up like a flower, allowing me access to the only place I wanted to be.
Inside her as close as our bodies could get.
“I love you, Tyler,” she whispered.
Her words set me aflame. My heart grew four sizes as I sank deeply against her walls. I rolled my hips, and I watched her face contort with pleasure. I propped myself up on my forearms. I felt her hands gripping my ass cheeks. She pulled me in deep, her knees drawn up to her waist as she massaged me.
“Oh, you fill me so good,” she moaned.
I kissed her shoulder. I raked my teeth along her pulse point. I nuzzled her breasts, wrapping my lips around her pert peaks. She rolled me over, taking me by surprise. Straddling me as a wild grin crossed her face. As her hair curtained itself around us. As her hands pressed against my chest.
“You can’t always be in control, handsome,” she said.
“Wanna bet?”
I shot up, wrapping my arms around her back. I held her to me as I scooted back against the headboard, my hands falling to her hips. I rolled her like I wanted. I took her body the way I wished. And as our bodies collided, our lips fell back together, muffling one another’s sounds.
The headboard knocked against the wall. The mattress bounced. I lost myself in her. In the feel of her tits jumping against my skin. Her arousal soaked me. Her pussy clamped down around my girth. I slid my hands up her waist. Around her back. Until I gripped her hair and pulled her head back.
Opening her neck for me to mark.
“Tyler!”
“Mine,” he growled.
I rolled her back over and tossed her legs over my shoulders. I pounded into her, listening as she wailed for me. Our scent filled the room. Her sounds wrapped around my head. I felt my cock pulsing. My balls curling up. My skin igniting with goosebumps. I wanted her to come with me. I wanted her to mark me. I wanted her to claim me the way I’d already claimed her.
“Tyler! Yes! I love you! I love you so much.”
I slammed into her one last time, and my cock released. Her legs slipped from my shoulders, locking out around me. Threads of arousal fell from its tip, coating her vibrating walls. She quivered around me. Her body jumped for my viewing pleasure. And as I fell against her, heaving for air, her hazy eyes met mine.
“I love you too, Melody.”
Her lopsided smile made me smile. I slipped off to the side, pulling her tightly into my arms. She turned around, sharing my pillow as our eyes found one another’s.
Then, she furrowed her brow. “That look,” she said.
“What?”
“That look in your eyes. You gave it to me when you were at my apartment.”
I grinned. “Probably so.”
“I couldn’t place that look until just now.”
My heart broke. “A look of love?”
She shrugged. “I suppose so.”
“Well, you’ll never go without it again.”
“Promise?”
“Promise, promise.”
I captured her lips before our foreheads fell together.
“I’ve been so focused on being a single mom that I never dreamed I’d find someone like you,” she said softly.
“Well, here I am. And it’ll take a hell of a lot to get rid of me.”
“You’re everything I’ve ever been missing.”
I kissed her again. “I’ll never let you go. If that’s what you want.”
“Good. Because I’m not going anywhere either.”
I chuckled. “I suppose a good boss values his employees.”
“So, no firings in my future?”
I cupped her cheek. “None at all.”
She paused. “Well, you got room for one more employee in that store? Because you know I don’t come alone.”
“I know.”
“He’s only four, but he really knows his toys.”
I laughed. “That, he does.”
She paused. “So, yeah?”
I nodded. “Yes, of course. There’s room for Austin. Anytime. At the store and in my heart.”
Her lips crashed against mine, and she rolled me over, straddling my hips and accepting me back into her body.
Ready for another round of love.
Epilogue
Melody
Six Months Later
“It’s absolutely adorable how your son is helping his father at work.” The elderly woman’s voice pulled me from my trance.
I smiled. “He really loves being at the store with Dad. That’s for sure.”
“You know he’s calling himself ‘Assistant Manager’?”
I giggled. “For all I know, Tyler gave him that name.”
“Are you two ready for the new employee in the store?” She pointed to my baby bump.
My hand settled against my stomach. “We couldn’t be happier.”
“How far along are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
I smiled. “Of course, I don’t. I’m just over four months along.”
“That time will fly by before you know it. Make sure to cherish it.”
“Trust me. I intend on it.”
“Well, you have an adorable family. Merry Christmas to you all.”
I smiled. “And Merry Christmas to you. Can I ring you up?”
I kept stealing glances at Tyler as he held Austin on his shoulders. The store was decked out for the holidays and busier than I’d ever seen it. Tyler and Austin walked around, helping customers while my son pulled toys off the high shelves for people.
Well, our son. Because Tyler had practically become Austin’s father.
“Thank you so much,” the woman said.
“My pleasure. Thank you for visiting our shop. And if anyone needs a toy—”
“I’ll be sure to send them your way.”
I rang up the elderly woman in front of me, who couldn’t stop smiling at Tyler and Austin. They zoomed around the store, with Austin making sounds while Tyler tried helping out tired and overrun customers. I handed the woman her bag and wished her a Happy Holidays. Then, I drew in a deep breath.
