Needing Forever Volume 1 Read online

  It was everything I wanted to hear, but it only produced a hundred more questions.

  “What does that even mean?” I whispered.

  “It means I can’t fucking live without you, Kenzie Cage. I want to be where you are. You’re in Knoxville during the school terms, then so am I. I bought a damn house here, uprooted my baby sister, and put her closer to you so the two of you could get to know each other.” He cupped my face in one hand. “I will follow you anywhere, be whoever or whatever you need me to be, because I’m in love with you, Sunshine.”

  My breath caught in my lungs, trapping the happy little cry that wanted to be free. I didn’t know who moved first, but suddenly I was in his arms, my lips on his, his tongue in my mouth. He tasted just as I remembered, and I whimpered at the memory of how I came apart so damn easily for him.

  When Bishop lifted his head, we were both breathing heavily. “Let’s…” He sucked in a deep breath. “Let’s take this inside. I don’t want to give anyone walking by a show.” He lowered his head, kissing the sensitive flesh under my ear. “I’m not sharing the look on your face with the world when I make you come again, Sunshine.”

  I didn’t remember the walk into the hotel. The people we passed were just a blur of faces as we stepped into the elevator. Bishop hit the top button then backed me against the wall. His head lowered just enough to tease me with his taste without actually kissing me until the elevator stopped.

  As the doors opened, he lifted me off my feet, and my legs wrapped around his waist instinctively. Bishop carried me off the elevator and straight into the living area of the penthouse. Kicking off his shoes, he walked through to the bedroom and dropped me on the end of the bed.

  His shirt disappeared before he was crawling between my thighs and lowering himself to capture my lips. “Fuck, you taste even better than I remember,” he groaned, kissing his way down my neck to my collarbone.

  “Bishop…” I was dizzy with need for him, my body going up in an inferno with each caress of his hands to my breasts and tummy.

  “What is it, Sunshine?” he rasped at my ear. “Am I going too fast?”

  “No, no, no.” I shook my head, making him grin. “I…I just…”

  He lifted his head until our gazes locked. “Just what, Kenzie?”

  I swallowed hard and forced the words to leave my throat. “I love you.”

  Brown eyes blazed down at me. “How much?” he whispered, his throat working with emotion.

  “How much?” I repeated, too lost in the sensations of his hardness pressing right into my core to focus.

  “How much do you love me?” His hands left my breasts to cup my face, tilting my head back so that all I could see were his dark eyes.

  “I-I don’t know how to measure it,” I confessed, licking my lips and tasting him there. “I just know that I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life.”

  His nostrils flared with pleasure. “I love you too. So damn much it scares the hell out of me. But the thought of never seeing your sunshine smile again terrifies me even more. Tell me you’re mine, Kenzie.”

  “I’m yours,” I vowed, moaning when his hips thrust against my throbbing center.

  My clothes disappeared in a hurry, as did the rest of his. When he came down on top of me, I welcomed his weight pressing me into the center of the bed. There was nothing between us but air, and soon that was no longer separating our bodies either.

  There was a sharp pinch as he thrust into me for the first time, but that disappeared as soon as he sucked my nipple into his mouth and began rocking his hips. Time made no sense as he drove us higher and higher with his steady rhythm until I was screaming his name, begging him for more.

  “That’s it, baby,” he groaned in my ear, his hips thrusting harder. “Come all over my cock. I’ve been aching for you for so damn long.” My pussy contracted with each word out of his sexy mouth, his voice deep and hoarse with the pleasure we were sharing. “Fuck. Oh fuck, I love you, Sunshine.”

  Stars exploded before my eyes, and I clenched them shut, holding on to Bishop’s shoulders as if my life depended on it.

  Minutes—or maybe hours—passed before I was able to open them again. The man above me was breathing raggedly, sweat dripping down his forehead and chest. “Did I hurt you?” he choked out.

  Smiling happily, I shook my head. “No. That was…perfect.”

  “Why the hesitation?” he asked, his brow still wrinkled with concern.

