“I hope you like it,” he said. “I chose the emeralds to match your eyes.”
She looked bowled over.
“Are you really that shocked?” he asked. “I would have thought you were at least partially expecting something like this. It’s not like I haven’t made it clear I have feelings for you.”
He instantly regretted saying that. A panicked look entered her expression.
“Ryan, you’re just saying that because of the circumstances. You’re under no obligation to do this.”
He shook his head and gave a small bark of laughter. “I don’t feel obligated, Faith. I want to do this.”
“For the baby, right?” she asked shakily.
“Right,” he said grimly. It wasn’t really a lie. He was partially doing this for the baby. The baby was his, after all.
The baby was theirs. As in, theirs together.
He just needed to prove to Faith that she was his, as well. And just as he’d suspected, he thought as he studied her anxious face, it wasn’t going to be a simple challenge.
* * *
Faith stared at the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen and felt herself spinning. Her heart throbbed so loudly in her ears, she wondered if Ryan could hear it. He wanted her to marry again?
He wanted her to marry him?
She stared up at him helplessly, the lovely ring winking in the dim light as if to coax her.
“Ryan...I don’t know what to say.”
“Think about it, then. You can give me your answer when you’re ready.” Despite her doubts, a sharp pain of disappointment went through her when he closed the ring box and slipped it back into his pocket. He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her closer, so that her lower belly was flush against his groin and her breasts pressed against his ribs. “But there’s one thing I should make clear. I don’t want there to be any doubt how much I want you. I kept my attraction for you buried while you were married to Jesse. I wasn’t even aware of its magnitude until Christmas Eve. I’m not going to lie to myself about it anymore. And I’m not going to lie to you.”
He bent and covered her mouth with his. He felt her small, surprised gasp, sensed the heat behind her parted lips. Altering the angle of the kiss, he sought with his tongue, relishing her sweetness. Just one taste and he found himself hardening for her, the lash of desire striking sharp, stinging nerve and flesh. He felt her mouth soften beneath him. Triumph soared through him when her tongue began to duel shyly with his. He pulled her closer in his arms, deepening the already ravenous kiss. His hands settled on her hips. He palmed her hungrily, loving how her curves fit his hands.
He pushed her even closer against his body, groaning quietly when he felt her softness cradle his arousal. He wanted her again, with the strength and heat of a thousand suns. He didn’t think he could take much more of standing on the sidelines, ravenous and craving while Faith was just out of his reach.
He lifted his head, nipping at her lips.
“I want to make love to you again. I have every second...of every day...since that first time,” he said quietly between gentle, hungry kisses on her mouth. “Tell me that you want that, too.”
“I do,” she said breathlessly, returning his feverish kisses avidly.
Arousal raged in him at her admission. “Then let’s go. Would you like to come to my hotel room? Or would you prefer we go to your house?”
It took him a moment to realize she was no longer participating as
eagerly in their kiss. He lifted his head and studied her face. The uncertainty he saw there sliced through his lust like a sharp blade. Perhaps she noticed his disappointment, because her tone sounded apologetic when she spoke.
“Ryan, if you want me to consider your proposal of marriage seriously, I don’t think we should cloud the picture by sleeping together.”
He pulled her closer next to his body, making sure she knew the profound effect she had on him. “It’s kind of hard to be completely rational when I want you so much,” he said. “Maybe we could think clearer if we just gave in to it?”
She gave him a suspicious look, and then laughed when she saw his small smile.
“You can’t blame a guy for trying,” he muttered. He released her with extreme reluctance. She gathered her wrap around her and looked up at him solemnly.
“I want to think this over,” she explained. “It’s hard to do that when you’re...we’re...”
“I understand.” He sighed.