Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
"Why?" she whispers, reaching out to stroke her finger across the infinity band.
"Because I had to," I say, expelling a breath. "Because you were willing to go to prison to save my career."
"I was," she whispers with a nod, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I would have done anything to save you, Cam. You're a good cop and you care what happens to people. San Francisco needs you."
"That's why I bought it." I tilt her chin up until she's looking into my eyes. "You're mine. I knew it the minute I saw you. Nothing that's happened since has changed that for me." I press my forehead to hers and swallow hard. "I had to get that ring because I had to believe you knew you were mine, too. You wouldn't have done what you did if you didn't know it."
"I am yours." Tears spill over, rolling down her cheeks. "All I wanted was to be with you, but I was so scared. You'd already given me so much. I couldn't let them drag you down with me."
"I know you were scared, sweetheart. I could see it in your eyes the day you lied to me. You were breaking because of me, and I couldn't do anything to stop it." I shudder at the memory, exhaling a pained groan. "Fuck, kitten. That killed me. I need you to know that will never happen again. Nothing will ever take me away from you again."
"I do know that," she whispers, tears falling freely down her face now.
"Then marry me," I plead softly, the words thick with emotion. The ring shakes in my palm where my hand trembles. "I've never needed much before, but I need you, and I need my ring on your finger. Giving you my last name is all I can think about. I can't fucking sleep until I know you're tied to me permanently. Don't make me wait. Say yes."
"Yes," she says without hesitation.
"Yeah?" I ask, praying I didn't hear her wrong.
"Yes," she says, laughing through her tears. "Yes, I'll marry you, Cam."
I exhale a shaky breath and then grin. My hands tremble when I slip my ring onto her finger and then stare at it, powerful emotion coursing through me. "Fuck," I whisper, lifting her hand to press my lips to her ring before I lean forward to kiss her. "You're really marrying me."
"I am."
I kiss her hard, tangling my hands in her hair to hold her still. My tongue dances along hers, teasing a moan from her lips. When I break away, she's panting, but her eyes are lighter than they have been in days. For the first time since learning Erin was behind everything, true happiness blazes in her expression, and I know she's going to be okay. No, she's going to be better than that.
For the rest of my life, I'll spend every waking moment ensuring it.
She's mine now, my kitten. My future. The best thing that ever happened to me.
"I love you, Ivy," I say, pulling her back down to me.
"I love you too, Cam," she whispers, curling up in my lap with her head against my shoulder. Exactly where she was made to fit. Exactly where she belongs.
Epilogue
Ivy
One Year Later
"Are you sure about this, kitten?" Cam asks, coming up behind me as I stand in our bedroom. He wraps his arms around me and presses his lips to the side of my neck, kissing me.
"Yes," I say, leaning back into him and closing my eyes for a moment, letting him steady me like he always does. "I'm just nervous."
"We can go another day," he murmurs, rocking me in his arms. "You don't have to do this now."
He's wrong though. I do have to do this now. I've been putting it off for six months already, but I think I'm finally ready to see her again. I'm ready to put the entire nightmare behind me once and for all. I can't until I see her and say all the things I never got a chance to say.
The D.A. asked me if I wanted to make a statement when she was sentenced after pleading guilty, but I couldn't do it. I didn't want to sit in a room full of strangers and tell my former best friend how much she hurt me. The memories were still too fresh.
Sometimes, they still are, but my life is nothing like it used to be.
In some ways, it's better. Being with Cam makes me so happy. I feel like I'm dreaming most of the time. He's bossy and he drives me insane, but he's so amazing. Almost every night, he's inside me. I wear his marks all over my body still. I'm not sure which one of us likes that more.
He didn't lose his job. He was suspended for a while for breaking the rules, but I don't think anyone really agreed with it at that point. His Captain actually apologized for everything I went through. I guess Ventura told him why I confessed, and he felt badly about it. I'm not sure. All I know is that Cam is still doing what he loves, and he's never been happier.