Free Inked Ever After by Elle Aycart Page A

much I need you in my life. How whole and totally at
peace I feel when you’re in my arms and I’m deep inside you. You’re the one,
princess. The reason I wake up with a smile on my lips. The reason it stays on
my face all fucking day. When I hurry home from work, I’m hurrying back to you.
To you, Tate. Do you understand what I’m saying? I’ve made my choice. Don’t you
ever say I deserve better.”
    “James, I—”
    He silenced her with a finger on her lips. “Just answer me
one thing: do I deserve to get hurt?”
    “Of course not,” she whispered, new tears running down her
cheeks.
    “Then no more charades. No more putting up fronts. Or
pretending everything is fine because you think that’s what I need. Or what I
deserve. Please don’t keep any part of you from me. It hurts when you don’t let
me in. I need you to come to me when something bothers you.”
    Realizing she’d hurt him by holding back was a damn hard
piece to swallow. So hard it actually got stuck in her throat, and she could
barely talk. Even more fresh tears spilled from her eyes. “I never meant to
hurt you, babe, I swear. That was the last thing in my mind. But you couldn’t
repair this and—”
    “It doesn’t matter whether I can repair it or not. I want to
be part of your life, and that also means the tough moments. I may not be able
to solve the situation, but I can sure as hell listen to you. Hold you. Offer
you my support. Shoulder your burdens. Soothe your pain.”
    James lifted her in his arms and placed her on the dining
table. He parted her legs and, wedging his thighs between, invaded her space.
    “You took care of everyone. Your mom. Elle. Rosita’s. Even that
piece of shit Aidan. Now you have me. You can rest easy. You don’t need to
worry about anything. I know you can take care of yourself. I never doubted it;
it isn’t the point. The point is I take care of my own,” he said as he swept
away the tears with his thumbs. “And don’t be mistaken: I’m proud of my own,
baby. My family, my friends, you. Especially you. I’m fucking proud of you.
When people are in pain, that’s when they learn who they really are. And you’re
a goddess. You’ve been through hell and back, and you’re still standing. I
don’t deserve better, because it doesn’t fucking get better than you. You got
it?”
    She nodded, her throat vibrating. She wasn’t sure she agreed
with him on that, but he’d made himself crystal clear; she had no right to decide
for him.
    “Good. Now let’s talk about this cabin. You’re doing much
better than when we met, but I know being in the restaurant is still painful,
and being in your parents’ house too. The grief will fade and just leave the
warmth and happiness you had with them in your life, for whatever short period
of time it was. But that’s not now. And I want to help. You were happy here
many years ago. Let me make you happy here again.”
    And there it went; her tear ducts going bonkers.
    “James, this must have cost you a fortune.”
    He shrugged, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’m not made of
gold, princess, but I can afford it.”
    “I can’t give you anything like this,” she repeated, her
lower lip quivering. “The restaurant is doing very well now, but I can’t foot the
bill for half this place.”
    He growled. Literally. “Are you even listening to me? It’s
ours already. I told you I take care of what’s mine, and that ring on your left
finger says you’re mine.”
    “Yes, I’m yours, but I can’t let you buy me a house.”
    “This is not a house; it’s a cabin. And sorry, babe, it’s a
done deal.”
    “I already live in your home in Alden. I—”
    “It’s not my home anymore. It’s our home. Do you really
believe I got that big house built thinking of me living in it alone? The huge
yard, the lakeshore? The kid-friendly neighborhood? Please. I’ve been waiting
for you all my life.”
    “But—”
    “Enough, Tate,” he said, his tone harsh. He was