Marrying The Boss

by Judi Nolan

  "What do I want?" Kate felt happiness flooding through her senses. "Oh, Spencer, what I want might be a little more than you're prepared to give."

  She saw him hesitate, then swallow, uncertainty creasing his brow. "I could try," he muttered. "Tell me."

  "You, Spencer Stelanos." Kate couldn't hold back her smile. "You and only you. And Jamie. I could never want anyone or anything else."

  She saw him sag with relief. He came closer. "And here's me thinking you were really set on leaving me as well."

  "How could I leave, when all I want is right here in front of me?"

  "I think, in the last few days, I lost ten years of my life." Spencer gathered her close, folding her tight against his chest. "Don't ever scare me like that again."

  "You scared me." Kate kissed the firm line of his darkened jaw. "You seemed so set on sending me away. I found I couldn't let you do that. I was willing to take the risk that you did love me. That I could have it all, with no regrets."

  "I do love you, but how could I ask you to stay with Katerina determined to stir things up between us? I told you I would never hurt you and I didn't want you to think I was anything like Eric. I needed to be free before I could come to you. Or come after you. I would have found you, Kate, if only to convince you that I truly do love you. There could never be anyone else. My ex-wife didn't want me, but she tried to make sure nobody else did either."

  "I want you," Kate murmured. "I'll always want you. I'd already decided to stay and fight."

  "I'm glad. I want you too, Kate Martin, forever and always. Will that be long enough do you think?"

  "I'll let you know," Kate reached to pull his head down to hers. "Let's give it a few years and then we'll see."

  She stared up into his sinfully beautiful eyes as a sudden thought assailed her. "Why did you take off your wedding ring that night you asked me to marry you, Spencer?"

  Spencer shook his head. "I told you that first day at the surgery that I'd never met a good enough reason to take it of, until the first day I saw you. You gave me that reason. I was so afraid to make a new commitment and open myself up to being let down again. So it was easier to pretend I didn't need. But I need you, Kate. And I love you so much I don't know what I would do if I lost you again."

  "I'm glad." Kate smiled, all her love for this man shining in her misty eyes. "I love you so much."

  Spencer released a long sigh, nibbling a sensuous path along the line of her jaw. "Time to put this new relationship of ours into recovery, Dr. Martin?"

  "Well past time, Dr. Stelanos." Kate pulled his dark head closer to hers, taking his lips in a kiss that promised everything she had kept hidden for so long.

  After a while they went down the mountain hand in hand and drove in convoy to Spencer's house to tell Jamie their news. The little boy was so excited he could hardly speak. Edith and Kevin were also there, looking after their small charge.

  "I told you so," Edith said, giving Kate a smug smile as she embraced her. "I wish you both every happiness. You deserve it all."

  After Jamie calmed down enough to tell Kate he was glad she was going to be his mama, Edith and Kevin tactfully took him away for the night, leaving Spencer and Kate alone to talk.

  He reached to fold her into his arms holding her close. "Marry me, Kate? For the best possible reason this time."

  She kissed the arrogant jut of his chin. "I thought you'd never ask again, Dr. Stelanos."

  He growled, low in his throat. "Is that a yes this time?"

  Kate smiled at him. "Yes, Spencer, I will marry you."

  "Good, because there's something I want to do and I can't wait any longer." He gathered her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him.

  Several hours later, Spencer lifted his head from the pillow of his wide comfortable bed. So far they hadn't gotten around to doing much talking.

  Their intense emotional communication had been without words. He reached to run the backs of his fingers slowly down the length of Kate's spine. "Are you asleep?"

  "Mmm." Kate shifted lazily along the side of his chest, tucking herself more securely into him. "Yes, I'm asleep."

  Spencer grinned. "You realize my mother will want to throw us the biggest wedding of the Melbourne social year? There can be no escape."

  Kate rolled sideways to push her leg through his, winding her body closer. She lifted a hand to begin drawing lazy patterns around his navel with her fingertip. His flesh flexed beneath her touch as he caught his breath on a soft hiss of freshly dawning need.

  Kate smiled. "What's wrong with that? I'm happy to let your mother organize everything."

  "Because I want you all to myself." Spencer exhaled against the erotic circles being painted on his skin. "I want to get married in the garden and invite only our closest friends and family. If my mother has her way there will be flowers and page boys and five hundred guests and parties both before and afterwards that will go on for days."

  Kate lifted her head, shifting her hands so she was settled across him, her lips a whisper from the stubborn point of his unshaven chin. "I don't care. I want to marry you. Whatever it takes, I'll do it. Besides, I don't want to get off side with my future mother-in-law. Not before the ceremony."

  "Spoken like a true Greek wife," Spencer teased. "Though you may change your mind once you meet the Australian side of the family. They can take some getting used to."

  "I'll love them just like I love you." Kate lowered her mouth to his bronzed skin. "So much sometimes it hurts."

  She felt Spencer tense. His breathing stopped. She ran the tip of her tongue teasingly along the rigid line of his pectoral muscle, moving upwards slowly, leaving a trail of hot little kisses in her wake.

  "I love you." She punctuated every word with an open mouthed kiss. It took her breath away to have the freedom just to be able to say those three small words. "Now and for always."

  "And children?" Spencer questioned softly, his fingers detailing the soft lines of her face, before tangling in her hair, drawing her towards his mouth. "My mother will insist on grandchildren."

  "Oh, at least ten." Kate teased lightly as she rose over him.

  "Ten?" Spencer swallowed and blinked.

  "Well, maybe six." Kate chuckled at his stunned expression. "Jamie needs company. It'll do him good to have a few brothers and sisters to boss around. I hated being an only child."

  "A few sounds good. I'm sure I could manage a few." Spencer kissed her before rolling onto his side, pressing her body into the soft mattress beneath them.

  "I will love you, and only you, forever and always," Kate said very slowly, in her best Greek.

  "Not bad," Spencer approved, taking her wrists to stretch her arms above her head. His look of love speaking more to her heart than simple words could ever say. "Later, much later, I'll teach you some more words. My father is going to be very impressed."

  Kate's smile became teasing as she moved sinuously against him. "So, what do you have in mind to do now?"

  "Fool around some," Spencer growled softly, lowering his mouth to hers. "If you want six children, we'd better make a start. I'm not getting any younger."

  "I guess we have time..." Kate breathed raggedly.

  With the smile on her lips and no more regrets shadowing her heart Kate moved deeper into Spencer's sensual embrace as his body covered hers fully, knowing he would take care for her, protect her, no matter where their life took them. Their future would always be what they made of it, together...

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