Say I'm Yours

by Michaels, Corinne

  Trent moves us backward until we fall onto the couch and then braces himself over me without breaking the connection. Our hands roam each other’s bodies, my fingers tracing each ridge and valley on his perfect body. The last time he kissed me, we were yelling at each other, it was passion and anger, this time it’s coming together. He’s the other half of my heart, and right now, I’m beating in perfect sync with him.

  Trent pulls back. “I love you,” he says before finding my mouth again.

  I break the kiss and look him in the eyes. “Show me how much.”

  His grin spreads and he adjusts me so I’m on top of him. “I’m going to do much more than that, sweetheart.” The mirth dances in his eyes. “However, I’m on shift for another hour, so if I get a call, I can’t say I was busy makin’ love to my girl.” He kisses my nose. “So, you stay right here, and I’ll be back to make good on that promise.”

  I know what that means. Fun time for Grace.

  It takes Trent another twenty minutes to actually get out the door, and as soon as he leaves, I start to get excited about when he’ll return. I’m sure the next half hour is going to go by extremely slowly for both of us. With nothing to do but pace Trent’s house and drive myself nuts while I wait, I grab my phone and text Presley.

  Me: You home?

  Presley: Yes! Please tell me you’re stopping over!

  Me: I’ll be there in five.

  I leave a note on the table for Trent in case he comes back early and head to her house.

  “Grace!” she says, standing from her seat on her front porch and rushing toward me. “I’ve missed you!”

  “I’ve missed you, too,” I say as I embrace her. Even though we saw each other a few days ago, it was hardly time for us to catch up.

  “Come sit. I have coffee or wine. Zach’s at the hospital finally visiting with his dad.”

  We head back to the big couches that sit out on the porch. She and Zach built this house, and it’s truly amazing. It’s brand new yet feels like it’s always been here. The inside is modern rustic and the way they positioned the house they have a front row view to one of the ponds on the property.

  “Where are the boys?” I look around and wait for the noise, but it’s quiet. Her twin boys are always running around and then there’s her man-child . . .

  “They’re out camping with my brother and father. Since Rhett is still in the hospital, my parents figured they could take them so we’re freed up a little.”

  “That’s really nice of them.” I smile.

  She laughs and shakes her head slightly. “I think Daddy was a little ambitious and realized two teenage boys are a handful and called Cooper in for reinforcements.”

  “I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

  “Cayden is such a prankster, though. I can’t even imagine what they have planned for this trip.”

  I fold my legs under me and listen as she fills me in on the boys. They’re such great kids, and it’s been wonderful seeing them with Zach. He loves them as if they were his own. Logan is the quieter of the two, but he’s blossomed being on the farm. Between Cooper, Wyatt, Zach, and Trent, he’s surrounded by strong and outspoken men, they’ve all been influential. From the conversations that Presley’s had about their father, he wasn’t that way. Todd was soft-spoken and much more reserved.

  You won’t find much of that around here.

  It’s a death match for who can be louder and more outrageous. At least that’s how it was when we were growing up, and most of the aforementioned have yet to become adults.

  “How’s Zach handling everything with Rhett?” I ask as we sip our coffee.

  “You know Zach.” Presley purses her lips as she leans her head back against the couch tilting it in my direction. “He’s close with his dad and this is killin’ him. I think he feels responsible in some way. As if he should’ve known. How’s Trent handling it?” She gives a sly grin. “I saw you two at the hospital.”

  I shake my head and let my smile stretch over my lips. “Can I ask you somethin’?”

  “Of course.”

  “Do you ever wish things had turned out differently?” I’ve wondered how she truly felt after her life settled. She always knew Zach was the one for her, but that dream wasn’t set in Bell Buckle. She spent our childhood talking about seeing the world and with Zach playing baseball, it meant a life outside of here.

