Epilogue
STEELE
I step off the elevator into the penthouse, duffel slung over my shoulder from practice.
“Lilah?” I call out, already unzipping my hoodie and toeing off my sneakers by the door. “Are you home?”
The scent is what hits me first.
The air is thick with the aroma of garlic, rosemary, and something mouthwatering. My stomach grumbles in appreciation as I follow it to the kitchen. I toss my bag onto the bench, expecting to find Lilah humming along to some playlist in leggings and a sweater.
What I find instead makes my brain short-circuit.
She’s standing at the stove wearing nothing but an apron. Her hair is pinned up in a messy twist and her bare legs are on full display. I get an eyeful of her naked backside as she stirs something in a skillet.
I lean against the doorway, arms crossed, all the while fighting back a grin.
This woman is fucking adorable.
“Well, well,” I murmur. “What’s a guy gotta do to get more dinner prep like this?”
With a glance over her shoulder, she grins. “Tip well. ”
I push off the wall, closing the distance with deliberate steps. My fingers twitch with the urge to touch her, but I keep them to myself.
For now.
“Keep talking about tips, lucky charm, and I’m gonna end up sinking every damn inch into you right here against the counter.” I circle around her, letting my eyes drink her in before raising a brow. “And what exactly is under that apron?”
She winks. “Absolutely nothing.”
A low growl rumbles from me as I step behind her and press in close. My hands slide along her waist, fingers teasing at the edge of the apron’s bow tied at the small of her back.
“I think you might be trying to kill me.”
Even though her laugh is light and easy, there’s heat in it too. “Go sit down. I’m spoiling you tonight.”
I press a kiss to the curve of her neck. “Is that so?”
“Yup,” she says, nudging me with her hip. “Dining room. Now.”
With a groan, I obey, giving her ass one quick smack before retreating.
As soon as I round the corner into the other room, I stop short. The table is set, and there are candles flickering low, casting shadows across the white linen. There’s a bottle of wine and two glasses. Not to mention, cloth napkins. It’s the whole nine yards.
“Damn,” I mutter. “Fancy.”
“Nothing but the best for my baby.”
She saunters in, carrying two plates before setting them down with a flourish. Then she unties the apron and shrugs it off, tossing it onto the back of a chair.
That’s all it takes for air to clog my lungs and everything else to fall away.
“How do you expect me to eat when you’re completely naked? ”
Instead of letting her sit across from me where she set her plate, I reach out and snag her hand before towing her toward me and onto my lap.
“Right here,” I say, adjusting her until she’s straddling me, my hands splayed across her bare ass. “This is where I want you.”
She laughs, brushing her fingers through my damp hair. “You’re not going to be able to focus on food if I sit on your lap like this.”
“Oh, I’m aware,” I say, picking up a fork. “But I still want you here.” I cut into the chicken and bring a piece to her lips. “Open.”
She raises a brow but obeys, her lips brushing the tines as she takes the bite. I bring the next one to my mouth, but my other hand is already stroking a path along her thigh, tracing idle circles that make her shiver.
“You like feeding me now?” she teases.
“I think we both know how much I like taking care of you.” My fingers drift higher. “And I enjoy touching you. So, yeah, this feels like a win-win in my book.”
Her laugh is low as she tilts her head back just a bit.
And that’s exactly how we eat. Slowly feeding each other between kisses and caresses. She hums when I drag my mouth along her jaw.
“You’re dangerous like this,” she whispers.
“Dangerous?” I echo, bathing her pulse point with my tongue.
Her hands fist in my shirt. “Yeah. You make me forget that anything exists beyond these walls.”
I press a kiss against her shoulder. “That’s the point, baby. You and me? It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
The way she easily melts into my body tells me she feels the same way.
She rests her forehead against mine, the softness of her exhale brushing my skin as her fingers trace lazy patterns on my chest. “If I’m not careful, you’re going to make me fall harder, you know that?”
I smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Good. All you have to do is trust me, and I’ll be there to catch you every single time.”
For a moment, neither of us moves. The candles flicker as the city hums outside the windows. The scent of dinner lingers in the air, but food is the last thing on my mind.
She shifts on my lap, pressing in just enough to make me hiss through my teeth. “This was supposed to be a sweet little dinner,” she murmurs, her lips grazing the shell of my ear.
“And it was,” I tell her, my hands gripping her hips. “Until you decided to make it a test of my fucking restraint.”
Her lips tilt in a wicked little smile. “Restraint? You’re not exactly known for that where I’m concerned.”
“No,” I admit, my thumb skimming over the top of her pussy, “but I’m trying to be good.”
“You sure about that?” she teases, reaching for my wine glass and taking a small sip before offering it to me. I take the drink from her hand. My eyes stay locked on hers as I set the glass down on the table.
