Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
PIERCE
It’s late, so I take us back to my condo for the night. Plus, despite Tinsley being fired up earlier, there has been a shift in her mood. I won’t spend hours in a car with her letting her thoughts run rampant, and I want to be able to touch her.
I also want Tinsley to see how serious I am about us. Katherine walks around, giving the condo an inspection. She’s an odd girl.
“This will suffice," she declares. “Wait, I didn’t check the fridge yet.”
“Food is on its way,” I tell her. I texted Rory to have dinner sent. The fridge is almost bare, I’m sure.
There are a couple of unbuilt boxes leaning against the glass window, which gives me a view of the city. Tinsley runs her fingers across the top of one of them.
"I had all my personal belongings sent to the cabin," I tell her.
I'd given her a rundown of what is happening with Biff. He was one of the main reasons I was here, along with wrapping up this part of my life.
Carter knew the fastest way to lure Biff somewhere was a new strip club with what he believed was an elite pass. He'd get to see the place before the doors opened to the public. We knew there was no way in hell he would pass up what he thought was a private show just for him.
It was all bullshit. That place shut down a few months ago. Carter quickly pulled it together, making it look real so as not to spook Biff. With his money and connections, he could try to disappear again. I wouldn't risk that.
I want to know where his ass is at all times, and now it will be in a jail cell. I hadn't told Tinsley about the pictures. Only that he had a growing obsession with her. I was expecting a smart-mouth response to that, but nothing.
"You've gone quiet on me."
"Not mad." Her lips turn down. I don't like that. I clear the space between us, pulling her into my arms.
"I should have trusted you." She stares up at me.
"Don't do that to yourself."
I had a feeling she would follow me when I'd sent the text about staying here for the night. I wasn't sure how long it would take to pull the passwords and information from Biff so Carter could put his computer skills and team to work.
That had been another part of drawing him out. We needed him away from his home and office for Carter’s men to do a thorough sweep. I wanted to make sure everything he ever had of Tinsley was wiped clean. I wasn’t taking any chances. I don’t give a shit that they’re fake pictures.
“I jumped to conclusions, and I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. You’ve done nothing but be good to me.
” I can’t stand to see her sad. Tinsley is a bright light full of life.
“I mean, I know how obsessed with me you truly are, so that should have been my first clue.” She tries to tease, but I’m not letting her skirt around this.
“Would it help to know that I love you getting jealous over me?” That gets me a small smile from her. “I think maybe you’re just as obsessed with me as I am you.”
“Yeah, but you have your life together. I’m a mess over here. I have no self-control even when I try. These outbursts and ideas pop right out of me. It’s too much. I know that. It wears on people, and soon it will wear on you too. You’ll get sick of it too.”
“Too?” Whoever put that thought into her head?
All of New Hope adores her. Tinsley thinks that town is a part of her, but it needs her too. When I met new people there, they all had the best stories to tell me about her and the things she and Katherine could get up to.
“I wasn’t Miss Popular at school here in the city. I know my roommates often thought I was too much." Tinsley's shoulders drop. I can't stand the defeat that appears to be pressing in on her.
“Tinsley.” I try to grab her hand, but she starts pacing back and forth. I don’t stop her. She needs to get this out, and I want to hear it, even if I don’t agree.
“You’ll get tired of me. I’m a lot, and my stuff is stupid and silly.
I let my own thoughts get away from me. I know who you are, and should have trusted that.
What you have been through in your life.
You don’t let people close but you let me and then I just—” Her head drops to stare down at the floor.
There’s the crux of our problem right there. Her thinking that I would ever get tired of her.
“You finished?” Her head snaps back up, a lick of fire flashing across her eyes, but she shakes it away.
“Yeah.”
“Then, it’s my turn,” I tell her, swiping her off her feet and into my arms. I turn to head toward the master bedroom to see Katherine standing there.
“Are you going to set her straight?” Katherine asks.
“Yes.”
Katherine steps out of the way.
“Hey.” She huffs, and I shift her, tossing her over my shoulder. “What are you doing?” I give her ass a smack, and a small squeal leaves her. When I make it to the bedroom, I toss her onto the bed. “There—”
“My turn,” I cut her off, coming down over her, pinning her beneath me.
