“You’re free to go.”

I stretch out my arms and rub my wrists, craning my neck from side to side. It’s been a while since I was in cuffs, but it’s a good reminder that I don’t ever plan to go down that road again.

“What about him?” I jerk my chin at the other car that still has Brad inside. “What’s going to happen with that?”

“He’ll be booked tonight. Based on the knife we found in his jacket and some of the other paraphernalia in his car, he’ll be brought up on multiple charges. We haven’t searched his house yet, but I think it’s safe to say that he will be going away for a while.”

My chest fills with air, and I feel like I can finally breathe again. Since meeting Allie, she turned my whole world upside down. She came along when I least expected it and gave me hope. And regardless of what she said before, I know she was always meant to be mine. So even if I have to spend the rest of my life convincing her, I’m ready to make that happen.

With that in mind, I let myself into the house and wait for the other officers to clear out after they finish taking her statement. They’ve already had a medic check her out and help her flush her eyes from the looks of it, but I’m anxious to get her alone to make sure she’s really okay.

“You all right here with him?” one of the officers asks as he lingers by the door.

“Yes.” Allie looks at me. “We’re fine, thank you.”

He nods and shuts the door behind him, and then it’s just the two of us. She looks up at me with glassy eyes. I had a whole speech prepared, but I forget all about it as I stalk toward her and haul her up into my arms. I pet her hair and stroke her back as silent tears fall down her cheeks. And when she turns into me, I kiss them away.

“It’s okay, baby. Everything will be okay now.”

“I’m not scared,” she whispers against me. “I’m just so relieved. It’s almost hard to believe that he’s gone. I know there’s still a lot more to do with the court and everything—”

“And I’ll be there with you every step of the way,” I assure her.

“You will?” She turns her gaze on my face, and I can’t help letting my lips graze the soft skin of her cheek.

“Allie,” I croak. “I know you’re nervous about me, and I don’t blame you. But I’m not going anywhere. I need to be there for you at the very least. I need to make sure you’re safe. It’s the only way I can sleep at night. And if you’ll let me, I’m going to spend every day proving that you can trust me. That my only goal here is to take care of you.”

“Gunner—”

I shake my head because I don’t want to hear her tell me that it’s wrong. Not right now, not after everything.

“I’m in love with you,” she blurts.

My grip on her tightens as I look down into her eyes, seeking out the truth. I’m convinced that she must be confused, or delirious, or something. Because there’s no way in hell she just told me she loves me.

“It’s true,” she insists. “I just said all that stuff because I was afraid if you got tangled up with me, you’d end up going back to prison. I don’t care about your past. I only want your future.”

The words get lost in my throat as my fingers curl into her shirt. It takes me a second to process what she’s telling me, and as much as I want to be angry that she lied to me, I’m too relieved. Before I can waste another second of thought, I lean down and drag her lips to mine. She moans against me and clings to my body, her hands roaming over every inch of me that she can reach.

Already, we are tearing at each other’s clothes, desperate for another taste of intoxication.

“Need to be inside you,” I pant.

She nods, and I haul her up into my arms, carrying her down the hall to her bedroom. We make it as far as the door before I start peeling away the layers of fabric between us. Allie melts beneath my touch, her skin soft and her body completely relaxed as she watches me with a hooded expression. She’s so fucking beautiful, and I’ll never get enough of her. I want her to know that this is it for me.

“Marry me,” I whisper against her lips.

She blinks, her eyes widening as they move over my face. Now she thinks I’m delirious, but all I can do is grin. With my hard cock sandwiched between us is probably not the ideal moment to spring this question on her, but I can’t wait. I need to ask her now. I need to claim her now.

“Do you really mean it?” she asks.

“I don’t ever want to spend another night away from you, Allie Cat. Tell me that you’ll put me out of my misery and be my wife.”

“Oh, my God.” Her lip trembles before it turns into a smile so wide it lights up her whole face. “Yes, Gunner. I will marry you.”

