Evan chuckled briefly. “Are you saying you want me to woo you?” Then he grew serious, and his eyes darkened as he stared at her. “Because I would thoroughly enjoy making love to you again. There are so many more ways I want to take you.”
Blood rushed to Cassie’s cheeks as her heart stuttered against her ribs. Images of them tangled together on her bed settled in the forefront of her mind. Oh, yeah, she would thoroughly enjoy making love to him again, as well, but she wasn’t willing to jump into another physical relationship with him like the last time.
“But I want more than just the physical with you,” he continued as if he’d heard her thoughts.
She swallowed hard and abandoned all her self-talk about resisting him, as of course, it was futile. “What do you want?” she whispered.
“I want you to be my fiancée, for real this time, without a timeline or a deadline or an expiration date.”
Cassie studied the man before her, a man who wasn’t afraid to set his pride to the side to go after what he wanted, and her father’s words hovered in the air.
Grab on with both hands and never let go.
But did Evan love her? He still hadn’t said the words out loud she thought he may or may not have whispered that night in her bed. Sure, she believed he missed her and the hot connection they had, but he wasn’t professing to anything more emotional than that.
“That’s not enough,” she finally answered.
“What? What else do you need?” The crease above the bridge of his nose deepened as he frowned.
She shook her head. “If this was real,” she waved her hand from him to her in the empty space between the pilot and co-pilot’s seats, “then I wouldn’t have to spell it out for you.”
His brow furrowed even more as he appeared to think hard about what she’d said. For an intelligent man, he was really having a difficult time figuring this one out. She nearly took pity on him and blurted out the answer to put him out of his misery, but she wasn’t going to ask for the words and put them both in an uncomfortable position if he didn’t feel them.
“Can I buy a vowel?” he asked with a lopsided grin, obviously trying to charm the information from her when he’d failed to come up with the solution on his own.
“Forget it, Evan. It wasn’t meant to work out between us.”
“Why are you so willing to walk away?”
“Because this was only meant to be a business transaction, and somewhere along the way we both forgot the truth.”
“You think I can’t tell the difference between a lie and the truth?”
“No, I think you started to believe the engagement was real, as did I.”
“For a few days it was real, Cassie. Don’t you remember our conversation at your apartment a few nights before the gala?”
“I remember.”
“Good, then you remember how we both agreed we wanted to give ourselves more time to get to know each other.”
“Yes, Evan, but why can’t you just accept that it’s over now?”
“Because apparently, I’m not as willing as you are to let go of the person I love without a fight.”
She studied him, trying to determine if he meant the word he’d used.
“What?” he asked when she didn’t respond to his goading. “Am I the only one here who fell in love?”
“N-no,” she admitted softly.
“Oh, hell. That wasn’t how I wanted you to hear it the first time.” He dragged his fingers through his hair.
She decided it was time to man up, as he had. “But this isn’t the first time you’ve said it to me, is it?”
“I thought you were asleep.”
“Nearly, and that’s why I wasn’t sure if I’d dreamt it. Then I was too afraid to bring it up.”
“I was a fool not to tell you to your face, but I won’t make that mistake again.” He reached a hand out and gently cupped her cheek.
“Cassie, I don’t care what anyone has to say about how you and I met, or how we’re from different worlds, or even if they ever find out about our mutual passion for kinky sex. I love you.” Then, for the third time, Evan asked her, “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Blinking back uncharacteristic tears, she pulled her necklace out from the opening at the top of her flight suit. The giant diamond ring from San Miguel reflected the lights from the illuminated control panel of the helicopter.
“Only if you’ll put this ring back on my finger.” She unclasped the necklace and freed the ring.
Evan’s eyes narrowed as his gaze fell to the engagement ring resting on her open palm. “I thought I told you to sell that to pad your bank account.”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t.”
He took the ring and met her eyes. “Will you marry me?”
She hesitated, wondering if he still wanted all of her.
“Cassie?” His voice held a hint of a growl, his patience apparently wearing thin.
She smiled at him. “Yes, I will marry you.”
He slipped the ring back on her finger, and she stared down at it. This time it really felt like it belonged there, just as she belonged with Evan…almost.
He tilted up her face with a finger under her chin. “Spill it.”
She opened her mouth then closed it. She couldn’t ask. It was too much. She would be happy with this moment as it was, but the thunder showing in his eyes let her know he wasn’t going to let her back out of this. “I was wondering…” She reached into her shirt pocket and slowly pulled out the infinity necklace. Holding it in her open palm, she glanced up at him.
His eyes widened. “Ask for what you want, Cassie.”
Her gaze dropped to the collar she held. “I-I…” She stopped and cleared her throat. If she was going to ask, she would do it with her head held high. She looked up at him. “I want to be yours twenty-four, seven.”
Heat flared in his dark eyes. “If I put that on you, I’m never taking it off again. Are you sure?”
“Yes. Please, Sir.”
Evan pulled the small silver key from inside the breast pocket of his suit jacket.
“You have it with you?” she asked slightly breathless.
