Page 43 of Stone
Freaking fudgesicles!She loved him, but he was more than that. Over the weeks, she’d realized that although she was getting close to the other women and she’d always be close to her sisters, Stone was her best friend. They could talk about anything and never tire of each other.
She was ready to be his. She hoped he didn’t make her wait until her actual birthday and the plan she and the ladies had come up with. She craved to be skin to skin with the man who’d shown her how to really live.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Stone held her hand as he led her up the steps onto his porch and into his house. Finn and Ben were hanging with the girls at Locks’.
The blistering hot kiss that Stone had given her when they walked off the stage had started a fire that had only grown as they rode back to Bluff Creek on the bike.
Stone closed the door, laying his hand on her cheek.
“You’re beautiful, and I’m the luckiest man to have you,” Stone murmured. His words warmed her heart, but she was ready for action.
“Stone, I want…” she started, pausing when Stone placed his finger on her lips.
“You want the same thing I do—to cement this love that’s been building between us with the deepest intimacy when you take me inside you. I want that too, but I can’t have us go there without you knowing positively that you’re it for me. You’re my best friend. When something wonderful happens, I can’t wait toshare it with you. I love you, and I’ve never felt this way before. I wanted to make it special, so I memorized something. Bear with me,” Stone pleaded softly, getting on his knees.
He held her hand, took a deep breath, and started.
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.”
“Elizabeth Barrett Browning. One of my favorites,” she choked out, tears rolling down her cheeks because this man had stripped all the noise away and let her know she was worthy of love.
“I love you too, Stone, though I didn’t memorize anything special,” Naomi whispered, dropping to her knees to meet him.
Stone leaned his head until their foreheads touched.
“I need you to know this deep down in your soul, Naomi. I love you, but I also love Regan, Taylor, and Beck. I can’t imagine being anything but their dad. If you’ll let me, I will be the best husband and father that I can,” Stone promised, his voice thick with emotion.
She sniffed because this evening had become more than she imagined.
“It’s exactly what I wanted. You, me and the girls as a family,” she breathed.