I smash my mouth against hers, dragging my tongue over the seam of her lips until she gasps and allows me entrance. I’m in a hurry to get inside her, so much so that it physically hurts. My balls ache, and my spine is tense, and all I want to do is bury my cock in her tight, wet pussy. But first, I have every intention of worshipping her body the way she deserves.

I lead her to the bed and help her lie down before I take a minute just to look at her. Her long dark lashes, her beautiful soft curves. Those lips so pouty I’m desperate to see them wrapped around my cock again. There will be plenty of time for that later, but for right now, I’m going to make her scream my name over and over until I’ve wrung every possible ounce of pleasure from her body.

“Show me that beautiful pussy.” I kneel before her and use the palms of my hands to slide her thighs apart.

Allie looks up at me with flushed cheeks and glassy eyes. Shy but sweet. Always sweet. I toss her legs over my shoulders as I lean forward, and she lets out a squeak as I drag my nose through her arousal.

“So fucking perfect,” I groan. “Hold on tight, baby. You’re going to ride my face.”

She moans when I bury my tongue inside her warmth, and I wrap my hands around her hips, guiding her movements as she rocks down against me. Soon, Allie takes over on her own, thrashing as I alternate between teasing her clit and fucking her with my tongue. I let the tension in her body build and build to a crescendo, until she’s so tight I’m certain she’s going to explode, and then I back off, leaving her panting and whining for more. I drag my scruff against her leg and inhale her sweet scent, nipping at the sensitive skin of her thigh. Her fingers curl into my hair, and she begs me for mercy.

“Please, Gunner.”

The sound of her angelic voice is too much to bear. I dive back into her pussy, eating her out like she’s my favorite dish. Allie drowns in the sensations, a tidal wave of pleasure crashing through her body as she thrashes against my face. When she finally unleashes, the orgasm bleeds every ounce of energy from her body. She falls limp against the pillow, her legs still shaking over my shoulders. She’s too spent to move, but that’s okay. I’m going to move for her.

I slide my fingers inside her and start to finger her, and she blinks open her eyes and looks at me like I’m crazy. Like she couldn’t possibly come again.

I smirk. “Baby, I’m just getting started.”

When I hit that sweet spot inside her, Allie quickly forgets about the impossible and starts making those soft mewling noises that vibrate up from her throat. My free hand rakes over her body, taking extra time to pinch and pluck at her nipples, so soft and pink I can’t wait to get my lips around them.

“Gunner!” She lets out a scream as her back arches off the bed, and I don’t let up this time. My fingers slide in and out of her at a frantic pace until she convulses around me, squeezing and milking my hand until her arousal drips down her thighs.

Watching her come undone is a beautiful sight, and I rock back onto my heels and untangle her legs from around my shoulders to fully appreciate the view.

“Oh, my God,” she whispers. “That was insane.”

“It only gets better from here.” I stroke my cock as I lean down and suck one of her nipples into my mouth.

She pets the back of my head and grinds her hips against mine, an eager little kitten begging for my cream. I can’t hold back any longer. I need to fuck her. I need to be balls deep in that wet little hole, filling her up with my come.

“Tell me who you belong to.” I guide her hand to my cock, wrapping her fingers around me.

“I’m yours,” she breathes.

“Show me.”

She licks her lips and glances down at my cock, guiding me to the slice of heaven between her parted thighs. When she nudges the fat head against her slickness, I shudder.

“Too slow,” I rasp, untangling her fingers so I can plow into her in one thrust.

Allie gasps, her nails digging into my ass as I roll my hips and fuck her into the bed. She feels too good. And when her lips start peppering my throat, I’m a goner. I’m not going to last. But I squeeze my eyes shut and savor the feeling of her wrapped around me for as long as I can until it’s too painful.

“Fuckkkkk!” I roar as my dick unleashes, pulsing hot jets of my come deep into her womb.

It seems to go on forever, and I’m too comfortable to pull out, so I roll onto my side and throw her leg over my hip, keeping us connected this way. Then I bring her face to mine, kissing her like we have all the time in the world. Because we do.

For the rest of the day, we stay just like that. Lost inside each other. Napping and fucking and eating and being so blissed out that nothing else can ever touch us again.