  “Because perfect doesn’t even describe how amazing that was, but it’s the only word my brain can come up with while it tries to restart.” I shifted under him, my pussy contracting yet again when I realized he was still rock hard inside of me. “Bishop?”

  “I’m trying to be good,” he murmured, kissing my neck, his teeth scraping across my flesh. “I just came harder than I ever have in my life, but I’m still like stone. I don’t want to hurt you, Kenzie. So tell me now, are you too sore for me to take you again?”

  A purr-like sound left my throat as I arched my hips and wiggled my ass a little. He closed his eyes, groaning long and loud. “No pain,” I told him honestly. “And I really, really, really want to do that all over again. Please?”

  “Baby, I told you already. Whatever you want, it’s yours. Whatever, whenever. I’ll make it happen.”

  “Right now, I only want you to make love to me again.” My nails dug into the flesh of his ass, causing his cock to flex inside of me. He growled something feral and started pumping in and out of me roughly.

  “Don’t expect to get any sleep tonight,” he gritted out between clenched teeth. “I’m going to fuck you until you tell me you can’t take any more.”

  ✽✽✽

  The early morning light streaming through the open drapes had me groaning and turning away from the sun. Rolling over, I snuggled into Bishop’s side, hiding my eyes from the reality of a new day. Vivian telling me to take the morning off was an even better idea this morning since I’d gotten maybe two hours of sleep all night.

  But even though I wanted to sleep the morning away, my brain wasn’t on board with that plan. I was used to a strict schedule, and I was usually up by seven at the latest every morning to prepare for my day. Even while on tour, I’d been up at the crack of dawn, helping Dallas and Axton take care of Cannon so my pregnant adoptive mom could get some extra rest.

  Sighing heavily, I sat up and glanced around the room, trying to figure out where all my clothes were. My shirt was on the chair a few feet from the bed, my bra and panties a tangled mess close to the door, and my jeans were halfway into the en suite bathroom.

  A grin ghosted across my lips as I remembered Bishop tearing each article of clothing off me, his hands and teeth worshiping my body in his desperation for me.

  Pushing my messy hair back from my face, I got out of bed silently so as not to disturb the sleeping rocker beside me. But the shifting of the bed had him stirring, and no sooner had my feet swung over the edge of the bed than his arm was wrapping around me and pulling me back down beside him.

  “Don’t go,” he commanded, his morning voice rough like gravel. “Stay and let me hold you a little longer.”

  I went willingly back into his arms. There was no need for blankets because his body heat was more than enough to keep me comfortable. His dark head pillowed on my chest, one arm tossed over my waist. He was just as naked as I was, but he didn’t seem chilled by the AC that clicked on with the rising end-of-summer temperatures that would only skyrocket as the day progressed.

  I stroked my fingers through his hair. Sleep wouldn’t return for me, but I was all too happy to have the chance to savor this moment for a little longer. His body relaxed against me, his soft snore filling my heart with an odd sense of peace and contentment.

  If someone had asked me the day before if I ever thought this was going to be in my future, I would have possibly slapped them for torturing me. I’d been aching for this connection with Bishop for months, but I never thought it would happen. Now that it had, it was still hard to believe it was reality.

  We lay like that for hours, him sleeping deeply and me stroking any part of him I could reach without disturbing him. But as the sun shifted in the sky outside the window, my stomach began to grumble in hunger, and I knew I needed to get back to my apartment so I could get ready for work.

  A Place for Nora made no exceptions for staff fraternizing with residents’ family members, so I knew I was going to have to give up my job if I wanted to be with Bishop. The thought made my heart ache a little, but I knew I would rather be with him than keep working there. I had a plan, though.

  With Paula as a resident, I could visit her often and volunteer like I’d done in the beginning. I would still get to see all those beautiful faces I’d come to love and think of as family, and be with the man I loved.

  Vivian was out until Monday, but I would email her and let her know I needed to turn in my notice. Since I didn’t need the job for a paycheck, I knew it was only right to let someone who really needed the money be given the chance to take over the position.

