Page 130 of Truck Me
I can no longer maintain this distance between us, and slowly make my way across the small space to him. When I reach him, I slide my hands around his neck. He wraps his arms around my waist and tugs me between his legs. The tremor that passes through him as soon as our bodies connect sends a bolt of electricity through me.
He lets out a ragged breath and drops his head, resting it on my stomach.
“Fuck, I needed this,” he whispers. His fingers dig into my hips as he tightens his hold. When he looks up at me, I gasp at the tears welling up in his eyes. “I’ve been desperate for you, Princess. Desperate and terrified and needy. I’ve never been so terrified in all my life.”
I run my fingers through his hair, flatting out some of the strands. “I’m sorry. I hate that you’ve felt that way.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about. It’s me that’s sorry. I’m the idiot that held onto this secret for far too long. What I did wasn’t fair to you.”
“Maybe not, but I understand why you didn’t say anything. There was a lot more at stake than just you and me.”
“Please tell me you forgive me.” His voice cracks. “I don’t think I’ll survive if you don’t.”
Rather than answer him with words, I lift my legs and straddle his lap. He falls into the chair and looks up at me. I cup his cheeks and drop my lips close to his. But I don’t kiss him. Not yet. Hovering mere millimeters away, I whisper, “I forgive you.”
Then I press my mouth to his. The kiss is tentative at first. Almost as if we’re exploring each other for the first time. But then I lightly brush my tongue across his bottom lip, dragging a low growl from his chest.
He lunges forward, digging one hand into my ass while his other fists my hair at the nape of my neck. His tongue dives into my mouth, sending a flittering of sparks throughout my body. That feeling quickly intensities into a raging fire so scorching hot when he presses my center against his growing erection.
My desire to feel him inside me is excruciatingly painful. My entire body aches to feel him, touch him, make him mine.
Breaking our connection, I drop my head back and gasp for air. My chest rises and falls and no matter how many deep breaths I take, I don’t feel like I’m getting any oxygen. My head is spinning, and my eyes can’t focus.
“Charlotte.” His raspy voice causes me to bring my eyes back to him. I blink a few times until he comes back into focus. “You okay?”
“Yes,” I smile. “Better than okay.”
“Good, then I need to tell you something.” A hint of nervousness passes across his face.
I run my fingers into his hair and drop my forehead to his. “What is it?”
He presses a featherlight kiss to my lips and whispers. “I love you.” I suck in a breath just as he kisses me again. “And I meant what I said that night. If you’re going to marry anyone, it’s me.”
My eyes meet his. There’s still a hint of nervousness in his gaze, but his determination is stronger. I run my hand down his cheek, smoothing it over his beard. Then I rest it on his chest, reveling in the feel of his pounding heart.
“Okay,” I say.
His eyes twitch, and he pulls his head back so he can get a better look at me. “Okay?”
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and nod. “Yes. I agree with you. If I’m going to marry anyone, it should be you.”
Then I wrap my arms around his neck, press my chest to his, and lean in close before I whisper. “Because I love you too. So, so much.”
He lets out a low grumble that I feel reverberating throughout my entire body just before his mouth claims mine in a deep searing kiss.
I had no idea what to expect when I moved back to Ohio. I arrived feeling like a failure, a disgrace to my family, and completely lost without direction or goals.
Garret was never part of the plan. He never should have been on one of my lists. But life has a funny way of changing things up when we least expect it.
Without even trying, he disrupted my world and sent me down a new path. Thanks to him, I have a new list of life goals.
And he’s at the top of the list.
Chapter 28
Bigger is always better.
Garret