  Presley looks out at the water. “I think life works in mysterious ways. I believe I was meant to leave here, find Todd, have the boys, and then come back. It sounds nuts, but I truly believe my life is exactly how it should be. The boys love it here, I’m with the man I love, and I’m happy. Do I wish the boys had their father? Absolutely.” She gives a small, sad smile. “Todd loved them, but now they get to know a different kind of dad. Zach is active and crazy. Todd was structured and academic.” She shrugs. “But back to your question. No, I don’t ever wish things had turned out differently.”

  I don’t know why, but I feel like crying. She gives me hope that I can have it all. I look away and fight back the tears.

  I love that Presley’s happy. She’s been through hell and then found her heaven.

  “Grace? Are you okay, honey?”

  “Sorry.” I laugh and sniffle. “I’m just bein’ a girl.”

  “Why don’t you tell me about what happened.” Presley leans over and takes my hand.

  “I . . .” I don’t know what to tell her. “It’s . . .”

  Presley’s eyes are filled with concern. “Cooper and I talked. I told him I thought he should step back and let you find your way back to Trent,” she admits. “I don’t know if he told you, but I think we both know what it’s like to love a Hennington. It doesn’t go away. It doesn’t ebb. It takes over your entire heart and soul. Trent is your forever love, honey. Even if you and Cooper were to have really given it a go, I’m talkin’ full out dates, doin’ the things I won’t say, and all that . . . can you imagine what it would’ve been like to see Trent?”

  I shake my head and clutch my throat.

  “Your heart hurts just thinking about it. Am I right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yeah, that’ll never go away. Believe me, I know.”

  My chest tightens, and then I feel a sense of relief. I was so worried I’d lose Presley in some way. She was in a no-win situation with Cooper being her brother and Trent being her brother-in-law. And even though I didn’t actually date Cooper, it was hard not talking to Presley about what was going on in my life.

  I nod. “I love his stupid ass.”

  “And he loves you.” She squeezes my hand. “Trent was over here the day before your date with Coop. In all my time around him, I’ve never seen him cry. Not one time, and when he realized you were seriously movin’ on, he lost it. He tried to hide it, but I saw his tears.”

  I shake my head and look away. “Why did it take for me to think about dating another man for him to see me?”

  “Oh, honey. Because all men, especially Hennington men, are idiots.” We both laugh a little. “Look, I love my brother, but I never saw you guys as a real match. I hoped I was wrong, but I don’t know,” she rubs her hand against her arm. “Maybe because Cooper hasn’t had a serious relationship since high school, but he wasn’t going to be the one. He works too much, he’s stubborn as all hell, and I think after a few months, you guys would’ve killed one another.”

  “He is sweet, though,” I defend him a little.

  “Of course he is. He’s Cooper. But he’s also . . . Cooper.” She squishes her face, and we both laugh, and I know exactly what she means.

  “Since I’m pryin’ into your life and all . . . I wonder because we’re the same age, do you think you’ll have another kid?” I ask.

  “Hell no!” Presley almost chokes on her coffee. “Dear Lord, I think my uterus just died a little.”

  “Why not?”

  She puts her cup down. “I’m not saying that if it happened I wouldn’t be happy, but Zach and I have talked a
bout it at great length. We’ve only been married a few months, we spent seventeen years apart, and we don’t want to add more into the mix. To him, Logan and Cayden are his sons. He doesn’t see them as just mine. He jokes that he’s glad he missed the diaper stage, but we’re content with it being just the four of us.”

  “I can understand that. We’re not all that young, either.” I grab my coffee and try to chase away the thought with caffeine, but it is useless. I’m close to forty, and with as much as I want a baby, I’m not sure if Trent even wants kids. Sometimes I hate that I let him drag me around this long and I might have missed my chance.

  “You’re only thirty-six, Grace. Plus, Angie’s doin’ it.”

  “And look how miserable she is,” I retort.

