Forever in Love
Page 24
“Catherine, baby, if anybody judges you like that, they don’t deserve you in the first damn place.”
“I know that now. But I didn’t for the longest time.”
Blaine’s heart constricted. How alone she must’ve been. He couldn’t imagine trying to appear perfect all the time. Just the idea was exhausting. He’d sworn he wouldn’t rush her, that he’d give her all the time in the world to decide when she was ready, but he couldn’t stop the swelling of emotion. “Baby, you’ll never be alone like that again. I love you.”
* * *
Her lips parted, and Catherine covered them with her hand. She couldn’t speak through the lump in her throat, and she was so scared to tell him the three words that were dying to come out.
“I’m not saying that to push you into anything you aren’t comfortable with,” he said. “I want you to know I’ll wait until you’re sure.”
But when would she be that sure? Wasn’t a relationship always a risk, and hadn’t she just proved to herself that she wasn’t some pushover? She’d never talked back to her mother that way or demanded her respect. At her most defiant, she’d just stew and then become depressed and upset.
Looking into Blaine’s eyes, she knew he’d do as he said. He’d wait for her. He’d never make her do anything she didn’t want to do, and her opinions and preferences mattered to him. She wouldn’t have to pretend to be something she wasn’t.
So what’s the problem, Catherine? Take him. Grab him and don’t let him go.
She finally lowered her arm and spoke in a shaky voice. “I love you too…but there’s something I have to tell you.” She took his hand and led him to the couch. “Please don’t interrupt until I’m finished. I’m not even sure if I can talk about it calmly. It’s something that’s been an issue in my life for a while.”
“It can’t be that bad.” He spoke lightly, but his brow knit slightly, giving him away. He turned her hand in his until their fingers were linked. She drew a measure of calm and peace through the connection.
“There’s a good chance that I might not be able to have children,” she spoke fast so she could get it out before she lost courage. “I wasn’t able to conceive during my marriage, and I don’t know why.”
“Didn’t you see a doctor?”
“No. Jacob didn’t want to. He wanted it done naturally or not at all. But we tried for a long time, and it never happened. Whatever else anyone can say about him, Jacob took care of himself physically, so there’s a fifty-fifty chance that whatever was wrong was wrong on my end. I want you to know that because…well, you said you wanted children.”
“I want children with you, Catherine. But if we can’t have ’em, then okay. We can try some fertility treatment, and if that doesn’t work, it just wasn’t meant to be. We can always adopt. It doesn’t matter to me or have any effect on my love for you.”
“That’s really sweet, Blaine.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “But don’t answer without giving it some serious thought,” she said. “I don’t want you to regret this.”
“Already done. When you told me you wanted children and things didn’t work out, I kinda thought it might be something like this.”
She blinked as tears gathered in her eyes. “Blaine, I had no idea.”
“How could you? We never got a chance to talk about it. So I’m telling you now.”
“There’s more. My mother. She’s going to expect you to maintain her household and possessions. Don’t let her guilt you into it. She won’t downsize and will always insist on living in a house that’s too grand for her circumstances, simply out of pride.”
“Don’t worry. I can handle her.”
“Also I might not be able to live in Cooter’s Bluff. I know you like the town and everything, but I’m going to need to be able to travel easily when necessary. And—”
He put a finger on her lips. “It’s okay. I’m probably going to have to move anyway. I’ve been hoping I could stay here, but even if I get an assistant, there’s going to be people waiting every time I step outside.” He cupped her face in his rough callused hand. “Now look, is there anything else I should know, or are we about done here?”
Suddenly, all the tension in her life seemed to have vanished, and her heart could beat without the terrible vise around it. Blaine’s beloved face blurred. She wiped the tears away, so she could always remember all the details of his shining eyes and loving smile. “No.”
“Good. Now tell me you love me again. This time without any buts.”
She laughed. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby.” He kissed her on the mouth, gathering her in his arms. She devoured him, all the pent-up desire sizzling through her body like wildfire.
