A Man Worth Marrying
Page 16
Later, when Gray and Eve had seen Bambi and Tinker settled for the night, they returned to Eve's apartment. The door had barely shut behind them when Gray took her in his arms and held her close.
"I seem to remember talk of a wedding before we left here a couple of hours ago," he murmured in her ear. "Is that conversation still valid?"
She worried his earlobe with her tongue. "Just try to get out of it," she said threateningly.
His arms lightened. "Not on your life. But are you sure? I can be awfully bossy at times, and once in a while I'm a real pain in the a—neck."
She nuzzled his throat. "I'd noticed. But don't forget I've had a lot of experience with pains in the neck, and I've learned to handle them pretty well."
He chuckled. "Seems to me the one today sort of got away from you."
She bit his lip. "Next time I'll know better how to handle a certain weather forecaster. But for now, are we going to stand around here chitchatting or—"
"No, ma'am, we are not!" he said. "We're going to turn in and get a good night's sleep, you in your own bed and me on the couch."
Eve blinked. "B-but I thought—"
He rubbed his cheek in her hair. "You thought I was going to try to get you to start sleeping with me now instead of waiting the few days until we can get married, but for me that's not an option."
Her head started to swim with confusion. What was he trying to tell her? Although they'd never had sex they'd been intimate enough at times to assure her there was nothing wrong with his libido.
"I…I don't understand," she said shakily. "Don't you want to make love with me?"
For a moment he stood perfectly still, then he took her by the upper arms and gently held her away from him so he could search her face.
"Eve," he said softly. "How could you ever think that? I've wanted you ever since the day I met you. You must know that. I haven't been very successful at controlling it."
Now she was even more puzzled. "Then why are you rejecting me?"
"Rejecting you!" His eyes widened. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm not rejecting you. You've waited all these years for the right man, and now you've chosen me. That's a precious gift, Eve, and I want my virgin fiancée to come to me on our wedding night as my virgin bride."
She felt tears of joy pool in her eyes as he gathered her to him and held her close. "I love you, my darling. Don't ever doubt that."
She snuggled against him and reveled in the warmth of his embrace. "I love you, too," she murmured against his chest. "Forever and forever."
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve