I close the distance between us. She braces herself, I’m sure because she thinks I’m going to pick her up, but instead I fall to my knees in front of her. Those baby blue eyes go wide. Her thick lashes bat in surprise. Her perfect cheeks turn a shade of pink, lighting up those freckles I love so damn much. I’ve always thought she had the face of a porcelain doll. Those pretty ones you put away in a display case to keep safe. By the way her lush red shiny lips open and close, I do believe I’ve actually shocked her for the very first time.
“Marry me,” I say, pulling a ring out of my pocket while grabbing her hand. I don’t wait for a response before I slip the ring right onto her finger. It’s simple, with square diamonds that go around the entire thing. It’s elegant but still noticeable. When I picked out the ring, I knew she wouldn’t want something too flashy but I needed it to be large enough so that no one would mistake the fact that she is taken. Although she’s resisted me for so long, I know she’ll enjoy my claiming touch on her as much as I’m going to enjoy hers on me. The ring shows she belongs to someone. I’m itching for her to place one on my finger as quickly as possible. I would marry her right this second on this rooftop if I thought her family wouldn’t murder me. I know that they are important to her and I want her to be able to share this with them. That’s the only thought that stopped me from bringing an official to marry us on the spot.
“Are you asking me?” she finally gets out. It takes her a moment. She looks down at me and it takes everything in me not to pull her down into my lap. I can’t stop myself from putting my hands on her hips.
“No,” I admit unapologetically. She bites that plump bottom lip of hers and I know she’s fighting a smile. This is what she needs from me. To be the one to force her hand. To make her let go of all that control she thinks she needs to have. I’m showing her now that I’m all in. She might not think I know who she is but I do. I’ve watched her long enough. We were more alike than she knew. She fears that when I dig down a little deeper I might not love all of her. I have those same fears but after watching her, I know my girl loves with her whole heart. She doesn’t give it without giving all of it. Once you have it, it’s yours forever. That’s why she protects it so fiercely. It’s also why I’ll handle it with the utmost care.
“I can’t just agree to marry you,” she says after a beat. I can see her mind working. “What if you’re terrible in bed?”
I throw my head back and laugh. Not because I’m worried about how it will be in bed with us or that I could be terrible. There is no fucking way we would be awful in bed together. Sparks practically fly just with us standing in each other’s presence. The chemistry and love are there. It would be fucking impossible for it to not be mind-blowing.
This time I do as she is expecting. I push off one knee with my hands on her hips while lifting her. I throw her up over my shoulder as I stand. She doesn’t fight me. In fact, she reaches down and gives my ass a squeeze. I give her a smack in return as I make my way back to my helicopter. The pilot is ready to go on my command. I place her inside, clicking her seat belt into place.
“I’ll show you how good I’ll be to you. You’ll never want to leave our bed.” Before she can give me one of her sassy remarks, the pilot starts the engine. My mouth comes down on hers, taking our first kiss and giving her a taste of what is to come.
4
Savannah
When his mouth comes down onto mine a current shoots through my whole body. I gasp as he slips his tongue into my mouth to deepen the kiss. A groan rumbles through him. The vibration has my nipples puckering. I knew it would be good between us from the moment I set eyes on this man. I’ve avoided him as long as I possibly could knowing that he’ll be it for me. He has finally come to claim me.
I’ve wanted that more than anything else in the world. Even though I convinced myself in the past that we were too different to be together, I’ve been the only one buying my own bullshit. I was too scared to admit that I wanted him because there was a chance that I could get hurt. Seeing my brothers fall in love and find their forevers awoke something inside of me. That doesn’t mean that I’m going to make it easy for him. What fun would that be? I think Aaron enjoys the chase. It’s in his blood. I can read it in his predatory eyes. I truly am going to enjoy being caught.