She shifted her leg, inviting him to go deeper. “Want you.”
“Wait.” He took a step back from her. “Get on the bed. On your back.”
She smiled. Even when they weren’t in a scene, he couldn’t help taking control during sex. That didn’t mean she couldn’t tease him a little.
Once she got on top of the bed, she lifted an eyeb
row. “Like this?” She parted her legs. “Or like this?” She closed them again.
He walked toward her looking exactly like a tiger on the prowl, or more aptly, one who wanted to play with his prey. “Keep them open.”
His gaze was so intense and filled with desire, she didn’t want to disobey him. Without further argument or teasing, she let her knees fall so her legs were spread. He gave a low growl and joined her on the bed, near her feet.
Taking her left leg in his hands, he kissed the inside of her knee. “Every part of you was made for me. Made for me to kiss, bite, lick, and love.”
She buried her fingers in his hair. “When do I get to kiss, bite, lick, and love you?”
“Later.” He kissed and nibbled his way up her thigh. With a heavy sigh, he laid his cheek against her upper leg. “You can’t leave me again, Angel. I need you.”
Angel.
Her heart skipped a beat, and tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She tugged at his shoulders until he moved and covered her body with his. Holding his face, she made sure he was looking at her when she spoke. “I’m not going anywhere you aren’t.” It was difficult to talk with the lump in her throat. “I’ve lived without you long enough to know I don’t want to do it again.”
“I love you,” he whispered.
Tears slipped from her eyes. “I’ve always loved you. Always will.”
Their lips touched softly. Just barely brushing. She shivered under him, delighted to be with him like this again. For so long she’d thought it would never happen. And to hear him say those words. She trembled again.
“Are you cold?” he asked, misjudging her shiver.
“No.” She held tight to him. “Just blissfully happy.”
He kissed her again, not as soft this time. His mouth grew demanding, and she opened herself up for him. She’d missed his taste. The feel of him over her, his weight pressing into her.
She ran her nails across his back as his kiss grew more and more urgent. He moved his knee so it pressed between her legs. Her body throbbed with the need to have him claim her.
He broke away from the kiss, breathing heavily. “I need to be inside you. Now.”
She lifted her hips in invitation. “Please.”
He shook his head. “I wanted to take my time. Enjoy your body. Tease you for hours.”
“Later. There’s plenty of time for that later.”
He pushed up on his hands, and she saw his body tremble. “I don’t think I can be gentle.”
“I’ve never been a fan of gentle.” She dug her nails into his upper arm. “Take me. Use me hard.”
He studied her face as if judging the truth of her words. He must have found what he was looking for because, without a word, he slipped a hand between their bodies and pushed two fingers inside her.
“Yes.” She answered his unasked question with a half moan. “I’m ready for you.”
His penetration was hard and fast, and she clung to him as he pounded into her over and over. He’d been correct. There was nothing gentle in his use of her. It was almost punishing, and she relished it. With each thrust, she felt her guilt falling away until it disappeared completely.
She opened her eyes and found him watching her as he moved in and out of her body. She lifted a hand to cup his face and whispered, “Leave it.”
Leave the past, all of our mistakes, our should-have-beens, and our what-ifs. Leave them behind so that only you and I remain. And we are forever changed, but never broken.
“Leave it,” she repeated.
His body stiffened and he came with a yell. He thrust once more deep inside her, and her own climax followed.
Though he was still breathing heavily, he wrapped his arms around her, rolled them to their sides, and kissed her with an intensity that took what little breath she had away.
Chapter Seventeen
Three weeks later
No one dared try to tell them they were moving too fast. The way Dena saw it, they’d been moving too slowly and they had to make up for lost time. Though she regretted the years spent apart, they both agreed they were stronger as a result of them.
Tonight, though similar in many ways to that night so many years before, was different. She walked outside to where he waited under the maple trees in his backyard. Strings of lights were wrapped around the branches and provided just enough light for her to see him.
They’d thought about inviting a few people to join them tonight. But after discussing it, they opted to keep this special moment private. Experiencing the way Jeff was looking at her, Dena was pleased with their choice. What they were doing and feeling was too intimate, and she wanted to keep it between the two of them.
She knelt down at his feet on the soft plaid blanket he’d spread out, unable to suppress the sigh of contentment she found at doing so. He reached out and pulled his fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes. His touch was so gentle, so reverent. Again he stroked her hair, but then his hand slipped under her chin and lifted her head.
His dark eyes seemed darker than normal, and they were filled with the intensity of emotion she knew he felt at that moment. “I love you, Angel.”
Tears stung her eyes. No matter how often he said it, it always struck her body to the innermost depths. She parted her lips to tell him how much she loved him, but he stopped her by placing a finger over her mouth.
“Not yet. Stand up for a minute, please.”
She stood up, unsure of his intentions.
He took her hands in his. “When I collared you six years ago, I did it because I wanted to claim you as my submissive. I don’t want that this time.”
Her heart, already pounding, picked up speed. What?
“I want more,” he said simply. “I want more than your body. I want your sharp mind, your passionate soul, and your beautiful heart. I want all of you, and I’ll give you all of me in return. Though, admittedly, I’m getting the better deal. I know the way I’m going about this is a bit unorthodox, but Dena, Angel.” He took something out of his pocket and dropped to one knee. “Marry me?”
The something was a gorgeous diamond solitaire. She didn’t even have to think. The answer slipped effortlessly from her. “Yes.”
He stood up, slid the ring on her finger, and leaned forward to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back, suppressing a giggle. Only Jeff would propose during a collaring ceremony. She was his. Her arms tightened around him. His.
Almost.
He pulled back. “I have something else I want to offer you.” He bent down and opened a box at the corner of the blanket. A thinly braided black leather collar was in his hands when he made it back to her. Something in the collar glinted in the moonlight. She looked closer and saw silver entwined with the leather.
“To remind us both,” he said, running his finger along the metal.
“Remind us both of what?”
“To treasure what we have and for that reminder to bind us together forever.”
She couldn’t believe how perfect the collar was. “I love it.”
“If you agree to wear this, it won’t be like last time. My collar is as binding as the ring I just gave you. I want you to wear it always.”
“Nothing would make me happier.”
He nodded. “Then take the dress off and kneel before me, please.”
He’d told her to come outside wearing something she could easily remove. She’d remembered Julie and Daniel’s collaring ceremony and had known she wanted to wear a white dress like Julie’s. She loved its simplicity and what it symbolized. Even more, she loved standing in front of Jeff and taking it off.