“I love when you do that, kitten.”
“What?”
“That little stutter you get when you’re turned on. It’s hot as hell.”
“I don’t stutter,” Deanna insisted.
He smiled at her embarrassment. “Do, too, but don’t worry, I’ve only seen you do it with me.”
“You’re delusional,” she said as she laughed and unbuckled her seat belt.
No, I’m in love, Jonas thought. He wanted to share those words aloud, but he wasn’t sure she was ready to hear them. Yet. When he unbuckled his own seat belt and opened the car door, he instructed her to wait for him. By the time he’d jogged around to her side, she’d already gotten out and closed the door.
Jonas frowned. “Is this a control thing for you?”
“Is what a control thing?”
The big doe-eyed look she sent him wasn’t fooling him one bit. “Or is it that you think it’s sexist?”
“Your need to pay for dinner, carry my suitcase, and open doors for me, you mean?”
“Yeah,” he growled.
“No, I think it’s lovely,” she admitted, her gaze softening.
More confused than ever, he asked, “Then why the hell didn’t you wait for me?”
Her lips twitched. “Because I like to drive you crazy.”
Jonas cupped the back of her neck and leaned close to her ear. “That ass of yours is going to get a good spanking if you keep this up, kitten.”
“Promises, promises,” she murmured as she slipped away from him and started walking toward his apartment building. Jonas took a second to admire the view. Son of a bitch, her ass was a thing of beauty.
By the time they’d reached his apartment, Jonas was as hard as a spike and ready to be buried balls-deep inside of Deanna’s tight cunt. Slow down, big guy. There’s still the little matter of her surprise.
Jonas unlocked the door and let her enter ahead of him. He flipped on the light and waited for her to spot the big bouquet of white roses and miniature gerbera daisies. He heard her gasp. Yep, found them.
“Oh, Jonas, they’re gorgeous!” She crossed the room, then leaned down and inhaled. When she turned around, Deanna’s eyes immediately filled with tears. Every muscle in Jonas’s body tensed.
“No crying,” he ordered. “Even if it’s a happy cry.”
She bit her lower lip and looked down at the floor. Jonas took the room in three strides; then he reached behind the vase and handed her the small red box he’d hidden there. “Promise me you won’t cry and you can have your other present.”
Instead of answering, Deanna plucked the box out of his hand and gently lifted the lid. After a few seconds, her gaze came back to his and stayed there. She didn’t say anything, merely stared at him. Jonas started to worry he’d screwed up. “Uh, if you don’t like it, I can take it back.”
“Why did you get me this?”
Ah, so that’s what had her so quiet. “You can’t guess, kitten?”
“I could,” she murmured, “but I’d much rather you tell me.”
“The daisies are because they’re your favorite flower,” Jonas explained as he took the necklace out of the box, unfastened the hook, and put it on her. “The ruby teardrop necklace is because red is your favorite color,” he went on as he cupped her face in his palms. “And this,” he murmured as he pressed his mouth to hers, savoring the delicate sounds she made, “is because I love you with all my heart and soul.”
A single tear spilled over and her lower lip quivered. “What I feel for you is so much more than I ever thought possible, Jonas,” she said. “You’re demanding, romantic, sexy, arrogant, and you’ve completely ruined me for other men.”
“And?” he urged.
“And I love you.”