The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,383

Garrett.”

A grin spread across his face. “Gladly.”

Chapter Six

He was her miracle. A miracle she didn’t deserve, yet she claimed it anyway. He carried her into their bedroom, kissing her so thoroughly she had no idea they’d even reached their destination until he lowered her gently to the bed. She lay on her back, her head on her pillow, and she stared up into his face, amazed at the love and adoration in his eyes.

“What did I do to deserve you?” she asked breathlessly.

“You’re mine, Blair. Forever mine.” He straddled her waist, putting his weight in his knees. His hands made quick work of the buttons on her shirt before he lowered his mouth to her neck, leaving a trail of kisses to the edge of her bra cup. “Try as you might, you can’t drive me away.”

“Why?” she asked, close to tears again. She’d never felt so raw and exposed. “Why would you put up with me?”

“Put up with you?” he asked, sounding incredulous. He lifted his head to look into her face. “Blair, I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, even if only for a second. You’re beautiful and brilliant, and your heart is so big and so full of love, even if you keep it shielded. You help so many people—your friends, your family, the desperate women who come to you for help. You never once think about what you’ll get out of it. You do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

She stared up into his loving face, a tear slipping out of the corner of her eye and down her cheek. “But I can be such a bitch.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare apologize for the way you fight for your clients or your friends.” He ran a finger along her collarbone. “Later, I’ll tell you how much Kelsey needs you too.”

“What’s wrong with—”

“She’s okay. She’ll be okay. I know you’ll make sure she is. And at the end of the day, there’s no one I’d rather have in my corner than you.”

“But I treat you so badly sometimes.”

“I’m not going to lie, sometimes it’s hard, but I understand how deeply your father hurt you. I know how much I hurt you. It’s going to take time, Blair, but I’m not going anywhere. When you get too…”

“Bitchy?”

“Grouchy,” he said with a smile. “But I’m here to stay.”

She reached up and pulled his lips to hers, but he took over, claiming her mouth as his hand lifted the bottom of her skirt up to her waist before working on his own pants. He kicked them off while she shimmied out of her panties.

He paused and looked down into her face as he poised at her entrance, searching her eyes to make sure she was okay.

She gave him a soft smile, and the joy in his eyes as he slowly entered her was her undoing. He filled her so completely, both body and soul. Then he began to move in slow steady strokes, watching her face as he took her higher and higher. She wrapped her legs around his waist and grabbed his ass, pulling him deeper.

He took what she offered, giving so much more in return, but what did she expect? This was Garrett, the person who knew her better than anyone else, even better than she knew herself.

They came together, their eyes still locked, and Blair felt a connection deeper than she’d ever felt before, even with him. She belonged with him, to him. By opening up her heart just a little bit more, she felt closer to him than she’d ever expected.

Still panting, Garrett lay next to her and gathered her into his arms, holding her chest flush with his.

“I love you,” she whispered. “I love you so much it hurts.”

He picked up her hand and laced their fingers, then kissed her knuckles. “Growing pains, Blazer. That’s all. It’ll be worth it in the end.” He rolled her to her back. “Happy Anti-Valentine’s Day.”

“Anti-Valentine’s Day version 2.0,” she corrected grinning. “I made plans, by the way. We have hours-old Chinese takeout and a horror movie.”

He shuddered. “I think we’ve had enough horror to last us a lifetime.”

She would give him no argument there. “If we’re not going to celebrate Anti-Valentine’s Day, then you don’t expect to celebrate the real holiday, do you?”

He laughed, then leaned over and brushed her lips with his. “Actually, I made a reservation for us at Austin’s.” He grimaced. “I don’t know why, now—I guess it seemed like a married couple thing to do. But we’re not like other couples. We don’t have to celebrate this made-up holiday. You’re covered from now until the end of time. You’ve already given me a Valentine’s gift.”

“And what could that be?” she asked lazily, overcome with exhaustion.

“The best gift I could ever hope for. You’ve given me you.”