Zane & Lucky’s First Christmas (Forever Love #3.5)(21)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“You did a good thing, Noah.” She sighed and grabbed my hands and smiled at me weakly. There were tears in her eyes and my heart froze. “Trust me, I wish that someone would have loved me enough to do whatever it took to make my life better.”

“Your foster parents loved you.”

“They did, but they had so many children.” She sighed. “Sometimes, you just want to feel special.”

“I can understand that.”

“Like right now. I love what you’ve done for Skylar, Noah. I absolutely love it. You’re such a great man for taking a child that isn’t even yours. You’re dedicated to her well-being already, and you want the best for her. You’re thinking of her first in your life. She is your life right now.”

“Yes, yes she is.” I nodded, glad she understood where I was coming from.

“But,” She paused and gave me a look that sent shivers down my spine. “I want to be first in the guy I date’s life right now. I want to be number one, I want to be the one you want to make happy. I want you to stay with me because that’s what you want, and because you know it will make me happy.”

“You don’t know how badly I want to stay.” I started but she shook her head and stopped me.

“But you can’t. I can never be your number one.” She lay back and closed her eyes. “I dare say I sound like a selfish bitch right now. But I’ve never been a first priority. I want it so badly. I want to be with you, Noah. I like you so much. But I need to know what it feels like to be number one. I want to be the most important person in someone’s life. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“I can’t give you that right now,” I mumbled as I felt my heart breaking.

“I know.” Her voice sounded pained. “Maybe we should just forget this.”

“Are you joking?” I pulled her up and made her look at me. “Are you f**king joking me, Robin?” Her eyes popped open in shock as she looked at me.

“What?”

“Don’t be stupid here, Robin. I’m going to pretend that your words are coming from a place of hurt and upset. I understand your need to be number one in someone’s life. And you would be the number one woman in my life. There is no one else I’d rather date right now. We have a special connection. Yes, I have a daughter. Yes, she is who I have to think about first. But we’re adults, Robin. We’ve both been through shit, but we’d be fools to let what we have go because of something this stupid. I’ve already f**ked up once, but I’ve been lucky. You’ve forgiven me and you’re willing to give me a second chance. I’m not going to screw that up. But you’re not going to hold Skylar against me. You’re not that kind of woman. At least, the woman I’m falling in love with is not that woman. Don’t tell me I got you wrong.” I stopped and looked at her with my heart beating quickly. This was it. I’d laid it all on the line. This was make or break.

“You have more faith in me than I have in myself.” She laughed lightly and sat up, so that she was staring into my eyes. “And you’re willing to fight for me, for us.” She sighed and a lone tear rolled down her face. “I’m f**ked up, Noah. I don’t know how to handle emotions. I’m scared that I’m going to get hurt.”

“I will never hurt you, Robin. I promise.”

“But that’s not something you can really promise, is it?” She ran her hands through her hair. “You’re such a good man. When I look at you, I almost forget that I’m me, carrying the problems of the world on my shoulders.”

“I can help take care of that burden.” I moved in closer to her so that she could see the sincerity into my eyes. “I want to take on some of that burden. And I want you to bond with Skylar, if you’re willing to do that.”

“Are you sure?” She looked at me with uncertain eyes.

“Yes, I want you to know that if this goes any further, it is a package deal. You met me as a single man, but now I’m a man with his daughter.” I paused. “A man that would one day like to take a wife and provide a mother and more children to his daughter’s life.” Robin’s eyes widened at my words and I smiled at her gently. “I hope I’m not scaring you, I’m not telling you that I need or want you to marry me and become Skylar’s mom right away, but if things work out, that’s the ultimate goal. If you don’t think you could ever take on that role, I want you to tell me.”

“I’ve always wanted my own family,” she said slowly and my lips crushed down on hers as my heart exploded in happiness and hope. Maybe we really did have a chance at finding our forever love together.

Chapter 6

Lucky

“I cannot believe that Noah stayed out all night.” Zane’s voice was furious as we lay in bed. “He is seriously going to hear it from me.”

“He didn’t stay out all night, hon. He came back early this morning.”

“Creeping in at 5 a.m. is not acceptable.” He glared at me as he played with the loose curls running down my back.

“Don’t be irritable,” I bent down and kissed him lightly. “There will be other nights to make love.”

“When?” He frowned. “It seems like I may never get laid again.”

“Zane!”

“What?” He shrugged. “It’s true.”

“We nearly made love last night.”

“Yeah, but we didn’t.” He sat up and I laughed at his pouty expression. It amazed me that there were moments when I looked in his face and he looked like a petulant school boy. Even though, he was my fiancé and the love of my life, and most definitely a man. “What’s so funny?” He continued grumpily.

“Go back to sleep, darling, I think you need some more rest.” I laughed as I jumped out of bed and made my way to the bathroom.

“I need some ass, is what I need.”

“I’m glad you love me for my brain.” I rolled my eyes and yelped as I felt him grab me and lift me up from behind and carry me back to the bed.

“I love you for your big br**sts.” He growled as he kissed me hard. I felt his hand creeping up under my shirt. “I love you for your big brain as well,” he grinned down at me and I wrapped my legs around him and moaned as his fingers gently squeezed my ni**les.

“Oh, Zane.” I moaned and ran my hands through his hair.