Page 100 of Cautious Love

“I’m not so sure you can.”

Ledger throws his head back in a shout of laughter, and I can’t help but smile as his chest shakes with laughter. It’s contagious, it’s beautiful. I want to hear it over and over again.

Then his expression sobers, and his brows scrunch together, palming my cheeks, and kisses me again, as if he needs my mouth against his. Leaning his forehead against mine, he says, “I’ll do a hell of a lot more than that. I’ll show it to you because I’m a firm believer in backing up words withaction.”

“I hope so,” I whisper.

He searches my eyes for a second before releasing me and taking the steaks off the hot grill.

He takes them inside, and I spin around, soaking up the scenery. I need a minute to steady myself because he tilts my world. He throws me off the axis I’ve been on, and everything is tilted, but in reality, it’s all straightening. Balance is coming back. Foundations, stability, they’re being built. I glance at the glass door, and Ledger is standing by the island, watching me with curious eyes. It’s as if he hears the thoughts in my mind.

My heart picks up, my skin prickles.

He’s the one building them for me, forus.

A cross between bone-shaking bewilderment and burning need consumes every part of my being.

I don’t know what our future holds. I don’t know if he really wants one with me, even though we’re already married and he says he’s serious about me.

Maybe it’s dramatic, but he’s ruined me for all other men, and he’s barely touched me. A seed of doubt settles in the back of my mind, but I shake its roots loose.

My chest gets warm, feels heavy. His curious gaze turns predatory as he stalks toward me.

Somehow the air thickens.

He seems to sense the change, and I’m glued to the floor as he prowls toward me.

The door flings open, and I wince as it hits the house, bouncing against the frame.

Steaks forgotten, the right order of things flew out the window.

Ledger stands in front of me, his body practically vibrating. His hands fist, and relax as he gazes down at me.

He’s waiting for me.

He’s waiting for permission.

I know he wanted to take this slow, and realistically I knew that was the right thing. In fact, I told myself I wanted to wait until the right man came along. One I can see myself walking down the aisle too. The man I can see holding our children. I decided I was happy to wait for the one I can see forever with. And I would have never guessed, and I’m not ready to tell him, but I already walked down the aisle to him. I can see it with Ledger.

I can see a future that’s stable, safe, a place to grow. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

He takes a step closer, reaching for my hand. Our chests bump with short, sharp inhales.

The tension is so thick I feel like I’m swimming.

He lifts my hands between us and kisses my knuckles on each.

Heat pools in my belly, melting over me like warm honey.

Then he places my hands around his neck and wraps his arms around me before dipping his head to mine.

The kiss rebalances mysoul.All of him complements all of me.

Two pieces of a single whole.

It’s like stepping into a river and slipping beneath its surface, deeper than you thought. Surprise, relief, peace, fall over me as his mouth explores mine.

I moan into his mouth, gripping the back of his neck, and he squeezes me harder.