His forehead creases. “Wha—" He clears his throat. “What do you want?”
“I’m not playing games with you,” I huff, turning to grab my shirt. His hands go to my waist, and he pulls me back against him. His cock is already starting to get hard again. He’s holding on to me, wrapping both arms around me, and it’s so tight, I have to struggle to breathe almost.
I turn to face him, and he buries his head in my neck. His hands are trailing up and down my back in big, smooth strokes.
I clench my eyes closed and hold on to him. “I want you.”
His whole body goes rigid, and he whispers huskily, “For how long?”
It’s so hard putting yourself out there, but I know this is going to be my way of fighting for him... for us. He doesn’t know that I know about his mom and everything, but knowing it has explained so much. If I don’t go for it, I’m going to regret it.
“Dawson,” I say, pulling back so I can look into his eyes. “If I could have anything in this world right now, I would choose you. I would ask you to keep me.”
Whether he realizes it or not, his hand comes up to his chest, and he rubs the spot right over his heart. “For how long?” he asks again.
I cover his hand that is on his heart with my own. I don’t blink, I don’t look away, and I don’t even hesitate. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
His body jerks, and he exhales slowly, as if my words hit him hard. He pulls back his shoulders. “What I’m about to tell you is probably going to freak you out. It may scare you to death and make you rethink what we’re doing here.”
“Try me,” I tell him.
“I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine. I want you to move in here. I want to date you and have babies with you. I want you to be Mrs. Emily Reed. But there’s no backing out, Em. We’re going to fight, and I’m going to be an ass, but you just need to tell me. Call me out on it... but don’t leave me.”
I shake my head, wishing he could understand how I feel about him. “I couldn’t leave you... I love you, Dawson.”
He tries to step back, but I hold on to him. “I love you, Dawson.”
His eyes search mine and I just hope he can see the sincerity there. “Fuck, Em. I love you, too. I didn’t want to, I’ve fought it.”
I nod. “I’m scared too. But I’m more scared of losing you. I can’t lose you.”
He picks me up, and my legs go around his waist. He’s hugging me, holding me in a tight embrace, and he puts his forehead to mine. “I won’t let you go.”
I smile. “Good.”
He walks over and sits on the bed with me straddling his lap. His cock is long and hard between us. “I need you, Dawson.”
“I’m yours,” he says.
I push him back on the bed and lie across him. He may hold me a little too tight. He may say the wrong things and piss me off sometimes, but I can’t imagine feeling for safe and more loved than I do when I’m with him. I rest my head on his chest, right over his heart. “And I’m yours.”
Epilogue
Dawson
“I’m telling you Dawson, you break anything, you’re paying for it,” Malcolm threatens me.
I hold back my laugh. I can’t blame Malcolm for the threat. I’ve broken more things than not in this place, but not tonight. “I got it, Malcolm. I’m going to be on my best behavior.”
Emily slides up next to me, holding on to my arm and smiling at Malcolm. “He’ll be good, I promise.”
Malcolm just harumphs and walks away. I turn to Emily and take in her tight jeans and low-cut shirt. My hands slide down her back, and I cup her ass right here in the middle of the bar. “I’ll be good until I see one of these fuckers looking at you, then all bets are off.”
She slides her arms around my neck. “It doesn’t matter who looks. I’m going home with you.”
I bend down to kiss her, and just like every other time, the kiss gets out of hand. I would give anything to have her somewhere private right now. “Let’s get outta here.”
She pulls back and slaps me on the chest. “Oh no, mister. We’re doing this.”
Just as I’m about to try my best to persuade her, Aiden, Gracie, Treyton, and Katie all walk in. Gracie walks straight up to Emily and pulls her from my arms. “Come on, girl. I have a babysitter, and this is my first night out in a while. Let’s dance.”