“Out of all the things I expected my brother to say at dinner, that was not something that crossed my mind.”

I peered down into Callie’s eyes as she gazed up into mine.

“Me neither,” she said, giggling.

“What do you think about what he said?”

“I think it’s better than what we both expected.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Callie shifted against my arm, rising up onto her knees. The darkness of the library shrouded us. A place that had always been a sort of safe haven for her. I watched her migrate there after dinner. After Clay’s talk with us and after cleaning up dinner. I stayed around Clay, meandering around the house until he made his way upstairs. Then, I ducked into the library in the basement of his home and found Callie curled up underneath a blanket.

But now, she shifted against my arms, sliding to straddle my lap.

My hands fell to her hips, keeping their position as my eyes locked with hers. There was such strength there, yet such innocence. Such intelligence, yet such naivety at the same time. Callie was a walking contradiction wrapped in a case my arms wanted to hold for the rest of my life. And when she threaded her arms around my neck, I felt her scoot forward so much that her breathing settled onto the pout of my lower lip.

“Is this something you want?” she asked.

“I’m asking you that question, Little Callie. Is the two of us something you want?”

I felt her shiver as my hands slowly worked up to her waist, my heart slamming against my chest. I wanted her to say ‘yes’. I hoped she would say ‘yes’. But, I’d also understand if she said ‘no’. I wanted, first and foremost. Her happiness. Her comfort. I wanted her to achieve her dreams and have her passions without having to compromise a damn thing. In all honesty, it would be easier if she said ‘no’. Things with my brother would be easier if she said ‘no’. But, I knew there was no other woman for me. I’d never love, never cherish, never spoil a woman the way I wanted to spoil Callie. I’d let her go if that was what she wanted, but she’d never be replaced.

That much I knew, no matter her answer.

After knowing what it felt like to have Callie, it was impossible to seek out anything better. Because I already knew what it felt like to have the best.

All at once, a grin blossomed across her lips. It tucked them apart, exposing her gleaming white teeth as her eyes closed shut. I watched her face come closer. I felt her knees shuffle her further into my body. Her arms tightened around my neck as her lips pressed against mine, and my hand slid behind her back. My cock began to stiffen. Electricity stood every hair on my body up on its root as my hands pulled her closer to me. I felt the love in her kiss. Felt the happiness rushing through her veins.

But it wasn’t enough.

I had to hear it.

I pulled back, hearing her huff as I cupped her cheek. I gazed into her bright amber eyes, stroking my thumb across her soft little cheek. I slid my thumb down her skin. Along her chin. Across her lower lip. I watched her pucker her pout, kissing my skin before my hand slipped behind her neck. I fisted her hair. Drew her face closer to mine and commanded her presence. Commanded her attention.

Readied my demand.

“I need you to say it, Callie. I need you to say that this is something you want. Because it’s something I want. I want you, Callie Roper. I’ve wanted you for damn near five years now.”

Her giggles filled my ear as I drew her forehead to mine, resting my tired mind against hers.

“This is something I want. I want whatever this is with you, Colt,” she whispered.

I clenched my jaw to keep it from trembling. To keep it from giving away how absolutely weak this woman made me.

“I want to do my life with you, Colt. I want to share moments of triumph with you, Colt. I want you to be the person I run to when life gets hard, or when things get rough, or when things don’t go as planned. I’ve always trusted you. I’ve always confided in you. I’ve always gone to you, and I don’t know why I’d try to find another person to fill what I’ve already had for so long.”

I fisted her hair, feeling her body give way to my command. I drew in a sobering breath. I let her words dawn upon my mind. Shrouded in the darkness of the library, I whipped my eyes open and found hers. They bled sincerity. They boasted of happiness. And as I switched into business-mode and read her every twitch and assessed her every breath, I found it laced with no lie.

Callie was telling the truth. And I could no longer contain myself.

Crashing my lips against hers, she collapsed into my body. Her breasts fell to my chest as our tongues collided. She moaned into me. My cock rose to the occasion, seeking out the heat I’d felt pooling between my legs for damn near ten minutes. My hands slid down to her ass, fisting it as I picked her up from the couch. She wrapped her legs around me. Her fingertips gripped into my shoulders as I carried her across the room. I pressed her against the bookcase, listening as novels tumbled to the floor at our feet.

“I love you, Little Callie.”

My lips parted from hers just long enough for me to feel her smile against my skin.

“I love you, too, Colton.”

And I thanked my fucking stars we were in the basement. Because we needed all the floors we could get to mute the cries of pleasure I pulled from her that night.