I pull her face to mine and suck in her bottom lip before releasing it. “You did fucking cure me. Now give me a chance to cure you. If I fuck up you can punish me.” I smirk and she lightly taps my cheek. “I mean it.”

     Her eyes search mine for a second and I leave them open for her. I want her to read them; to see how I truly feel and that I meant every word that I said. “We’ll take things slow,” she asks. “At my pace?”

“At your pace.” I smile as I bite her lip and press my body against hers. “Except for in the bedroom.”

     She laughs and again, it’s the most beautiful sound in the fucking world. Especially when it’s because of me. I never want to forget that sound. “I think I can handle that,” she whispers. “Just don’t hurt me, please. I can’t handle it.”

“I won’t do that. If I hurt you I will only be hurting myself more.” I gently suck her bottom lip into my mouth before kissing her. She kisses me back with a desperation that says she’s missed me as much as I’ve missed her before pulling away and placing her forehead to mine.

     “Maybe you should stay at my house tonight. You know, come help me unpack.”

“All right, guys,” Cale jumps in between us and places his hand on my chest. “This is getting too fucking mushy. Slade, are you running a fucking fever?”

“Fuck you, Cale.” I push him out of the way and grab my woman, throwing her over my shoulder. She giggles and slaps my ass. I like it. “Have fun closing up the bar. I’m fucking out.”

     Before Cale or Sarah can respond, I’m out the fucking door. I smack Aspen’s perfect little ass, causing her to bite me as I head for the white Jeep that she points to.

Looks like I have a lot to prove before Aspen will completely trust me and give herself to me fully. I’m willing to give it my all. She deserves better than what she’s had and that’s what I’ll be working to be. She’s opened my eyes and I’m not going to fucking let them close again. I’m tired of not living and just getting by day by day, trying my best to feel less dead.

I have no idea where this will take me and if it will work out, but it’s worth fighting for. That’s the only thing I know at the moment.

I’m going to show this woman that I can be her man and more; show her and myself that I’m still human . . .


The End