The Valentine: The Wedding Pact #4 Read online

  “Shut up and kiss me, Garrett.”

  A grin spread across his face. “Gladly.”

  Chapter 6

  He was her miracle. A miracle she didn’t deserve, yet she claimed it anyway. He carried her into their bedroom, kissing her so thoroughly she had no idea they’d even reached their destination until he lowered her gently to the bed. She lay on her back, her head on her pillow, and she stared up into his face, amazed at the love and adoration in his eyes.

  “What did I do to deserve you?” she asked breathlessly.

  “You’re mine, Blair. Forever mine.” He straddled her waist, putting his weight in his knees. His hands made quick work of the buttons on her shirt before he lowered his mouth to her neck, leaving a trail of kisses to the edge of her bra cup. “Try as you might, you can’t drive me away.”

  “Why?” she asked, close to tears again. She’d never felt so raw and exposed. “Why would you put up with me?”

  “Put up with you?” he asked, sounding incredulous. He lifted his head to look into her face. “Blair, I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, even if only for a second. You’re beautiful and brilliant, and your heart is so big and so full of love, even if you keep it shielded. You help so many people—your friends, your family, the desperate women who come to you for help. You never once think about what you’ll get out of it. You do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

  She stared up into his loving face, a tear slipping out of the corner of her eye and down her cheek. “But I can be such a bitch.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare apologize for the way you fight for your clients or your friends.” He ran a finger along her collarbone. “Later, I’ll tell you how much Kelsey needs you too.”

  “What’s wrong with—”

  “She’s okay. She’ll be okay. I know you’ll make sure she is. And at the end of the day, there’s no one I’d rather have in my corner than you.”

  “But I treat you so badly sometimes.”

  “I’m not going to lie, sometimes it’s hard, but I understand how deeply your father hurt you. I know how much I hurt you. It’s going to take time, Blair, but I’m not going anywhere. When you get too…”

  “Bitchy?”

  “Grouchy,” he said with a smile. “But I’m here to stay.”

  She reached up and pulled his lips to hers, but he took over, claiming her mouth as his hand lifted the bottom of her skirt up to her waist before working on his own pants. He kicked them off while she shimmied out of her panties.

  He paused and looked down into her face as he poised at her entrance, searching her eyes to make sure she was okay.

  She gave him a soft smile, and the joy in his eyes as he slowly entered her was her undoing. He filled her so completely, both body and soul. Then he began to move in slow steady strokes, watching her face as he took her higher and higher. She wrapped her legs around his waist and grabbed his ass, pulling him deeper.

  He took what she offered, giving so much more in return, but what did she expect? This was Garrett, the person who knew her better than anyone else, even better than she knew herself.

  They came together, their eyes still locked, and Blair felt a connection deeper than she’d ever felt before, even with him. She belonged with him, to him. By opening up her heart just a little bit more, she felt closer to him than she’d ever expected.

  Still panting, Garrett lay next to her and gathered her into his arms, holding her chest flush with his.

  “I love you,” she whispered. “I love you so much it hurts.”

  He picked up her hand and laced their fingers, then kissed her knuckles. “Growing pains, Blazer. That’s all. It’ll be worth it in the end.” He rolled her to her back. “Happy Anti-Valentine’s Day.”

  “Anti-Valentine’s Day version 2.0,” she corrected grinning. “I made plans, by the way. We have hours-old Chinese takeout and a horror movie.”

  He shuddered. “I think we’ve had enough horror to last us a lifetime.”

  She would give him no argument there. “If we’re not going to celebrate Anti-Valentine’s Day, then you don’t expect to celebrate the real holiday, do you?”

  He laughed, then leaned over and brushed her lips with his. “Actually, I made a reservation for us at Austin’s.” He grimaced. “I don’t know why, now—I guess it seemed like a married couple thing to do. But we’re not like other couples. We don’t have to celebrate this made-up holiday. You’re covered from now until the end of time. You’ve already given me a Valentine’s gift.”

  “And what could that be?” she asked lazily, overcome with exhaustion.

  “The best gift I could ever hope for. You’ve given me you.”

  ***More Wedding Pact stories coming soon!***

  Sign up for Denise’s mailing list to find this and other news:

  http://denisegroverswank.com/mailing-list/

  Also by Denise Grover Swank

  Rose Gardner Mysteries

  (Humorous southern mysteries)

  Novellas are bonus material

  TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES

  TWENTY-NINE AND A HALF REASONS

  THIRTY AND A HALF EXCUSES

  FALLING TO PIECES (novella)

  THIRTY-ONE AND A HALF REGRETS

  THIRTY-TWO AND A HALF COMPLICATIONS

  PICKING UP THE PIECES (novella)

  THIRTY-THREE AND A HALF SHENANIGANS

  ROSE AND HELENA SAVE CHRISTMAS (novella)

  RIPPLE OF SECRETS (novella)

  THIRTY-FOUR AND A HALF PREDICAMENTS

  THIRTY-FIVE AND A HALF CONSPIRACIES

  THIRTY-SIX AND A HALF MOTIVES (May 2016)

  The Wedding Pact

  (Humorous contemporary romance)

  THE SUBSTITUTE

  THE PLAYER

  THE GAMBLER

  Magnolia Steele Mystery

  Center Stage

  March 2016

  Off the Subject Series

  (New adult contemporary romance)

  AFTER MATH

  REDESIGNED

  BUSINESS AS USUAL

  The Chosen Series

  (Adult urban fantasy)

  CHOSEN

  HUNTED

  SACRIFICE

  REDEMPTION

  Complete CHOSEN Box Set

  Curse Keepers Series

  (Urban fantasy)

  Amazon only

  THE CURSE KEEPERS

  THE CURSE BREAKERS

  THE CURSE DEFIERS

  CURSE KEEPERS COLLECTION (box set)

  On the Otherside Series

  (Young adult sci fi romance)

  HERE

  THERE

  About the Author

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.

  You can find out more about Denise and her other books at www.denisegroverswank.com

  Don’t miss out on Denise’s newest releases! Join her mailing list: http://denisegroverswank.com/mailing-list/

  For more information

  @denisemswank

  deniseswank

  www.denisegroverswank.com

 

 

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