When we walked in, she tossed her keys into a small square bowl. My eyes about popped out of my head; it was the bowl I’d made her in eighth grade pottery class. I didn’t say anything as I continued to follow her. When she made her way over to the steps, I paused.
Paxton glared. “I don’t want to sleep with you, Steed. I only want to show you something.”
My ego took a serious hit, and I couldn’t help the look of disappointment on my face. Not because I realized I wasn’t going to have sex with Paxton, because trust me, I was fucking disappointed in that. But because she didn’t seem to want me. At all.
“Is it something naughty?” I teased while following her up the stairs.
“No,” she replied with a lighthearted laugh. I could tell she was a little tipsy with the way she was walking. I had to admit it was nice to have a bit of lighter banter between us.
“You feel okay, pumpkin?” I asked, watching her ass as she climbed the stairs.
“Yeah. I think I drank more than I thought I did. I feel a bit lightheaded.”
My breathing increased with the idea of being in Paxton’s bedroom. My dick was already thinking of what it wanted to do, and I adjusted myself. But the moment we walked into her room and she turned on the lights, I knew it was going to be a battle keeping my hard on at bay.
I scanned the master bedroom. It was done in different shades of gray. The touches of blue in the room made me smile. It was almost exactly how we’d talked about all those years ago.
Paxton sat down on the bench at the end of her bed and pulled her boots off. I stood there with my hands in my pocket still looking around the room.
“Um, Pax, is there a reason you brought me up to your bedroom or are you trying to make me fucking crazy?”
Her brows lifted and a small grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. “You’re going crazy being in here? Why?”
I stared at her like she was insane. “Do you want me to answer that honestly?”
She slowly nodded. “Always.”
My tongue ran over my lips, and I was suddenly parched. I needed water. My head was spinning.
Did I tell her the truth? What I was really thinking? Hoping?
Fuck it. What could it hurt?
“I’m going crazy because all I want to do is bury my cock inside you and stay there all night.”
My mouth dropped open, and I had to fight to hold back the moan slipping from my lips. My panties instantly dampened.
Steed shrugged. “You told me to be honest, Pax. I’m being honest.”
I had to shake my head to get rid of the mental image of Steed making love to me. No. The image was of Steed fucking me. Hard and fast. I would be kidding myself if I said I didn’t want that more than ever. But could I open my heart up to him again? Not until it was healed, and I needed to do one more thing for that to happen.
Swallowing hard, I ran my tongue along my lips. Steed’s eyes turned dark with desire.
“I… I… Um, I need a moment I think.”
He stepped closer, and the air crackled between us. Gently lifting his hand, he placed it on the side of my face. “I’m sorry, pumpkin. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
I shook my head then placed my hand over his. With a soft smile, I pulled my lip between my teeth. Steed’s eyes dropped and focused on my mouth. The need to have him kiss me was overwhelming. My stomach twisted and turned, my clit ached with want, and my heart was pounding.
Closing my eyes, I knew what I had to do. My gaze lifted up to meet his. “I need to show you something.”
He nodded and dropped his hand.
Walking to the dresser, I opened the top drawer and searched for the velvet pouch. I picked it up and held it to my chest. Closing my eyes, I shut the drawer and held it out to Steed.
My heart was beating so loudly in my chest I was sure he could hear it. He glanced at the bag and smiled. “Is that the same bag I gave you the promise ring in?”
Tears pricked my eyes as the memory of Steed giving me the promise ring on my eighteenth birthday. He’d taken me to our favorite spot on the ranch where we had sat and watched countless sunsets. We’d talked about our dreams and our future. He had promised me no one would ever love me like he did. He had promised to love me forever.
“Y-yes.”
The smile on his face faded. I could hardly breathe. He stared at the bag. “I promised to love you forever that night.”
A tear slipped down my cheek.
When his eyes lifted and caught mine, he let out a pained sigh. His thumbs came up and wiped my tears away. “I’ve never stopped loving you, Paxton. I know that’s hard to believe, but I never once stopped loving you.”
A part of me knew it was true. He called his daughter the same pet name he called me. He sang her our song. I could see it in his eyes, the way he was looking at me this very moment.