Page 119 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

Willa was the one.

“I love you, Jackson Page,” she whispered. “Don’t run away from me. Please.”

I leaned back and swallowed hard. I’d never told anyone that I loved them. She made it seem easy, but the words were stuck in my throat. “I, uh—”

“Don’t.” She pressed her fingers to my lips and smiled. “It’s okay.”

Relief rushed over my shoulders as I stared at her winning smile. It was the same one she’d had a few moments ago, but it wasn’t smug, just happy and free and stunning. I was torn between staring at it for an hour and kissing the hell out of it.

I went with option two.

I slammed my mouth down on hers, swooping her up in my arms. My tongue dove into her open mouth, twisting and tangling with hers. When her legs wrapped around my hips, I gripped her ass, tugging her even closer.

With her arms wrapped around my shoulders, I kissed her until I was dizzy.

My chest was heaving as Willa leaned back to look at me, but I didn’t set her down. I kept her in my arms so we could stare at each other nose to nose.

I ached to show her how I felt so I took one step, then another. With Willa in my arms, I marched us across the snow-covered grass toward her house. She didn’t move or look away, not once. She just held on to my shoulders as I took her right to the place where we both wanted to be.

When I hit her yard, I turned toward her staircase. Only then did she glance over my shoulder to her parents’ house. She gave someone a small smile as I hit the first step.

I wasn’t sure who was outside, but I didn’t turn to check. I just carried Willa up and into her apartment.

The moment the door closed behind us, she pressed her mouth onto mine again. She clawed at my back as her legs pulled her center even closer. When it was just the two of us, she shed all of her inhibitions.

Willa let it all go because she trusted me. She loved me like no other person ever had.

The realization hit me like a bullet, sending me back two steps. I broke away from her mouth, panting as I took in the flush reddening her cheeks and the lust darkening her eyes.

“My Willa,” I whispered. “Only mine.”

“Only yours.” She nodded, then buried her head into my neck. She knew I loved it when she nipped at the line of my jaw.

I crossed the room, kneeling on her bed. She let me go and sank back, scooting right up to the pillows. Normally, I liked to strip her down, but we were both too frantic.

While she pulled her sweater up and over her head, I unbuttoned my jeans. Then I yanked at the snaps on my shirt, sending them all free with a fast stream of clicks. Once it was tossed to the floor, I made fast work of the rest. Jeans. T-shirt. Boots. It all went flying as Willa did the same.

Naked and aching for her skin on mine, I crawled on top of her, using my weight to press her deeper into the bed. Her arms wound around my neck, pulling my lips close. But I wouldn’t kiss her. I backed away just enough so she could see my face.

“Do you love me?” I asked.

The light in her eyes danced as she smiled. “What do you think?”

I smiled back, lining myself up with her slick heat. I pressed in just a little, using all of my willpower not to thrust deep and hard. “Say it again.”

“I love you.” She arched up, begging for more.

“Do you love me?” I notched myself in another inch.

“Yes,” she panted. “I love you.”

“Again. Say it again.” Maybe if I heard it enough, I’d learn to say it back.

“I love you, Jackson Page.” She tugged me closer to whisper in my ear. “I love you. It’s always been you.”

I drove deep, all the way to the root. Willa cried out as I stilled with us joined. It was just her and me. Just us.

She wouldn’t find another man to make her dreams come true.