I step closer to her, and my heart hammers in my chest. I hesitate briefly before trying to touch her again. This time she lets me, and I quickly bring her to my chest and hold her as she cries.
“I’m so fucking sorry that I hurt you and you had to deal with all of this tonight. You don’t know how badly I wanted to kick his ass when I first walked in and saw him corner you.”
“It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault. I’m sorry you got dragged into my mess,” she says, wiping her eyes. “When I found out you were Southern Tides, I knew you would know Mark. I was there the night you opened for him. It’s when I bought your t-shirt,” she whispers against my chest. “Even when I was with Mark, I guess my soul knew who I would belong to. It’s one of my favorite shirts, and I wore it almost every day when I was pregnant. It somehow gave me comfort whenever I would put it on. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I do now.”
“I like that some part of me was there with you while Bee was growing inside you,” I smile against her hair.
“Me too. I felt…” She grips my t-shirt tightly, and I rub her back to ease the tension I suddenly feel in her body. She slowly relaxes into me, and I wait for her to finish. “I felt love, Miles. I still feel it.”
She lifts her head and lets me into that final place she’s been guarding so well. A sight I’ve been dying to see in thosebeautiful hazel eyes. “And I hope you feel mine because I’ve never been more in love than I am with you right now.”
“Say it again,” I breathe, resting my forehead to hers and wanting to hear those words from her lips again.
“I love you, Miles.” She breaks out into a breathtaking smile, stealing the air from my lungs as I grin back at her.
“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to tell you the same. I’m so in love with you. You have no idea how much in love I am with you.” Her soft laugh makes my heart soar in my chest. It’s the best damn feeling in the world to hold the girl you love and know she loves you back. “You have my heart, Olivia. You have all of me. Every single fucking piece of me is yours.”
“And you have all of me,” she whispers, seconds before my lips seek hers out. My tongue finds hers as they tangle together. I don’t rush it as I take my time to feel and remember everything about this moment.
When my lips finally break away, I move to her neck and stop at my favorite spot.
“Olivia…what is this?” I brush back her hair to get a better look. My eyes widen when I see her new tattoo. “When did you get this?”
“Today,” she smiles. “I wanted to surprise you. Do you like it? Jake designed it for me.”
“That sneaky bastard,” I laugh. She looks puzzled as I take off my shirt. Surprise flashes across her features when she sees it. Her hand reaches out to trace the new tattoo over my heart that I had Jake do earlier this morning. It’s a slightly different design with honeysuckles and music notes woven together in a beautiful swirl of art. Lying on one of the petals is a small honeybee. Her eyes fill with tears as she places her hand over my heart.
“It’s your spot,” she whispers, swiping a tear away. “And you put Bee there too,” she smiles and touches the little bee.
“Of course she is. I wanted my two girls close to my heart.”
“Miles, I…” She smiles up at me, her eyes brimming with love.
“I wanted to show you tonight that I’m not going anywhere, and this was the best way I knew how. I guess you were thinking the same thing,” I laugh softly, tracing the music notes and honeysuckle that are identical to mine.
“Now I know why Jake was acting like he had a secret. He knew all along and even matched our designs,” she laughs, putting it all together. “It was his idea to add the honeysuckles.”
“That’s because I told him they remind me of you. Your scent drives me crazy, and all I can think about is the sweet scent of honeysuckle in the summer whenever I breathe you in or taste you. I told him exactly what I wanted, and he designed it for me.”
“It’s beautiful,” she smiles through her tears as her finger lightly follows the dark ink that symbolizes how much she means to me. “Maybe I could get the same one.” She turns around and drops her little sundress on the floor. “Here,” she says, touching her left shoulder blade in the exact same place my brothers’ wives have theirs.
My eyes roam down her naked body, and I notice that she isn’t wearing any underwear for me this time. My body responds with a ferocious need, just like it always does when it comes to her.
“I think,” I say, stepping closer so my body meshes with hers, “that I would love that more than anything. You just have to do one thing for me first before I get to claim that spot.” I brush her hair to the side and kiss her new tattoo. Seeing the music notes on her skin sends a thrill through me like I’ve never felt before. She put me on her beautiful skin… permanently, and wants to do it again.
“What do I have to do?”
“Say yes when I ask you to marry me,” I whisper against her ear, feeling her breath catch on my words.
“Are you?” She turns her head slightly, and I shake my head.
“Not yet, although I’m very tempted,” I grin. “You deserve to have a ring when I ask you. I just wanted to warn you that it’s coming, so you can prepare yourself.”
“I don’t need to prepare,” she says, shaking her head. “I know exactly what I want.”
“Good to know,” I chuckle. “That would have really sucked for me if you didn’t.”
Turning around, she winds her arms around my neck and I lift her up as her legs go around me.
