Chapter One Hundred Ten

Lena loved him.

The power of those simple words nearly made Dane leap off the bed and carry her off to the justice of the peace that very moment. But he knew carrying her wasn’t an option…and besides, she was moving on top of him, her heat encasing him in the best possible way. No chance he was going anywhere anytime soon.

He wanted to tell her he loved her, too, but his words caught in his chest when her orgasm overtook her. She tightened around him, and her head fell against his chest.

Using the last bit of strength he had, he pushed up off the bed to release as deeply into her as he could.

It still wasn’t enough.

He wrapped his arms around her and smiled. Her heart hammered against his, a little faster than his own. As they relaxed, there were a few times when their heart rate synched up. He thought that was a good analogy for life. Sometimes they would be in harmony, and sometimes they would disagree. But they would always be there for each other.

Together.

“I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you,” he said, and pulled her closer.

Okay, maybe he should have started with telling her how much he loved her, but he was focused on the next step in their future.

She looked at him in surprise. Not bad surprise, just…uncertainty. “But you hardly know me. The real me. You only know the unstoppable force I become when my child is in danger.”

He nestled closer. “I’m pretty sure you face even the minor things with that same unstoppable force.”

She made a wry face. “Maybe.”

He kissed her temple. “I’m not saying we should run off this instant and seal the deal. I’m saying I love you, and I’d like the chance to marry you after I move into your fancy new house.” He winked at her and grinned.

She looked up at him and smiled back, but uncertainty still clouded her beautiful features. “It’s not going to be like it was before. I have a child.”

“I know. She’s great, and I promise to care for her as my own.” He swallowed down a twinge of pain for the child he wasn’t able to have in his life. “I know what it means to be a parent. I know it’s a lot of peanut butter sandwiches, and sex only when they’re sleeping. I know it’s sometimes chaos and stress, but it’s also joy and happiness. And best of all, it’s family.”

Tears of happiness glistened in her kaleidoscope eyes, making them appear green. “That’s…perfect.”

He knew he had almost won, so he said, “I love you, Lena. I love Kenzie. Give us a chance to be a family.”

The missing piece of their happy future slipped into place when he pulled her close and kissed her neck. Their lives had been completely upturned, only to fall perfectly into place again.

As he kissed along her jaw, there was only one thing left to do to set them on the path to their forever.

She looked up at him and he knew he’d do anything to protect her and her child, and make them happy. With a smile she whispered, “Yes.”