I’m telling you nothing but the fucking truth.”
I stand and straighten out my dress. “Mom” flashes across the screen.
“It’s your mom.”
Without thinking, I answer it, knowing we are staying with them to help out with Charlie until Zane and Ava return.
“Hello.”
“Hey, sweetie, how close are you two to being done over there? Dad just put ribs on.”
“Um, almost.”
“Okay, be here in the next forty-five minutes.”
“We will.”
“Darby, you looked gorgeous today.”
“Thank you.”
She rambles on how beautiful the ceremony was. I feel Rhett’s hands snake around my leg, but fight to ignore him. It’s not a sexual move, but resembles more of a gesture of holding on to something. He’s fighting for me and I’m being fucking stubborn.
“Yes, I agree it was a perfect ceremony for them.”
“Oh, and I could feel Zane’s Grandpa’s spirit everywhere today,” she replies.
Rhett tugs down on my upper thigh and I fall into him. I fall in more ways than one. I let my whole body go without thinking, knowing he’ll be there to catch me. He takes the phone from my hand.
“Mom, we will be there in a few.”
I can’t hear what she’s saying.
“Yeah, love you, too, bye.”
The sound of his phone dropping to the floor is deafening with the silence floating between us. I do the only thing I’ve wanted to do for a long time…I melt into Rhett.
“I’m in,” I whisper into his chest.
His large palm runs over the top of my head while he places light kisses on me.
I shrug a shoulder. “I’m just possessive and need all of you, not just pieces when others aren’t taking from you. I believe what you told me.”
“Darby, I…”
I have a feeling what’s coming next and I take the coward's way out, not knowing if I have enough courage to reply, so I swivel in his lap, wrapping my legs around his middle. An audible moan escapes me with just the comfort the man provides me.
“I trust you, Rhett, you’re just going to have to put up with my skeptical mind.”
“We have to be open with each other, baby.” He sweeps a lock of my hair to the side.
“I love it when you call me baby.” I lace my arms around his neck and drop my forehead to his.
“Don’t ever shut me out.”
“I’ll try. Rhett, I’ve never given my heart to a man, so be careful with it.”
He tugs me in closer until our fronts are pressed together letting no air in. “Well, I’ll kiss that heart daily, lick it, fuck it, make love to it and everything in between.”
His devilish smile spreads across his face as he quirks one eyebrow up, and I can’t help but laugh. His cocky and arrogant personality flares right back up, and if I’m being truthful, it soothes me.
“Is that your limit on being serious, Rhett? A whole fifteen minutes,” I say with a smile.
“What can I say? I am known as the panty melter around these parts.” He drags a hand down to my center, cupping it through the thin material of my panties.
“Really?” I tilt my head. “Maybe you should show me.”
“Wait.” He sits straight up, moving his hand back to my waist. “Let me re-phrase that. I’m known as the Delicious Darby Dazzling Panty Melter.”
An out of control laugh escapes me. I laugh until it hurts and it doesn’t help that Rhett finally relaxes back, laying his head on the side of the island, and smiles back at me.
When I finally get control of myself, I find my voice. “I knew what you meant, Rhett. I trust you now that I know what you want, but I’ll be kicking the shit out of that bleach blonde whore.”
“Oh fuck, baby, that turns me on.” His hand goes right back down to my center, but this time he moves my panties to the side and begins rubbing circles.
“Rhett.”
“Darby.” He presses his lips against mine.
“Uh, oh…” I can’t get out what I want to say because he’s sunk two fingers inside me while keeping eye contact.
“What, baby?”
My fingers dig into the back of his neck, searching for something to steady myself. I’ve never in my life wanted something so fucking bad, and I think that’s why I’m scared to give him all of me.
“I think I’m falling in love with you.” Each of the words slice my tongue because once they’re said you can’t take them back, and it’s all a lie. I know that I love him.
“Good, baby, because I know I love you and will fight for this,