“No, Tessie.” He smooths her hair away from her face. “We try us.”
Her world swims. Her head spins.
“Wait,” she croaks. “What does this mean?”
“It means I like you, Tess. It means I—” His face clouds, clears. “It means if there’s a chance, if there’s a shot in hell that we could work it out, I think we fucking owe it to ourselves to try.”
Tessie stares at him, every line of his rugged face. She wants it. Wants it so bad it aches. But still. . .
She closes her eyes, doubt sideswiping hope. “Try for Bear, right?”
“No.” His voice is loud and clear, picking up on her hesitation. “Not just for Bear. We try for us. Because, Tessie, baby, I want you.”
In a single second, gone is her heart, dropping off into the clouds. She gapes at Solomon, at this man who’s done more for her in seven days than anyone has since her mother. Protected her. Made her laugh. Forced her to relax. Showed her what a partner is. He makes her better than when she’s on her own, and she’s pretty damn great on her own.
“Come back with me.” He straightens up, cupping her face in his hands. “Come home with me to Chinook.”
Bear goes wild in her belly, as if he likes the idea.
Tears fill her eyes.
Is this real life? Is this what love, what a relationship could be? She doesn’t know. She’s never had something that’s lasted. Stayed. But now she has this man, here in front of her, asking her to take a chance.
A risk.
Bracing herself, she puts a hand on Solomon’s shoulder. “I need. . .”
She licks dry lips. What does she need? She doesn’t know, but with that, she disentangles from Solomon, stands from the table, and moves to the edge of the terrace. Her brain spins while she tries to process everything he’s just said. The view of the ocean soothes her shaky heart. She looks up. The sky’s inky, clouds obscuring the stars, but she knows they’re up there. Blinking bright like a celestial roadmap to her life.
And she swears she hears her mom’s voice, her words of wisdom.
Bumps in the road are just bumps, Tessie, not holes. We can get over them.
And this. . .this is a bump she never expected.
Now.
Now’s the time to give in, to give up her fears, to toss them into the ocean. She has nothing waiting for her in LA. So what does it matter if she takes one more risk?
Finds one more star.
She drops her hands to her stomach. A flutter and then a tumble. Her son telling her to trust her gut.
“Tess?”
From behind her, Solomon’s worried voice carries over the crash of waves.
She turns to face him, bracing her arms on the railing. He’s standing tall now, his body locked like her next words have the power to undo him.
She lifts her chin. “You promise you’ll never try to take Bear away from me?”
“I swear it.”
“Were you serious when you said you’d stick around?”
A nod. “I was.”
“Well. Then,” she takes a step forward, sniffs, “maybe we should.”
He swallows, tracks her movement. “Should what?”
“Try this. Together.” Tears spill down her cheeks. “I don’t want to do this alone. Or with anyone else. Just you.” The air leaves her lungs, but she finds her voice. For once.
For finally.
“My Solemn Man.”
Because that’s what he is. It’s what he’s always been.
Hers.
For a long second, he’s frozen in front of her. Then he lets out a roar and lunges forward, practically shoving the table out of his way to get to her. Hauling her to his chest, he crushes her mouth with a kiss that’s toe curling, life changing. A ragged gasp shakes his frame as he slides his hands up her neck to tangle in her hair.
“I can’t let you go,” he husks when he pulls back, his eyes misted. “I can’t walk away from you.”
She answers by kissing him again, losing herself in his woodsy scent. In her own explosive ache.
“Are you sure you’re ready?” she whispers between breathless kisses, thinking of Serena. She doesn’t want to push him.
She doesn’t want to lose him.
“I’m ready,” he murmurs, his voice cracking. “All my life, I’ve been ready for you.”
Her eyes flutter. So does her heart.
“You’re mine, Tessie,” Solomon promises hoarsely against her ear.
Her head spins, her legs go weak, but he braces her against him, holding her up.
“You and that baby—you’re both mine.”
A sob works its way out of her. Those words. Primal, protective. Oh God. She’s going to shatter. She’s defrosting faster than the upper continental ice shelf.
She matters. She is someone’s someone.
A hot tear rolls down her cheek. Her pulse picks up, looping through her like a soundtrack.
Love, love, love.
The word whispers between them.
Love.
But she won’t say it first.
There’s too much at stake.
Bear.
Her heart.
Better to see where this goes before making any reckless declarations.
“Do you promise?” The words leave her lips in a rush. “We’re yours?”
Jaw flexing, Solomon blows out a steady breath. His shoulders shudder as a wave of emotion rolls through his big body. “I’ll show you. I’ll show you what we are.”
Then he’s sweeping her off her feet, slipping his wide palms over her ass and lifting her up until she wraps her legs around his waist. And by the time they make it to the bedroom, she knows there’s no going back.
Cock surging in his pants, Solomon carries Tessie to the bed, bound and determined to show her that she’s his only one.
He saw it in her face. No one’s ever chosen her before.
He heard the worry in her voice. That he’s not ready. That’s she’s not the one. Well, no more doubts. Tonight, he’s gonna lay her down and prove to her just how damn bad he wants her. How much he fucking needs her.
She’s his only one. And that’s how it’s going to stay.
Forever.
“No doubt, Tessie. Do you understand me?” he grinds out as he sets her on her feet. Then he takes her face in his hands and looks her in the eyes. He needs her to know. Needs her to believe him. “Get it through that beautiful blond head of yours. You’re mine. You and that baby; you’re both mine.”
In response, she lets out a throaty whimper. Her head falls back to expose the graceful line of her flushed throat. Solomon’s dick throbs painfully in his pants. Unable to handle it any longer, he spins her around and, with a smooth hand, tears her dress off her so fast her curves have scorch marks.
“Solomon,” she gasps, surprised. But a delighted smile tips her lips.
“Oh Jesus.” He goes molten at the sight of her, his chest tight with pride. That’s his girl, gorgeous and glowing. Naked and pregnant with his son.
His.
God help him.
He’s burning alive.
“Get on the bed,” he growls.
Panting, Tessie scrambles onto the mattress. On her knees, she faces Solomon. Hands trembling, he cups her face, framing it, and then he slams his mouth to hers. Solomon’s heart combusts as her tongue sweeps over his. He’s at his boiling point. Overheated, undone. Fucking in it with this woman. It’s insane the way she makes him feel.
He brings his hand down to her legs, sliding it between the sweet flesh between her thighs. Then he’s groaning.
She’s soaked, her wetness spilling over his fingers. Sweetness. Heaven. Leaning in, he brings a taste of Tessie to his lips, then runs a callused thumb over her swollen clit.
Her puffy pink mouth opens, her gaze going hazy as she watches him from beneath those long lashes. Going limp, she sags against his chest, her delicate frame trembling against him as he circles a finger over the bud.
“Oh, oh, oh.” Her broken, breathy whimpers of satisfaction, her breasts plump against his chest, her nails digging into his shoulders, have him hardening.
Then desperate hands tug at his zipper, Tessie doing her damndest to get him out of his jeans. Solomon chuckles at her eagerness. “Baby, no,” he says. “This is all for you.”