“Surely the universe isn’t so cruel,” she teased softly.
A smile curved his lips. “You love me. Whether you admit it or not.”
She reached out to press her hand above his heart. The sturdy thump beneath her fingers steadied her.
“I wanted to hate you when you showed up at Dominic’s ranch,” she said. “And then you insisted I stay with you, and all I wanted to do was escape.”
“I know.” He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her cheek.
“Then you changed everything,” she whispered. “I was never supposed to care for you, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“I understand completely.” His lips brushed against hers.
“You’re the last man I should love.”
“I’m not arguing.”
“So then why can’t I stop?”
He drew back to meet her gaze. “Because we’re meant to be.”
“I love you.” The words burst from her, no longer able to be contained.
Pleasure lit his face. “Again,” he demanded.
“I love you.” The second time was easier than the first. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she cast a leg astride his thigh and shifted into his lap. “I loved you even when I didn’t want to.”
“At least we’re caught together.” His hands rose to her hips to stabilize her.
“This won’t be easy,” she said. “With your position, and my father…”
“Don’t you see, sweetheart? None of that matters. Not anymore. No one can separate mates.”
“Promise?”
“Forever.”
His lips claimed hers as she gave herself up to the pleasure of his touch. Everything was different now. He was hers. For eternity. Her mate.
She smiled against his mouth, unable to contain her joy.
“I’m going to have to apologize to Vivian,” she breathed, tilting her head back when he scraped his teeth against her neck.
“No doubt she’ll put us on posters as one of her success stories.”
“Fated Match. Find your mate anytime, anywhere,” she quoted.
“Even the most unsuitable ones.”
“In the most unusual circumstances.” She drove her fingers into his hair. “I don’t know what I would have done had you not walked into that agency.”
“Somehow we would have found each other.” Conviction burned bright in his gaze. “One way or another, you were always my destiny.”
He tumbled her back down onto the couch, not that she had any complaints.
Gazing up at her mate, she knew he was exactly right. No matter how many times the universe had screwed her in the past, bringing Tarian into her life more than made up for it.
“I love you,” she said, pulling him down to her. “Forever.”
He smiled as he kissed her, his touch promising what she already knew. After all her wrong turns, her luck had finally changed. Fate had given her the man of her dreams, and she didn’t intend on ever letting him go.