“Numbers are my thing.”
She tilts her head. “I thought biology was your thing?”
“Biology, numbers, and you. You’re my thing.”
“I’m highly imperfect.”
“Perfect is overrated.”
“People will laugh at me, and they’ll laugh at you for being with me.”
“Let them laugh.” I grab Abigail’s wrist and tug her forward. She collapses against my body. She’s warm and soft and feels perfect in my arms.
I’m never letting her go again.
“I’m so sorry, Drake. I’m sorry I tried to leave without talking to you. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner that I’m head-over-heels in love with you, and I’m sorry for—”
“What did you just say?”
“I’m sorry for not talking to you?” she asks.
“No, after that.”
“Oh.” She nods dramatically and wraps her arms around my neck. Her sweet lips press against my jaw and slowly work their way up until they’re resting against my ear. My body shudders. “I’m head-over-heels in love with you,” she whispers.
She squeals when I scoop her into my arms. “I love you too, Abigail Darwin.”
“You do?”
I carry her over the threshold, kick the door shut, and sit down on the couch. I settle her on my lap.
“Very much so. I love how expressive your eyes are. I love your smile and your belly laugh. I love the way you chew on your lip when you’re concentrating. I love how honest and open you’ve been with me. And I really love your quirks.”
She blushes. “They’re silly.”
“I prefer endearing.”
“Endearing is good. I like that word.”
“But mostly, I just love you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved another human being.”
“Be sure, Drake, because my quirks may be endearing right now, but I promise you they’re going to get irritating. I’ve grown to hate them, and I know you will too.”
“We’ll work through them together, but trust me, Abigail; there is absolutely nothing I could ever hate about you.”
Chapter 15
Abby
How did I get so lucky? Drake’s warm hands run the length of my back and settle on my hips. His grip tightens, and the urge to kiss him is strong. I lean in a few inches until our mouths meet. His lips are warm and sweet, and his familiar scent surrounds me. It’s the smell of stability and love… It’s the smell of home.
A rush of emotion clogs my throat. I push up onto my knees, hovering over him so I can deepen the kiss. My tongue traces the seam of his mouth, and he opens with a groan. He runs his tongue along my bottom lip and sucks gently, sending a shiver of need through my body. My nipples stiffen. I plunge my fingers into his hair, wanting and needing so much more.
He breaks the kiss and rests his forehead against my shoulder. “I want you so bad,” he pants. “But don’t you think we should talk about what happened first?”
“I can barely think with your hands on me, let alone talk.”
“Okay.” He nods. “We’ll talk later.”
Next thing I know he’s switched our positions, and now he’s above me on the couch. His big body pushes me against the cushions. He trails kisses along my jaw, down my neck, and runs the length of my collarbone.
He slips a hand under my shirt, slowing dragging it up my body. I lift up enough for him to tug it off, and I don’t even care where it ends up because Drake’s warm breath against my breast is all I can concentrate on. My nipples are tight, straining against my bra, begging for his mouth. Drake puts a finger in the top of the cup and pulls it down. My breast falls into his waiting mouth. I jerk forward when he closes his lips over the tight bud. There’s a flood of moisture between my legs, and I grind my hips against his, needing the friction.
Damn, he’s so big.
“Fuck,” he breathes.
Our moans of pleasure and harsh breathing fill the room. It’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard. Drake’s hand slides down the back of my thigh. Hooking his fingers beneath my knee, he hoists my leg around his waist and cups my ass. Awareness slides through me at his confident touch. I untangle my hands from his hair, grip the back of his shirt, and pull it off. My fingers trace a path down his back, and then I slide them over his six-pack. I dip them into the front of his scrub pants and find his cock hard. My legs quiver as I find a bead of pre-cum gathered at the tip. I wrap my fingers around his long, thick shaft.
“Fuck yeah,” he moans, thrusting into my hips.
Heat bubbles low in my belly. The ache for more urges me to pulse my hips in rhythm with his. I stroke him from base to tip as we grind against each other. But it isn’t enough.
“I need more. Please, Drake. I need you to fuck me.”
* * * *
Drake
This woman is going to be the death of me. If the lush scent of her body wasn’t enough to turn me on, her soft little moans would definitely tip me over the edge. My blood is pumping with need, but even though she’s begging me to fuck her, I can’t. Not yet at least.
I reach for Abigail’s pants. She lifts her hips, and I yank them off, along with her panties. My beautiful angel is laid out before me.
