by C. Morgan
His lips crashed against mine. I held back my moans, trying my best not to give in. I was angry. Upset. Confused. But there was nothing like that in his kiss. Only heat, and passion, and love.
Love.
“Nothing like this can ever die. You hear me, Liv?” he murmured.
Our foreheads fell together as I kept my eyes closed.
“I loved you back in high school, and I love you now. Even more than before. I made a mistake. I was a shitty, stupid, airheaded teenager who didn’t know up from down. And you deserved better than me. I’ve been paying for it for years. Empty beds. Empty women. Empty towns that didn’t feel like home at all. I’m sorry, Liv. I’m sorry for it all.”
I opened my eyes and found his welled with tears.
“Jake?” I whispered.
“I spent every minute of every day missing you. Wasting time we could have been together trying to convince myself that you needed better in your life. I want you, and only you. Forever. As long as you’ll have me.”
“Jake, I—”
“I want a future where I wake up to you every morning and lie down with you every night. Make love to you every afternoon, and enjoy dinner with you every evening. I know what I want. And I’m not afraid of it any longer. I want you, Olivia. Forever.”
My eyes danced between his. I felt his hands trembling against my cheeks. His eyes fell to my lips as his tears dried up. I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my chest. And for once, I decided to go with my gut instead of my head.
And I pressed my lips against his.
Chapter 19
Jake
Feeling her give in to me ignited a fire in my soul. I wrapped her up in my arms, forgetting all about the door still hanging open. I carried her into the bedroom, our tongues dueling for control. I kicked the door closed behind me and let our bodies fall to her bed.
“I love you,” I murmured.
She gasped as I kissed down her neck. Our clothes came off, littering her bedroom floor. I pinned her hands above her head, feeling her body opening up to me. Her legs spread for me, and her thighs glistened with her arousal. And as her pussy unfurled, ready to accept my cock, I slid inside her willingly.
Ready to be home again.
“Oh, Liv,” I groaned.
“Closer. I need you closer,” she gasped.
I captured her lips. I kissed her with such a fury our teeth clattered together. Her walls massaged me, pulling me deeper into her body. Her thick, voluptuous curves I’d dreamed of for years caught my fall. Her legs locked around me, her pussy gave way, and as our bodies moved in tandem with one another, I felt our hearts finally merging, our souls finally laid to rest after coming home.
“Jake. Yes.”
“Liv, fucking hell. I love you. I love you.”
“More. I need more.”
“You’ve got it, beautiful.”
I released her hands and felt her arms snake around my neck. I gazed into her eyes, holding their intensity as her nails raked down my back. I growled. She moaned. I let her sweep me under as her juices dripped down my balls. I rolled against her, feeling my curls tickling her clit. Her curves jumped for me, and her breasts bounced for my viewing pleasure. I dropped my lips to her neck, sucking and raking my teeth along her pulse point until she cried out my name.
“Jake! Yes!”
“I’ve got you. I’ve got you, beautiful.”
“Jake. Jake. Jake. I’m com—I’m com—so close—so close—Jake!”
Her back arched and I felt her pussy suck me down. My balls pulled up, stilling my movements as I poured myself inside her. Electricity sizzled throughout my body. My mind went blank as stars burst behind my eyes. Her nails curled into my muscles. Her legs quivered around me. And as her pussy milked me for all I had, those beautiful words fell from her lips.
“I—love—you.”
I collapsed against her, heaving for air. I thrust softly, working her through her orgasm as she trembled beneath me. She whimpered and clung to me, and I felt our intermingled juices spilling from between her legs. I kissed the shell of her ear, the tip of her nose, the sweat-stained skin of her forehead. And after I collapsed against her, she pressed her lips to my own ear.
“I love you so much, Jake.”
I held her tightly, not willing to let her go, not even an inch. I slid to the side, taking her with me and pulling her back against my chest. I kissed her shoulder. I nuzzled her neck. I buried my face into her tangled hair as I committed her scent to memory. Her hand found mine, and she threaded our fingers together. I rose up just enough to kiss her cheek softly from behind.
And when she rolled over, I found her smiling softly up at me.
“I’ll finish that list, Liv. You have my word,” I murmured.
She giggled. “You can rip it up for all I care.”
“You don’t want me to finish it?”
She cupped my cheek. “I don’t care if you do or not. I don’t have any doubts anymore about us.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “Really. Besides, we have the rest of our lives to do all the boring things on that list together. Right?”
My heart surged with delight. “I look forward to every load of laundry and every style of eggs.”
As her laughter filled the room, I furrowed my brow.
“Did I close the front door before we came back here?”
Liv paused. “Oh, shit.”
