Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
LONDON
W e drive. To where, I don’t know. But as we dance and sing along to every song, with his warm hand on my thigh and those dark eyes alight with devilry, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Pulling onto an oddly familiar dirt road, I sit up, taking in the lush green grass and tall trees that block out the sunlight. But instead of veering right to return to the magical spot where we had our night under the stars, Xan continues down the road.
We ride in silence for another few minutes before he comes to a stop and my eyes dart around to the nothingness surrounding us. I turn to him, brows quirked in question.
But he’s ready, a silky black blindfold in hand. “Turn around and close those pretty eyes.” His deep voice caresses each word as they leave his lips.
I’m giddy, jumping to do what I’m told without question. This man knows I love surprises and he’s upping the ante right now.
Gently bringing the blindfold over my eyes, he steals a kiss, before tying it just tight enough that I’m shrouded in darkness.
“Hold on, babycakes. We just need to get around this bend.”
Bouncing in my seat, I wait as patiently as I can as the truck starts to move again, and in less than a minute, he pulls to a stop.
“Wait right here, cake. I’m going to help you down and put you in position.”
I squeal as anticipation burns through me, the silence once he steps out just adds to my excitement. As he opens my door, my adrenaline spikes and I barely register him unbuckling my seat belt and taking me into his arms. Once my feet find the ground again, my focus is back, and I need this damn blindfold off.
“You ready, baby?” he says near my ear. “Surprise.”
I blink, my eyes quickly adjusting before they land on… a house. A grand home fit for a fairy tale, or an English country manor, surrounded by freshly shorn grass, stately trees, and a mix of colorful flowers. I can tell this home was once loved long ago, with its dark exterior, deteriorating pitched roof, dusty windows, and worn gables. It’s still enchanting as it invites me in.
“What am I looking at?” I ask, unable to tear my eyes away from everything before me.
“Our home,” he replies softly.
I gasp, my heart fluttering when he wraps me up in his love and continues.
“I bought this home for you, for us. She's a beauty, not properly taken care of. She needs some love to bring her back to her glory. Make her sparkle again.”
The stinging in my nose makes my eyes well. “Xan?” I whisper. “You bought this house for us? How? When?” I ask, as I turn in his arms. “I don't understand.”
A lingering kiss lands on my waiting mouth, and I fall into the fairy tale of it all.
“About a month ago. Ana was very helpful.”
“Ana? My realtor?” I sniffle. “Is that why she was unable to find anything for me?”
“She’s still looking for our place in the city, but I made sure she knew this was a priority.”
My brain struggles to wrap around all the words that are coming out of his mouth.
“But… I’ve been here less than three months… and a month ago…” I trail off, trying to do the math.
“I knew you were my forever.”
Me too .
Before I can respond, he plants a swift kiss on my lips and turns me toward the house. His smile is contagious as he hurriedly pulls me along.
“Come on, let's go inside. I'm gonna show you around and explain everything. But I want you to know I heard everything you said the other night.”
The other night?
Hand in hand, we stride into our future. Rocking on my toes, he gives my hand a reassuring squeeze before he opens the door with a key he pulls from his pocket, and we step into a grand entryway.
Hardwood floors stretch out around us, a little worn and battered, but they’ll be glorious once sanded and stained. Soft sunrays filter through the ornate oriel windows, catching the dust particles drifting in the air. Arched doorways beckon me to step in further to explore.
“Xander, this place…” I trail off, unable to formulate anything that would make sense.
“It's beautiful, right?” I can't help but smile at the excitement in his voice. “Do you like it?”
“Stud, how could I not? This is amazing! How did you know?”
“You posted an IG story once. You were watching one of your HGTV shows and said you just found your dream home. So, I had to make it happen. It’s not the same one, obviously, but it’s close and we can make this whatever you want it to be.”
Laughter bubbles from me at the absurdity of it all. He sees and knows all. I’d watched that episode after a bottle of wine and I’d wallowed thinking my life would be perfect if I just had a castle.
