Tempted beyond all reason, I opened my legs slightly, eager to feel him between them even as I hated myself for being weak.
No. I didn’t need food. I needed Carter to touch me, make me feel alive and real and loved. Not this scared, shell-shocked version of myself too afraid to believe a word coming out of his mouth.
I was in love with Carter. Had been for months. And hearing him talk about forever so casually, when I knew he couldn’t possibly be sincere…well…it broke me a little. Broke my heart.
“You should go.” I loved him, but I wasn’t an idiot. I knew the score when he slept with me the night before. I'd been a virgin and he wanted to be the one to pop my cherry. Fine. I got it. For some weird reason, men liked to be first. Whatever. A random guy from the bar would have been long gone by now. But Carter, he didn’t have to mess with my head like this.
“No. I’m not going anywhere until you listen to me.” His words were just as insistent as his hands on my thighs.
I shook my head and pulled myself together. Closing my legs, I lifted my head and stared right at him. I let him see just how much he was hurting me with his games. “Just… just go, Carter. This isn’t funny anymore.”
“I’m not joking.” Carter reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled out a small, black velvet ring box. “Marry me, Emma. I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you for months. You’re the only woman for me. I want you. I want you to be the mother of my children. I want to be yours. Not just for one night, Emma. Forever.”
I stared, stunned, until he opened the ring box and turned it to me. Inside was the most beautiful diamond solitaire I’d ever seen.
Blinking slowly, I looked from the ring to his face, saw the sincerity, the need, the love. I felt the first tear burn its way down my right cheek and I dashed it away with shaking fingers, hoping he wouldn’t notice.
“Say, yes.”
“You want me?” I squeaked. “But I'm so much younger. I'm completely inexperienced and you're… you're—”
“Old?” he asked.
I shook my head. Yes, he was older than me, by a decade. I knew his birthday as readily as I knew my own. It didn't matter to me.
“You're so worldly and experienced, not just in sex, but in life.” I lifted my hand and waved it in front of me as I spoke. “I'm just starting out. Why would you want someone like me?”
I couldn’t stop my gaze from roaming his face, his chiseled chin and strong jaw, the heat in his eyes.
“I wanted you before I knew you were a virgin. When I found out you were innocent, untouched…” He shuddered, his gaze never leaving mine. “Knowing I'll be the only one to claim you, the only man to ever be in that sweet pussy of yours, makes me so fucking hard. I want every gasp of pleasure you ever make, every scream, all the wetness between your legs to belong to me.”
I felt hot all over. My nipples tightened and my panties were ruined. For nearly a year I’d never seen this side of Carter. He’d been all business, cold and professional. The heat he poured on now was melting all of my circuits. Controlled, calculating Carter was sexy as hell. But caveman Carter was damn near impossible to resist. The way he looked at me made my body ache, desperate for his cock. Desperate for him.
“I can see it in your eyes, sweetheart. You want me, too.”
I did. Oh, God. I did.
I couldn't deny it any longer. He'd come to the bar for me and given me the most amazing sex of my life. I'd been the one to walk away, to leave him alone in his king sized bed. He hadn't loved 'em and left 'em. I had. I'd used him while he'd wanted more. Yet here he was. He’d come to my house, brought me flowers at work, asked me out to dinner like a gentleman and then told me he wanted to fuck my brains out, the words like pouring gasoline on a raging fire. And the ring. Hell, yes, I wanted him. Forever?
Absolutely. “I love you, Carter.”
He groaned at the three simple words and rose to take my chin in his hand. “About damn time I hear you say it.” He placed a slow, soft kiss on my lips and I melted. “I love you, Emma. Marry me.”
I still couldn't believe it. His actions backed his words, but still… “You love me?”
“I’ve been trying to tell you, but you’re damn stubborn.”
I laughed as he took my left hand and slid the ring onto my ring finger. It fit perfectly.
When it was in place, Carter didn’t let go of my hand, and he didn’t get up off his knees. He stared at me and I couldn't look away.
“Emma? Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
Of course.
I threw myself in his arms. He caught me and I crushed my lips to his, eager to feel him hard and hot and real. God, this was real! He was mine.