“You won’t even have sex with me. You can at least admit that. There is an out for you.” I can’t stop the bark of laughter that leaves me. “Babe, I’ve still come inside of you more than a few times. That’s not me wanting an out,” I point out.
“Oh.” Her brows pull together. “That might be true.”
“We’ll circle back to the sex, but right now I need you to understand something.
To see what I see, and to know that I pushed my way into your life fully knowing who you are.
You lit up my whole world when you came bursting into that office.
” Her lips part, letting out a small gasp.
“When you’re going off on a tangent or getting worked up, even when I’m the target, I’m right where I fucking want to be.
” I’ll never let anyone try to dim her light, especially herself.
“Really?” I watch as shy vulnerability peeks through, a reminder that she’s younger than me with an innocence still clinging to her. I’ll do anything to protect that.
"Tinsley, you have given me more in this life than any other person has. I didn't believe that I could have this. Hell, I didn't know it existed. And you're not only giving me yourself. I get all the things that come with you. The town of New Hope"—damn, the town's name really hits different now.
"They want you there." She licks her lips. "I want you there."
"I enjoy the hell out of being a spectator in your life the same as you love getting up to your shenanigans."
"They're not shenanigans. They are often serious business matters." There's my girl.
"I stand corrected." I chuckle. "But that's why we fit.
I want to be the man in your life that gets to take care of you.
You take care of everyone else. I don't think you see how much we all need you.
You're not too much for me. I promise you that.
In fact, if there's more, keep on giving it to me.
I can handle it." I give her a smirk. "I can handle you. "
"Oh my God!" She bursts into tears. "I love you."
"I can tell." I grip her chin, holding her in place, and kiss her cheeks and anywhere my mouth can reach, her tears subsiding for me, like I hold the cure.
"They are happy tears. I got all these feelings bubbling up and trying to burst out. I can't explain it."
"You don't have to."
Her soft hands come to my cheeks. "Thank you for everything you have done."
"Not finished yet." We're just getting started.
"I love you more than I knew was possible."
"I love you too." I lean down and press my mouth to hers in a deep, hard kiss, showing her how badly I do need her.
When I lift my lips from her, she's smiling, brighter than any I have ever seen before.
"I haven't claimed your virginity because it was the one thing I could hold on to that proved I wasn't a complete bastard for tricking you into marrying me. "
"That was my trick."
"If you say so."
She presses her lips together, fighting a smile.
"I quickly saw that I fucked up. My girl has dreams when it comes to things like weddings and how you want things done. I wanted to do things right and know you’re truly all in."
“I’m in,” she tells me. “Like you told me I gave you things you didn’t know were possible, you did the same for me.
I mean, this whole crazy mess is me, and having a perfect wedding isn't. It happened the way it was supposed to.” I close my eyes, taking in her words.
A sense of relief fills me, knowing that she’s finally come around, and she’s in this with me for the rest of our lives.
“Should we seal the deal and make this marriage official?” I open my eyes, and she wiggles her eyebrows playfully. I shake my head with a huge smile on my face. I hope my girl never changes.
“So I’m guessing you’re dropping the whole trying to get an annulment thing.”
“Hmm.” She pretends to think it over. “Maybe I should test the goods first.” We both know that testing the goods means an annulment will be fully off the table.
I brush my mouth against hers and trail it over to the shell of her ear. “You want me to take it?” I nip her neck and then slide my tongue to soothe the spot. “Do what I’ve been wanting to do from the very beginning.” Tinsley sucks in a breath, answering me without words.
My cock is already about to explode, and we’re both still fully dressed. The need I always have for her is unmatched to anything, but I know I have to go slow. My girl is tiny compared to me.
I kiss her neck again, wanting another taste before I push back off the bed and remove her shoes. As hard as it is, I take my time unwrapping the gift that she truly is.
“How am I always naked and you’re not?”
“You’re pretty and fun to stare at,” I tell her and start to remove my own clothes.
“Your thighs are way better than mine.”
“Got a thing for thighs?”
“I think it’s only your thighs that do it for me.”
“Good answer, wife. Now be a good girl and lie back.”