by A. K. Evans
Wow.
Wow.
Sensing my shock, Pierce quickly added, “I know what you’ve been through, beautiful. And I know you might feel scared. But I love you and I want to come home at night knowing you’re going to be in bed with me. I want to wake up that same way.”
“You think we should move in together?” I asked because I still couldn’t believe it.
He dipped his chin and suggested, “Keep your loft open for now if you’re scared about being burned again. It doesn’t bother me because I know this is good and that we’re solid. I understand your reasons for being hesitant and I’m willing to do what I can to help you work through them. But I really want you here at night. When we take things to the next step, we can look for a new place. We’ll find a spot with lots of land and mountain views. For now, I just want you beside me every single day.”
I swallowed past the lump that had formed in my throat and croaked, “I’d love to move in with you.”
Pierce’s face lit up before he lifted me in his arms and guided my mouth to his. He kissed me sweetly.
“Love you, Zara. You just gave me the best birthday present.”
Smiling against his lips, I shared, “You should know, though. I’m not scared of being burned again, Pierce. At least, not by you.”
“Okay, I lied. That was the best birthday present.”
I let out a laugh and breathed, “I love you, too.”
Then, Pierce kissed me, and we forgot all about the movie.
Two months later
“Alex is going to lose her mind,” Pierce declared.
My head snapped in his direction. “Why?”
“Because we’re only two people and we’ve gotten Theo half a truckload of presents for his first birthday. If Christmas left any doubts, today it’ll be irrevocably proven that he’s spoiled.”
I grinned as I continued wrapping the remainder of Theo’s gifts. “That’s okay. He’s the sweetest little boy. We’re allowed to spoil him. I just hope he loves his husky.”
One of the many gifts we’d gotten Theo was something I’d insisted on originally. Pierce thought that a plush lovey was not the proper gift for teaching Theo to be a tough guy, but when I told him I’d found one that was a Siberian husky, he caved. Of course, I’d explained all the benefits of having a lovey, putting heavy emphasis on the fact that it would bring him security. Knowing my struggle with insecurity, Pierce couldn’t deny me the privilege of getting Theo something that would alleviate that for him.
“I’m sure he’ll love it,” Pierce returned.
“I talked to Alex a few days ago and she said he’s started taking a few more steps before falling down,” I started. “If he keeps it up, it’s likely he’s going to find himself getting some bumps. His very own Blaze will make him feel better when that happens.”
Pierce didn’t respond.
Instead, he walked over and sat down next to me, where he slid his arm around my waist and tugged me closer.
“I love you,” he whispered in my ear.
I twisted my neck to look at him and gave him a peck on the lips. “I love you, too,” I replied before turning my attention back to the gift I was wrapping.
Pierce, apparently, wasn’t in the mood to let me wrap gifts. His mouth descended on my neck, his lips pressing gently on the skin there.
He was teasing me.
“I have to finish wrapping Theo’s gifts,” I stressed. “We can’t be late for his party.”
Pierce’s hand came up and cupped my breast as his mouth moved to my ear. “Then we better be quick,” he whispered.
“Or you could wait until we get back here tonight,” I suggested.
His thumb swiped over my nipple. “You don’t really mean that,” he decided, coaxing me with a gentle nip on my earlobe.
Shivers shot down my spine.
He felt it.
He knew exactly what he was doing to me.
“We shouldn’t be late to Theo’s first birthday party,” I maintained, my voice indicating my weak resolve.
“We won’t be,” Pierce promised.
“You say that a lot,” I noted. “And I’m finding that you’ve yet to prove that to be true.”
I wasn’t lying, either. Nearly every morning since I’d moved in with Pierce two days after he’d asked me, Pierce had his way with me. At first, I thought it was simply because living together was a new thing. But as time went on, his desire to have me not only in bed before our hike, but also in the shower after, didn’t dwindle.
I couldn’t really complain.
Pierce was a magnificent lover.
I did find myself arriving at work later and later, though. And while I hadn’t actually ever arrived after it was time to open, I still had a few instances where I cut it awfully close. Pierce was only marginally more mindful of the time on days when I had to get to work. If it was any other occasion, he did not mind showing up late.
“Then I guess there’s only one way to see if we can make that happen,” he challenged.
“You always say that, too,” I reminded him, even though he already knew it.
He chuckled in my ear as he continued to tease me with his hand at my breast. “And yet, no matter how many times I’ve failed, you continue to give me the opportunity to prove it to you. I’m guessing it’s because you like what I’m giving you too much to really complain about it.”
He was right.
Because I didn’t have a response to that, I turned my head to the side, found his mouth, and kissed him. Then, Pierce took charge and got down to business.
I didn’t fight him because not only was he right about me liking what he gave me, but I also wasn’t sure it was a smart idea to go to a one-year-old’s birthday party itching for them to cut the cake so I could leave and make love to my man.
In the end, we were only ten minutes late.
Theo didn’t notice.
Especially once he got his Blaze lovey.
One month later
Zara and I were on our usual morning hike with Blaze.
She was moving quick, determined to get to the end faster than usual. She’d done the same thing yesterday. This week was the week leading up to Mother’s Day, so I understood why she was in such a hurry.