  My stomach growled louder than it had before, and Bishop’s head snapped up. His eyelids lifted to slits, but his brow was pinched in concern. “You hungry, Sunshine?”

  “I could eat,” I said with a soft laugh. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. But I’m glad you’re awake. Vivian gave me the morning off, but I still have to go in for the afternoon.”

  He blew out a huff. “I wanted to spend the day in bed with you then take you to see our new house.”

  My heart moved up into my throat, and I had to swallow hard to ease the tight knot it formed. “O-Our new house?” I breathed.

  “Our new house,” he repeated and turned onto his back, pulling me with him. His arm went around my back while he used his free hand to play with my fingers lying on his chest.

  I waited for him to say more, but he just lay there stroking my fingers. Rolling my eyes, I lifted up onto my elbow so I could glare down at him. “That’s it? ‘Our new house’ is all you’re going to say? No explanation?”

  He lifted his brows. “What is there to explain? What’s mine is yours, ergo ‘ours.’ Am I wrong? Did I misread that definition in school?”

  Laughing, I slapped at his chest. “Smartass.”

  “If you don’t like the house, we can buy another one. Whatever makes you happy, Sunshine.”

  My laughter slowly faded with the realization that he wasn’t joking. “Don’t you think this is going a little…fast?”

  His brown eyes darkened. “No, Kenz. I don’t think we’re going fast enough, if I’m being honest. My ring isn’t on your finger, and you’re not pregnant with my baby yet. We need to stop pulling on the e-brake and get that shit taken care of.”

  I knew I should have been worried he was insane, but my body heated and melted into him at the thought of marriage and babies. Both would give me what I’d been aching for ever since my parents’ death. A family of my very own. Axton and Dallas tried to fill that empty void, and I loved them so much for it. But marrying Bishop, having his children…they would be all mine. No one else’s. No one to have to share them with except for those we wanted to share with. No one to take them away from me.

  Only us and love and forever.

  Bishop jerked upright, his hands cupping both sides of my face. “Baby, why are you crying?”

  I shook my head, not even realizing I was crying until he wiped away a few tears. “I’m just so happy right now,” I sobbed, burying my face in his chest. “I-I haven’t been this happy since…since…”

  “Since before you lost your mom and dad?” I nodded, the tears falling faster. He cupped the back of my head, hugging me against his bare chest. “Don’t cry, Sunshine. I swear I didn’t mean to make you cry. Even if they are happy tears, they’re killing me.”

  “I-I’m sorry,” I muttered, trying to calm down enough to smile up at him, but from the pain that flashed across his beloved face, I knew it must have been trembly. “This doesn’t feel real. I’ve dreamed of being with you since we met, but I never in a million years thought we would have a future together.”

  “Believe it. You’re my forever, Kenzie. Everything I never knew I needed is right here in my arms.” He pushed me back against the pillows, kissing away the tears that continued to fall. “Tell me you’ll marry me, Sunshine.”

  I nodded because the words wouldn’t leave my throat.

  “Yes?” he breathed, and I nodded more adamantly. “Fuck,” he groaned, tears filling his own eyes. “Thank you, baby. Thank you.”

  His lips brushed softly over mine, and I opened my mouth to give him full access.

  My phone ringing somewhere across the room had us both going still. I bit my lip, wondering who would be calling me now of all times.

  “Let it go to voice mail,” Bishop ordered, brushing his mouth across mine once more. “Whatever it is couldn’t be nearly as important as this right now.”

  I sighed my agreement, licking at his bottom lip hungrily.

  The phone went silent but, seconds later, started ringing again.

  Bishop groaned and jerked to his feet. He grabbed my jeans and pulled my phone free. When he saw the screen, he groaned again and tossed his head back to glare up at the ceiling. “It’s Axton,” he muttered.

  I sat up, pulling the covers up to my chest with one hand and accepting the phone with the other. Nibbling nervously on my bottom lip, I hit accept and lifted the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

  “Hey, sunshine,” he greeted with a tired laugh. “Sorry to call out of the blue. We don’t normally talk until the evenings, but I was missing you.”

