Wicked Ties(145)

Sexually. Without him, Morgan had felt as if she’d been missing something

significant.

No, more than that. She felt like she’d been missing half of herself.

Risk-taking had never been her forte, and taking the one she contemplated now

scared the hell out of her. But if there was a chance, even a remote one, that she and Jack

could get beyond this revenge of his and have something significant, even

lasting… She’d be a first-class idiot not to find that out.

“Just answer me one question,” she demanded finally. “If I was able to forgive you for

this stupid-ass vendetta you used me for and I said I wanted you to talk to me, what

would you say?” Behind Jack, Deke pumped his fist in the air and nodded in approval.

Lord, she’d forgotten he was there. Before she could tell him to get his ass out of the

room, Jack hauled her against him. “I’d tell you that you’re what I’ve been searching for

my whole life. I’d confess that I dreamed about you before I ever met you, and that the

first time I got deep inside you I think I knew that you were meant to be mine. I’d tell

you I love you.”

The swell of emotion behind those choked words undid nearly her, and Morgan felt

her resistance crumbling even more.

The tears rushed back. Her mouth trembled. Her throat tightened.

Her jaw shook with the effort to hold back the tears. How could the man get to her

with a few perfect words? Damn it.

“Cher, I wish I could just growl a command at you and make you come back. But I

can’t just control your emotions. It’s more important than growling at you to take off

your little wet panties.”

He was giving her the power. Totally. He might order her around in the bedroom, but

he wasn’t coercing her to give anything she wasn’t willing to. He wasn’t going to bully

her into surrendering her heart. He wanted her to give it.

That fact shone from dark, red-rimmed eyes in a hollow,stubble-lined face that looked

like he had felt nothing but hell for days.

The realization that he loved her and wanted her love in return slid over her like one

of her mother’s quilts, soft, comforting, warm.

“I didn’t know what to say or do or how to get out of the mess I’d created.” His self-

deprecating laugh scratched across her senses, igniting her heart.

“‘I’m sorry’ is a good start,” she whispered.

“I’m damn sorry. If I had it to do over again…I’d give you your interview, tell you that

even though I hated Brandon, I wanted you more than anything in the world. Then I’d

seduce you until leaving me was the last thing on your mind.”

“Better plan.”

“Smarter, that’s for sure.” Jack shrugged, dropped his hands. “But you’d have to

forgive me.”

“You’d have to promise not to pull something this brainless again.”

“Promising that would be easy.”

“You’d have to agree to be nice to Brandon.”

Jack tensed. “We’ve made our peace. I don’t respect what he did…but I didn’t do

much better. I don’t know that we’re ever going to be great friends again, but we’ll get

along. I could make that happen.”

Morgan smiled. Insane, complex, drive-her-crazy man and his stunningly honest

answer. “You’d have to promise to fulfill all my fantasies.”

That perked Jack right up. He crashed into her personal space again and crushed her

against his chest. Morgan felt safe, felt like she’d come home.

“That’s a promise I’ll have no trouble keeping,” he whispered. “You got more

fantasies I should know about?” “Just one at the moment.” She drew in a deep breath,

tinged with the scent of Jack, solid and enigmatic all at once, the scent of hope and

tomorrow and great sex to come.

“Yeah?” he murmured against her mouth. “Tell me, mon coeur.”

Morgan dropped her gaze, drew in a deep breath, and went for broke. “That

everything we’ve been talking about could be real. I want to forgive you—”

“And I want you to wear my pendant.” He fished it out of his pocket. “I’ve been

keeping it here, close to me…to be close to you.”

“Jack.” Morgan just about dissolved into tears. “I want to keep you, love you, have

you with me always,” he whispered.

In the background, Deke clapped and let loose a stadiumworthy whistle.

Jack started at the sound. Then he growled something ugly, set Morgan aside, and

stomped to the door. He grabbed Deke by the arm. “And some fantasies are meant to be

for two.” He shoved Deke out the door into the harsh midday sun. “Go to your