I could live here and be really fucking happy with Syd. I could live in a gutter and be happy with her, but if she didn’t like it, I’d find someplace else.

Whatever she wanted.

The slider was open when I walked around the corner and entered the kitchen. I stepped outside onto the small deck and saw Syd standing at the railing, looking out at the yard.

She turned when she heard my footsteps, leaned back against the railing with her hands stretched out and gripping onto it behind her, bent her knee, and planted her foot on a spindle all while staring at me, eyes hard and mouth pulled into a frown.

Fuck.

I halted a few feet away and scrubbed at my face with both hands.

“Fuck. You don’t like it,” I guessed, letting my arms drop and clenching my jaw through a tight inhale.

I thought this was it. I thought for sure I knew what she’d want.

“What don’t you like?” I asked, stepping closer. “Is it shit I can fix? Or is it everything? The layout? Location? Would you rather have …”

My voice trailed off when Syd blinded me with a smile, pushed off from the railing, and charged at me like she was always doing lately, leaping into the air when she was close enough and I could catch her, hands on her hips then sliding to her ass, pulling her higher and nearer as she wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist.

“I love it!” she squealed, pressing kisses all over my face.

“Yeah?” I asked in a tight voice.

I needed to be sure.

“Yes! Everything about it. God …everything, Brian! Especially the bedrooms and the yard and the porch. And the kitchen and the cute little living room. Oh, and the basement. I don’t even care that it’s not finished. It has so much potential, Trouble. We could turn it into a big game room or another TV area. My creative juices are flowing like crazy. I can’t wait to decorate! And did you see the size of the master bath? It’s huge!”

It wasn’t. It was a standard-size master bath, but Syd was excited.

I breathed a sigh of relief and kissed the corner of her mouth.

“Glad to know you approve. And thanks a fucking lot for making me worry.” I nipped at her bottom lip. “Think I need my dick sucked for that.”

She perked up, straightened her spine, and lifted an intrigued brow.

“Feel like christening the place? I could blow you in every room for good juju and then let you fuck me in our giant bathroom so you can watch my tits in the mirror.”

My groin tightened.

Christ, her fucking mouth.

Syd must’ve felt my reaction ’cause she rotated her hips and bared down on me.

“That feels like a yes,” she teased, her voice dripping sex. “Wanna get started?”

“In a minute.”

“In a minute?” She felt my forehead and examined me closely. “Are you feeling okay? Do we need to go back to the hospital?”

I shook her hand off.

She moved it back to my neck and squeezed me there.

“Brian Savage doesn’t want sex, I’m shocked.”

“Want it,” I said, pulling her hips closer until she felt my proof pressing hard between her legs.

She moaned and tried coming in for a kiss.

I had shit to clarify first and she was feeling greedy so I didn’t stall.

“Know where this is going, don’t you?” I asked, dipping to avoid her mouth and pressing my lips to her jaw so she could speak.

“Where what’s going?” she questioned back.

“Wouldn’t be buying us a house if I didn’t plan on giving you my last name, babe.”

I felt her pulse jump against my lips as I moved down her neck and sucked there.

“I …” She swallowed thickly and started breathing heavier. “We have to wait a year,” she said, sounding quiet and sad, tilting her head back and offering me her throat. “I won’t be legally divorced until it’s been a year.”

“Know that, and straight up, Wild, I fuckin’ hate it,” I growled. “Takes everything in me not to find that motherfucker and beat the shit outta him just for doing you like he did, add to that the fact he gets to have ties to you that I don’t get to have until some fuckin’ judge says I can …”

I felt my muscles lock in anger.

Wild moved her hands to the back of my head, pressed her lips to my ear, and softly admitted, “I know, honey. I hate it, too.”

I kissed the spot just above her collarbone, then leaned back to look into her eyes.

“Shit keeps me up at night. Never wanted something this much before and I’m gonna be a miserable fuckin’ prick waiting for it.”

She touched my cheek. Her eyes were calming.

“We can be miserable fucking pricks together,” she said on a smile, then let it soften, moved her other hand to my opposite cheek, dipped closer, looking serious now, and added, “I was married for six years and it never felt like this. Not even when it was good. Not even when it was great and I wanted it more than anything, because it wasn’t right. It wasn’t us. You and me. I’ve never wanted something this much before either and I never will, which is why I’m saying yes to this now, yes to this in a year, because I know my answer won’t change no matter when you ask me.”

My breath caught.

Fuck.

I slid my hand up her back to her neck and curled my fingers there.

“Syd,” I murmured.

“And I promise you, Brian Savage, the day I’m legally divorced is the day we’re getting hitched. I will not wait any longer than that,” she stated firmly. “I’ll sign those papers, free myself completely of Marcus, and then I’m signing my life over to you.”