Baby, Don't Go(17)

It dawned on me that I’ve laid myself bare to her, opened up my chest and gave her the ammunition to rip my heart out. Not for one second did I regret it, though. She was worth it. She was everything.

I brushed my lips over hers then leaned back to gaze at her beautiful face. “Yeah, Ellie. I love you. I’m sure I’ve loved you since the moment I first met you. It took me a while to realize you were everything I never knew I always wanted. Once I understood my feelings, I decided there was no other recourse but to make you mine. I know you love me, Ellie.” I took a shuddering breath and made the last step into complete vulnerability. “Right?”

She glided her hands up my chest and neck until she was cupping my face. “I love you more than anything in this world, Jack. You’re right, you own me. And, I don’t want to wait. I want to have a family with you, now.”

The relief I felt was overwhelmingly acute. Obviously I’d been more nervous than I’d thought. I grinned at her and melded our mouths together, pouring all of my love into the kiss.

I pulled back and stared at the gorgeous woman beneath me and noticed the dried tears on her face. After another quick kiss, I caressed her cheek, tracing the salty tracks. “No need to cry, baby. I’ll fuck you as many times as I need to until you’re swollen with my baby in your belly,” I promised and was rewarded with the sweet sound of her laughter.

A thought crashed into me and I jumped from the bed and started for the door, halting after a few steps and whirling around. I pointed at her. “You. Stay.”

She scrunched her cute little nose in distaste. “You better be practicing for when we have a dog, Dr. Halston.”

I groaned helplessly. Whenever she called me Dr. Halston, it turned me the fuck on. I pointed to her once again and raced from the room, determined to get back as fast as possible. I practically flew down the back set of stairs to my office and snatched a small blue box from the drawer of my desk. Just as swiftly, I returned to our room and climbed back over her.

Satisfied she’d stayed where I put her, I kissed her forehead. “Good girl.” She glared at me.

I put the most innocent expression on my face that I could manage. “I guess you don’t want your treat for being obedient then?” I held up the petite box and her jaw dropped, an excited sparkle in her eye. “Did you think I was fucking around when I told the pussy I was your fiancé?” I grinned, remembering how I’d staked my fucking claim on my woman.

“You never said anything, I assumed—”

I cut her off, “Well, you were wrong. I was trying to think of a romantic way to propose, something incredibly romantic. But, I can’t wait any longer. I need everyone to know you’re not available. I own you.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a smile playing around the corners of her mouth. I untied the silky, white bow and removed the lid. Taking out a black, velvet box, I flipped it open to reveal a five-carat, cushion cut diamond, set in a diamond encrusted, platinum band. Ellie gasped, her face filled with awe as she touched the ring with the tips of her fingers, tracing it in the velvet display.

“It’s stunning, Jack. I love it.”

“You love who?” I asked gruffly, jealous of a stupid ring.

She winked at me. “I love you.” Then I heard her mutter under her breath, “Almost as much.”

“You’re going to pay for that, baby,” I grumbled. Taking the ring from the box, I slid it onto her trembling finger. “You know what this mean, right?” I asked warily, and then it occurred to me we hadn’t discussed her ridiculous job offer. “No moving, no new job, no Declan,” I spat his name, still fighting the urge to rearrange his face for trying to steal my girl.

Ellison huffed, “Do you have to steamroll everything?”

I frowned, offended at her accusation and a tad unsure what she meant. “No,” I said with conviction. “But when my fiancée is considering moving out of state and”—I glared fiercely at her—“lets other men take her to lunch, I’m sure as fuck going to steamroll anything or anyone who gets in my way.”

Her lips turned down into a pout, adorable and utterly irresistible. I drank from her lips until she bit my lip a little harder than usual.

“Fuck! What the hell, Ellie?”

“You distracted me.”

“And?” I asked with a single raised eyebrow.

She scowled and it grew when I couldn’t keep myself from grinning. I fucking loved her to pieces.

“I was going to tell you I’d decided not to take the job. I want to stay here, to be with you. But your damn caveman tactics stole my thunder. I wanted to tell you I was devastated not to be pregnant. I love you, Neanderthal and all.”