“Drake…” Abigail’s whispered pleas spur me on, and I shoulder my way between her thighs. Curling my arms around her knees, I spread her apart while pulling her toward me. Her clit is swollen, and when I circle it with my tongue, she cries out in pleasure.
“Oh, God, Drake. Please…” Her words fade into a whimper, causing my cock to jerk.
I run my tongue up her slit. When I cover her clit with my lips and suck rhythmically, Abigail’s legs begin to tremble. Her knees fall open, and I accept the invitation by sliding two fingers deep into her body.
My fingers pump in rhythm with my tongue. I work her slowly at first and then speed up—licking, sucking, and tasting my sweet girl. I push her until she’s writhing beneath me, and it doesn’t take long until she loses control.
Her hands grip the back of my head, locking into my hair as she pushes my face against her core. Her body convulses, thighs tightening around my head as she bathes my tongue in her sweet, warm scent.
If I don’t get inside of her in the next thirty seconds, I’m going to explode. When her legs relax, I sit up, and we both work frantically to get my pants and boxers off. Her body is still trembling when I cover it with my own.
A rush of air pushes from her lungs when I slide inside her with one deep thrust. Tight—she’s so tight my vision blurs, but I don’t stop. She’s every fantasy come to life, and she’s mine. The need to claim her, mark her as mine, grows with each thrust until I find myself pumping harder and deeper. She accepts everything I give her.
“Harder,” she begs, her head dropping back onto the couch. She raises her hips, leaving them in the air, and the shift allows me farther into her body. I want to slow down a few notches, milk this moment for all it is, but I’m too far gone.
Abigail’s body squirms against mine, wild and frantic, chasing something only I can provide. She does something that causes her muscles to tighten around me.
“Oh, fuck,” I tell her. “Do that again.”
She continues to contract her muscles, each time sucking me in. A tingle of awareness starts low in my spine, working its way up. A gentle pressure unfolding causes warmth to radiate throughout my body. Abigail claws at my back, chasing her release while my own builds to the point of explosion.
“Don’t stop,” she moans, rocking her hips.
I pull back and plunge forward, over and over again.
Her body tenses beneath mine, and then there’s a flood of moisture. “Oh, Drake. Oh, God, yes. Just like that. Keep going.” Her hips buck as she rides out her bliss.
Triumph pumps through me, sending me hurtling over the edge. I bury my face in the crook of her neck as waves of pleasure crash over me.
By the time her body stops shuddering, I’m too exhausted to move. We stay like
this for several long seconds, and then I push up onto my elbows. Abigail looks sated, her eyes hooded. She’s wearing a crooked smile.
“So, that was make-up sex?” she asks, running her fingers through my hair.
“I guess so.”
Her eyes drift shut. “Remind me to pick fights with you more often.”
“I don’t like it when we fight,” I admit.
Her eyes open. She cradles my cheek in her hand and draws me in for a kiss. “I don’t either. I really am sorry for overreacting today. I promise I won’t do it again.”
“I’m sorry too. Next time I’ll talk to you before I make any big decisions.”
“See?” she says proudly. “We’re good at this relationship stuff.”
“And we’re only going to get better. Are you really moving in with me?”
“If you’re sure you’re ready for my brand of crazy.”
“I was born ready.”
Epilogue
Two years later
Abby
“Come on, baby,” Drake pants.
I’m convinced he’s part animal. The man just doesn’t stop. He has more stamina than what I believe is humanly possible, and he’s used that stamina to push my body further than it’s ever gone. And it feels so damn good it hurts. My legs are a quivering mass of Jell-O, and I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to last.
“Oh, God,” I moan.
“Come on, Abigail. Almost there, baby.”
“I think you said that to me last night in bed.” I plow forward even though I want nothing more than to give up. Drake’s ass bounces in front of me, and it’s the only thing keeping me going.
“I’ll say it to you again tonight if you get your tight little ass to the top of this hill.”
“There better be some warm brownies or freshly baked chocolate chip cookies up there, or I’m never hiking with you again.”
“There aren’t any baked goods, but I promise you’ll love what I have planned.”
“I better,” I huff. “Because my lungs are on fire.”
I see Drake stop up ahead, so I dig in and then nearly collapse beside him. Hands on my knees, I hunch forward to try to catch my breath. It pisses me off that he’s standing with his hands on his hips, staring at God knows what, and he’s not even breaking a sweat.
His warm hand lands on my back, and I shake it off. “You’re not human.”