“Pretty sure I’m about to fail,” I say, my voice a low rumble. “Miserably.”
Before she can respond, I scoop her up and rise from the chair in one smooth movement.
“Steele,” she gasps, arms twining around my neck.
“Dinner was perfect,” I say, already carrying her toward the bedroom. “But I’m more than ready to have my dessert. In our bed.”
She bites her lip, trying to fight back a grin. “What if I want cake?”
“You’re getting something much sweeter, baby.”
“Is that right? ”
I lower her to the mattress like she’s something precious. “Yes. And if you’re a good girl and drink down all my cum, I’ll feed you cake in bed. Maybe I’ll eat it off those pretty little titties.”
Her laughter fades as I hover above her, brushing my nose along hers. “Deal.”
“I meant what I said earlier,” I whisper, searching her eyes. “All of it. This… us… it’s everything.”
Her eyes fill with warmth as her palm cradles my cheek. “I know.”
And just before I kiss her, she says the words that send my heart straight into overdrive.
“I love you, Steele Sanderson.”
I smile against her mouth. “You’re my everything, lucky charm. Everything and always.”
Then I kiss her gently.
Thoroughly.
It’s not just a kiss. It’s a confession, a promise, and a plea, all wrapped into one.
She arches into me, her hands threading into my hair, her legs wrapping around my waist like she never wants to let go.
And I hope she never does.
“Tell me what you want,” I murmur against her mouth.
“You. Just you.”
That’s all I need to hear.
My gaze stays fastened to hers as I rise to my knees and strip off my clothes. She looks at me as if I’m something she wants to savor. And when I’m finally as bare as she is, all I see in her expression is desire.
The kind that burns slow and deep, meant to last a lifetime, not just a night.
I take my time with her because that’s exactly what she deserves. I kiss the slender column of her neck, across her collarbone, tasting every inch of skin that’s mine to touch. She shivers when my mouth finds the spot beneath her ear, and I smile.
Her fingers tremble as she skims them down my chest, tracing the lines she’s already memorized. I shift lower, lips dragging across the swell of her breast, savoring her sigh when I take her nipple into my mouth. She arches beneath me, needy and open, her breath coming in fast, broken gasps.
“Steele,” she whispers, nails digging into my shoulders.
“I’ve got you, baby.” I press a kiss to her sternum, then lower, worshipping every part of her.
By the time I finally slide inside her heat, we’re both shaking. Two heartbeats pounding in sync, two people who’ve been circling this moment for years. Her eyes lock on mine, glassy and full of emotion.
This isn’t just sex.
It’s love.
Every thrust, every whispered word between kisses, every brush of her fingers across my jaw tells me so. When she falls apart beneath me, her cry muffled against my mouth, I follow right after, groaning her name like it’s a vow.
Because it is.
And when it’s over, I stay exactly where I am, our bodies tangled, her hand resting over my heart.
“I don’t want to move,” she murmurs.
“You don’t have to.” I kiss her temple, then her jaw. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Not tonight.
Not ever.
Thank you so much for reading Make Me Yours! I hope you enjoyed Lilah and Steele’s story as much as I loved writing it! Want a sneak peak into their future? Click here to get a bonus epilogue delivered straight to your inbox!
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Ready for the next book in the Chicago Railers Hockey series?
Hold Me Tight is a best friend’s ex, hate to love you, slow-burn pro hockey romance featuring a hero who has been biding his time and a heroine who’s not sure she can trust anyone with her heart again.
Check out Callie and River’s story in Hold Me Tight .
Did you know that Bridger and Holland have their own book? Plus… you can catch a glimpse of Lilah and Steele in it!
One-click Never Your Girl !
Can you really blame me for loving the scandalous texts exposing Bridger Sanderson for the jerk he is? As far as I’m concerned, it’s sweet karma for ghosting me after we hooked up two years ago. Cocky, infuriating, and way too gorgeous for his own good, Bridger thinks he’s untouchable.
The best part?
He’s convinced I’m behind the messages.
Ha! I wish.
Unfortunately, my life takes a turn for the worst when Bridger uncovers my secret side hustle. Now he’s blackmailing me, forcing me to stick close—we’re talking 24/7—until he figures out who’s airing his dirty laundry on campus.
I should hate him for dragging me into his mess.
And I do…
Mostly.
Except… the more time we spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore how he looks at me. It's almost like he can see straight through the walls I’ve built to protect myself. Or how his own guard slips, revealing the cracks in his armor when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
The only person who’s ever gotten this close is ColdAsIce17, my anonymous confidant on the school chat app. With him, I can totally be myself.
But what happens when the lines blur between the guy I hate and the one I can’t stop thinking about?
What happens when I realize... they might be the same person?
One-click Never Your Girl !
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