Penthouse Prince(48)

“I’ve changed,” I say, willing to beg her to believe me. “I’ve had ten years to grow up, to think about what I missed out on. To miss you. I’m not some commitment-phobe, immature boy anymore. I’m a man now, and I’ll act like one.”

Taking a chance, I grab her hand.

“I know what’s on the line here, Corrigan. I lost you once, and I never want to feel the pain of that again. More than just playing house, I want you in my life. Move in with us. Be Grier’s mommy. Be my everything.”

I’ve just bared my soul and laid my heart on the line, and the heartbeats that tick past silently are filled with uncertainty.

She looks away, her eyes glistening, worrying her lip so fiercely I’m afraid it might bleed. But she doesn’t pull her hand out of mine. “I don’t . . . how would that even work? How do we know it’d be okay?”

“We don’t. We’d just have to have faith and figure things out along the way.”

I know it’s probably not the assurance she was hoping for, but I’m not sure what to say, and there’s no way I can allow this chance to pass by. I can’t let her just walk away again.

Her chuckle is uncertain, but her gaze on mine is steady. “Lex . . . we can’t just jump straight in. This is a huge decision.”

I nod once, solemnly. “It is, but it also feels like the easiest decision in the world. For me, anyway. I want a future with you, Corrigan. And I’m asking if you want to see where this goes as much as I do.”

Her eyes lift to mine again, seeming to weigh whatever expression I’m wearing. But she’s so quiet, I barely breathe. When she finally speaks, her voice is tiny, heavy with emotion.

“I’m afraid, Lex.”

I let out a deep sigh. “Me too. I’m . . . terrified.” Mostly of losing this shot with her. A weird little chuckle escapes me. “But I still want to try. Do you?” I wet my lips. “Please, just answer me this one question. Do you love me?”

“It’s not that simple . . .”

“Yes, it is. Everything else is just details, and we can work them out together. Tell me, and if you don’t share my feelings, I’ll drive back home right now and never bother you again. Do you want to be with me—with Grier?”

Corrigan’s eyes brim with unshed tears, and she lets out a small, wet sniff. “That’s playing dirty.”

But she’s laughing through her tears and stepping into my arms, and I finally understand what people mean when they talk about their heart singing.

This must be a dream, I think, squeezing her tight.

Then her lips meet mine, and I know it’s not. We kiss deeply, locked together in her doorway, pouring into it all our joy and fear and cautious hope, and the love that will get us through it all.

The dance of our tongues quickly grows hotter and needier until she grabs my hand and pulls me inside. It strikes me that I’ve never seen her apartment before. What little I glimpse of it is snug furniture, cheerful bright colors, and cozy pastels, so very Corrigan. But then we’re in her bedroom, her scent surrounding me, and when she pulls me down on top of her, everything else vanishes.

“Touch me,” she says urgently.

I couldn’t say no, even if I wanted to.

We undress each other, hurried and hungry, but at the same time like we’re revealing something sacred. Our clothes fall away, and our hands roam each other with eager, tender caresses.

“I need you,” she whispers, or maybe the words are mine.

I can feel my heart beating everywhere she touches me. Her own heartbeat flutters in her neck against my lips, through her breast under my fingers, and the tender flesh between her legs trembles when I lave my tongue over it. I gorge myself on her until her body trembles and she’s moaning helplessly, and she suddenly pushes me away.

“I want to come with you. Please, Lex,” she says, gasping.

I rush to pull on a condom—my hands are shaking too, just as much as she was—but finally I manage and then I’m sinking into her. She welcomes me, draws me deep, and I mold my body against hers, wrapping my arms around her, needing every inch of us to be connected. Something inside me cracks, and everything I’ve been holding back for the past ten years comes flooding out.

“Oh God, Corrigan,” I say on a groan. “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”

A sob escapes her, but I can feel her wide grin against my neck as she murmurs, “I love you too, Lex.”

With those words, I’m hers forever. My heart feels as full as the day Grier was born.

Corrigan’s legs tighten around me, and her fingers tangle in my hair. “Ever since you came back, I’ve been telling myself I hated you, but that was bullshit. I was just scared. Scared to trust you, let you back in, and scared to admit how desperately I wanted to.”

“There’s nothing I regret more than leaving you behind. I promise I won’t make that mistake ever again. This time I’ll do right by you and never hurt you again. We’ll be together for real.”

“I know. I can’t wait.” She kisses me, gulping for breath between tears and giggles.

I kiss her back, deep and possessive, and too bursting with relief and elation for words. I’ve won back what I thought I’d lost forever. What I’ve always longed for, but dismissed as an impossible dream. Here, enfolded by Corrigan’s body and heart, time ceases to pass, and I suddenly know with crystal-clear certainty that my first love will be my last.