“Because you fell from Heaven.”
I laughed and started to make a self-deprecating remark. But Lucky wasn’t having it. He was reaching for me, pulling me in for a kiss.
I sighed and leaned into his embrace. It felt so good. His hands slid over my body. Then I felt his hardness pressing against my belly.
“Lucky…”
“Is it too soon? We don’t have to do anything. You’ve been through a lot.”
God, he is such a good man. How could this man be so perfect?
“It’s not that.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“I want to… please you.” I reached for his belt buckle. I was no expert but I had an idea of what a man wanted. “But I can’t do everything.”
His hand rested on mine, stopping me from opening his jeans.
“What do you mean you want to please me?”
“I want to thank you.”
He took a step back. He looked almost angry.
“You don’t have to thank me like that. I don’t want that.”
“I didn’t mean…”
“What did you mean? That you don’t want me? I don’t need you to do me any favors.”
“No… I want you. I do. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone. That’s not it.” I closed my eyes, afraid to look at him. “I’m sorry if it’s not enough. I didn’t mean to lead you on.”
“Are you married or something?”
His voice sounded strained. Not angry exactly. More worried. Distant. I was so excruciatingly embarrassed I could barely look at him, But the question about being married snapped me out of it.
“No! I told you there hasn’t been anyone since Jacey’s father.”
“Then what is it?”
I swallowed and whispered what I had done. He stepped a little closer, his voice softer. I closed my eyes and wished I could fall into the floor.
“What’s that, Angel?”
“I promised God I would be good.”
He tilted his head and looked at me.
“What do you mean ‘good’?”
“I mean when I was out there, with three matches and no gas, covered in blood, I begged God for help. And I made a promise.”
Lucky’s eyebrows were drawn together. I took a deep breath and spit it out.
“I promised to be good. In the Biblical sense.”
“You mean sex?”
I nodded miserably. This was it. I was making a mess of things.
“But I can do everything else. I want to.”
Understanding dawned. Lucky smiled. He looked relieved, not angry.
“You don’t want to have sex out of wedlock. Is that it?”
I nodded miserably, feeling ashamed.
“I’m sorry. I just… I know God helped me out there. And I swore I would be good.”
“That’s okay.”
“It is?”
He stepped closer, cupping my cheek.
“Yes. It’s even better. I already planned on marrying you, Angel.”
“You did?”
“Yes, Angel. I want you to be mine, to protect you and Jacey, for the rest of my life.”
I was surprised. Most guys didn’t go around proposing to women they had known for less than a week. Not in the real world. But they didn’t go around paying off their debts and rescuing them from mobsters either. I believed him in my gut. He meant what he was saying. Lucky wanted to marry me.
I felt hope blossom in my heart.
“Oh.”
He smiled and raised his eyebrows.
“Now, about those other things you mentioned…”
Chapter 27
Lucky
My Angel still didn’t believe me. She didn’t understand that I was going to marry her no matter what. I would have carried her kicking and screaming to the altar if I had too.
I was just going to have to prove her wrong. Show her how dedicated I was. Make her want to stay with me forever.
After I drove her wild with my hands and mouth.
Yeah, I could wait to take her. But I had to see her. It felt like I might die if I didn’t get to touch her. To taste her.
Right fucking now.
I kissed her, holding her firmly against the wall. I used my free hand to shut and lock the bedroom door. Then I lifted her thighs up so that they were wrapped around me.
“Oh!”
I smiled. This was going to be better than sex, or at least any sex I had ever had. I could tell my Angel was inexperienced. The fact that she’d offered me what she thought all men wanted… it was sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. I wasn’t going to let her do that.
Not like that.
Not tonight.
Tonight I was going to spend every second pleasing her instead.
I carried her to the bed and carefully laid her down on her back. Her legs were still wrapped around me so I went down with her. I smiled, sure she didn’t realize she was clinging to me like a monkey. Her beautiful face was flushed with desire but her eyes looked worried.
I knew she’d been afraid of my reaction to her promise. I wanted her to know she didn’t have to worry about that. I wanted to make sure she never had anything to worry about again. If she knew how I felt about her… she’d never have another doubt.