Styx (Walk Of Shame 2nd Generation #2)(41)

By the time we’re done with dinner, Meadow is looking at me with the biggest smile. She hasn’t stopped smiling since we sat down to eat and that makes me happier than anything.

This night is supposed to be all about her and I’m happy that she’s excited to see what comes next.

“Best dinner of my life. I’m seriously stuffed. I should’ve stopped eating a long time ago, but I couldn’t. This . . . this was so good. Who taught you how to cook like that?”

I answer her while cleaning up our dirty plates and tossing them into the dishwasher. “My uncle Wes. He’s the best cook that I know. So I’ll make sure to keep you away from him. I don’t need any competition. The fucker’s handsome too.”

I hear her laugh behind me, before I feel her arms wrap around my waist. “There’s never any competition when it comes to you. So I wouldn’t worry too much about uncle Wes.”

Turning around to face her, I cup her face and lean down to kiss her with a soft moan. “I’m trying really fucking hard to be somewhat romantic so let’s get you outside before I blow it and rip your clothes off right here with my damn teeth.”

She stands on her tippy toes and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me down to her with force. “Keep talking to me like that and we might not make it outside for the next part of the date.”

With that, she turns and walks away, leaving me to watch her sexy ass as she heads for the back door, stopping once she reaches for the handle. “Come.”

Her one-word command has me following her and kissing the back of her neck as she pulls the door open and looks around.

“Styx,” she says excitedly, while shoving the screen door open. “What is this?” She walks outside to get a closer look. “Is that your couch and TV?”

“You wanted a night with movies and stars. So you’re getting a night with movies and stars. You ask for something with me and I give it. That’s how I work.”

Grabbing my hand, she starts pulling me toward the gazebo, in a hurry to get me over to the couch. “Wow!” She looks up at the screen roof, her mouth dropping as she looks at all the stars. They’re so bright tonight. “I love this! I would’ve never thought to do anything like this. This is amazing. You never cease to amaze me.”

Taking a seat, I pull her down into my lap and wrap my arms around her, just as I did on the rock that night.

Having her in my arms feels so damn good and all I can think about is wanting to protect her and make her happy.

I let her control the remote, until she finds a movie that she wants to watch. The movie doesn’t matter to me. It’s being here with her in my arms that I’ve been looking forward to all day and night.

About twenty minutes into the movie, we move positions so that I’m laying behind her, with my arms wrapped tightly around her. I want her as comfortable as she can be.

Even if she falls asleep in my arms. I won’t be moving. I’ll sleep out here to make her happy.

“Thank you,” she whispers half-way through the movie. “This is one of the best nights of my life.”

“Good,” I whisper back. “It’s one of mine too.”

She flips around to face me, wrapping her arms around my head. “You’re so much different than I expected, Styx. Sweeter and more caring. One of the most caring people I’ve ever met. You make me feel . . . just . . . you make me feel. It’s been a long time since I’ve cared about anything other than the hospital.”

I feel an ache in my chest as I hold her as tightly as I can and place my forehead to hers. “You make me feel too. You’re the first woman to make me want more in life. The first woman that I’ve spent my days looking forward to seeing any chance that I can get. You’re special to me.”

Her breathing picks up against my lips. “I go to sleep at night thinking about being with you. I miss you when you’re not around. That’s a big deal for me.”

Leaning up, I cup her face and crush my lips against hers, wanting nothing more than to feel her against me.

This woman is everything I’ve been looking for and holy fuck . . . hearing that she misses me when I’m not around has me going fucking crazy inside.

Gently, I flip her around to her back and press my body in between her legs. “What do you miss about me?” I ask in a whisper.

“The way you make me laugh and forget about the emptiness that I’ve felt since losing my aunt. The way you kiss me as if you can’t get enough of me. And the way you hold me in silence as if words aren’t needed to describe what you’re feeling for me.”