“Come on, it wasn’t that bad.”
“You’re right. It was worse.”
Drake laughs. “Stand up.”
“I’m not sure I can.”
With a hand to my arm and another on my back, he helps me to standing, and I nearly lose my breath again.
“Oh my…” I look out over the most spectacular view of the snowcapped mountains. A lake below glistens in the afternoon sun. “This is heaven on Earth.”
“I think so too.” His fingers link with mine. “But I didn’t bring you up here for the view.”
“You didn’t?” I look up at him.
“Nope.” He removes his backpack and reaches inside, pulling out a rolled-up paper. “Remember when we promised to talk through any big decisions?”
“Yes.”
“And do you remember when we were at the diner, talking about our dreams?” I nod, and he continues. “At the time I couldn’t really think of one. But that’s changed.”
He hands me the paper. I drop my backpack to the ground and slowly unroll it, careful not to tear it.
“What is this?” I ask, trying to make sense of all the lines. “I mean, I know they’re plans of some sort. Are they house plans?”
Drake looks at the paper and curses. “Shit. Wrong paper.”
He pulls another paper from his bag, unrolls it, and holds it open for me to see. “It’s our dreams.”
My eyes scan the drawing of a large building before landing on the words at the bottom: Cunningham Falls Surgery Center and Turtle Sanctuary.
“Oh my God, Drake.” Tears fill my eyes as I look at him. “What is this?”
“Our dream, if you’re willing to build it with me. When I was in medical school, I interned for a doctor who owned his own surgical center. He used it as a means to provide more affordable healthcare to his small community, and I think Cunningham Falls and the surrounding areas would benefit from having something similar. We can provide medical care at more affordable rates to patients who would otherwise go without.”
“We? I know nothing about running a surgical center.”
“And I know nothing about owning a turtle sanctuary.”
I smile. “You’re not serious about opening a turtle sanctuary.”
“Why not? It’s your dream.”
“Does Montana even have turtles? I don’t think I’ve seen one turtle since I’ve been here.”
“I don’t know, but I’ll make it my mission to find them. I’ll drive all over the country adopting them from animal shelters, if I have to.”
Damn, he’s good. “You’d do that for me?”
“Abigail…” Drake curls a hand around the back of my neck. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? I’d do anything for you. And I want to build our dream together. We’ll take it slow. I’ve done a ton of research already, and if you’re in, we can start building this spring.”
“Of course I’m in,” I say, throwing myself into his arms.
Drake catches me and spins me around. “That’s a yes?”
“Yes! Let’s do it.” I pull back and look at him. “But you didn’t have to bring me all the way up here to ask me about this.”
“Oh, that’s not why I brought you up here,” he says, dipping his hand into his pocket.
“It’s not?”
Drake shakes his head and drops to one knee, and everything around me comes to a screeching halt.
“Oh my.”
Taking my left hand in his, Drake smiles up at me. “Abigail Darwin, you have been the brightest light in my life. You give me strength and courage to chase my dreams and be the best man I can be. You make me laugh and smile, and even though your quirks are getting a little annoying like you promised, I can’t imagine living my life without them. I can’t imagine living my life without you. You’ve taught me that love doesn’t have to perfect; it just has to be real, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.”
He slips a gorgeous, emerald-cut diamond on my ring finger. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes.” I drop to my knees and wipe tears from my cheeks.
Drake holds my face in his big, strong hands and kisses me long and deep. We kiss for minutes, or maybe it’s hours. I really don’t know because when I’m in Drake’s arms, the whole world seems to fade away.
He’s right; our love isn’t perfect. Neither is our life or either one of us. But Drake has taught me that sometimes the most imperfect things can be pretty damn perfect. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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From USA Today bestselling author KL Grayson…
Abigail Darwin needs one thing in life: consistency. Okay, make that two things: consistency and order. Tired of being shackled to her obsessive-compulsive mind, Abigail is determined to break free. Which is why she’s shaking things up.
Fresh out of nursing school, she takes a traveling nurse position. A new job in a new city every few months? That’s a sure-fire way to keep her from settling down and falling into old habits. First stop, Cunningham Falls, Montana.
The only problem? She didn’t plan on falling in love with the quaint little town, and she sure as heck didn’t plan on falling for its resident surgeon, Dr. Drake Merritt
Crazy Imperfect Love: A Dirty Dicks/Big Sky Novella (Kristen Proby Crossover Collection Book 3) Page 10
