“I just want you to be happy, Tate,” Audrey said. “More than likely I can’t have kids, and if by the grace of God science finds a way for me to get pregnant, it could take years. And what if it doesn’t work then? Adoption? It’s obvious you don’t want that.”
“I want whatever it is you can give me, Audrey,” he said confidently. He wanted nothing more than her for the rest of his life. Looking deep in her eyes, he knew she had to see how she had completely taken hold of his heart. She had to see, and if she didn’t, then he was going to tell her. Taking a deep breath, his heart still beating out of control, he said, “I love you, and I will tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. I will love you for forever, Audrey, and there is nothing you can do about it.” Her eyes pooled with new tears as she quieted in his arms. “I made a stupid mistake, baby, but I honestly do love you, all of you, even the damaged part, and nothing will change that.”
Whispering through her tears, she said, “You’re the first man to say that.”
“And I want to be the last, Audrey. I love you. I’m sorry for telling the guys, I needed someone to talk to about it because I’d been thinking about it. But baby, I know that I am good with everything. I promise. I don’t know why I questioned it, to be honest with you. I know what I want. I want you. I’m sorry.”
She looked down and then back up at him as she shook her head. He thought she was going to say something he didn’t like, but then said, “Tate, you had me at I love you. I just hope that our love is enough.”
He wanted to scream in victory. With Audrey wrapping up in his arms, he pressed his lips to hers as her hands came up to lace together in his hair. When they moved apart, he kept her close, her lips only inches from his. “It is enough,” he said softly. “And if one day when we are married and tired of living life as just us, we’ll find a baby who needs an amazing mother like you and a goofy father like me. It will happen for us, everything will work out because it is meant to. I know for a fact you were sent to me to complete me, Audrey. I love you so much, and you will never have to question that.”
Audrey nodded. “I love you more, Tate, so much.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close as she devoured his mouth with her own. He lifted her up, settling her on the counter, before he moved between her legs, gripping her butt in his hands. The thought that he would never get to do this again, or even touch her again, had him so twisted inside that he was ready to rip her apart. His hands shook as they moved along her thighs to her lower back, his legs felt like jelly, and his pulse was still at record highs. Audrey moved her hands up his neck to his cheeks, running her thumbs through the coarse hair along his jaw. He loved when she did that with her fingers. He loved her, all of her.
Moving his lips down her jaw to her neck, he held her close, kissing her neck as she let out little spurts of breath.
“Tate,” she gasped breathlessly.
“Mm-hmm,” he said between licking and sucking on the length of her neck.
“Baby, half my ass is in the platter of cupcakes I made for you.” She giggled.
Tate pulled back, looking down at her bright face. He saw nothing but love on her face, and he swore to keep it there for the rest of his life. He would never have her question his intentions again. He wanted her, that was all. A child would be a plus, but his life started when Audrey came into it. He smiled as his gaze locked with hers, and said, “What?”
“My ass has ruined your cupcakes.”
He looked down to see the cupcakes peeking out from underneath her thigh. He grinned at her, and she laughed as she tapped him on the shoulders. “Move, so I can go change.”
“No way,” he said huskily before pulling off her shorts. Throwing them over his shoulder, he grinned down at her, then laid her back on the counter.