move my dress is up over my head and on the floor. It dawns on me that when we’re here in my place we don’t have to be quiet. Shaw and I can be as loud as we want and no one can hear us.
“This isn't helping me remember anything,” I say as he goes for my bra next.
“You shut down on me when I asked about staying at your place tonight.” A flash of those feelings come back and he holds my chin. “There you go again, getting that look on your face.”
“I don’t want to sleep apart,” I blurt out. Might as well get it out there in the open because Shaw won’t rest until he knows.
“Who said anything about sleeping apart?” He lifts me off my feet and carries me to my bed. If we share it, I’ll have to practically sleep on top of him.
“There’s no reason for me to stay with you now,” I huff as he lays me on the bed and gets on top of me.
“I can think of thousands of reasons I want you to stay with me.”
“Really?” There have been a lot of words said in the heat of the moment, but I don’t know how much of those are transferred over to reality.
“I told you I was going to put a baby in you.”
Okay, so that wasn’t the heat of the moment.
His hand comes up and he brushes his fingers across my lips. “If something is bothering you, I don’t want you to hide it from me. Say it so I can fix it.”
“Okay,” I agree, because he’s right. Shaw is the type of man that would fix anything. “So we sleep together every night?”
“Here or my place until we find something that works for both of us.”
“So you’re staying in Magnolia Springs?” I know he’s here to help his mom, but I wasn’t sure if he had plans to make it permanent. He has a home back in the city with a whole life and a job.
“You’re here, I’m here. Easy as that.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“Because it is. I love you, Barbara. We’ll get married and find a house that we can fill with children.”
That’s a whole lot to take in, but all of it sounds like I’ve found my happily ever after. Right now, though, I’m hung up on one thing.
“You love me?” I want to hear him say it again.
“How could I not love you? It’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
“I love you too.” My eyes fill with tears and I swear this bookstore is filled with magic or something.
Shaw closes his eyes, savoring my words. “I need you,” he groans as he starts pulling at his clothes.
My hands are everywhere, desperate to touch him. He reaches between us and in one hard tug he’s got my panties on the floor.
He undoes his belt and pushes his pants down only enough to free himself. “I need to get you ready,” he says under his breath. I think he’s talking more to himself as his fingers slip between us. I let out a small moan when they brush my clit. “Already soaked and ready for me.” I’m already so turned on right now because he told me he loves me.
He pushes inside and I wrap my arms around him, lifting my hips. “Take me,” I encourage him as his eyes lock with mine.
“I’m going to do more than take you. I’m claiming you, Barbara. You’re mine now.”
He thrusts all the way inside of me, pinning me to the bed for a moment. Then he starts to thrust in and out in hard pumps. He wants to get as deep inside of me as he can and I gasp at a few of his thrusts. It’s a sweet mixture of pleasure and something else I don’t have a name for. I can’t call it “pain” because this is the furthest thing from it.
I dig my nails into his back as my orgasm builds. “Shaw,” I moan, and the bed bangs against the wall, over and over.
“Give it to me,” he orders. “It belongs to me and I want it. Cum for me.” I cry out as the orgasm takes me over the edge.
Shaw holds me close as he keeps on thrusting in and out. He jerks, his warm release spilling inside of me, and my eyes sting with tears. I’ve never felt so happy.
“And you think I’d ever spend a night away from this?” I slowly