Jagged Hearts (16 page)

“God, yes,” he groaned in encouragement. “You’re the only woman in my world.”

He took her mouth again, swallowing her cries and trapping her hand between them. She came, her shouts of pleasure lost in his kiss. He took all she had and gave it back tenfold, losing himself in her.

“I love you,” she whispered when he collapsed over her, pinning her to the bed.

He lifted enough for his gaze to meet hers. “I love you, Paisley.”

They stayed that way for a long moment, only moving when her phone went off on the dresser.

“What time is it?” Bare asked.

Paisley giggled. “We’re probably late.”

The phone stopped ringing, and Bare’s began, making Paisley laugh harder. “You’d better answer that or they’ll head over.”

Bare sighed and rolled off her, coming to his feet and grabbing his phone.

“Locke,” he answered and met her gaze. She knew by the look he gave her that she’d been right. “No, we’re just running a bit late. Half an hour.”

He lifted his brow in question, and she shook her head holding up four fingers on one hand and five on the other.

“Forty-five minutes tops,” he said. “See you then.” He dropped the phone back on the dresser and stalked back over to the bed where she was still sprawled in post-coital bliss. “Seems your dad is worried you might be overdoing it.” He gripped her ankles and tugged, pulling her until her ass hit the edge of the bed, her legs spreading around his. “He wants to make sure
I
make sure you take it easy.” He ran his hands up the outside of her thighs, across her stomach and to her nipples. He flicked them with his fingers. “Make sure you relax.”

“Mm-hmm,” she moaned. “I’m not sure I could get more relaxed.”

He bent over her, kissing her softly again, making her body come alive in the way only he could. “We better get moving, baby.”

“I know,” she agreed and gripped his shoulders, using him to lift her up as he did. “God, I’d rather slip under the covers with you and forget the rest of the world exists.”

“Soon, baby,” he promised. “Soon.”

She slipped into the bathroom with him, hopping in the shower and rinsing off quickly then leaving him to wash up. She was in the closet, grabbing a dress to wear when he hollered for her.

“Hey, Paisley, come here for a minute!”

She grabbed a dress and tugged it over her head as she stepped out. “Need help with your zipper?” she teased then caught her breath. “Bare?”

“I meant to do this earlier, but you distracted me.”

He was on bended knee in the doorway. There were roses scattered around him and a ring box in his palm. Her hands flew to her face, covering her mouth. Tears fell unchecked from her eyes.

“Bare.” His name was an awed whisper.

“Come here,” he urged and held his fingers out to her.

She crossed, going to her knees in front of him and making him chuckle.

“I’m the one who’s supposed to go to bended knee.”

“I don’t think I have the strength to stand,” she whispered.

He scooped her up and carried her to the bed, sitting her on the edge and dropping once more to his knees. He held the box up to her.

“I love you, Paisley Knight. I didn’t realize how empty my life was until you came into it and opened my eyes. Trying to help you heal from your past helped me heal from my own. I feel things with you I’ve never felt before. I can’t promise you perfection. I’m just a man. But I can promise you that no matter what life throws our way, I’ll always be right by your side.”

“Bare.” His name was a sob this time, and she reached for him with shaking hands.

“Marry me,” he said and flipped open the lid on the box, revealing a beautiful, square-cut diamond ring. “I’d planned to wait, give you more time, but I can’t. I could have lost you. Marry me. Let’s spend the rest of our lives together.”

She nodded before she could even get the word past her lips. “Yes,” she choked out through sobs.

He slid the solitaire from the box then took her hand with his, placing the ring on the tip of her finger then moving it up onto her hand. It was a perfect fit, just as he was a perfect fit for her. He’d come into her life in the darkest of times and stayed with her, helping her move bit by bit back into the light. Now, he stood beside her, offering her the world.

She didn’t need perfection. She only needed him.

“I love you, Barrett Locke. I’m not perfect. God knows, I come with more baggage than any man deserves, but I promise to always put us first. To never let what’s out there come before what’s in here.” She touched her hand to her heart. “Thank you for waiting on me,” she whispered. “For never giving up.”

“You’re worth waiting for,” he whispered back and leaned in to kiss her softly.

When they broke apart, he came to his feet, pulling her up again. “We better get moving, or we’ll be more than fashionably late.”

She walked over to the dresser and scooped up her phone.

“What are you doing, baby?” Bare asked.

She held up her finger, waiting for the phone to connect.

“Hey, Dad. Bare and I aren’t going to make it tonight after all.”

She caught Bare’s gaze and held it as her father’s worried reply came through the phone.

“No, everything’s fine,” she answered. “I promise. I’d just like to spend the rest of the night making love to my fiancé.” She kept her gaze on Bare, loving the way his eyes darkened. “We’ll see you tomorrow. Or the next day. I’ll call you,” she promised and loved the laugh that left Bare’s lips.

Life was filled with moments. She’d learned the hard way to make the most of them when they arrived. She disconnected the call and placed her phone back where it’d been. Catching the hem of her dress, she pulled it off and tossed it carelessly onto the floor.

“You told your dad we’re engaged,” Bare said.

“I also told him we’re spending the rest of the night making love,” she purred, reaching for his jeans and grasping the waistband to tug him closer.

“The rest of our lives,” he corrected, and Paisley thought maybe, just maybe, that might be long enough.

About the Author

Lacey Thorn is a National Bestselling Author of over sixty erotic romances, including the award winning Awakening Pride Series. She has a passion for romance and demands stories that end happily. As a single mom to two teens and one pre-teen, she knows exactly how easy it is to be pulled in multiple directions, always on the go. There’s nothing better to relax with than a glass of wine, a hot tub of bubbles, and a great book. So sit back, relax, and let her take you on an adventure destined to help you unlace and leave the rest of the world behind.<3

Dear Readers,

Thank you for your purchase of Jagged Hearts. I hope you enjoyed the story, and will consider leaving a review at the eBook retailer website where you made your purchase. Reviews are a key way to help other readers find books and authors. Please consider taking a moment to rate and review Jagged Hearts!

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http://lacythorn.com
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[email protected]
. For a complete list of where to find me on the internet, please visit my blog,
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