Page 54 of Lex

The ripples of pleasure began to fade, and Summer sighed, utterly content. Lex had gently cleaned between her legs, caring for her with such tenderness and attention, it nearly made her cry. How was this man so freaking amazing? He climbed back into bed with her, a fully satisfied, very sleepy look on his face. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he dragged her closer and kissed her shoulder.

Everything between them had shifted. They’d exchanged I love yous. And her world had nearly spun off its axis. She’d heard a reformed player made the best boyfriend, and Lex was beyond anything she could’ve asked for.

“What’re you thinking?” he asked, voice low.

She turned her head on the pillow and grinned. “I’m thinking about how much I love you.”

He sent her a dazzling smile. “Good.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You’re it for me, Summer. It’s like I’ve spent my whole life waiting for someone to come into focus. And now you’re all I see.”

“You can be quite the romantic,” she murmured.

“Only with you,” he admitted. “It’s weird. I always thought being in a relationship would feel like being tied down. That it would feel suffocating, and I’d lose a part of myself.”

“And?”

“And with you it’s the complete opposite.”

“How so?” she asked.

“Loving you is like when I’m flying,” he continued, cupping her face. “I feel free.”

Hot tears blurred her vision as he leaned in and kissed her. She was tangling her leg through his and sliding closer when she heard a scratch and whimper at the closed bedroom door. Pulling back, she dragged a finger over his lips. “Flossie wants in. She’s used to sleeping next to me.”

“She’s going to have to share,” Lex growled. Before releasing her, he very carefully kissed both of her bandaged hands. “I’m willing if she’s willing.”

Summer’s lips twitched as she slid out of bed and opened the door. Flossie marched inside and Summer scooped her up, placing her on the bed. “You do realize you have a daughter now, right?” Not sure how he’d react, she tried to keep her voice light.

“Of course,” he replied easily, petting the fluffball. “I never imagined having a little girl with more hair than me, but, hey, that’s half her charm.”

Summer laughed as she slipped into bed with her little family. As she snuggled up to Lex, Flossie plopped down at the corner of the mattress. “She likes her space.”

“I don’t.” Lex spun her beneath him, dropping kisses all over her face. “I hope you realize something, too.” She arched a brow then chuckled when he kissed it.

“And what is that?”

“When I say I love you, it’s for always, my forever Summer. You’re stuck with me.”

She brushed a lock of his hair back, her heart near to exploding. “That’s absolutely fine with me.”

“That also means I’m marrying you. Because I want to be able to call you Mrs. Summer Battle.”

Her heart beat harder, and a joy like she’d never known filled her. “I wanted to change my name as soon as possible, anyway,” she reminded him.

“You can have mine, sweetheart,” he said huskily.

“Thank you,” she whispered right before he caught her mouth in a kiss to seal the deal. Er, proposal? Leave it to Lex to throw tradition aside and, instead, merely claim her.

She loved it. And she loved him. Somehow, she’d been granted her true love, her soulmate, and she couldn’t be more grateful.

Epilogue

One Month Later

On a beautiful August day, right beside the lake where they’d had their first date, Lex married Summer. With the mountains behind them, they exchanged vows, promising to love, honor and cherish each other.

True to his word, Lex chose Brand, Wes and Jayson to stand beside him as his best men. Because, yeah, it had worked out with Summer, and their advice had helped his perspective grow and change. Now, he was a one-woman man, and he couldn’t imagine it being any other way. Summer owned him—heart, body and soul.

Corey acted as officiant, leading them through the simple, yet meaningful ceremony. Surrounded by the people in his life who mattered most—his brothers and their significant others, Mitch Evans, Aunt Maribel and cousin Rake from Texas and, of course, Flossie with a pink bow that matched Summer’s dress in her floof—Lex said I do.