Things had been absolutely perfect these past few months. Despite Amy being concerned I was moving too quickly, I’d moved Austin and myself into Tyler’s home. Especially after we found out I w
as pregnant. It came as a shock, sure. But Tyler had been more supportive than ever. Reassuring me he was going nowhere whenever the fears about my past cropped up.
After taking a full-time position with the toy store, I was able to quit my job at the restaurant and work half the hours for the same amount of pay. And I saved a great deal of money by bringing Austin with me most days, when Miss Patty wasn’t missing him enough to come over and watch him.
The day swirled on, and one customer blended into another. I took small water breaks, and Tyler eventually got me a chair to sit in. I didn’t move out from behind the register once. And for the first time in weeks, I was glad to see the last customer exit the front door. We quickly locked down the store. I chugged a bottle of water. Austin wiped his brow and sighed, clearly beat from his day.
“Wow, guys, I’m tired,” he said.
I giggled. “So am I.”
“I could use some serious food,” Tyler said. “How about you two?”
“I think once we clean up around here, definitely,” I said.
“Hey, buddy,” Tyler said to Austin. “Why don’t you go in the back and start getting the ledger organized. How’s that sound?”
“Oh, yeah!” Austin said. “That sounds like fun. I’ll be back soon.”
I shook my head as he dashed off into Tyler’s office, going to get his ledger. Which was really one of his coloring and sticker books Tyler kept in his desk drawer for when Austin got too restless.
“That should buy us a little bit,” Tyler said.
He walked over and wrapped me up in his arms, kissing me like he always did. I let my nose linger against his, nuzzling softly as his hands splayed along my lower back. I draped my arms around his neck. He eased me down into my chair. And after kneeling between my legs, his hands massaged my thighs.
“You doing okay?” he asked.
“I’m a bit tired, but nothing I can’t handle,” I said.
“Drinking enough water?”
“Yup.”
“Did you get a chance to eat all your snacks?”
“Gone, along with lunch.”
He grinned. “Good. We don’t need you overworking yourself.”
When his eyes fell to my stomach, I smiled.
“It’s been a very good holiday season so far for the store,” I said.
“It has been. Yes.”
“You feeling okay? You look a little distracted.”
He paused. “Well, I’ve got an early Christmas gift for you”
“Oh?”
“And I’m not sure when the right time to give it to you is.”
“Tyler, you know you don’t have to buy me anything. I’ve got my perfect Christmas gift right here.”
I cupped his cheeks and kissed him softly, feeling him growl against my lips.
“I’ve got you, and that’s all I need,” I said.
He smiled. “Well, I suppose that makes this a bit easier, then.”
“Huh?”
“I mean, if all you want is me. Then I suppose I already know the answer to my question.”
I paused. “What question?”
As I gazed into his eyes, I felt him shuffling around. My hands fell from his cheeks, and I looked down, watching him pull a black velvet box from his pocket. My heart stopped beating. My body froze. My eyes slowly came back to his as his smile grew even brighter. Kneeling between my legs, he held up the box. Cracking it open to reveal the most gorgeous diamond ring I’d ever seen.
“Tyler,” I whispered.
“Will you marry me, Melody? And make me, literally, the luckiest man to ever walk this earth?”
My left hand trembled as I held it out for him. I watched him pluck the ring from the box. He slid it on my finger, the store’s Christmas lights illuminating the stones.
“This better not be a toy,” I said breathlessly.
Tyler laughed. “I mean, I can replace it with a candy ring, if that’s what you prefer.”
My jaw dropped open, and I hid my hand behind my back, making him laugh even harder.
“Don’t you dare,” I said. “It’s gorgeous.”
“So, I’ll take that as a yes?”
Tears of happiness lined my eyes, and I nodded.
“Yes. I’ll marry you, Tyler.”
He threw his arms around me and lifted me up. He brought me in for a kiss that weakened my knees. I melted into him. I felt my baby bump press into the rings of his abs. He cradled me, his tongue exploring my mouth as the lights of the toy store twinkled above us.
“You’ll marry me?” he asked softly.
I nodded. “Oh, yes. You’re stuck with me. Because you’re never getting this ring back.”
The two of us laughed together, and I felt the rest of my life finally fall into place.
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About the Author
Chloe is a hometown girl from Tennessee who loves a great short romance, drinking coffee most of the day, and hanging out with family. When she's not writing, she can be found playing the piano or surfing Facebook!
Having been a reader all her life, she's hoping that you'll find yourself lost to time, laughing and falling in love all over again with her books.
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This book is a work of fiction.
All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.
Copyright © 2019 C Morgan
Cover by Ryn Katryn Digital Art
Cover copyright © New Chronica Publishing
New Chronica Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
New Chronica Publishing
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First US Edition, 2019
Editor: Sandra Depukat