Ride Rough - Tessa Layne Page 0,77

see myself out," Emma said hurrying them with her hands. "Don't break any speed limits."

Chapter Thirty-Two

Trace shook his head as he listened to Cecilia's crazy message with a lopsided grin. That woman... his grin widened. Loved him. His Cecilia, tough as nails on the outside sweet as marshmallow fluff on the inside, loved him. He pushed play again just to hear her voice. He'd ride safe, and come home safe, and see her tomorrow. And they could take all the time they needed sorting out what needed to be sorted. Which for starters, was building a place in Prairie. Settling down with Cecilia was at the very top of his to-do list.

A quiet knock sounded on the hotel room door. "Just a second." He opened the door to Jax bracing himself against the doorjamb. "'Sup?"

"You coming out with us?"

Trace shook his head. "Nah. I'm tired. And I don't want to give the reporters any more fodder than necessary. I'm gonna have to lay low for a while."

"Shouldn't be too hard after your press call this afternoon." Jax raised an eyebrow. "Pretty unusual."

"Paparazzi are like bottom feeders. They do what they do to make money. If you let them know they won't be able to make money off you anymore, they'll go elsewhere. Letting them pick the bones today is the best way to achieve that."

"Better you than me, man." Jax looked down. "So about your offer."

"Still stands."

Jax brightened. "I've got big plans. I'd like to sit down with you and Colton and Cody next week and flesh things out."

"Can't wait." Trace extended his hand. "I'm looking forward to being your partner."

"You sure you won't come out tonight?"

Trace nodded. "Yeah. I need to decompress a little and get my head ready for tomorrow."

"You'll be great. Just remember what I said. Don't worry about falling off. Worry about hanging on."

Trace shut the door, grabbed his phone, then stretched out on the bed. Time to make the call he'd been looking forward to all day. As he pulled up Cecilia's name, a knock sounded again. Trace swallowed a groan of frustration, not wanting to wait a few more minutes. He pushed off the bed and walked to the door. "Forget something?" he asked as the door swung open.

A tiny dark-haired mass launched herself into his arms. "I couldn't wait," she murmured into his neck.

Trace's arms wrapped around Cecilia like a vice as he kicked the door shut, then turned the deadbolt. He carried her to the bed and sat down, not wanting to let her go for fear she was a dream. He had no words, only an overflowing heart. So he did what any right-thinking man would do when the love of his life was in his arms. He kissed her. He kissed her like she was his last breath, his whole world.

She softened with a quiet moan, opening for him, giving as much as he gave. "I love you, Trace. I couldn't wait another day to tell you in person," she uttered between kisses, hands pulling at the buttons on his shirt.

Her words sailed home, settling deep in his chest, filling a hole he hadn't realized until just now, that had been empty and aching. "I've waited my whole life to hear that," he responded, taking her face in his hands and placing a reverent kiss on each eyelid, each cheek, and finally, home to her mouth to seal her declaration with a kiss.

A button popped, then another. Fabric rustled, skin laid bare. "I'm yours. Always," she murmured tossing his shirt aside and running her hands across his chest. "No matter what happens in the future, we'll face it together." Electricity zinged through his veins, and an urgent need to show her with his body how much he cherished her.

He nuzzled her neck, nipping and licking the sensitive skin until she cried out. "I want to meet your family."

"I won't marry you until you do," she said with a sigh on her lips.

"Are we skipping to that already?" Not that he minded in the least. Marriage and a life with this woman were fait accomplis.

She drew back, eyes shining. "You're retired now. What else are you going to do?"

"Spend a lifetime loving you," he said roughly, taken aback at the way his throat tightened. He rolled them onto the bed, then shifted so he was propped above her, staring down into her sparkling brown eyes. He bent, taking her mouth tenderly, slowly winding his tongue with hers, twining their fingers together.

"A