She, Kennedy Brooks, once an emotionally damaged woman forever trying to prove she was okay, disinterested in men, repelled by the idea of sex, now loved an alpha guy who epitomized danger—and she couldn’t keep her hands off him.
Voice low and drowsy, Reyes said, “You beat me to the punch, you know.”
“Hmm?” She loved his soft chest hair and the hard muscle beneath it. And his scent. Nuzzling against him, she breathed deeply, filling her head with that delicious smell.
“I wanted to do things right, not in the middle of chaos. Wasn’t easy, but I was hanging on to my patience—then bam.” He patted her backside. “You let me have it.”
Smiling, Kennedy tucked her face under his chin. “Is this about me telling you I love you? Because I’m glad I did.”
“I’m glad, too. Hell, more than glad.” He fondly caressed one bottom cheek. “I love you, too, you know. I more than love you, actually. I want to marry you. Grow old with you. Maybe someday have little McKenzies with you.”
The smile turned into a grin. “A rascal boy like you,” she murmured, imagining it.
“Or a smart, strong girl like you.” He kissed the top of her head.
“You really see me as strong?”
“I think you’re the only one who doesn’t see it. Your strength is quiet, steadfast, honorable and loyal.”
He believed it, she knew...and she was starting to believe it, too.
“I want to share holidays with you, Kennedy, here at my dad’s place, or even at your folks’ place in Florida if you want. I will meet them, right?”
Filled with contentment, she nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. So I want all that. Everything. From now until the end of time.” He gave her a squeeze. “You love me enough to want that, too?”
“Yes.” Teasing him, she said, “More than enough.”
“Let’s be clear here, okay? I’m the type of guy who’s going to hover.”
Was that supposed to be news to her? Playing along, she leaned up to look at him. “Meaning?”
“Meaning you go off on your own a lot, and I don’t think I have the temperament to deal with that. How would you feel about me tagging along to play bodyguard?”
“Or sex servant?”
His slow grin warmed her. “Yeah, I can be a multipurpose kind of travel companion.” More seriously, he asked, “You wouldn’t mind that? I don’t want you to feel smothered, but seriously, babe, I’d turn into an old man with gray hair if I was left behind to worry about you.”
She kissed his chin. “I’ll be happier keeping you near. But what if I have to travel and something comes up here? Your job isn’t exactly nine-to-five.”
“I know. And once you’re scheduled, you couldn’t just change things.”
Clearly he’d given this a lot of thought. “Ideas?”
“Yeah. How would you feel about an actual bodyguard?” He rushed to add, “Only when I can’t go along.”
“Hmm.” Having lived a life where she knew how easily things could go wrong, she actually liked the idea.
“Someone low-key,” he promised, “who’d blend in and would still keep an eye on things. Someone you and I would research extensively.”
“If I agree, will you agree to keep me informed of your jobs? To never keep any aspect of the danger from me?” She propped her elbows on his chest. “It’ll be easier for me if I know what’s going on.”
Reyes trailed his fingertips down her spine. “Honestly, I never thought I’d enjoy talking shop with anyone outside the family, but with you it just comes naturally.”
“That’s a yes?”
“Ah, babe.” He cupped her backside in both hands. “Right about now, I’d promise you anything if you’d just agree to marry me.”
Giving him a thorough kiss, she murmured against his mouth, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He immediately relaxed. “Way to keep me in suspense.”
“I love you, Reyes. More than I knew was possible.”
“Same.” This time his kiss was long and deep. “It’ll be light soon. We should probably get some sleep?” He said it like a question, and judging by his wandering hands, sleep wasn’t the number one thing on his mind. But as usual, he was a considerate, awesome, incredible man.
And he was all hers. “Who needs sleep?”
His hazel eyes immediately warmed. “Well, not me. But if you do—”
Kennedy straddled his hips. “I have a better idea.”
“Hell, yeah, you do.” He drew her close and kissed her in a way guaranteed to scorch her.
Yes, she was a little tired; she was also enormously happy, and she couldn’t think of a better way to start their new life together than by making love to Reyes.
Now, tomorrow and always.
* * *
Read on for a sneak peek at Watching Over You, the next thrilling novel in the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series by New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster.
Watching Over You
by Lori Foster
WHEN CROSBY ALBERTSON FROWNED, he didn’t just show displeasure in his incredibly handsome face. He also showed it in the rigid lines of his big body, in his tightened fists and the angle of his wide shoulders, how his feet braced apart and the way the muscles in his thighs flexed.
Honestly, Madison McKenzie thought he was downright scrumptious top to bottom, though now wasn’t the best time to be admiring him.
Using her admittedly incredible digital surveillance skills, she’d been shadowing Crosby online for a while now, ever since she realized that he was keeping tabs on her family.
Granted, her family had made unique choices to combat injustice, specifically the injustice of every form of human trafficking and forced labor. She and her brothers, under their father’s instruction, had become elite fighters weaponized with skill, knowledge and drive.
As a cop, Crosby had somehow caught on to them, despite how she meticulously covered their tracks.
He’d impressed the heck out of her, which wasn’t easy to do, especially after he worked with them to bring down a truly heinous trafficker who’d gotten far too personal.
But Crosby was still a cop through and through, and she and her family still skirted the edges of illegal activity by pursuing their goals without involving the law.