  She shrugs. “Her first pregnancy was nothing like this one. It depends. But it’s not too late for you to have a baby if you want one. Look at where you are right now. You always have the ability to change. I think that’s the best part of life, you can make somethin’ happen if you want it bad enough. Trent thought all hope was lost, and look where you two are.”

  “I hope so, Pres. I don’t want to lose him.”

  She shifts forward and takes my hand in hers. “Then don’t let him go.”

  I smile and nod. That’s exactly what I intend to solidify tonight.

  Chapter 15

  “G racie ?” Trent calls out from the living room.

  “In here,” I yell to him.

  After my talk with Presley, I had a good idea of what I needed to do. The first is to set some ground rules for this to work. I plan to be clear about what will fly this time around. I think with his very logical mind, this will be the best approach. I just have to resist his attempts at seduction. I’ve never thought about how much he uses sex against me. But when I sat back and looked at it with a bit of perspective, it was all there.

  I’m unable to resist him. He knows how to please me, and he uses that to get out of these conversations.

  Not this time.

  Trent walks into the kitchen where I’m sitting at the table with my hands in front of me.

  “Sorry that took longer than I expected. I thought you’d be in the bedroom,” he says with a grin as he strips out of his shirt.

  “Sit,” I command. The smile he had fades. “Please.”

  “Did something change while I was gone?”

  “Not like that.” I try to be reassuring. “If this is going to work this time around, we have to talk first.”

  “We can talk in the bedroom.” He raises a brow.

  And here’s the flirting I’m susceptible to. I squash the tingling in my belly and focus on my task. Trent will not get me naked in his bed before we finish this talk. That is my goal. I must resist the five o’clock shadow, the way his blond hair is falling in his eyes, and the blue smoldering look he’s giving. I need to stop focusing on his arms and how the muscles are much bigger than I remember. I can’t think about that.

  I have to stay on task.

  “No bedroom, honey. We’ll talk right here.” I attempt to maintain my composure. But then he removes his undershirt and walks around to the seat next to me.

  “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”

  “Us.”

  “What about us?” Trent’s voice drops. “Because I’d like to do a lot more than talk, sweetheart. I went far too long without touching your skin when we were apart. And I’d like to fulfill the promise I made. I’m going to enjoy hearing you scream my name.”

  I melt. My entire body becomes liquid, and I can’t help the shudder that wracks through me. Damn him and his mouth. That mouth that I know can do some pretty incredible things.

  No, shut it down, Grace. Stay strong.

  “Trent.” I shift in my seat. “We had sex the other day, and it led to a lot of issues. I’d like to avoid that this time, so no sex or anything close until we talk.”

  “We’ll see.” There’s no mistaking the challenge we’ve both made. He’s going to make this talk incredibly difficult, and I’m going to end up naked on the table.

  “I want us to move in together by the end of the month.”

  “Done.”

  He doesn’t blink. He just agreed? Is this a joke?

  “I’m sorry,” I say in disbelief. “Are you agreeing?”

  “Yes, we’ll move in together by the end of the month. What’s next?”

  “Okay.” I bat my eyes in confusion. That was much easier than I thought. The last time we talked about moving in together, it ended with him storming out.

  “Can we live in my house? I like your place, but mine is a little bigger.”

  I know this will be where we’ll have the most resistance. He loves his house, and I love mine. However, I have three bedrooms, and he has only one. I would eventually like to have kids . . . maybe.

  “Sure. I like your place just fine. How about we start moving there now?”

  “Trent!” I glare at him. “Agreeing to agree isn’t going to get to the sex any faster.”

  He leans back and rubs his chin. “I’m not doin’ that, sweetheart. I’m telling you we’re going to move in together this week, to your house, and now, I’d like to take you back to my bed and spend the next few hours enjoying you . . . thoroughly.”

  I’m dead. He’s going to kill me with words. Trent’s hand moves to my knee and slowly creeps up my leg. “Stop.”

