Chapter 9 #2
“No,” I say, rolling my eyes with a smile.
I never seem to stop smiling around this man.
“Actually, my degree is in Business Management. I want to make Revamp the kind of place where anyone, no matter your size or style, feels comfortable shopping. It sounds kind of frivolous, but building that confidence in someone is so…I don’t know.
It’s important to me, I guess.” He stares so deeply into my eyes, a wide, goofy grin on his face.
“You’re telling me you’re a sexy virgin business lady? I’m gonna fucking DIE, angel. I swear. I dreamed this, I promise you I did. I must have done something damn good in a previous life to deserve this.” He blows out a dramatic breath, staring up at the ceiling like he’s talking to God.
Smacking his chest, he captures my hand in his, falling backwards and taking me with him.
Pulling my body on top of his, I rest my head against his bare chest, running my fingers over his smooth skin.
He lifts my chin until his crystal blue eyes meet mine.
He kisses me softly, barely touching my lips with his.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much peace before in my life as I do when he’s kissing me.
Using one hand to move my head wherever he wants me and the other to cup my ass cheek, gripping my body tightly to his, he devours me.
We kiss for an eternity, or maybe only seconds.
Either way, I’m breathless when he finally breaks away, kissing my forehead as I curl into his chest.
“You’re not what I expected,” I whisper, hoping he doesn’t take it the wrong way.
“Yeah, I hear that a lot. Usually it’s not a good thing,” he laughs and I just shake my head.
“I’m glad. I don’t think I wouldn’t have liked the fake version of you. I like this one much better,” I say, placing a kiss above his heart.
“Well, since we’re sharing secrets here, I guess I can tell you one,” he says, and I look up at him, not willing to move from his arms. “This is the best birthday I’ve had in a really long time, Magnolia.”
His words don’t register with me at first. I’m too distracted by the feeling of his callused fingers stroking up and down my spine. But when they do, my eyes shoot open wide. His birthday?!?
“What?!” I screech, and he pulls a guilty face. “What do you mean it’s your birthday?!”
“Caught that, did ya?” He says, laughing softly. I try to sit up, but he holds me to him tightly.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Dalton? I would have done…something!” I say, throwing my hands up. He’s always so busy worrying about making everyone else smile, he never takes the time to do the same for himself.
“Magnolia, didn’t you hear what I just said? This is the best day I’ve had in a long, long time. I’m exactly where I want to be,” he says, kissing my hair softly. “Tá tú cad ba mhaith liom, aingeal, go deo.”
“The only part of that I understood was angel,” I tell him, and he laughs.
“It’s not important, Mags,” he tells me, and I almost believe him. If I’m really gonna make something of this relationship, I’m gonna have to learn Gaelic.
“Everything you say is important to me.” Snuggling tighter into his chest, I breathe in his woodsy scent, committing this moment to memory.
“There is one thing you could do for me tonight,” he says, twirling a rogue curl around his finger.
“Name it. You get anything you want on your birthday,” I say, walking my fingers slowly down his chest, toying with the waistband of his boxer briefs.
“I’ll never say no to anything that you’re thinking right now, angel. But my request has nothing to do with my dick,” he says, and I pout. Apparently, he’s turned me into some sex-starved, horny teenager overnight. But I won’t complain.
“Ok, fine. Tell me then,” I ask.
“Will you come to dinner with me tonight?” He says, surprising me. A real date with Dalton? I can’t think of anything I’d want more at this moment.
“Of course! Can we run by my apartment? I need clothes,” I ask, feeling him tense beneath me.
I know he’s worried about what my mother and Aaron are capable of, but I won’t go out anywhere smelling like sex and sweat.
He nods silently, standing and picking up his phone without another word.
Stoic Iris isn’t my favorite person, but I understand his concern.
He holds the phone to his ear, keeping an eye on me as I search the room for my clothes.
“Ev, hey. Are you at Magnolia’s now?” He asks, and I’m frozen. Shocked. Why would Everett be at my apartment? “Ok, thanks. We’re gonna head over there now so she can grab a few things. Who’s next on the rotation?”
Rotation? What the hell are they talking about? Everett has better things to do than sit at my house. He has a new baby!
“Ok. Talk soon.” He ends the call, looking at me like he doesn’t understand why I’m confused. “What’s wrong?”
“Why is Everett at my house?” I ask.
“Break and I agreed that someone needed to keep an eye out there, just in case Aaron showed up. But he and I can’t do it alone, so Eli and Ev volunteered to help.
” My jaw hangs open, utterly confused about why they would do that.
Sure, I’m friends with their wives, but that shouldn’t be a reason to compromise their safety. Not for me.
“I don’t…I mean, they shouldn’t…” I stutter, not really knowing what to say.
“Magnolia, this is a family. You may not understand how that works. Because no offense, but your family sucks. But there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for each other, and that includes you,” he says, so simple, yet the words still bring tears to my eyes.
“B-Because I’m with you?” I say, not wanting to imply something we haven’t really had time to discuss. He hooks a finger under my chin, forcing my eyes to his.
“As far as anyone else knows, you needed help, and we can offer it. They don’t know anything about you and I, Mags.
Well, except Breaker. But I haven’t really had time to talk to anyone else.
I know this was supposed to be just one friend helping another.
But now that I know how you taste, now that I’ve seen your beautiful face behind the mask you try so hard to keep in place, I don’t want to let you go.
They want to help you because they care about you, Magnolia.
We care about you.” Tears slip down my cheeks as his words soak into my soul.
They care about me. This strong, sexy, sensitive man cares about me .
“Okay,” is all I can manage before he kisses me. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the feeling of his kiss, not always passionate or rough or sweet, but somehow always the way I need to be kissed at that moment.
“And just so we’re clear, angel. You are fucking mine ,” he says, bending at the waist and throwing me over his shoulder. I squeal, not bothering to object for even a moment. Instead, I let him carry me to the shower and wherever else on the face of this Earth he decides to go.