He stared at me for a long time, processing that. And then his face contorted in torment and he nodded. “I think so,” he whispered, “but I never realised that until just now.”

I asked the one question that had to be answered in order for us to take another step on this journey together. The answer to this question would determine our future. “Can you get past that anger at me?” I held my breath, waiting for him to reply.

Willing him to say the one word I desperately wanted him to say.

“I’m not angry at you, baby. I’m angry at myself.” His gaze softened, and my heart soared at his admission, but it confused me even further.

My eyebrows drew together. “Why?”

The air crackled with his ferocious love. It blazed for me to see and feel. “Because I love you, and I’ve always fuckin’ loved you. I might not like the power you have over me, but I’m fuckin’ angry with myself for even thinking I should put you second to the club. You’ve always come first, and you always will. I just couldn’t admit that to myself until today.”

We’d had many moments of honesty since we’d found each other again, but I felt this one deep in my heart. This really was a defining moment for us and I needed to find a way to show Kick that I got it, that I understood the depth of his feelings for me.

I moved my hand from his chest to his face, gently placing it on his cheek. Shifting closer to him, I kissed his lips. His arms circled me, pulling me even closer. My arms moved up and around his neck, and my fingers worked their way into his hair. Our kiss deepened, and we expressed our love in the best way we knew how. Our lips, tongues and bodies communicated on a deeper level than our words would ever be able to.

When I ended the kiss, I said, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Kick. I want you to love me, and hate me, and fight with me, and make up with me, and do it over and over. I want you forever.”

His arms tightened around me. “Thank fuck, ‘cause you’re stuck with me. You’re mine now, baby, and I’m yours, and there’s nothing that will stop me from fighting for us.”

He spent the rest of the night blessing my body with his love, and I thanked the universe for giving him back to me.

By the time my eyes closed from sheer exhaustion hours later, I knew we’d finally come full circle. The promises we’d made each other as teenagers would be fulfilled.

We’d never give up on each other again.

***

The next morning, I rushed into the kitchen to grab breakfast before heading out to work. Kick had monopolised my time again this morning, causing me to be late again.

He watched me from the table where he drank his coffee, and gave me a cheeky grin. God, I loved that grin, but fuck, I couldn’t afford to be distracted by him again. “You okay, baby?” he asked, knowing full well I was stressing about running late.

I held my hand up at him. “Don’t talk to me,” I muttered as I rummaged through my bag looking for my phone. I ignored his snicker. When I couldn’t locate my phone, I looked up at him, and asked, “Have you seen my phone?”

He raised his brows. “Oh, am I allowed to talk to you now?”

I put my hand on my hip and glared at him. “Very funny, smartass.”

Chuckling, he stood and came to me. As he moved to pass me, he bent his face and whispered in my ear, “Look on your bedside table, sweetheart, I’m pretty sure that’s where you left it.” And then he kept moving to the sink to rinse his mug. And I was left with desire running through me.

Shit.

I ignored my body and its needs and hurried into the bedroom to grab my phone. He’d been right, and I shoved it in my bag and headed back to the kitchen to say goodbye. He was leaning against the kitchen counter waiting for me, arms and legs crossed, eyes full of heat. I gave him a quick kiss and tried to keep walking, but his hand shot out and grabbed me around the waist, and he pulled me back to him.

His mouth brushed my neck with a kiss, and he spoke into my ear. “Have a good day, sweetheart. I think we need to discuss our future a bit more tonight. And then I think we really need to play with my toys.”

Oh god.

I turned in his embrace. “When you say we need to discuss our future, you’re not thinking of breaking up with me, are you?” I teased, knowing full well he had no plans for that. Not after last night.

“No. I’m thinking of getting us matching rings,” he said in the kind of tone that told me he wasn’t just thinking this, he was already planning it.

“You have the best thoughts, baby,” I said with a smile, and he gave me one back.

And then he smacked me on the ass and said, “Okay, go. But be at my place by five. I’ve got plans for you.”

“Yes, sir,” I promised, loving the wild look his eyes got at my promise.

Ten minutes later, I was stuck in rush hour traffic. I should have felt stressed about it, but all I could bring myself to do was think of Kick. We sat bumper to bumper for what felt like ages, until, suddenly, there was a break in traffic and we all began moving at normal speed again.

Thank goodness.

I changed gears rapidly as I began to finally gain speed. My thoughts shifted from Kick to work and back to Kick again. I couldn’t concentrate on anything but him for longer than a couple of minutes. This was going to be a long day.

And then it happened.

I never saw the car coming.

And I sure as hell never saw the truck coming.

I heard the screeches of tyres before I saw any of it.