Page 54 of Rescuing Erin

“He also said no stress.”

“Last night I offered you a perfectly reasonable stress-relief option, but you turned me down.”

“Reasonable? Sweetheart, me giving you orgasms while you have a concussion isn’t going to happen.”

“Why not? All I have to do is lie there.”

“Right. You don’t just lie there. Your head thrashes, your hips buck, you scream in excitement. No part of that is relaxing.”

“Fine,” I huffed.

“I think I’ve created a monster.” He chuckled. “Besides, right now, all I want to do is hold you. I want to feel your breath on my neck and your heartbeat against mine as you cuddle into me.”

Okay, so I wanted to have sex, and I wanted to pout I couldn’t have it but when he said things like that to me, it was hard to stay disappointed.

“I don’t think you understand how hard it is to sleep next you while you’re practically naked and not want to jump your bones.”

Colin pulled into a parking garage, found an empty spot, put the car in park, undid his seat belt, and turned to me. “Jump my bones?” I could easily hear the humor in his voice and even in the semi-darkness of the parking structure, I could see his eyes dance with mirth.

“Something wrong with the way I talk?” He shook his head and grinned. “I would think someone with your sexual prowess and experience would understand how your nakedness could have a tingling effect on a woman.”

It took a long time for Colin’s amusement to die down. And when the laughter finally faded, I had to squeeze my thighs together to quell the ache his stare was causing.

“Sunshine, I’m dying to see you squirm again while I eat you out and go to sleep with the taste of you on my tongue. I’m counting down the days until I get to finally slide inside of you and make you mine, fully and completely. But I will never put you in danger, and, right now, you need to heal.”

“I love all of that except maybe the not brushing your teeth after you go down on me part. Just saying.”

His head hit the back of the headrest and once again he roared with laughter. “Goddamn, I love you, woman. Duly noted, brush teeth after pussy licking.” He reached across the center console and picked up my hand, toying with the ring he’d placed on my finger. I loved when he did that. “You ready?”

So, that happened. Yesterday, a courier came by Colin’s house and delivered a small package. He disappeared into his home office and when he reappeared, he lowered himself to his knee and asked me to marry him for a second time. With blue eyes gazing up at me, I said yes—again. He slipped a familiar diamond ring on my finger. And I was speechless as I studied the sparkling family heirloom. He explained my parents had sent it over with a note, while he wouldn’t tell me exactly what it said, he did tell me my mother had given her blessing as well. Considering I now had my grandmother’s ring on my finger, the very engagement ring my dad had given my mother, I’d assumed she shared my dad’s sentiments.

“Yep,” I finally answered.

“Whenever you’re ready to go, tell me. I don’t want you overdoing it.”

“I won’t. Promise.”

“Right. Just like the last time you promised—”

“Do we have to go over this again? They were going to kill you, Colin. I wasn’t going to sit there and watch the man I love get beaten to a bloody pulp.”

“I know. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t joke about it.”

I waited in the car for him to come to my side and open the door. A habit from all the years of having personal bodyguards. “Sorry. I guess I can open my own door and get out. I’m just used to having to wait until someone comes around.”

“And you should. I’ll always open the door for you.”

I looked around the parking garage and thought it was strange I hadn’t seen any secret service. “Are there agents here?”

“Sure are,” he answered.

“Huh. I hadn’t noticed them.”

“I told them they were to stay back. I didn’t want you to feel like you were under lock and key. Besides, for now, you won’t be anywhere I’m not.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”