Any Time, Any Place(104)

"Having a revelation."

A mixture of nausea and excitement churned his gut. Was she here to finally tell him to go away forever? Was she tired of him following her around, trying to gain her forgiveness? Was she ready to move on with another man who hadn't been stupid enough to hurt her? He tried to swallow, but there was no spit left in his mouth. "Oh. I guess revelations are good for this time of night. Are you here to share it with me?"

"Yes."

He waited. She didn't say anything, just kept looking at him with a hungry she-devil sort of gleam in her dark eyes. The moonlight played in her hair, which was wild and curly around her face. He didn't want to imagine his life without her, and at that moment, Dalton didn't know what he'd do if she announced it was completely, irrevocably, definitely over.

"Have you ever watched the movie When Harry Met Sally?" she asked.

He didn't even blink at the weird change of topic. "Not into chick flicks, but yes. Along the way I was forced to watch it. Wasn't too bad."

"Well, that's the reason I'm here. In the middle of the night."

He tried hard to understand, but he was too damn nervous and his brain wasn't working. He caught her scent on the breeze and almost groaned from pure lust. Sandalwood. So damn sexy. "Umm, you want to watch a movie? I can do that."




 

 

A hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "No. Remember the scene in the movie where Harry ran all the way through the city on New Year's Eve and finally found Sally, in the middle of this big holiday party around midnight, and she looked at him like he was nuts and asked him why the heck he was there?"

Damn, he wished he'd paid better attention. Dalton swore to study every chick flick in the future if he could pass this one test. But he'd promised no more lies. "No," he said sadly. "I don't remember."

"That's okay. Harry said when you realize you love someone and want to spend the rest of your life with that person, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Dalton didn't move, didn't breathe. "What are you saying, Raven?"

This time she smiled fully and walked over, closing the distance between them. Reaching out, she slid her arms over his shoulders and pressed her forehead against his. "I'm saying I love you. I forgive you. I trust you. And I want the rest of our life to start right now."

His hands caressed her cheeks, her hair, her body, as if he was terrified she was an illusion ready to drift away in a puff of smoke. "You'll be mine?"

"I think I always was, Dalton Pierce," she whispered against his lips. "Now will you stop talking and kiss me?"

And he did. With a groan of delight, he took her lips and slid his tongue inside her mouth, fusing them together with pure intimacy. He kissed her like she was the most precious gift in the world-because she was. His hands stroked over her body, bringing her tight against him, reveling in the crackling energy that stole his breath.

"I love you so much," he said, finally breaking the kiss. "Today. Tomorrow. Always."

She ran her fingers gently over his lips, tracing his jaw. "You gonna take me to bed or what?"

"I'm gonna take you to bed."

He swept her up in his arms, cradling her close, and brought her inside. Up the stairs, into his room, onto his bed. He stripped her slowly, removed his shorts, and touched her. Loved her with his tongue and teeth, lips and fingers. Worshipped the gorgeous ink of her tat and paid homage to her slick, wet heat that closed around him and begged to be claimed. When he finally surged inside, clasping her fingers within his, their breath intermingling amid the whisper of sliding sheets and soft gasps, he made her forever his.

And when the sun came up, Dalton lay in her arms and realized he'd finally found home.





epilogue




I'll raise you five bucks."

Cal gave a fierce frown, holding his cards close. He stared at her hard, taking his time, then threw his chips in the pile. "I'll see your raise. Now, don't be a bad loser, princess. Bluffing is something that's very hard to do, and you'll need a bit more practice. Time to show your cards." 

Raven watched Morgan with satisfaction, waiting for the final attack.

She did it with her usual Southern style, a bit of a simper and an innocent smile. "Three of a kind and a pair is good, right?" she asked with fake innocence.

Cal's mouth fell open. He threw his straight on the table, shaking his head in disbelief. "You got a full house. Did you know that?"

"I remember something about a house, but thanks for clarifying it. My goodness gracious, is this pot all for me?" She raked in the pile of chips and checked her fiancé's small heap. "Do you need to borrow any money, Charming?"