Forty Candles (12 page)

He knew what she meant. Although her eyes were clouding with desire, she caught his wrist and stilled his play. “Jack Reginald Sparks, will you do me the honor of marrying me? Forever and ever, I do, the whole shebang? Will you let me love you for the rest of our lives so I can show you how much I should have loved you for the first part?”

Instead of answering, he removed her hand and increased his speed. “Be sure.”

Her eyes closed and she arched back. He caught her waist, bracing her weight so she wouldn’t slip, and used the other hand to bring her closer to her peak.

“Please. Let me love you.” The bucking of her hips became unsteady, his responsive girl getting close to falling apart just for him.

“Are you sure?” Sucking her nipple deep, he could feel her whole body shake as she tumbled over the edge.

Then her fingers caught his face and she kissed him deep, straddling his lap. “I’m sure. Marry me. Don’t make me beg?”

The idea amused him. “How would you beg?”

Taking the challenge, she slipped off his lap and again sucked his cock into her plump red lips. Her fingers found his balls and then he couldn’t think. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. The orgasm started at his toes, tightened his balls, then seemed to sear like lightning through him. Usually, he’d pull away from her, but she’d not allowed him the moment of control, instead working his body like only Chloe could. Licking her lips, she smirked at him in a satisfied way. “Well, Jack, I’d have to get down on my hands and knees if I wanted to do it right. Are you going to answer me or what?”

He slipped into the water, pulling her close to him. “I want to marry you. I want to be with you. But I don’t want to be why you do it. I love you so much and I do believe you love me too. However if what you need is not rings and promises, I can live with that. I think what I’m saying is, Chloe, you don’t have to do this. I want you. No ceremony, no ring, no piece of paper will make me love you any more or less.”

She giggled, which seemed like a less than serious response to his very serious declaration. “I know.”

He pinched her ass and she wriggled against him in the water. “You know what?”

“I know that now. I know that, which is why I’m trying to give you what you need…because what I need is you and I’m not scared anymore. How can I be scared when I’m with you?”

He kissed her forehead and whispered, “How long until we’re supposed to do it, then?”

“Well, you stubborn ass man, if you ever accept my proposal…we have a couple hours until the little wedding I planned. Why?” She looked worried. As if she wasn’t sure if he’d be the one to walk away this time.

He bit her earlobe. “Because, I want to hold you. I love you, Chloe. I will happily marry you. But first? Let me hold you for a while and let’s just be together. Even more than I want to marry you, I want to just feel you in my arms. Can we do that?”

Her smile was beatific and her arms wound around his neck as if she’d always been there. “I will, Mr. Sparks.”

And Jack let go of all his worry about tomorrow, about whether or not they’d make it, and simply lay in a hot tub of bubbles with the one woman he’d ever loved.

Life probably got better than that…but he wasn’t sure he cared. He, after all, was a simple man.

Virginia Nelson,
USA Today bestselling author, likes knights in rusted and dinged up armor, heroes that snarl instead of croon, and heroines who can't remember to say the right thing even with an author writing their dialogue. Her books are full of snark, sex, and random acts of ineptitude—not always in that order.

For more information on other books by Virginia, visit her website:
www.virg-nelson.com
.

Self-Published

Lips of Velvet

Odd Melody

Odd Stuff

Odd Wolf

Rumors

Ellora’s Cave Publishing Inc.

Calling Caralisa

Fighting for Fiona

Riding Ripley

Taming Tabitha

Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Dom of the Dead

Hypnotist

Rumpling Riley

Taking Control

Wolf on a Leash

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

Must Love Cakes

Runaway Groom

While You Were Writing

Fated Desires Publishing, LLC

Back in Time

Forever Devoted

MuseItUp Publishing

Clothing Optional

Sugar on Top

The Were, The Witch, and the Baby

Turn Me On

Entangled Publishing, LLC

Penthouse Prince

Seasonal Spankings

Spank or Treat 2014

Evernight Publishing

Catching Death

Her Sexy Skunk

Hunting for Love

Magical Curves