Then, the two of us laughed together, wondering just how much of that the neighbors outside truly heard.
Epilogue
Liv
Six Months Later
“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to the-most-gorgeous-woman-in-the-world. Happy birthday to you!”
I laughed. “Are you going to sing that every time you hand me something?”
As he handed me another mug of coffee, he began singing again.
“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you!”
I rolled my eyes as he continued to clean up. My birthday breakfast had been phenomenal. Jake had decided to turn it into one of his “adulting” tasks. For my birthday present, he’d take care of everything. Every meal. Every dirty dish. Every load of laundry that needed to be done. Which meant I got to put my feet up for the entire day and relax.
Which felt nice.
I sipped my coffee and watched him clean down the kitchen and haul laundry into our bedroom. Over the past six months, he’d really gotten the hang of things. Cooking, included. No more burnt crisps and canned whipped cream in this apartment. No, sir. And the couple of extra pounds around my thighs were evidence of Jake’s handiwork.
“Ready for your surprise?” Jake asked.
I paused. “What surprise?”
He drew in a big breath. “Happy birthday to you…”
“You know you don’t have to sing that every—”
“Happy birthday to yoooou!”
I laughed as he sang it at me, as loud as he possibly could. But when he came out of the bedroom, he had exchanged the laundry for a beautiful vase of flowers. I gasped at the sight of them. Beautiful red carnations peppered with sprigs of lavender and gorgeous white lilies. It smelled phenomenal. As he set it down on the small table beside the recliner in our living room, he kissed me on the cheek.
“Happy birthday to you,” he whispered.
I smiled. “Thank you, honey.”
“But be prepared. Because this isn’t the only surprise I have planned for today.”
“Oh?”
He grinned. “Not by a long shot.”
I giggled as he handed me the remote control. Then, he set off back toward the kitchen. I didn’t know what the hell he was doing, but I didn’t care. Because I couldn’t remember the last time I’d ever been this happy. I decided to let my doubts and worries fall to the wayside. Because over the past six months, Jake showed me what it meant to stick by my side. To be there, every morning, reassuring me he hadn’t left in the middle of the night.<
br />
Though, I still had some small worry I wasn’t sure he’d handle well.
“The coffee not good?” Jake asked.
I looked down at my barely touched coffee and sighed.
“It’s great. Really. It’s a good cup,” I said.
“So, why aren’t you drinking it, then?”
Better now than never. “Because I’m pregnant.”
The rag in Jake’s hand fell to the floor. His jaw slipped open as he stared blankly at me. And suddenly, all those fears came rushing back. All those old insecurities. Worries that he might leave. That he wasn’t ready for a jump like this. That I’d have to convince him to stay, like I did before.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
I nodded slowly. “Went to the doctor yesterday and had the blood work done.”
“So, not just a stick.”
“No, not just a stick.”
Then, he smiled. “You’re pregnant.”
I paused. “Yes.”
“We’re pregnant?”
And when he rushed me, a smile crossed my face.
He plucked the coffee out of my hand and tossed it to the floor, creating a mess he’d most certainly have to clean up. He gripped my hands and heaved me out of the recliner until I fell straight against his lips. He wrapped me up tightly and held me close as his tongue invaded my mouth. I slid my fingers through his hair, gripping tightly as my knees weakened.
His kisses always made my knees weaken.
“Oh, my god. This is fantastic,” he whispered.
My forehead fell against his. “You really think so?”
“Yes! Of course. Are you insane? We get to have a family. I get to have a child with you, Liv. A baby. A beautiful, healthy baby.”
And when his hands fell to my stomach, my heart filled with relief.
He got down on his knees and kissed my stomach. Over and over, as my hand settled on top of his head. His hands slid around behind me, rooting me to my spot as he slipped my shirt up, pressing his lips to my skin.
“You stole my thunder, little one. But I suppose I’ll let it slide this time,” he murmured.
I giggled. “What thunder, handsome?”
But instead of answering me, he simply reached into the pocket of his basketball shorts.
“I was going to save this for later tonight. After the meal I wanted to cook you. But now’s as good of a time as ever,” he said.
He held up a beautiful diamond ring, and tears rushed to my eyes.
“What?” I whispered.
“Olivia, you’re my world. You were my world even when I wasn’t here. And, somehow, you found the strength and the courage to take me back. I don’t know why, because you didn’t have to. I don’t know where you found the faith, but you did. And if you let me, I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret that choice. You, or our baby.”
I blinked back tears. “Ask me.”
He stood up, smiling. “Olivia, will you marry me?”
I laughed. “Best birthday gift ever.”
“So, is that a yes?”
I nodded furiously. “Yes, Jake. It’s a yes. Of course I’ll marry you.”
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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