“Only your crazy ass would do something like this because I posted about it once.” I all but scream as he pulls me into his body, nuzzling my neck.
“I'm crazy, crazy about you. I have been for a long time. This is how serious I am about the future I want to share with you. I want this to be our family home. We can have my place in the city for date nights and fuck fests. Another place for our family and friends. But here, here's where we’ll raise our kids. Even if it’s just on the weekends, while you work in the city, this will be our family home.”
The ache in my chest is back as his words settle deep inside me. “Our family?” My voice quivers on family .
“Yes, London. I’m yours. No question. I want whatever you want, as long as I have forever with you. If you want kids. I want kids. Let's build a life here. Where we can share this love we’ve found unexpectedly and nurture it while we make a new life where I get to see you as a mother and fall in love with you all over again.”
“You want to see me barefoot and pregnant, you into that?” I joke, because how could I not. This is so intense. I wipe my sweaty palms on my clothes.
“If that’s what you want, yes. The idea of you full and swollen because you couldn’t stay off my dick and for sure begged for my cum, yes, I’m excited for that.”
My arms are around his neck before he’s finished speaking. Burying my face in his neck, I breathe him in. I just breathe, freely, deeply, for the first time in years. After barely six months, most of which I pushed back against the inevitable, this beautifully, caring man knew he wanted me, to be with me and build a future together. I spent seven years with a man, and we never made it here. Every conversation we had about the future, about a family, led to a fight. Yet, this man fought for me, and fought me, every step of the way to get us here.
My lungs are close to bursting, and I expel a burst of breath, my chest heaving.
This weight I didn’t know was there falls from my shoulders. The past is just that and it deserves to stay there. I say a silent goodbye to the woman I used to be, angry, sad, lonely, practically begging for love, but accepting any scrap of attention.
The strong band of Xander’s arms anchor me, as my nose burns, my face and neck heating, as the first cathartic tear falls. A gentle hand finds my hair, strong fingers run through the strands, and my tears slow, and I smush my face deeper into warm skin, with just the faintest scent of chlorine, and the soothing, rhythmic pulse in his neck.
The new me is here and has been for a while. The new me loves who she is. She’s not lacking, she’s more than enough. She loves where she is in her career, the connections she’s made, the path she carved out, and she knows her worth. She accepts love and is able to freely give it because she’s happy and confident in herself. She’ll never settle for less, but she knows she’ll never have to. Not with this man.
She’s standing in the arms of the man who has battled for her, not with her. A man who withstood all her bullshit and gently removed every jagged brick in the walls she erected to protect herself from ever being hurt by anyone else.
“Baby.” His voice rumbles through me and I cling to every sensation as our bodies press together.
“I knew you were someone important to me, someone who was going to be in my life forever the first time I saw you. I didn't know what that meant, or in what capacity. At the time, the only thoughts in my head were, I need to know her, she’s important. Things got out of hand that first night.” He chuckles.
“And I ran,” I say in a whisper.
He nods, rocking me a bit. “You ran. But when I saw you again, I knew I wanted to end up right here with you.”
“I never saw it like that.”
“Oh yeah, baby, I pursued. I planned. I plotted. I had to figure out how to have you and now that I do, our life starts here. I’m laying my heart at your feet. And you can stomp on it, you can stab it, burn it, light it on fucking fire, but it will always be yours. Because loving you is as easy as breathing. I love you, London.”
“Yeah?” I croak, my voice is weak and raspy, and I can’t pull my face from the safety of his neck.
He hums. “I love your sparkle, it’s in everything you do. I love the mischievous little glint you get in your eyes right before you slay me with that smart mouth. I love that you always have the sexiest shoes, and you hate admitting that you wear them for me, but I love the look you get when I notice. I love how caring you are with your friends and family.”
Warmth pulses through me and I shakily lift my head, needing to see his face as he indeed gives me his heart and shows me why I trust him with mine.
