Listening to Georgie pour her heart out to that cub splintered something inside me. She had seemed so in control since she arrived. I’d not asked about her past. She had offered a few bits here and there, but I figured she would tell me what she wanted when she was ready. She already knew my dirty laundry. Hell, she got to come face to face with part of it a few weeks ago. She needed me now more than I thought.

I gave Georgie no choice but to accompany me into the house this time. Once she was in my arms, that was it. She went willingly. I didn’t say a word until we were upstairs, in my room. I sat her on her feet and lifted her chin with my finger. Her face was swollen and bruised from yesterday. Her eyes were bloodshot, red rimmed and swollen. Even with all that, she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I leaned in and kissed her softly. I needed her to know that I was here for her. I wasn’t leaving her to do any of this on her own.

I said nothing while I slowly stripped her of her clothes. Kneeling, I took her socks and shoes off. Her fingers curled into my shoulders as she lifted one foot at a time. When she stood before me completely naked I stood and leaned in to capture her lips again with mine. Without a word her fingers trailed along the buttons to my shirt and then pushed it off my shoulders. I pulled back from her long enough to grab my t-shirt and pull it off. My chest pressed against hers and the jolt of lust that shot through me made me groan. Her hands working my belt and then popping the button to my jeans didn’t help. She truly had no idea what she did to me.

I kicked my boots off and stepped back to push my jeans and boxers off. My socks followed and there we stood, both as naked as the day we were born. I pulled her back to me and kissed her again as I backed her into the bathroom. Once the water was on and a good temperature I used my body to push her inside and shut the door. I had her where I wanted her, with her back pressed against the cold tile. My lips moved from hers to trail along her jaw, her neck and across her collarbone. My fingers slid down her sides and gripped her hips as my mouth moved down along her breast. My lips wrapped around the pebbled peak and I smirked as she let out a strangled moan.

My fingers stroked back up her body then down. She shifted as I teased her breasts, nipping and licking at her soft flesh. I moved one hand to skim across her thigh, and felt her shudder in anticipation. My tongue laved across her nipple one last time before I kissed down her body and slowly went to my knees. Her intake of breath as I lifted her leg to place it over my shoulder sent a thrill through me. My tongue darted out and I flattened it to taste her. I moaned as I worked her. It wasn’t long before she was panting, her fingers curled tight against my scalp as my tongue flicked across her clit. Her hips rocked as I slid one finger, then a second into her.

“Tate... please…”

Her legs were shaking, her body on edge as I taunted her, teasing every bad memory and thought from her. She was a wire ready to pop. With a flick of my tongue I shifted and took her in my mouth again, lavishing her core as my fingers pumped, curling in against her inner walls. Her body jerked hard and she cried out my name. The pleasure sent her body into overdrive and she tugged at my hair as I kept assaulting her sensitive bundle. I wanted her to be overrun with pleasure before I took her hard. I knew as worked up as I was I wouldn’t last long this time. But that was okay, this was about her. As it should always be.

“Oh God… Tate!” She cried out my name again as she shook with another orgasm. My lips curled into a smirk as she all but went limp against me. I stood, my hands on her hips as I lifted her up.

“Wrap your legs around me and hold on, baby,” I said as I shifted her so I was at her slick entrance.

The wetness from her releases helped me slide deep inside her. Her back arched from the wall and I used that to my advantage. I dipped my head and took her nipple in my mouth again. As my hips thrust up into her I taunted her nipples, giving each my attention. The soft moans and her whispering my name was like heaven. This woman had no idea what she was doing to me. I moved a hand between us and pressed my fingers against her clit. He body jerked and with a loud moan and with my name falling from her lips she came hard. My body was a coil ready to explode around her. With a grunt, my release hit. Her name slipped from my lips as I pressed them against hers.

“Jesus…” she panted as I stilled. My dick was still buried inside her. I cracked a grin as I kissed up to her ear.

“Name’s Tate, not Jesus, darlin’.” She laughed. A true, genuine laugh. I pulled back slightly so I could see her face. “Feel better?” I asked softly, searching her face.

“Yes… thank you,” she said, with a breathy sigh. God, I loved that sound. I kissed her nose and then her lips softly. When I pulled away from her she groaned. Again, I loved that I did that to her.

