Letting Go (Thatch #1)(75)

I read the words on the small paper over and over until my tears made it too hard to see. Jagger took the note out of my hands and placed it on the stairs before cupping my cheeks so he could wipe at my tears.

“So, Grey, can I keep you?” he whispered, and a soft sob left me as I threw my arms around him, crushing my body to his.

“Yes. Yes, you can. I love you,” I choked out, and his arms tightened around me.

“I love you too, Grey LaRue.”

He held me there on the stairs as I finished crying and we talked about the movie that I was now dying to watch again—to Jagger’s horror—and started talking about when to get married.

“Oh my God! I need to tell my parents! I need to tell Graham and Janie, and you need to tell Charlie.”

Jagger grinned sheepishly and his eyes squinted like he was somewhat worried about my reaction to something he was about to say. “You mean the people who are going to be at Wake in about half an hour to celebrate with us for breakfast?”

My mouth popped open, and I waited to see if he was going to tell me that he was joking. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, but if you don’t—”

“They’re going to be at Wake? All of them? They knew about this?” I asked rapidly and excitedly.

“Yes to all of that. Do you want to go?”

“Of course I want to go!” I kissed him roughly and pushed off him so I could run back up the two steps we’d made it down. Just before I hit the bathroom, I whirled around to find him behind me, and launched myself into his arms. “You’re amazing. I love my ring. I love the way you asked. I love the note. I love you. This morning has been incredible and more than I could’ve ever asked for. Thank you for asking me, and thank you for knowing I would want to share this with all of them.”

“Thank you for saying yes.” He kissed the side of my head and released me. “Now go get ready.”

I squealed and ran into the bathroom to freshen up and get ready. Calling Jagger in there, I made him take a picture of my arms before I jumped in the shower to clean off the charcoal. When Jagger stepped into the shower behind me minutes later, I quickly forgot about Wake, our family and friends, and everything else except for Jagger, how in love with him I was, and how he felt against me and inside of me. My legs were wrapped around his waist and my back was pressed to the cool tile of the shower wall while hot water pelted down on us and Jagger moved slowly and easily inside me. The differences in temperature and the feel of his body were an exhilarating combination, and I gripped at his shoulders like only the touch of him under my fingertips could keep me tied to this earth and this moment.

Jagger unwrapped my legs from his body and we stumbled out of the shower and bathroom, and over to the bed. We’d barely landed on the bed before Jagger was pressing his thick length inside me again, and I fused our mouths together to quiet my moans as our slick bodies moved against each other and he quickly brought me to the edge. He hooked one of his arms under my leg, and my mouth left his as my thigh slid up near his shoulder when he steadied himself on the bed with the same arm, and began moving faster and deeper.

My stomach heated and tightened in eager anticipation for what was coming, and my eyes locked with Jagger’s when he reached down with his other hand and ran his fingers over my aching clit. My mouth opened on a soundless moan as my body shattered around him, and minutes later he came with a deep groan, his arms shaking as he tried to keep himself above me before finally lying down on top of me.

Our chests moved roughly against each other as we lay there, and I lightly ran the tips of my fingers over his back to keep him there when he started moving away. I wasn’t ready to let go of him yet. Once we both calmed our breathing, he brushed his mouth across mine as he pushed off me and rolled over onto his back.

“Now you can get ready.”

I smiled and rolled my head to the side to look at him. “Best reason for being late . . . ever.”

“Let’s just not tell your dad.”

I laughed and pushed at his arm as I climbed off the bed and walked back into the bathroom to fix my hair and put on a touch of makeup. Hurrying into the closet, I put on a bra and underwear, and was stepping into my shorts as I walked back out. My eyes hit the bed just as I started to put my arms into the shirt, and for the umpteenth time in the hour I’d been awake, my heart melted at what I saw in the center of the bed. I shrugged quickly into my shirt and walked over to run my fingers across the outside of the large frame.

Inside was a large, thick paper with a charcoal-drawn replica of the mass of papers downstairs. In the bottom corner of the frame was the note Jagger had given me on the stairs.

I turned to see Jagger and reached out for him. He grabbed my hand and kissed my palm before wrapping me in his arms. “Thought you might want to keep it, and what’s downstairs is way too big and complicated.”

“I do, thank you.

“No need to thank me.” Releasing his hold on me, he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the stairs. “You ready?”

I looked at the man in front of me and wondered what I’d done to deserve anyone like him. I couldn’t wait to start my life with him. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life, Jagger Easton.”





Chapter 17

Grey

September 27, 2014