  “Stop what, sweetheart? I’m just familiarizing myself with the lay of the land while we talk. Bein’ efficient and all.”

  I need to talk faster. Much faster.

  “Do you love me?” I ask.

  His hand stops moving, and his eyes lock with mine. “I love you.”

  “I need to hear it. I need you to mean it. I’m going to be needy. I’m going to question you. I’ve had almost twenty years of doubting us, can you handle that?”

  Trent’s hands move to my face. His eyes are sad and full of regret. “I did this to you. I hate that I did. I hate that I put any doubt in your head. You’re going to have to forgive me and I’m going to have to earn that. I know this, and it isn’t anything less than I deserve. I won’t do that to you again, Gracie. I won’t hurt you like that. I plan to tell you that I love you every day, because I do.”

  A tear slides down my face. Who knew that he could be so damn sweet?

  “Can I kiss you?” Trent asks.

  I can’t speak, so I nod. Slowly, his face moves toward mine. It’s a sweet kiss filled with promise and a chance at redemption. I hold his hands as he cups my cheeks. Another tear falls as I give my heart back to him. Each piece of it is his. I wish it could’ve always been like this, but I try to let that go. He’s here now, loving me like I always wanted.

  He leans back and rubs the tear away with his thumb. “What else do you need, sweetheart?”

  I shake my head. “I only need you.”

  Trent’s hands don’t move as his jaw tightens. The air around us shifts and fills with tension. “Say I’m yours,” he demands.

  I don’t hesitate. “You’re mine.”

  “Say you’re mine.”

  “I’ve only ever been yours.”

  Trent stands and pulls me to my feet, his arms hook under my knees, and he lifts me. “You’ll only ever be mine.”

  I touch his cheek. “And you?”

  He smiles as he starts to move toward the bedroom. “I don’t see anyone else but you, Gracie. I’ll fix this. I’ll fix us.”

  “I know you will.” I smile.

  He kicks the door open and lays me down. My hands glide across his bare chest, and his eyes stay trained on mine. Trent’s body has always been firm, but now I’m takin’ the time to appreciate it all. His arms are big and strong and his stomach is toned and hard. I like it. My fingers make their way to his face, and his eyes close.

  I run the pads of my fingertips across his lips, feeling his breath as he sighs. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too,” I confess.

  He moves
quickly, flipping me on top. My hair falls between us, and he pushes it back. “I want to see you. I want to see your face the entire time.”

  I drop down and kiss him. Our tongues dance without restraint, giving and taking. He’s unforgiving as he nips at my lip. This is everything we are. The need I feel for him is insurmountable. I want him to remind me of what we were and all we can be.

  “Don’t make me wait,” I say as my mouth moves to his ear. “I need you.”

  Trent’s hands move up my back as I lean back, allowing him to remove my shirt. He stares at me, muttering, “So damn gorgeous,” before pushing me to my back, sliding off the bed, and taking off the remainder of his clothing.

  I smile. He’s always made me feel beautiful, especially when we’re in bed.

  Trent pushes me back and I watch as his body moves, loving every second.

  “You’ve been workin’ out,” I note.

  “It was either that or I beat the shit out of someone. I didn’t think that would earn me any brownie points.” He smirks.

  “Good choice.”

  He climbs back on the bed and stares at me. “Get naked, sweetheart. I’m done talkin’.”

  I remove my pants and climb under the covers with him. His mouth finds mine, and our limbs tangle together. My body responds to his touch without a thought. His hands cup my breasts, his thumbs brushing across my nipples and making me groan.

  When he takes one in his mouth, I buck under him. “Trent!” I cry out as my desire spikes.

  He doesn’t stop. He sucks, nibbles, and massages each breast. My fingers fist the sheets as he continues to extract pleasure from my body.

  When Trent’s fingers find my clit, I almost lose it. I’m so primed from his words and just being with him again that it isn’t going to take much to get me there. Thank God, because I’m going crazy as it is.