“It could be.” He lifts a hand to my face and raises my chin. “Karli, I know you haven’t had people stick around to show you how important you are, but no one will include you and love you better than my family. Better than me.”
My heart stops. Did he just say what I think he did? “I’ve never had someone care for me long-term. I’m not sure how to accept or believe it.”
He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “If you ever doubt, let me remind you. You fit.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “You say that now, after our long, traumatic journey together. But the shock of it will wear off and you’ll get sick of me–”
“I’m not like your mom.” He stops me. “I’m not going anywhere, Karli.” He pulls my hand up and places it on his chest, offering me his heart. “About fifty miles into our journey home, I stopped caring about when we’d make it back because I found another place I enjoy being. Right by your side.”
A sob erupts, and I cover my mouth. I can’t hold back the tears anymore, and I let each one of them go free, allowing them to carry my old fears away with them.
“You belong with me.”
How long have I waited for someone to say all those words to me? For someone to make me believe them.
“Okay.” I don’t have any more words, but he doesn’t require them. He knows I’m still afraid. He can hear the words I’m too scared to speak. But he knows I’ll give him my best try. Because I’m in love with him.
Just for kicks, I’ll save that piece of info for later.
He releases my hand and walks around the kitchen like he’s searching for something. “I have one more thing I planned to use to convince you to come, but since you’re so willing, I guess I don’t need to—”
“Oh no, I need more convincing.” I plop down on a kitchen chair and cross my arms. “What is it? Do you have another tattoo?”
He grins and pulls off his hoodie.
Oh. My. “Trent Gerald Bentley!” I screech and launch myself off the chair and right into his chain-mail-clad chest.
“No shirt.” I grin.
“No shirt,” he chuckles. “And this is only the second most embarrassing day of my life.”
“Aw, will this help?” I reach up on my toes and place a gentle kiss on his jaw, his beard tickling my lips.
He smirks. “A little.”
“Maybe this then?” I press a soft, lingering kiss to his lips and he dives into the kiss I’ve been longing for all morning. I kiss him back, tangling my fingers up in the chain mail to pull him closer.
So that’s what it’s for.
His hands slide up my back, cradling my head for a moment before getting lost in my hair. His kiss is fire. The burning, searing, explosive kind that makes my knees weak and my mind go blank.
I’m instantly lost in him, but I didn’t realize I had to be lost to be found.
“We are going to be late—oh!” Juliet breaks through the bliss. “What the? Trent, what are you wearing?”
Trent pulls away and turns a glare on Juliet I’ve never seen before. “You say one word of this to my brother, and I will never speak to you again.”
Juliet grins, then zips her lips.
That’s not going to work unless she invests in a padlock. She’s so telling Michael the second they are alone.
“Your mom has called three times. Are you guys ready? Or do you need five more minutes for whatever this is?” Juliet snorts.
“I could go for five more minutes,” I say.
Juliet retreats back out the door.
“I’m going to need more than five minutes,” Trent says, kissing the sensitive part below my jaw.
