The room was silent. There were no more secrets. They were locked into each other. Eyes, body, and heartbeat were one.
She inhaled a deep breath. “Now…am I going back to Cedar Bluff tomorrow?”
His voice was hushed. “You aren’t going anywhere.”
“Then you have to make me a promise, Stone.”
“Anything,” he swore.
“Fight for me,” Sadie said, holding his stare. He blinked and pulled back a little. She knew her words penetrated him.
“Promise me you’ll fight for me. I’ve never had anyone fight for me, until you came along. I need to know when times get tough that you won’t just push me away, you’ll fight for me, for us. I need to know that we are in this together. I will always fight for you and I’ll never give you up, Stone, never,” she vowed, repeating John’s words from when Stone’s mom gave him up. Sadie repeated his words. She could see the recognition in his eyes. He knew that she knew.
He continued to stare at her. Sadie knew this was taking him back to an unhappy place but she needed this from him. In order to give him all of her, she needed to know he’d fight for them. Her fingers lightly dragged over his arms. His breathing was steady but deep.
“Stone.”
He lowered his head down and his lips brushed against hers.
“I love you, Sadie. I’m going to spend the rest of my life fighting for you,” he whispered fiercely. He kissed her again and stroked her lips to open for him, which she automatically did. She tasted him and moaned. He tasted like home. Their lips moved over each other. He slowed the kiss to soft pecks until he stopped. He reached out, turned his hand over and slid his knuckles along her cheek.
“Sweet. I’m going to give you a lifetime of sweet.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” She smirked. His lips quirked up.
“Tell me you love me again,” he whispered.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, baby!” He turned to his side and pulled her into his chest. He dragged the covers over them and Sadie snuggled deeper into him. They were pressed together so tightly she should have been uncomfortable but she wasn’t. She could spend the rest of her life right here, just like this. Safe and loved in the arms of the man of her dreams.
****
Stone woke up to the smell of bacon cooking, light rain hitting his windowpane and his beautiful girl nestled on his chest. Life was good.
He stared at the ceiling in his childhood room. The first room that was his alone that he didn’t have to share. It was his safe place, his quiet place. His mom said it was important that all the kids had their own rooms. “Everyone needs their own sanctuary.”
Stone remembered the first night he came to live with his mom and dad. His mom showed him this room. He tried to play it cool by just glancing around like it was nothing special but inside he was bursting. He had his own room that had things in it. Things for him. A closet and drawers filled with clothes. A big bed with blue blanket lying on top. Toys scattered throughout the room. That night, for the first time he could ever remember, he slept through the entire night. It was the most peaceful sleep he’d ever had.
Until last night.
Secrets no longer between them, Stone was at complete peace.
Stone’s hand gently stroked Sadie’s hair. It was so soft and it smelled like vanilla. He breathed in his new favorite scent with his face nuzzled into her neck.
“Mmmm…I like you all cuddly in the morning.” She was sleepy with her eyes still closed but Stone saw a smile playing at her lips when he lifted his head.
Stone threaded his fingers through her hair again and kissed her neck.
She groaned. “That feels good.” She rolled over to face Stone and climbed on top of him. She kissed his lips gently. Her soft wet lips glided over his as his arms wrapped around her back.
“Stone?” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
“I love you.”
Stone eyes opened and met Sadie’s soft brown eyes gazing down at him with a look he’d only seen his mom give his dad. True and honest love.
Stone may not deserve it but he was going to take it. Every second he was given with Sadie, he would take it.
“I love you too, Sadie.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sadie used to believe that the fantasy of her books was better than any reality of her life. The hero was always a strong handsome alpha male, a flawed but redeemable character. The main characters would have to go through their ups and downs but they would always get their happily ever after. Now as she stood on the porch watching Stone pack their bags into his trunk, she realized her reality was way better than any book ever written.
“Hey girl! What’s doing?” Roxanne’s voice broke her train of thought as her footsteps approached from behind. Sadie didn’t see Roxanne at breakfast this morning; she was still tucked away in her room. She wondered if she was informed about what went down last night.
Roxanne put her arm around Sadie’s shoulders, looking in Stone’s direction. She looked better today, happier. She seemed more herself, which Sadie was glad for.
“Just packing up. We’re going to Stone’s place now and tonight we are heading back to Cedar Bluff.” She put her