“There she is.” He brushes a soft kiss to my nose before kissing away the fresh tears on my cheeks. “I love this tiny little dimple in your cheek when you smile just for me. Yeah, that smile.”
My smile eats my face, and he mirrors me.
“I love your passion for your work. I love that you had the tenacity to pick up and move across the country because you knew that's what you needed. I'm so thankful that you came home to me. But more than anything, I love that we met now. We met when we were both ready for more, to have more out of life. I want more with you. I want everything. You want a white picket fence out front, I’ll build it with my bare hands. Three, four, five babies? This place has so many bedrooms and we’ll fill them all. Whatever you want.”
Gallops. That’s what my heart does with every word that crosses his lips, each one bringing me closer to my every dream come true. Without a doubt, I know this man will give me anything I want, everything I need, and I will do the same. This is it, but...
“Xander,” I say, licking my lips as my hand goes to his chest. His heartbeat is steady under my hand unlike mine. He's always so sure, so steady and strong. I love that about him. I. Love. Him. But I have to know.
“Here you go again with these flowery words hitting me square in the chest. Yes, these are all the things I want, the things I’ve always wanted. Being a wife and a mother is who I am deep down to my core. But I have to know, is this what you want? You had this big, fabulous life before me. Your company. Your freedom.” I hold his gaze. “You want to give that all up for me? For this?” I gesture around the dusty space.
He shakes his head, frowning. “I'm just a small-town boy. Family, love, and a home filled with laughter is what I want. Did I come here to become a success and enjoy all the trappings that come along with it? Yes, but underneath it all, this is who I am. I'm not giving anything up for you, London. I was simply waiting for you.”
The minute speck of resistance is blown away as joy explodes through me and I pull him to me. Our lips meet in a sensual caress, and I pour all the feelings ready to burst from my body into every moan and stroke of my tongue. The millions of fluttering wings in my stomach have become a comfort because this man will forever thrill me and give me butterflies.
Slowly pulling away, he leaves me with a bite to my bottom lip, before his forehead rests against mine.
“I never want you to worry. As far as my company is concerned, I’ll sell it if you want.”
I squeak. “What?”
“We have more money than we can ever spend in ten lifetimes, we’ll be more than okay. Our kids, our grandkids, and their fucking grandkids will be just fine. But I want to be here for everything. I don't want to miss a moment with you or with them.”
“You're gonna be a stay-at-home dad?” I whisper, and I can't help but giggle at the thought of it, but I won’t let him give up his company. He’s worked too hard.
“Yep. Carpool. Daddy daughter dates and adventures. Father son bonding and quests.”
I sigh. “That's so hot.”
His chest puffs up. “Right? I'm gonna be the coolest dad on the block.”
My laugh is his laugh, our lips moving together as we lay out our future. “Are you real? Is this some kind of joke?”
“If so, the joke’s on me. I thought I knew it all, had it all. Then you wiped that all away with one smile, one look, and my life was irrevocably altered, because I will forever do whatever it takes to have you beside me for the rest of my life.”
He’s all shimmery and my eyes spill over at his words. “Xander,” I whisper. I know I owe him more, beautiful words, declarations, but I’m too caught up in the future he’s painted for me.
“I’m here, baby.” Loving fingers swipe away my tears. “I’m not going anywhere. I'm so fucking in love with you. I’ll move mountains. I'll fight a bear. Whatever you want me to do. I'll prove it to you every day with my words and actions. I want you to know this is what I want, and miniature versions of us running around, when you're ready.”
My smile spreads, because I’m ready for all of it. “Are we really doing this?”
“Baby, it's already done. It's you and me now and forever.”
Xander
Gesturing to the patio running the length of the house. “We can extend this patio with natural stone another twenty or thirty feet. We’ll need to put in a bigger pool over there, an outdoor kitchen and dining over here. A bar. Tons of seating. A pool house. I was thinking we can build your photography studio over there next to the indoor pool we’ll also need to build. How do you feel about underground tunnels leading from the pool and studio to the house? They’ll be ideal during the cold as fuck winters. And with all the acreage, the kids will have plenty of space to roam and run around. We’ll need four wheelers, built in trampolines, and a big ass tree house.”
