Chapter 23 Keaton
Chapter twenty-three
Keaton
B
eing able to hold Anna in my arms as we sway to the song that played during our ceremony was totally worth the hundred bucks I gave Kalli to bribe her into playing it.
It hasn’t been easy tearing Anna’s walls down.
The walls she put up because of me. The first week she was here, I had to keep checking the thermostat to see who was messing with it.
Turns out it was just the icy blasts of her cold shoulder.
She spoke when necessary and nothing more, but it didn’t stop me from talking.
I shared with her about my family, my company, and my weaknesses.
Finally, by the end of the week she was responding, and even starting the conversation all on her own.
Those moments in my truck were the highlights of my day, but tonight, holding her like this with her head against my chest, nothing has ever felt so right.
As the King croons out the classic line about being unable to help falling in love, Anna looks up at me.
“Keaton?” Her sweet voice is soft so only I’m able to hear it.
I hum to let her know I’m listening.
“Will you take me home?”
Those words snap me out of the dream I was having that my girl wanted me back. That she trusted me again and was ready to pursue our marriage. But she’s biting that bottom lip of hers and I know she does that when she’s overthinking. Defeated, I let out a heavy sigh.
“Yeah, Baby. Let’s go home.”
We drive in silence and it’s killing me inside.
I replay every word I said and every action I made to see if I scared her off.
Maybe that kiss was too much too soon, but I wasn’t imagining things when she pressed her lips against mine and kissed me back.
Before I’m ready to call it a night I’m pulling into the driveway and the girl I am falling so fucking hard for is about to pull away from me again.
“Thanks for bringing me home,” she says, unbuckling her seat belt.
“Well, ya know, it was on the way.” I give her a small smile and am grateful for the one she gives me right back. “Just a sec and I’ll get your door.”
She tries to protest, but I’ve already hopped out and made my way around the truck. I open her door and place my hands on her hips to help guide her out of the tall vehicle. When her feet hit the pavement, I should let go, but I keep my hands where they’re at, not wanting to say goodnight just yet.
She feels so good in my hands. I pull her into me and wrap my arms around her back, hugging her in a way I don’t think I ever have with anyone else. I could stand here all night like this, but instead, I release her, and we walk hand in hand down the stone path to her temporary residence.
“Do you want to come in?” Her beautiful emerald eyes look up at me as she tucks that pouty bottom lip of hers back between her teeth.
Do I want to come in? Yeah. Yeah, I fucking do. But I want her trust and love even more. I want her to know without a doubt that she wants what’s between us to work out. So, I piss my dick off and run my mouth.
“Anna, there is nothing more I want to do than go inside your home with you. I want to push you through that door and kiss you until your lips ache. I’d only give them a reprieve because I want to focus on those tits that have been teasing me all fucking night, spilling out of that top.
Once I’ve left bite marks all over the flesh and your nipples are so hard they hurt, I want to undress you so my eyes can explore every beautiful inch of this incredible body.
Next, I want to bring you to orgasm by tossing one of your legs over my shoulder and consuming that delicious pussy that’s haunted my memories.
And finally, after I’ve gotten you so fucking wet you’ve made a mess of my face and your thighs, I want to sink so fucking deep inside you over and fucking over again until you can’t fucking talk tomorrow because you lost your voice from screaming my name. ”
I watch her throat bob as she swallows thickly. She shifts in a motion that has her thighs rubbing together. God why am I being such a dumbass right now?
“But more than any of that Anna. More than the desire I have for your body. I want your heart. I want it so damn bad I’m in physical pain from the ache in my chest. I want you so bad that when I drop you off after work, all I want to do is go to bed and sleep so I can see you in my dreams because any moment I’m not with you is absolutely fucking miserable.
I want your pride. I want your trust. I want your love. ”
I stare at her openly, letting her see all of me and all that I want to be for her.
“And that’s why I can’t come inside tonight, Anna.
I need to deserve you. I need you to want this marriage to work.
I need you to take a chance on me. A chance on us.
” I place my thumb under her chin, tilting her head and placing the softest of kisses on her cheek.
“I can’t have you, Anna, until you’re ready to have all of me.
I can’t have you until you love me the way that I love you. ”
I didn’t plan on saying those words to her tonight, but I don’t regret letting her know exactly how I feel about her. The only thing I do regret is that speaking those words into existence is making it even fucking harder to walk away from her. Again.