My arms shake with the effort it takes to hold myself up and above the water, but before I can squirm away, he pushes back to lie in the bath and takes me with him. He positions me between his legs, and we stare out at the city.
“What do you think of married life so far?” I flick the glassy surface of the warm water, a huge ass smile on my face.
“It’s exactly what I thought it’d be. Wish I could’ve convinced you to do it sooner.”
I shrug and run my hands up and down his powerful thighs. “The best things come to those who wait.”
“I believe that.” His voice has taken on a serious tone. He grabs my chin to tilt my face to the side forcing my eyes to his. “I’d have waited forever. Swear to God if I’d known back then that everything I had to go through would one day bring me here, to our wedding night, naked and wrapped around you like this, I’d gladly do it all again. I’d walk through hell and back if it meant the rest of my life with you.”
A single tear races down my cheek, but before it hits the water, he hooks it with his finger and sucks it into his mouth. “Happy tears.”
“Yeah.” My one word answer hitches on a soft whimper.
“And from here on out that’s all I’ll ever give you, baby.” He snags another tear with a fingertip.
“I can’t believe I finally found you.” After Stewart and Trip, I realized that I’d never felt real love for a man before. I wouldn’t have known it even existed if I hadn’t seen in in the eyes of other couples. But then I met Blake and I knew. This kind of love isn’t a fairy tale meant for dreamers or stuck in the pages of books. It’s real, all-consuming, and soul deep, and now, here, lying in the arms of my husband, I’ve never felt more convinced. “You’re my true love. My first and only true love, Blake.”
“And you’re mine.” He brings my hand to his lips and slides soft kisses against my skin. “First . . . and last.”
The End
Acknowledgments
First I want to thank God who gave me the imagination to create stories and the ability to tell them.
Thank you to my husband and my children who inspire my characters more than I’ll ever admit to.
I want to thank all the girls (and boy) in The Fighting Girls Fun Cage on Facebook. Not a day goes by where I don’t pop in there and leave feeling so full of love and hope. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Evelyn Johnson, your support and friendship have been my anchor. This adventure has been so much fun with you at my side. Here’s to more in 2015!
Amanda “PIMA” Simpson, thank you for being my sounding board, my graphic artist, but most importantly my friend. I don’t know where I would be without you, and not a day goes by that I’m not overwhelmed with gratitude for everything you’ve taught me and continue to do for my business.
Thank you to Theresa Wegand Proofreading & Editing for sticking with me through five books now. I’m looking forward to your perfecting many more of my books in the future. It’s so much fun working with you.
My books would be crap if it weren’t for the expertise of The Sexy Six Critter Crew: Cristin “Spice” Harber, Claudia “Dia” Handel, Sharon “Shex” Cermak, Racquel “Rox” Reck, and Nicola “Nic” Layouni. If this writing thing ended tomorrow, we’d make one kickass crew of commando ninja PI warriors. Love you girls.
To Elizabeth Reyes for being a guiding force, thank you. I can’t believe here I am, five books later, and none of it would’ve happened if it weren’t for your encouragement.
Thank you to the amazing authors who inspire me every day with their writing, positive attitudes, and their appreciation for their readers.
Thank you to everyone who has given The Fighting Series a chance. I’ll never be able to express adequately how much your faith in my writing means to me.