Billionaire Unmasked(60)

“I’ve never been more serious. I don’t want anyone else, Peaches. Just you. Somehow, I’ll deal with your job. I’ll go with you so that I can keep you safe. You can give away my money once yours is all donated if it makes you happy.” His low voice vibrated with intensity.

He’s serious. He really wants me if he’s willing to let me give his money away.

Jason didn’t joke about money. Investments and finance were his life. “Really?” she answered tremulously. Her eyes started to tear. “You want to stay married?”

Oh God, please don’t let him be teasing me about this.

She knew her heart would shatter into a million tiny little pieces if he wasn’t sincere.

He pulled her into his arms, wrapped them around her securely. “I need you, Hope. Please stay with me. I need your sweetness to balance out the asshole in me. I need your huge, generous heart to remind me that not everyone cares about money. I need to be wanted for something other than my bank account. I need you to fight with me when I’m giving you too much shit. And I won’t complain about your career.” He hesitated before he added, “Well, I’ll try not to complain about it too much.”

Hope’s heart swelled with every word he uttered. She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her face into his shoulder. Her tears fell steadily. “I won’t donate your money. I promise.” She sobbed; relief coursed through her trembling body. “I think you already donate plenty.”

“What’s the matter, baby?” He stroked his hand over her hair, his voice confused and concerned.

Pulling back, she looked into his glorious blue eyes and saw…him. Jason left himself wide open and vulnerable, with no attempt to hide his fear. He wanted her that much. “I was so afraid. I didn’t know how I was going to live through saying goodbye,” she told him bluntly.

“You’ll stay with me?” he asked, his voice cautious.

“Yes, you crazy, beautiful man. I want to be with you more than I want anything or anyone,” Hope replied breathlessly. “I’m addicted to you.”

Jason grinned. “It worked. I got you hooked on sex.”

“I’m not addicted to sex,” she protested. “I’m addicted to you.”

Leaving a firm arm around her waist, Jason grasped her left hand and brought it to his mouth to kiss the ring on her finger. “Then marry me, Hope. For real.”

A startled laugh escaped her. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think we’re already married.”

“But you never had a choice. Choose me,” he demanded roughly, his liquid blue eyes molten with emotion.

“I wouldn’t choose anyone else,” she told him gently as she lifted her hand to stroke his whiskered jaw.

“Thank fuck!” He picked her up by the waist and spun her around. “No more talk of leaving me. Ever,” he insisted bossily.

“Never,” she replied with a happy laugh as she found her footing on the ground again, happy that he had his dominance back again. She had hated seeing Jason vulnerable. If she had her choice, she’d let him try to boss her around for a lifetime. Not that she’d let him, of course. But she preferred to see Jason bold compared to the naked fear she’d seen in his eyes a few moments ago. But God, how that openness had touched her soul. Jason Sutherland wasn’t the kind of man who let anybody see his weaknesses. However, he cared enough to show them to her.

“Come with me.” He clasped her hand in his and pulled her along behind him. They plowed through the pines until he finally stopped and turned to her. “I need to be inside you, Hope.”

She wanted him, too, and she understood what he was feeling. Her core clenched with the need to have him move inside her, giving her assurance that they weren’t parting. It was a need that went deeper than physical pleasure, a validation of their agreement to stay together. “Yes.” Her body craved to be joined to his.

“You’re mine now,” Jason said covetously and backed her up against the large trunk of a tall pine. He joined their hands, twined their fingers together and pinned them over her head as he took her mouth with breathtaking swiftness.

Hope gave way to him immediately, opened her mouth to let him plunder, and moaned against his kiss. Her body fired red-hot as she melted into his hard, muscular form, just as needy as him to feel them joined. She met his tongue, tangled it with hers, and let him claim her just as surely as she claimed him.

She came away from the embrace panting. “Now, Jason. I can’t wait this time.” He didn’t need to tease her body. Her core was already saturated, hungry and needy to be filled. “Please.”