Her expression turned anxious, and she started wringing her hands together while I sat in stunned silence. “What if you get hurt? What if someday the person you’re after kills you first? I can’t...we just found each other. I’m not the kind of woman who can handle the man I love just disappearing on me while the only thing I know for sure is that you’re in danger!” Her eyes rounded like saucers, and her mouth dropped open as she slapped her hands onto her cheeks. “Good grief! We haven’t been using protection! What if I’m pregnant!” Then she grabbed a fistful of my shirt with each hand and shouted, “I could be pregnant!”
After I managed to break out of my stupor, I placed a hand over Audrey’s mouth to stop her babbling. “If you’re not, then I’m going to stuff you full of my come until you are,” I told her in a matter-of-fact voice.
She tried to say something, but her words were muffled by my hand.
“Calm down, kitten,” I ordered. She took a deep breath and tried to sit still, but her body still vibrated with anxious tension.
I smiled in appreciation of her effort. “Now, let’s go back to the part where you called me the man you love.”
She gasped and stared at me in shock, beginning to shake her head. I slowly took my hand from her mouth and gave her a stern look. “Don’t deny it, Audrey, or I will blister your pretty little ass for lying to me.”
“I…” Her face flushed pink, making her freckles pop, which made my cock jump. Twin circles of crimson bloomed on her cheeks when she felt the movement. I loved how her freckles seemed to multiply when she blushed. My tongue itched to lick each one.
Looking deeply into her eyes, I placed my hands on her hips to hold her in place while I ground the bulge in my pants against her sex. “Tell me you love me, kitten,” I demanded.
She moaned, and I stopped, earning me a glare. “Tell me.” Then it occurred to me that I didn’t want to force her love, even the confession of its existence. So I softened my voice and bargained, “Tell me so I can say it back.”
That had her sitting up straight and hope lighting her eyes. “You love me?”
I smiled and winked at her. “Tell me, and you’ll find out.”
A beautiful smile split her face, and she threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tight. “I love you, Merrick,” she said sweetly into my ear.
I put my hand on the back of her neck and gently pulled, letting her know I wanted her to lean back a little. When she did, I held her face between my palms. “I love you more than anything in this world, Audrey. More than I thought was possible for my shriveled heart. The moment I saw you, and those sexy freckles”—she glared at me, and I chuckled—“you became mine. The sunshine in my darkness, the love of my life, and the only one who matters.”
Audrey’s expression softened, and her eyes melted into a gorgeous shade of jade, but the tension hadn’t completely left her body. She was still holding back a tiny amount. I instinctively knew what she needed to give me all of her. “I’m retiring, kitten.”
Her face brightened, but she tried to hide it. “I don’t want you to be someone you’re not. I love you the way you are, and if you want to keep doing what you’re good at…”
“First of all, staying in the job puts you and our children at risk, which is something I will never do,” I said firmly. Then I brought our foreheads together and said tenderly, “You bring out the best version of me, Audrey. I want to be whatever you need. Your friend, your husband, the father of your children. And even though the likelihood of someone getting the drop on me is basically nonexistent, I don’t want to chance it. You need me here, so here is where I’ll be.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she breathed.
“Say you’ll marry me,” I promptly responded. Then I shrugged and muttered, “Not that you really have a choice.”
Audrey laughed, and the musical sound warmed my heart. I promised myself I would live the rest of my life hearing it every day.
“Hmm, maybe I do have a touch of Stockholm Syndrome,” she chirped with a sly smile. “Because I’m going to marry you, kidnapper.”
I grinned and leaned in to kiss her, but she took me by surprise and jumped out of my arms and off my lap. “That doesn’t mean you won’t have to catch me from time to time.” Then she took off running.
“You’re just asking for a spanking!” I yelled, stifling a laugh. My smile turned wicked as I gave her a minute head start. We both knew I’d catch her. And what would happen when I did.