Shadow Reaper (Shadow #2)(120)

He rolled off the bed in one smooth motion, coming to his feet. "Stay right there. If you don't, I'm going to find other uses for my ropes than decorative art."



She let him get to the door of the master bathroom before she answered. "You've already found other uses for them and we both like it." That was daring of her, but she liked teasing him.



He paused at the door, looking back at her. His cock jerked and he fisted it. "Woman, you're going to kill me." He gave her a wicked grin and then disappeared into the bathroom. "You need to soak in the tub. I don't want you so sore we can't continue."



A bath sounded nice, but really, she was just too tired. She closed her eyes and let herself drift.



Ricco tested the water, making certain it wasn't going to be too hot, but he needed it hot enough to soothe her body. When he returned to the room, she was sound asleep, curled up on her side by the edge of the bed. His rings were on the nightstand, still in the jewelry box. He took the engagement ring out and slipped it on her finger.



She stirred, her lashes fluttering, and then she was looking at him. As it always did when their eyes met, his stomach performed a strange flip. She was magic. He knew he was the only one responsible for his happiness, but finding Mariko certainly went a long way toward helping. 



"Come on, cara, bath time."



"You take a bath," she murmured sleepily. "I'm going to sleep."



She looked sexy lying on the silk sheets, her hair spilling everywhere, her naked body curled up like a sleepy kitten. He reached down and picked her up easily, cradling her against his chest. Had she been more awake he would have slung her over his shoulder and carried her off like a pirate hoisting treasure just to hear her laugh again. He loved the sound of her laughter.



"Bath, then sleep," he said decisively.



"Oh no." She gripped his shoulder looking alarmed. "I'm full of you. Of us. And it's leaking everywhere."



"I like you full of me and us." He stepped into the bath and lowered his body until he was sitting, legs stretched out, Mariko on his lap.



She wrapped her arms around his neck and turned her face into his shoulder. "This is nice. I don't mind this at all. But I'm going to sleep."



"Are we good, Mariko? Is my past going to haunt us?" He knew uncertainty was in his voice. He certainly needed her far more than the other way around, which put him at a disadvantage. He didn't care if she knew. He wanted her to be happy. "Is there anything else we need to put to rest?"



She tipped her head back to meet his gaze. "I choose to believe you, Ricco. That you love me and that you're certain I am the one for you. I choose to believe you will always feel that way. Love doesn't seem to work out for so many people, and I'm scared. I'm not going to pretend I'm not, but I don't know what's good or bad in a relationship. I'm going on faith and you're the person I choose to have faith in."



Her sincerity humbled him. Every moment in her company only made him love her more. "I can only promise you that I'll try every single day to be a man you can be proud of."



She reached up and traced his lips with her fingertip. "I love being with you, Ricco."



"Why?" He couldn't imagine why a woman like Mariko would choose him, with his past and his failures.



"Aside from the fact that you're very, very good at what you do"  – she swept her hand down to encompass her body  – "you're the best man I know."



"You can't have known very many," he protested.



"Not in the biblical sense," she agreed, teasing him. "But I'm a rider. I've seen things."



He liked the teasing note in her voice. "What countries did you travel to when you were training?" He'd been curious about that from the beginning, as had Stefano. The investigators found few riders able to give any information on Mariko outside of Japan, which was unusual.



"I wasn't allowed to travel to other countries. The council followed Osamu's advice. She believed I'd dishonor the riders of our country and they took her word that I was …  difficult."



"Difficult?" he prompted, trying to hold at bay the building rage on her behalf.



She squirmed. "I don't like talking about Osamu's opinion of me."



"It is only her opinion," he pointed out. "The council should have done an investigation if they were worried. That's their responsibility." Every muscle in his body wanted to tighten up, but he forced himself to stay relaxed.