Ignite
Page 10
“I would love to spend the night with you two forever.” I kissed the top of Luxe’s head, then Leah’s. After a moment, I set the boy down on his feet before pulling Leah back against me.
“Are you sure?” she asked, tears glistening in the corners of her sapphire eyes.
“Am I sure?” I chuckled. “I feel like I should be asking you that.” I tilted her chin upward and pressed my lips against hers, much to Luxe’s exaggerated disgust. I heard him make a dramatic “Ew!” noise, and it was probably the only time I didn’t turn to him despite his obvious desire for attention.
Leah let out a soft chuckle. “Yes, I’m positive. I...we...can’t imagine a life without you in it, Jason. We’d love for you to move in with us.”
Elation filled every bone and vein within me. “Anything you guys want, you got it. You know that. Especially this.” My gaze flitted between the two most precious things in my life.
“So, you’re staying over tonight?” Luxe wrapped his arms around my leg, squeezing it like he never planned to let go, looking up at me with his bottom lip puckered out.
“Of course I am! If that’s okay with your mom?” I glanced down at Leah, my eyebrow arched.
She offered a warm smile, nodding. “Duh!” she laughed, rolling her eyes. “Let’s get you moved in already.” She winked at me, then kissed my cheek. Her lips burned against my skin, branding me with all the promises and dreams the gesture held for the future.
I clapped my hands together, knowing if I didn’t do something and step away from this beautiful woman who owned me, heart and soul, I’d wind up coming undone completely. I didn’t think the hold she had over me would ever fade. “How about I go over and grab a few of the things I bought at the grocery store, and we can put together a big ole’ dinner tonight, watch a movie of Luxe’s choosing, and have a campout in the living room? Then, tomorrow, we can start moving stuff over.”
“Yay!” Luxe cheered. You’d think I just suggested a shopping spree at Toys ‘R’ Us.
“Yay,” Leah grinned mischievously, leaning into me. I knew exactly what that meant. She knew as well as I did that the campout in the living room would come to an abrupt ending the moment Luxe drifted off to sleep. After that, we’d slip off into her bedroom—our bedroom—and have a little sleepover of our own.
I kissed Leah again, managing to hold myself back as much as I could. I shook my head at her. She knew damn well what I was thinking, and knew what her mere presence was doing to me. And she was enjoying every minute of it. “I love you,” I whispered, dangerously close to her face.
“I know you do,” she replied cheekily. “And I love you, too.”
Finally. It took all the restraint I had to hug them both and walk out of that apartment, disappearing into my own. I hadn’t quite begun to fully process the overwhelming feelings I felt beyond the lust and desire Leah stirred inside me—happiness, excitement, hopefulness, and, above all, certainty. This was the start of something I’d never expected. And now, I never wanted it to end.
I went straight into the kitchen, but not for groceries. Instead, I opened the cabinet that held my coffee mugs, pulling down the one with Destiny’s name on it, still tucked in the back of the cupboard. I stared at it for a long moment, remembering how I’d thought my life had been ruined when she’d left.
But, it hadn’t.
It had been the beginning of the rest of my life.
I let out a breath, realizing that the hurt that had once plagued me at the sight of her name was now only a faint memory. That emotion had been replaced by stronger emotions—real desire, and real love.
I did an overhand toss, letting the ceramic mug land in the garbage can that sat across the kitchen. The sound of it shattering against the stainless steel caused my mouth to quirk upward and my mind to turn straight to Leah and Luxe on the other side of the wall.
I knew why it didn’t hurt so much anymore.
She hadn’t been my destiny. They were.
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KINLEY COLE
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