DIM MORNING LIGHT filtered into the bedroom through the hotel room windows. Sadie and I had spent the last three days lying around in bed, naked and whispering to each other, making up for our time apart. Each night, we went out for dinner before we rushed home so I could make her moan my name.
On our path to the bed last night, we had forgotten to close the curtains. Sadie slept beside me, face smushed into the pillow, curled up on her side, with her hand protectively resting on my bicep. Her hair spilled over the pillow behind her.
I remembered her words from New Year’s Eve.
What changed your mind?
You.
My heart pumped harder in my chest, studying her pretty face, the curve of her cheekbone and part of her lips. This was one of the many ways I loved her—relaxed and peaceful.
How could I have ever given this all up because we couldn’t agree on getting married?
Her hand tightened on my arm. The way she moaned into my chest as she came last night replayed in my mind. I was already fully hard, no surprise, waking up to a naked, sleepy Sadie, all soft skin and curves and possessive touches.
My hand smoothed over her hair and she made a soft noise, eyes flickering behind her eyelids. I kissed her temple, inhaling her, before kissing her jaw line, tracing it with my fingers. She made a humming noise and smiled.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” I whispered, and she sighed. “I love you so fucking much and I’m lucky to have you.”
The corner of her mouth pulled higher and she cracked an eye open. “You’re such a romantic.”
I grinned at her, my heart flopping over in my chest at the affectionate way she said it. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her into my chest, dipping down to kiss her. Her breath hitched against my lips when my erection pressed into her stomach.
“Wait.” She sat up straight, holding the sheet up. “I need to do something.” She swung her legs over and hopped out of bed.
“Get back in bed,” I demanded, but she laughed and disappeared into the bathroom before the door closed. “What are you doing?”
“I told you,” she called through the door. “I need to do something. It’ll only take an hour.”
“An hour?” What the fuck? “I’m coming with you.”
“You have to stay here.”
If she didn’t sound so fucking happy, I’d be nervous, but her excitement intrigued me. I settled back into bed and listened to the sounds of her getting ready.
She flew out of the bathroom a few minutes later, hair up in a ponytail and makeup free, and dressed as fast as she could.
She pulled her coat on. “You want a coffee?”
“I want you naked and back in bed,” I insisted.
“I’ll get you a coffee.” She shot me a teasing smile before leaning over the bed and pressing a kiss to my mouth. I tried to pull her back into bed but she slapped at me and wiggled away, laughing.
I grinned back at her. “What are you up to?”
She shrugged, biting back a smile. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and my heart squeezed. “You’ll see.” She blew me a kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, honey.”
An hour and a half later, the door beeped and opened and I glanced up from the couch, reading the news on my phone.
Her cheeks and nose flushed pink from the cold but she beamed at me, excited and lovely, and my heart flipped over with happiness. She kicked her boots off, walked over and set a coffee on the coffee table in front of me, and the expression on her face made me pause.
Excitement shimmered behind her eyes, with a hint of nerves. I frowned.
“Holden,” she said.
“Sadie.” I narrowed my eyes at her.
She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small black box. My heart dropped through the floor. She sat down beside me on the couch and opened it. A large silver ring sat in the box. My gaze darted from it to her eyes.
“Holden Rhodes, will you marry me?” Her expression turned careful but hopeful.
I blinked. “Sadie, I was serious. I don’t need to get married. You’re enough.”
“I know.” She shrugged with a wistful smile, eyes glowing. “But I was wrong too, and I want to show you I trust you. You’ve wanted this for so long and I want to do this for you. I want to make you as happy as you make me. There’s no doubt in my mind I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to move into that gorgeous house of yours and sleep in your big bed and have a couple kids with you.”
Her smile softened as she spoke.
“I want to sit next to the fireplace and listen to music while sitting across your lap and brushing the hair out of your eyes. Holden, I didn’t even realize what love was until I fell for you.”
My heart clawed into my throat and I thought it might break out of my chest, it beat so hard.
Her eyes shone and tears pooled. “I am so in love with you and I’m not afraid of marrying you. Not one bit.”
A tear spilled over and I brushed it away with my thumb. “Don’t cry, honey.”
She laughed. “I’m crying because I’m happy. I’m so insanely happy you’re here and I didn’t lose you.”
I shook my head, fingers slipping into her hair, looking down into those dark green eyes I loved so much. “You never lost me.”
“So, will you?” Her eyebrows rose with hope and something set right in my chest, like a floorboard popping into place. A perfect fit, and now everything was seamless.
“In a heartbeat.” The words flew out of my mouth, certain and strong. “If it’s what you want.”
She nodded and smiled. “It is.”
She leaned forward to kiss me and I groaned at the contact of her soft, warm mouth on mine, so sweet and lovely and addictive.
“Holden,” she murmured against my lips. “Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would find you.”
I leaned my forehead on hers. “I dreamed about you for a long time, and when you showed up, you were even better than I had imagined.”
She rolled her eyes while laughing. “God, you’re such a romantic.”
“One of us has to be.”
I wrapped her in my arms and kissed the love of my life.