My words are running together in my excitement as I lead London around the backyard before we lose the sunlight. We have about a hundred acres of land here we’ll need to explore and design for us to entertain and host our friends and family comfortably.
She clutches my hand, eyes whipping wherever I point. With her bright eyes and smile wide, I know she’s as excited as I am.
Stepping in front of me, her little hand brushes through my hair, before trailing over my ear, causing me to shiver. “I was certain that when we drove up the dirt road, we passed by our movie night set up,” she asks softly.
I nod, watching the range of emotions flicker across her beautiful face. Surprise. Then glee. But it’s the love and adoration that tugs on my own.
“You built that here, knowing it would be our forever home?”
“I did.”
“Oh my gosh, you owned this then? That was one of the nights that changed everything.”
“It was so hard not to bring you here that night, but I was hopeful we’d be back one day, and then we’d design our dream home together. And now we’ll be able to go out there whenever we want, and I can fuck you under the stars.”
Her giggle fills me with pride. My baby didn’t giggle before. She didn’t smile so freely, at least at me. But now, those hazel eyes shine with a happiness I want to see for the rest of my life.
Pressing a kiss to her knuckles, I lead her back to the house, to explore inside. “How about we start upstairs and make our way down to the basement?”
Lost in thought, she allows me to pull her along and up the stairs.
“I love the exposed beams. We should keep those.” I point to the vaulted ceiling.
The home is colossal. Three stories with a basement. Eight bedrooms and ten bathrooms. A designated library, gym, and two home offices. I’m thinking of building connected suites for our parents for when they visit and as they get older, they can avoid the stairs.
We just finished walking through the upper floors with the bedrooms and baths. She's been quiet, taking it all in. Which was especially surprising when we walked through the meager closet in the primary suite. But as we look more at the family spaces, she’s warmed up.
“This kitchen needs to be completely gutted. We’ll need more prep space and storage. What do you think of reorienting everything, so the focus is out toward the back of the house and the beautiful views? We’ll have to open this up with new doors. I want the view unobstructed. I’ll have to find that competition reno show I watched. There were these glass doors I loved,” she murmurs, scanning the space.
The shock has worn off and cakes is in her element.
“Whatever you want.”
She winks, the smile telling me those words are all she needed to hear, as she leads me down the hall and we find the stairs to the basement.
“This is the perfect home theater room. What about a game room through here?”
“I love that, babycakes.”
She doesn’t respond, but just takes out her phone to take pictures and type up some notes.
I already have drinks planned later this week with the guys so I can get contractor recs from Ty and Eli. They know all about how this renovation shit works, they’ll be huge assets for us. Now that I know this will be our forever home and I'm ready for the life that comes with it.
“Have I said thank you?” She shakes her head as I pull her flush against me. “I know I haven’t told you I love you enough.”
“You don't have to.” I can’t resist dropping a kiss on those full, upturned lips. “This home is for us.” Another kiss. “It’s our future.” I sink my teeth in her juicy bottom lip this time. “Which means you’ll have forever and a day to tell me how much you love me.”
Her tongue comes out to play as she stretches to deepen the kiss. “And that still won’t be enough.”
Her beaming face is all the thanks I need, and I’ll be sure to make her smile daily. I want her to know that she is loved, so loved, she never has to wonder.
“Xan, everything is perfect. You’re perfect. Thank you, stud. Our life has just started, and you’ve already made just about all my dreams come true. I love you, Mr. Grant.”
My heart beats for her. With a little recon, okay, and maybe some light stalking, the love of my life just fell into my lap.
My own fucking Cinderalla .
“I love you, future Mrs. Grant. This is just the beginning and our forever starts now.”