Page 113 of Truthfinder’s Promise

His arms wrapped around her waist and hauled her back, flush against him. “Pretty sure I heard somewhere that if you love someone, you’re not supposed to just walk away without a fight.”

Her pulse raced. “Pretty sure I heard somewhere that if you love someone, you’re not supposed to let them go without a fight.” She regretted the words as soon as she said them. Had she had to push for the sentiment to be returned? He’d come after her. Wasn’t that enough?

“Do you want me to tell you I love you, darlin’?” he whispered. “Because I do.” He nipped gently at the sensitive skin just below her ear. “I love you, Meredith. We have a lot to learn about each other. I can’t promise you that everything will work out like a fairy tale and it will be perfect between us just because we want it to be.

“But I can promise you that I’ll try. I need to know if that’s good enough.”

“It’s good enough.” It was more than good enough. She tilted her head back and kissed him. “I’m not perfect either. I have a lot of issues. You’re probably going to regret this in a month.”

“Doubtful.” He kissed her again, his hands grazing over her stomach.

Her body wanted to give itself over to his mouth and his hands while her brain was still clinging desperately to logistics. “I’m going to accept the Aspect Liaison position. I have to stay in Seclusion and your enclave is—I don’t even know where your enclave is.”

“Pennsylvania.” He spun her around to face him, lips trailing down her neck, hands slipping under her shirt.

With the way he drawled darlin’ all the time, she’d been expecting Texas. “Pennsylvania isn’t exactly weekend driving distance.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

He stopped kissing and spun her around to face him. “There’s just one more thing I need to be clear on. I’m never having kids. I love Natalie. I don’t regret raising her, and if I could make the choice over knowing what I know now, I would make the same one. I’m not bitter about what I’ve given up for her. But I don’t want to do it again. I won’t do it again.”

Relief hit her square in the chest. Even knowing he’d broken things off with Serenity because she wanted marriage and children and he didn’t, after seeing him with Natalie there’d been a part of her that feared he might change his mind and decide he wanted one of his own after all.

“Jensen, I have no interest in having children. It might be more accurate to say I live in mortal fear of ever having children. It’s never been something I wanted. You don’t have to worry about me changing my mind on that.”

“Good. Are we done talking?”

“You’re the one doing most of the talking.”

He just waited. She blew out a breath. “Yes, we’re done talking. Are you happy now?”

“Ecstatic.”

His hands slid down her back, over her ass and down to grip the backs of her thighs. He hauled her up and tumbled them both onto the bed.

They didn’t do much talking after that.