On the bright side, I knew her mind was preoccupied. She’d been rambling on and on for the last fifteen minutes about all of the work she had to get done today. I didn’t mind. In fact, I loved that she was so focused on work at the right now because it meant this would be a surprise.
I knew she had no idea what today was.
On the other hand, Zara’s rush to get done quickly this morning had me questioning whether I was making a mistake. I’d been planning this since she’d moved in three months ago. Up until now, I had no doubt that this was the right time and place to do it.
But the minute I considered not doing it, my concerns flew out the window. I was not going to wait any longer.
We were just a few steps away from the spot, so I curled my fingers around Zara’s and started guiding her off the path.
“Pierce?” she called. “What are you doing?”
“Just a minute,” I urged, continuing to walk us a little farther off the trail.
“I can’t. We need to get moving again. I’ve got so much to get done today,” she worried.
Bringing us to a stop, I looked out at the view before I ordered, “Sit, Blaze.” Then, I turned my full attention to Zara. I didn’t say anything, though. I just stared at her and let the fact that I was the luckiest man in the world settle somewhere in me.
Zara wasn’t having it. “Pierce,” she repeated, clearly annoyed with me now. “Did you not hear anything I’ve been saying to you for the last twenty minutes? I have like a million floral arrangements to get done today. We have to get back.”
With that, she tugged her hand from mine and took a step back toward the path.
It was now or never.
“I fell in love with you a year ago at this ve
ry spot,” I declared.
Zara froze and stared at me. Her eyes were wide and her lips were parted. “What?” she whispered.
“Exactly one year ago today, my dog ran off the path we were on and found you sitting in this spot,” I started. “That day, I sat here looking at your stunning eyes and that gorgeous smile. I’d never seen anyone more beautiful in my life. As I listened to you tell me about your love for the mountains, I fell in love with you. Every single part of you, beautiful. And I knew then that you were going to be the woman I was going to marry.”
Shock registered on her face.
“Pierce,” she whispered, her eyes getting wet.
I held both her hands in mine when I dropped to one knee and proclaimed, “I love you, Zara. And I want to spend the rest of my life waking up by your side and growing a family together. I’m ready to start our future, beautiful. Will you marry me?”
A single tear trailed down each of her cheeks as she nodded and squeaked, “Yes.”
Immediately, I stood and wrapped my arms around her. Zara’s arms went around my neck just before she pressed her lips to mine.
“I love you, Pierce,” she cried when she pulled her mouth away.
“I love you too, baby,” I returned. “Let me go so I can get your ring out.”
Zara removed her arms from my neck. I bent down and pulled the box carrying her ring out of the backpack. Pulling it out, I curled my fingers around her left wrist and slid the ring on her finger.
“It’s beautiful,” she rasped.
“It matches,” I stated.
Her brows pulled together. “What?”
“You, Zara. The ring is beautiful. I picked it because it matches you.”
She threw her arms around me again and buried her face in my neck.
“I’m so glad I decided to go hiking that day!” she exclaimed.
I laughed and kissed her temple.
We stayed there a few minutes, allowing our new memory at this spot to settle in our hearts and minds. Zara was no longer in a rush to get to work.
Eventually, I asked, “Are you ready to go?”
She blessed me with her breathtaking smile before she gave me a nod.
Then, we took our time descending the mountain. I held Zara’s hand and walked by her side, the way I knew I always would, the entire way.
She didn’t let go once.
And I knew she never would.
Want more of Pierce and Zara? Check out their bonus epilogue here.
As always, to my husband, Jeff: Thank you, babe, for making me feel beautiful and always supporting me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
To my boys, J&J: The little loves of my life. You’ll never have to doubt where I stand. I will always have your back. Thanks for having mine.
To B.G.—My Gwen. I’m so thankful to have a friend like you. I love us and our fire.
To E.M.—I hope I can continue to make you proud. Thank you for everything you do to make my words shine.
To S.B.—The best in the business. Thank you for making Burned so beautiful for my readers.
To S.H.—Another gorgeous cover. Thank you!
To my amazing readers: There are no words that will ever express just how much you mean to me. Thank you for reading my stories and loving my words. I love all of you!!
To my ARC Team: I love you. Thank you.
To the bloggers: I so appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for sharing my releases.
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The Everything Series
Everything I Need
Everything I Have
Everything I Want
Everything I Love
The Cunningham Security Series
Obsessed
Overcome
Desperate
Solitude
Burned
Unworthy (Coming September 2019)
A.K. Evans is a married mother of two boys residing in a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. After graduating from Lafayette College in 2004 with two degrees (one in English and one in Economics & Business), she pursued a career in the insurance and financial services industry. Not long after, Evans realized the career was not for her. She went on to manage her husband’s performance automotive business and drive the shop race cars for the next thirteen years. While the business afforded her the freedom she wouldn’t necessarily have had in a typical 9-5 job, after eleven years she was no longer receiving personal fulfillment from her chosen career path. Following many discussions, lots of thought, and tons of encouragement, Andrea decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer.
Between her day job, writing, and homeschooling her two boys, Evans is left with very little free time. When she finds scraps of spare time, Evans enjoys reading, doing yoga, watching NY Rangers hockey, dancing, and vacationing with her family. Andrea, her husband, and her children are currently working on taking road trips to visit all 50 states (though, Alaska and Hawaii might require flights).