The water had gone from hot to cold. I turned the water off and got us out. Grabbing a towel I dried her off, then wrapped her in a dry towel before drying myself off. I took her hand and pulled her with me to my room. I pulled a pair of boxers on and then helped her into a pair. They were big on her, but she would be covered, that was what was important. After I slipped a t-shirt over her head I moved her back to the bathroom and sat her up on the counter so I could dry her hair and her cast. In my haste to get her in there I forgot all about the cast. Though it wasn’t the first time it had to be dried.

Once she was dried, her cast was dry and warm I scooped her up and moved us back to the bedroom. I laid her on the bed and moved to lay beside her, tucking her into me. Her head rested against my chest as I tucked a blanket around her. We laid there silent for a little while. I was content to just listen to her breathing but when she shifted I looked down at her. Her big caramel eyes met mine and I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip.

“What is it, darlin’?”

“You- you heard what I confessed earlier? All of it?” She looked a little nervous, or worried. She had no reason for either. I nodded my head.

“We did. I had no idea. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” I said, meaning every word.

“My PaPa was all I had. He was there when my parents left. I mean, my dad was there for a couple of years, but I just don’t remember much. My PaPa was the man that loved me, raised me to be the woman I am now. I feel so lost sometimes. I wish it was a bad dream, ya know. I miss him so much. But…” Her words trailed off and I wiped a tear from her cheek. I stayed silent, letting her take her time. There was no need to rush. I would wait forever to hear what she wanted to say.

“When PaPa first got sick he went out with me to find me a companion, as he called it. He said I needed someone to help me through the bad times that were coming. Someone to protect me. That was when I got Tango. He was nine weeks old. All feet and ears.” She laughed slightly and the color came back into her face. “He was a big clumsy pup, but the moment I saw him, I just knew he was mine.”

I couldn’t hold back the smile that played at my lips. “He’s still a big clumsy dog, but I know one thing, he is definitely your protector. He’s smart and brave, just like you, baby.” I spoke softly but meant every word I’d just said.

“He is,” she said, again a small laugh escaped her. “PaPa told me to go out and experience the world. To live. I promised I would, I just didn’t know how. After he passed I was in a daze. I wasn’t sure how to do what I promised I’d do. One day I woke up and just knew I needed a road trip. To get away from everything I knew and explore. So… I did what I needed to and I left Georgia.”

“And you made your way here. I’m so glad you made it here, Georgie,” I said against her lips.

“He brought me to you. I know he did. PaPa always told me as a child that I would one day meet the man that was meant to be mine.” Her smile grew. “He was a bit of a know it all like that.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I’m glad he was. You’ve made me see that I can be happy. I mean, my family makes me immensely happy. My daughter is my heart, but Georgie… You make me happy just by being you. I don’t have to pretend to be anyone but me with you. There is no judgment from you. Neither of us are perfect, nor do we have perfect lives, but without you I’d still be a shell of a man.”

Her lips moved to mine and I pulled her closer to me. This was the start of something new. The openness between us, our feelings out in the open. It was all meant to be this way. Life is not life without struggles, ups and down. This was the moment I knew, deep down in my heart that I loved this woman. I would move heaven and hell to make sure she was always happy.

“You’re such a strong man. You may not see it, but I do. Even if you were a total jackass the first night we met.” Her face stayed neutral as she said those words. I was a douche that night. I opened my mouth to apologize again for that night but she cut me off with a finger over my lips. “Don’t apologize. You were looking out for your brother. I get that and I hold nothing against you for that. I envy what you have here with your family. I never had that.”

“You do now. You have us all wrapped around your finger. I swear any of us would do anything for you. I think Dad is ready to adopt you.” I laughed and kissed her forehead. “My sweet girl, you have brought joy into our lives, and even if there is sorrow and misery at times, that’s life.”

“I can’t imagine not being here with you guys. I hope that is okay with y’all?” She raised a brow and I grinned as I leaned in to capture her lips once more. My hands moved to her lower back as I held her to me.

“You couldn’t escape if you tried. I would hunt you down, throw you over my shoulder and bring your sexy ass back.” I pulled back so I could meet her eyes. “I knew you were special. I knew I needed you in my life. I knew one day my one would find me. I am so glad it was you. I love you Georgeana Larson, with all that I am. I am never letting you go.”

“Oh, Tate. I love you too,” she said as our lips met once more.

The next few hours passed in a slow burn of passion as we let ourselves revel in the love and lust that surrounded us. I had my girl, and for once, I was in a place to do everything I could to prove to her just what she meant to me.