He pushed her dress up while she undid his belt buckle. She was so primed for him, she felt like she could climax just from the pressure of his thigh pressing into her mound. His mouth closed over her breast through the dress. She moaned as heat streaked through her and gathered between her legs. She felt so hot and so wet, and her skin seemed so tight, like the need inside her was ready to explode.
They never made it to the bedroom. He surged into her on the couch, and she wrapped her legs around him and gloried in the most intimate connection they shared. She arched and raked her fingernails down his sweat-slickened back.
“Baby, let go. I got you,” he whispered into her ear. “I always got you.”
His words pushed her over the edge, and she came hard, her muscles milking him inside of her. “Oh my god, Blaine.”
He moved his hips faster and harder, pounding into her like he wanted to be a part of her and never leave. Another orgasm spiraled out of control, and she screamed until she turned hoarse, Blaine joining her at the peak.
When she could finally breathe again, Catherine hugged Blaine, knowing she’d never be alone.
“Lemme take you upstairs so we can do it right this time,” he whispered hotly against her neck.
“That was already pretty right,” she whispered back with a satisfied smile. “But I’m up for round two if you are.”
“We have a lot to make up for. If I hadn’t been such an idiot about that folder Irene found, we wouldn’t have lost so much time.”
“The past is past. What matters is what we have now and our future together.”
And the future had never looked brighter.
Chapter Thirty
Four weeks later
Catherine’s flight was delayed, and it was already almost eight by the time she reached home. Not just any home, but hers and Blaine’s. They’d found the most perfect penthouse overlooking gorgeous downtown Nashville a week before and decided to rent it. Nashville was a great location—close enough to Cooter’s Bluff that he could visit his friends—or vice versa—and big enough to satisfy the needs of Catherine’s new job.
The moment she opened the door, the heavenly scent of sizzling beef and bacon greeted her. She breathed in appreciatively. “That smells amazing,” she said.
“My specialty burger and fries,” Blaine called out from the kitchen.
She set her rolling carry-on suitcase by the door and went to the open space that served as kitchen, dining and living room. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing those delectable forearms. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and brought him down for a long kiss. Her toes curled in her stilettos as their tongues tangled and his hands cupped her butt. Her body revved up, and she rose on tiptoe for closer contact.
He pulled back. “It’s gonna burn.” He took the patties off the skillet.
“Need any help?” she asked.
“Nope. Got it.”
She went to the built-in wine rack and picked out a bottle of a great red she’d found in California. “What about some cabernet with our burgers?”
“Sounds great.”
She uncorked it and watched him put everything together. He knew exactly how she liked hers—with extra cheese and pickles. When her phone rang, she picked it up. Hmm. An e
mail from Meredith. What could this be about? Catherine had started to use emails and texts in the last two weeks, and Meredith sent all sorts of stuff. “Do you mind reading what it says?” Catherine handed her phone to Blaine.
“Hold on.” He put the plates on the glass-top table and thumbed the touch screen. “Okay. She sent it to a bunch of people…Amandine, Gavin, Kerri, Ethan and you. She says, ‘Mom’s moving in with Barron. I can’t believe it!’ Oh and Kerri just responded. ‘Good. Barron needs somebody he can’t boss around.’”
Laughing, Catherine took her seat at the table. “That sounds like Kerri. Wonder why Meredith’s so shocked by this though. She should’ve seen it coming in Thailand.”
“Maybe she feels odd about her mother dating again?”
“You think so?”
“Kids can get weird about that kind of thing. I was less than thrilled when Mom started going out again. In retrospect it’s obvious she deserved to have a life.”
“You’re right. I’m sure Meredith will get over it.” She took a big bite of her burger and almost wept. There was no way she would ever get used to eating like this. “So how did everything go in Cooter’s Bluff?”
“We actually ended up meeting in Greensville, so it wasn’t so bad. Anyway, it’s all official now. Rick owns The Line.”
