Read Online Taking it All by Maya Banks - Free Book Online Page A

love you, Tate. So very much. I’ve never
stopped
loving you.”
    â€œThank God,” he whispered fervently, relief pouring over him.
    â€œI don’t want to leave you,” she said as fervently as he had. “That was
never
an option for me. I hope I never gave you that impression. God, it’s the very last thing I ever want. I can’t imagine my life without you—your love. I just want . . .
us
 . . . back. That’s
all
I want. Your dominance, your love, your
priority
. That isn’t too much to ask, is it? Am I being selfish? I’ve fought with myself for
two years
, feeling guilty—and selfish—for craving your attention and love when I knew you were working so hard to keep your business going. But I can’t do it anymore. I don’t
care
if I sound selfish. I want us back!”
    He pulled her into his arms, praying she didn’t resist. He hugged her tightly, wrapping his arms around her, encompassing her until she was fully against him, her soft body molded to his. Finally she relaxed against him, her rigidity gone. She let out a soft sigh and rested her cheek against his chest.
    â€œYou aren’t being selfish,” he said fiercely. “Everything you’ve said is what I should have been giving you. It’s
my
failure, not
yours
. I swear to you, Chessy, everything is going to change starting now. I know I fucked up our anniversary night, but I want a do-over. Everything starts now. We have the weekend just to ourselves. I’m turning my goddamn phone off. I don’t give a fuck about business. Not if it means I don’t have you.”
    He pulled her gently away so he could look into her eyes, judge her decision. They were full of hope—and relief.
    â€œBaby, I know a weekend can’t fix what’s between us. I know I have to regain your trust and faith in me and that’s going to take longer than a few days, but I swear to you that if you give me the chance, I’ll get us back. That’s what you said you wanted, wasn’t it?”
    Slowly she nodded.
    â€œThen that’s what I’m going to work on,” he vowed. “It—and you—will be my foremost priority. I know you’ll have to wait and see to judge my sincerity, but I will
not
give you any reason to doubt where you are on my priorities from this point forward.”
    Then she smiled and he couldn’t breathe. It was so radiant, lighting up the room. His old Chessy, the one who sparkled and shone just by
being
was back, even if just for a moment. The light that he’d effectively stomped out repeatedly over the last while. God, all he wanted to do was take her to bed and make love to her.
    â€œThat’s all I want, Tate,” she whispered. “Just you. Nothing else. I don’t care about money and financial security if I don’t get to enjoy it with the man who holds my heart.”
    The man who holds my heart.
    The sheer magnitude of that statement was humbling. He very nearly went to his knees in front of her to beg her forgiveness all over again.
    â€œKiss me,” he whispered, so choked up he could barely get the words out.
    He gently cupped her face, framing it in his hands, and he lowered his mouth to hers, drinking in her sweetness and the sweet little sigh she breathed into his mouth.
    He stroked her cheeks, caressing, unable to get enough of simply touching her, tangling his hands in her wayward curls.
    â€œWill you make love with me, Chessy? Right here and now? Let me seal my promise to you?”
    Her intake of breath was swift and her gaze lifted to his, hazy with desire, her pupils dilated in familiar fashion. Thank God she still wanted him. That her heart was big enough for forgiveness. He didn’t suffer any illusion that another woman would have walked away a long time ago. But his girl had a heart the size of the state they lived in.
    â€œI want that,” she whispered, leaning her