He cocked a brow at her. “As did you.” Then he smiled. “I told you we suited each other perfectly.”
He placed the collar around her neck once he unlocked it, and it felt so right so snug to her throat.
“With this collar, I claim you as mine. I will guide and lead you safely in my footsteps. You will belong to me from this day on, and I will do all within my power to protect you as you join me on my journey. Will you take this symbol of my ownership to wear as a sign to us and those we meet on our journey?”
“I accept the symbol of your ownership. I will wear it proudly for all of my days, Sir.”
Evan fastened the lock on the collar. “You now belong to me.”
“I now belong to you, Master.”
He opened his arms. “Come here, my sweet.”
She leaped through the small gap between the pilot and co-pilot’s seat and buried herself in his chest, knowing he was hers for keeps as she was his.
About the Author
Suzanne Graham has always been an avid reader and diary writer. After inheriting boxes of romance books from her aunt, she decided to try putting her own stories on paper. Suzanne met her husband, a fellow American, as an exchange student at the University of Warwick in England. They are proud parents of three boys. In her spare time, you can usually find Suzanne on the living room couch, reading romance.
Suzanne loves to talk to her readers and can be found at suzannegraham.blogspot.com.
Also by Suzanne Graham
Anna and the Three Generals
(Profortuna, Book One)
Having spent the last twenty-five years devoted to science, elite bio-researcher Anna is now faced with her mandatory mating on the un-breathable planet of Profortuna. Anna’s research on how to sustain life in the bio-domes is vital, but it also makes her a
target of the Open Air Society.
Convinced the Council has found the most appropriately brain-heavy men on the planet for her mates in order to perpetuate their superior intellectual genes, Anna is shocked to find three high-ranking military men waiting for her in the reception room.
Just as Anna’s sexuality is awakened by a kiss from one of her mates, terrorists from the Open Air Society attack her lab, and the three Generals act quickly to protect her. As they shuttle her to the other side of the planet, Anna comes to know her mates intimately as three men of distinction. But can they fulfill her secret wish to find old-fashioned romantic love?
Bella’s Three Bodyguards
(Profortuna, Book Two)
Due to Bella's exceptional intellectual capabilities in mathematics, the Council of Profortuna matched her with the three highest scoring IQs in her Quadrant to perpetuate her genes. The men were incredibly smart and equally dull. Bella had datapad apps that gave her more pleasure. In five years, she hadn't developed anything more than a general fondness for the men she privately referred to as Dweeb One, Two and Three.
When the Open Air Society attacks the scientific center of First Quadrant, killing Bella’s mates, three members of Fourth Quadrant’s special security forces take Bella into protective custody. As her bodyguards work a rotating schedule, she explores her physical attraction to each of them. Defying the Council’s ban against unauthorized relationships isn’t Bella’s only act of disobedience. When she learns the motives behind the Open Air Society’s rebellion, she resolves to join the freedom movement, with or without her three bodyguards.
Crystal’s Three Chosen Mates
(Profortuna, Book Three)
As the conflict escalates between the Open Air Society and Profortuna’s Council, newly-promoted Corporal Crystal and her former Military Academy classmate, Corporal Fisher, are assigned undercover work together, just as their eight years of sexual tension combusts.
On kitchen duty in the First Quadrant, Crystal and Fisher interact with the intelligentsia, making contact with members of the Open Air Society and gathering intel for the Council. Crystal uses the opportunity to rekindle her relationship with two members of the intelligentsia, Henri and Stepho, leaving Fisher alone to fume over her preference for the scientists she met when they were refugees in Fourth Quadrant after the initial terrorist attacks.
When Crystal learns the scientists are working for the Pro-Freedom Movement, she begins to question which side is the right side. Would life on Profortuna be better without the Council controlling every aspect of people’s lives? If civilians were free to make their own decisions, could she ever get Fisher, Henri, and Stepho to agree to be her three chosen mates?
Amy’s Roommate
Amy was grateful when the new bartender at Margaritaville agreed to be her roommate after her former one eloped. Not only is she appreciative that Mario pays his portion of the rent on time, but he’s also provided plenty of inspiration for her private fantasies. When he suddenly takes the initiative and pushes their relationship beyond friends-slash-roommates, Amy reacts intensely to his dominance. But she retreats when she doesn't think he’d been interested in her for the long-term, while Mario wonders if he’s found his perfect sub.
Faith’s Revenge
Faith Daniels is experienced with using her body to ensure survival for her and her brother, even finding her own pleasure in her encounters with both men and women. When her brother is imprisoned as a Resistance member, Faith will use her talents in exchange for information to rescue him, even at the expense of losing the first man she’s ever loved.
Trake Forrester, a dark-skinned Aristo of New Washington, D.C., has had his eye on his blonde assistant since Faith started working for him. Her curvy build entices him, but it’s her innate kindness that draws him to her. When he has the opportunity to help her rescue her brother, his complicated relationship with his fiancée, Deja Cain, is useful as well as a hindrance to pursuing his feelings for Faith.
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