Page 82 of Fake Wife
“I’m here,” I say. “I’m really sorry. I should have known—”
His hand cups my neck. Thumb brushes over my jaw. Delightful little shivers dance across my skin. “You should have.”
“I’m sorry. I just freaked.”
“You’re going to have to trust me.”
My head falls to his chest and his arms wrap around me. “I do.” I sniff. Damn tears. I thought they’d be all dried up by now with the amount I’ve spilled today. I throw my hands around him, clasping them at his back. “I do. I’m so sorry.”
His lips touch the top of my head. He squeezes me so hard I’m terrified he’ll crack a rib.
We stay like this for seconds. Minutes. Hours might pass and I’m unaware. It doesn’t matter.
“Just so we’re clear,” he finally says, his hand sliding up my back to hold me at the back of my head. I inhale his scent. Sandalwood and pine. Delicious. “There is no prenuptial. I never even considered it. All I have is yours. Everything.”
He pulls back, our lips brushing against each other’s, and I’m helpless to stop it. Stop him. Stop everything I’m feeling for him.
“I love you,” I rasp, unable to control everything slamming inside me. Love. Acceptance. Trust.
This man gives me everything.
His lip hit mine with force, stealing my breath and my heart. “I love you, too.” Our lips are so close together his brush over mine as he speaks. “I fucking love you, Teagan.”
Tears fill my eyes. Damn emotions. I sniff them back. His thumbs brush them away and I laugh, stepping back to finish the job.
“I’m a mess.”
“Beautiful, though.”
I laugh again. He can’t even dispute it. Both of us must look a ragged mess. He at least looks as rumpled as I feel.
Wiping off the rest of my tears through my laughter, I pat my cheeks and wave a hand through the air. “So. What do we do now?”
A wicked grin twists his lips. Our thoughts are the same. There’s nothing I want more this very second than to fall into bed with him. Strip off his disheveled clothes and mess his hair up further.
“Did Caitlin show you what I had delivered?”
I jolt. Clear my dirty thoughts. We’re apparently not on the same page. “Yeah.”
“So, then.” He takes my hand, lifts it so Eleanor’s ring is between us. He goes to twist it off but it’s stuck. My fingers have swelled; how embarrassing. Corbin grins, and before I know it, he’s taking my hand to his mouth. His tongue slides around my ring finger.
“Wow,” I gasp. My knees buckle as he takes my finger in his mouth, teeth scraping and biting down around my ring. And then he’s tugging it off.
I’m wet. Knees like jelly. His laugh is warm velvet, covering me as he drops to one knee in front of me.
More tears. “Damn it.” I wipe them away and he laughs more, shaking his head.
“You’re beautiful. Adorable,” he says, holding my hand in his. “Marry me.”
I nod. “I love you. Yes.”
He slides the ring back on my finger and pulls me forward. I expect him to stand, but he does the opposite, pulling me to him until he’s on the floor, sitting on his ass, and I’m straddling him.
His hands at my cheeks, he kisses me, slides his tongue into my mouth, and devours me. I relent because there’s no other choice. I am his. He is mine.
Together, we will follow our dreams.
“Fuck, but I love you, Teagan. Marry me. Tonight. The next time I make love to you I want you to be my wife.”