Catherine smiled. “That’s great.”
“Yeah. It’s the most logical thing to do. He deserves it.”
“So what are you going to do now? I have my art work, but…” She tasted the wine then poured two glasses. “I know you’re getting restless.”
“While you were away, I talked to Gavin about setting up a charitable foundation in my mom’s memory and running it.” He gestured with a fry. “To help women and children in poverty. I remember how difficult things were when I was growing up. Don’t want that for others.”
Her heart just went gooey at that. “Gavin would be the right man for the job. He runs a few foundations with his wife.”
“Yeah, that’s what I heard. You interested in helping out?”
“Of course.” She reached over and tangled their hands. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
He pulled her over and set her in his lap. “You know I love you more and more every day, don’t you?”
“I do.” Her forehead touched his. “And I love you so much sometimes I feel like this is all a dream.”
“It’s definitely not a dream,” he said, slapping her butt. “Did I tell you our new bed got delivered earlier today?”
“It did?”
“Yep. And,” he said significantly, “I assembled it.”
“Did you now? We should do some QA on that. Make sure it’s done right.”
“I agree,” he said, his lips grazing hers.
As he picked her up and carried her to the master bedroom, happiness suffused her until she was warm and tingly all over. Only a few months ago, she’d had nothing and felt like the world had taken everything from her. Who would’ve thought this was where she’d end up?
And she knew this time it was forever.
* * *
Thank you for reading Forever in Love. I hope you enjoyed it!
Would you like to know when my next book is available? Send a blank message to subscribe03@nadialee.net or go to my website at www.nadialee.net to sign up for my mailing list.
You’ve just read the fifth book in the Hearts on the Line series. The other books in the series are Vengeful in Love (Alex Damon & Natalie Hall), Reunited in Love (Ethan Lloyd & Kerri Wilson), Redemption in Love (Gavin Lloyd & Amandine Monroe Lloyd), and Sweet in Love (Pete Monroe & Brooke de Lorenzo).
Coming up next is Mark Pryce and Hilary Rosenberg. Look for it this summer! (Or send a blank message to subscribe03@nadialee.net or go to my website at www.nadialee.net to sign up for my new release mailing list!)
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What’s Next?
Coming up next is Mark Pryce and Hilary Rosenberg. If you want to know when it’s out, send a blank message to subscribe03@nadialee.net or go to my website at www.nadialee.net to sign up for my mailing list!
Titles by Nadia Lee
The Hearts on the Line Series
Book 1: Vengeful in Love (Natalie Hall & Alex Damon)
Book 2: Reunited in Love (Kerri Wilson & Ethan Lloyd)
Book 3: Redemption in Love (Amandine Monroe Lloyd & Gavin Lloyd)
Book 4: Sweet in Love (Brooke de Lorenzo & Pete Monroe)
Book 5: Forever in Love (Catherine Fairchild & Blaine Davis)
The Ever After Series
Book 1: A Happily Ever After of Her Own (A retelling of Beauty and the Beast)
Book 2: One Kiss (A retelling of The Frog Prince)
Ever After Bundle: Books 1 & 2
Other Titles
Ashwyn: Cinderella Retold with an Erotic Twist
The Last Slayer
Destiny Entwined
How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook
About Nadia Lee
Bilingual former management consultant Nadia Lee has lived in four different countries and enjoyed many adventures and lots of excellent food around the globe. She has kissed stingrays, been bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.
She shares an apartment overlooking a river and palm trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she's not writing the sexy contemporary romance series Hearts on the Line featuring hot, protective and possessive billionaire alpha heroes, she can be found digging through old Asian historical texts or planning another trip.
To learn more about Nadia and her projects, please visit www.nadialee.net. To receive updates about upcoming works from Nadia, please visit www.nadialee.net to subscribe to her newsletter.
Forever in Love
Copyright © 2014 by Hyun J Kyung
Barnes & Noble Edition: May 12, 2014
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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