“I can hear you smiling through the phone you simp.”
“Takes one to know one, fucker.”
“Touché. I’m really happy for you, Carse.”
“Thanks, man. We’ll see you.”
I hang up and try to shake the feelings of unease so I don’t ruin our last day together, but I can’t help the sinking feeling taking hold of me. I’ll never jeopardize Dakota’s safety or happiness, and part of that is making sure she feels secure—in our relationship and in what I hope will soon become our home.
28
September
“Oh, you were supposed to take that turn,” I inform Carson as we make our way back home from the airport.
“I know.” His gaze dances with mirth as he sneaks a glance at me.
“So, you missed the turn on purpose?”
“Yeah, this way is longer and has more stop signs,” he says as he pulls the truck to a stop, leans over the center console and places a whisper of a kiss on my lips.
My cheeks heat from the quickening of my pulse. This man. This unabashedly wonderful man. He can’t be real, can he?
“Mmm. I can’t wait to get you home and suffocate you with snuggles. I’m feeling like I want to wrap around you like a koala tonight.” My man loves to cuddle, which, let’s be honest, Carson was never going tonotbe a boyfriend who cuddles. And it’s not that I don’t like to snuggle, but this man becomes extra clingy when he’s feeling anxious. I can’t for the life of me figure out why he’d be anxious or nervous right now.
When he pulls into the garage a few minutes later, I squeeze his hand three times and he gives me three in return paired with a dazzling smile that I can’t help but mirror. Carson gets out of the truck and quickly rounds the hood to hold open my door for me. Gripping me around my waist, he lifts me out of the truck before wrapping me in his arms.
“Will you do me a favor, Austen? Would you close your eyes when we get upstairs? I’ve got a bit of a surprise for you.”
I chuckle in response. “Your dick better not be the surprise, Golden Boy. While I’m thoroughly impressed by it, I don’t consider it surprising at this point.”
“Yeah right. What about last night when I fucked you so deep you said—” I cover his mouth with my hand.
“A cocky attitude will get you nowhere,” I tell him as I pull my hand away.
“My confidence got me this far, Dream Girl. Don’t act like you don’t love me.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lace my fingers together, bringing my lips to his ear. “I’ll never act like I don’t love you, Carson. I’m yours and you are mine. Now quit your bickering and take me upstairs.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.”
Carson sets our suitcases in the laundry room before turning his back to me and squatting down. “Hop up,” he says, shrugging his shoulders, but I’m far too busy admiring his bubble butt in the gray sweatpants he’s wearing.
“Dakota, I’ve got a surprise for you, but if you keep eye fucking me like that, I’ll have my way with you right here in the laundry room.”
That snaps me out of it, because as much as I’d love for that to happen, I’m not someone who has received many surprises in life. Hopping on to his back, I can’t help but let my hands rake over the rigid muscles on his back and shoulders. I nearly let out a whimper when he wraps my legs tighter around his waist, causing my core to rub against his solid lower back.
“Careful, Austen,” he growls out in warning, his gruff voice causing heat to pool in my stomach. I can’t seem to get enough of him; I’ve never been so attracted to another person in my life.
When we get to the top of the stairs, he heads to the left instead of the right where our rooms are. Which brings me to wonder whether we’ll keep separate rooms now that we’re back or if we’ll share like we did on vacation. I’m honestly not sure I could sleep with him across the hall now.
As if he can read my mind he says, “We’ll need to work on moving all of your things to our room before my preseason training camp starts. But your surprise is down this way.”
He tells me to close my eyes when we’re in front of what used to be Cadence’s playroom. I do as he says and listen as he opens the door and takes a step forward.
“I’m going to set you down, but don’t open your eyes just yet.”
“Okay,” I say as he places me on my feet and gives my shoulders a gentle squeeze.