  Love for the man who adopted me had me releasing my lip. “Hey. No, I’m glad you called. How are things going there?”

  “Gabriella is doing a lot better, and we’re going to head south with Cannon tomorrow. Are you settled in okay? No problems with school or work?”

  “No, no,” I rushed to assure him. “Everything is pretty perfect here.” Bishop caught my eye, a pout forming on his lips. “Actually…”

  “Actually, what?” Axton questioned, his voice sounding strained now.

  “Well, I was going to call you later and tell you…” I swallowed down my nervousness and just spat it out before my hesitation killed us both with suspense. “I’m in love with Bishop, Axton. And he says he loves me too. He… He asked me to marry him.”

  There was a tense silence on the other end, and I started nibbling on my bottom lip again. Bishop climbed back into bed beside me, stroking a supportive hand down my back as he watched me with loving brown eyes. I arched into his touch, biting my lip when goose bumps popped up along my spine in the wake of his caressing fingers.

  “Damn it,” Axton finally grumbled. “Dallas was right.”

  I blinked in surprise, not that he could see it. “What does that mean?”

  My adoptive father blew out a long, drawn-out sigh. “It means my lovely wife has been saying you were going to be leaving us sooner than we are both ready for. She saw the way you looked at Bishop—and more to the point, the way Bishop was looking at you—all summer and predicted this shit.” Before I could question that further, he went on. “So he asked you to marry him. What did you say?”

  “Yes,” I told him, my heart so happy, I was sure it was going to explode with it, flooding my body with confetti rather than blood. “Of course I said yes. I love him, Ax. And even though I know this is all moving really fast, I don’t think we’re making a mistake. So please don’t—”

  “Please,” he said with a snort. “I knew Dallas was the one the first time I kissed her, maybe before then. It just took us a hell of a long time to get to the happily ever after part because…” His voice faded, and I heard him sigh again. “If you know he’s the one, then he’s the one, Kenzie. And as long as you are happy, I won’t stand in your way.”

  Fresh tears stung my eyes, and I had to blink rapidly to keep them at bay. “Really?” I whispered emotionally.

  “Really.” A crying baby in the background had him grumbling something I didn’t catch. “When Dallas and I get home, we’ll have a video chat and talk about all of this. But right now, I have to go change Cannon’s diaper and hopefully get him to eat. I’ve gotten desperate lately and started draping one of Dallas’s shirts over my chest so he can smell her while he drinks his bottle. She’s not feeling the greatest today, so I’m trying to let her sleep.”

  “Okay, I’ll let you go, then. I need to get ready for work anyway.” I glanced up at Bishop and grinned. “We will talk soon though, I promise.”

  “It’s a date. Gotta go, sunshine. Be happy.”

  I dropped the phone on the bed and tackled Bishop, laughing as we both fell back against the pillows. He caught me, holding my head gently against his chest, his fingers tangling in my hair. My laughter faded with a content sigh, and I lifted my head to smile up at him. “I really need to go to work.”

  “Baby, I’m a lot of work. Can’t that be your only job?”

  I rolled my eyes at his pout. “They have a strict policy that forbids staff from having outside relationships with residents’ family members. But I still need to tell Vivian I’m quitting and work out my notice so they can have time to find my replacement. I was thinking I’d just volunteer in my spare time.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.”

  I sat up enough to give him a stern glower. “But don’t you dare expect me to quit college. I want to finish my degree. Even if, for whatever reason, I don’t get a job teaching, I could homeschool our kids while we travel for your tours—”

  I didn’t get the chance to finish because he flipped me onto my back. His knees spread my thighs, and he sank slowly into my center, making us both groan in agonized pleasure.

  “Maybe you didn’t hear me before, Sunshine. I will give you everything you want.” He thrust into me hard, punctuating each word. “College. Wedding. Babies. House. Tour. Just say the word. I’ll make it all happen. Do you understand me now, Sunshine?”

  “Y-Yes,” I panted, already so close to coming apart for him I was trembling. “Thank you, Bishop.”