His by Valentine's Day (12 page)

His eyes darkened and his nostrils flared. She could smell his arousal, his familiar scent as he stopped inches in front of her. He cupped her cheek, smoothed his thumb along her lips and she tingled from head to toe. Then he leaned closer and kissed her. And, boy, could this man kiss!

He reached down to cup her bottom, tugging her right up nice and tight against him. The evidence of his desire for her was plain and proud. He didn't seem to mind if any of his men might happen to see them. In truth, neither did she. At least not until she had the urge to strip him bare right here in front of God and everyone and have her wicked way with him.

Fortunately he had the good sense to ease back. His chest rose and fell with unsteady breaths. "I need you, Shawna."

She smiled and looked pointedly down at the obvious sign of his need for her. "I can see that." She gave him the sauciest smile she could. "Fact is, I need you, too."

Those dark eyes got even darker. "Yes, I definitely need you that way." He inched back another step. "What I meant, though, is that I need you in my life. Now and forever."

Shawna blinked at him, heart racing, and her knees going weak. Could he have really said what she thought she'd heard? This high-powered, multi-millionaire so far out of her league, was talking about forever with her?

He moved forward again and used his thumbs to wipe at tears she didn't even realize were sliding down her face. "Why are you crying?"

"How can you possibly need someone like me in your life? I'm a cowgirl through and through. I don't know how to party the way you do. I don't even own a dress, or at least nothing fancy. I don't know--"

Cade planted his lips on hers to shut her up. He stole the breath from her, stole the shocked protests from her as well. When he pulled his head away, he looked at her with such amazing warmth that she started crying in earnest now.

"I never expected the first woman I asked to marry me would break out in tears." He appeared almost hurt, definitely confused.

"Marry you?" she whispered and dashed at the ridiculous tears.

"What did you think I meant?"

"I don't know. Lover maybe." A lot of her friends were involved in live-in relationships. She'd actually always wanted a real marriage, but she hadn't expected it to happen. Especially not after breaking up with the last man she'd thought she would marry. She loved Cade enough that she would have settled for being his live-in lover.

He smoothed a hand over her hair and smiled guiltily. "When I first met you, I knew right then that I wanted you in my life. And I was determined to make you my lover, mistress, or whatever you want to call it by Valentine's Day."

She frowned. "You were, were you? Even after we went nose-to-nose arguing? Even after you had the gall to spank me?"

"You challenged me. I can't really remember anyone else ever doing that. At least not in a long, long time. I liked that." He swept his gaze slowly, hotly up and down her. "Plus you've got one very fine body, sexy lady. And I really want to spend a lot of years enjoying it."

"I'll be your girlfriend, lover, or whatever you want to call it," she said quietly. "You don't have to--"

Again he silenced her with a kiss and then he swatted her bottom before easing away. "What I want is a wife. You as my wife."

"But we..." She stopped talking when he scowled. "Oh, fine, I'll marry you."

She hadn't meant her answer to come out as a disgruntled snap. His eyes widened for just a second and then he smiled. "Such a gracious acceptance, but I'll take it."

Shawna just stared at him, coming to terms with all that had happened in such a short time. She was going to get married. To Cade. Oh. My. God! She felt tears filling her eyes again.

"Need anything from the Double D for tonight?" he asked, calmly dabbing at her tears once more.

She shook her head. He was asking her to spend the night and she was more than fine with that.

"I guess we can take your truck as well as mine. But I'll drive. Hop in." He directed her around to the passenger side.

Glancing in confusion at him as he opened the door, she asked, "Where are we going?" All she wanted was to go up to his bedroom and seal the deal in a very intimate way.

"Las Vegas. I've already got two tickets for tonight flying out of Kansas City."

As she climbed inside, she said, "Pretty sure of yourself, weren't you? That you would come to the Double D and talk me into going away with you."

He studied her with a serious expression. "Truth? I was scared almost shitless--as Scott would say--that you wouldn't even agree to talk to me. You've been avoiding me for days now, weeks."

She reached out and touched his beard-stubbled face. "Let's put all of that behind us. Okay?" She smoothed her fingers across his lips and smiled when he sucked in a breath. "I'm more interested in heading to Vegas."

He grinned. "I'm getting exactly what I wanted, you for Valentine's Day." Then he hurried around to the driver's side, started the truck, and added gently, "I got you a gift, too, sweetheart. But you'll have to wait until we come home to see her."

"Her?"

"Bessy."

She gasped, shocked. "You bought Bessy for me?" Tears streamed down her face. When had she turned into such an emotional mess? She loved this special man soul deep. He'd bought her beloved horseback. "How will I ever repay you for that?"

He waggled his eyebrows and gave her a crooked smile. "Oh, I'll come up with some ways. Starting tonight. Right after we say our vows in some Las Vegas chapel."

Her heart pinched at the tenderness in his eyes. "I love you. So much. Even without you buying Bessy back for me."

"I know." He chuckled. "But I still look forward to you proving it...for many years to come."

The End

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This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.