the morning. Aren’t you exhausted?” I ask.
“I am, but I was able to catch up with a few things. Speaking of, I need you to take a few days off work, maybe a week. Is that possible? Now that we know who we’re dealing with, I’d like to keep you safe and secure.” Drake comes to sit next to me on the couch. His hands find the ends of my hair as he sifts through the long strands. It puts me in a trance, one where I’m scooting as close to him as possible, resting my head on his shoulder.
“I can do that, but on one condition,” I barter.
“What’s that, angel?”
“You have to stay safe too. It’s not just me in this relationship. It’s the two of us, and we have a house to fill with beautiful babies.” I tip my head up to look into his eyes.
“Fuck, but I love you,” he coos softly.
“I love you too, Drake.” And just because I initiate the kiss, that doesn’t mean I’m the one who controls it. I’ve learned a lot about the man I love, and he definitely likes to be the alpha in our relationship when it comes to certain things. Our tongues collide, tangling with each other, both of us tasting one another. I don’t want it to end, but I also really want to be wrapped up with Drake in our bed, naked and writhing in ecstasy.
I’m breathless when we pull away. Drake’s chest is moving rapidly too. “I think we need to get on the road. It’s not like I chose the closest place to Nighthawk when I bought our home.”
“No, but it is home, and even though I gave you so much shit about it, I really do love it. When we do have children though, the pool is getting a screen around it and an alarm will need to be installed.” My thoughts are only on our future. I refuse to let whoever it is who is stalking us mess up what we’re building.
“Easton is working on the alarm already with everyone having kids or becoming pregnant. I wanted that done stat. There’s a contractor coming out next week to give me a quote on the safety fence, but we can also take them down when everyone is over.”
“You’re the best. Maybe I can talk you into an animal next?” I wink. We had a conversation on our way out to Raelynn’s, and he said in no uncertain terms could we have a plethora of farm animals. If we wanted a dog, we could. He’d have to live up to Legend’s hype, Kellie’s crazy dog that likes to lift its leg in the most awkward of times.
“Maybe a dog or a cat? I mean, I could ask for a cow.” I wink at him trying to break up the heaviness that’s clouding his face.
“Cat, yes. Dog, yes. Cow, no freaking way. You want to step in cow shit and smell it while out on the pool deck?” He arches that eyebrow at me.
“Maybe you’re right. When everything is settled, we’ll look at getting a dog,” I negotiate. I’d say a cat, but I know the health issues that you have to watch out for while pregnant. Not that I am pregnant. When that time comes, though, Drake would lose his ever-loving mind if he found out a litter box could harm me. He’d probably make it an outside cat, and there is no way any animal of ours will be relegated to the outdoors.
“Sounds good. Come on, angel. I’m ready to get us home.” He helps me up off the couch. I slide my shoes on, and we make our way towards the front entrance, where Drake locks up before we head to his truck. I no sooner sit down in the front seat of his Tahoe when I realize my car is sitting at work.
“Drake, I need to get my car from the parking lot.”
“Your parents went and picked it up. It’s at the house, in the garage,” he replies.
“Oh.” I lay my head back against the headrest.
“I got you covered, angel. Never doubt that.”
“I’m learning that,” I whisper out, my eyes focused on the streetlights in front of us, already counting down the minutes until we’re home.
Nineteen
Drake
Today has been a shit show, finding out who’s been behind the calls, now the images, and who’s been on my property. It’s making those tingles run down my spine. Not in the way I like either.