your driver’s license because you drive me crazy.”
“Ha ha.” She was mad, damn it. And she wanted to stay mad until she decided otherwise. After the day she’d had, she deserved it.
“Still not moved? I’ll try again.” He caressed her cheek. “You must be the sun and I must be Earth, ’cause the closer we get, the hotter you get. Or maybe I should say that everything about you pulls me in.”
How was she supposed to reply to that? It was part offhand joke, part compliment. The truth was, everything about him pulled her in, too.
“You cannot give me more pick-up lines and think that’s going to make everything all better.”
“Not even a little?” He nipped at her lobe, then started unbuttoning her blouse. “Wanna fuck? Breathe for yes; lick your elbow for no.”
“Stop it!”
But he didn’t. Once her blouse was open, he parted the sides and ran his hands down her lace-clad breasts, then up and under her back. He opened the clasp with a twist of his fingers, and the bra sagged away from her body. He pulled it loose and cupped her, thumbing her sensitive nipples.
Rachel bit back a moan. “Decker, I didn’t say yes.”
“You’re breathing, aren’t you?” He winked, then pulled a switchblade from his pocket. “Sorry. I’ll buy you a new one.”
Before she could wonder what that meant, he cut up through the straps of her bra and tossed the useless garment across the room.
“Hey!” she protested.
The only response Decker gave was to work his way down her body, pausing to kiss her nipples and stroke them with his tongue. She wanted to stay angry—really. But the way he delved into her gaze, so attentive and in tune with her, the way he touched her, like she was his everything . . .
Rachel wasn’t listening to his explanation. She’d made excuses for Owen for years, and didn’t want to be the same sort of stupid twice. On the other hand, could she let the best thing that ever happened to her walk out because she refused to have a conversation? No.
Then again, he didn’t seem to want to talk that much . . .
Suddenly, he crouched at the end of the bed and pulled her shoes off, then nipped at her toes. “I’m having a party at your feet, beautiful. I think I should invite your pants down to join.”
Despite herself, she laughed. “What if my pants are not in the mood for a party?”
Decker sent a sexy smirk her direction. “I can fix that. Wanna see?”
“What if my pants are busy?” she challenged.
“They aren’t yet, but give me ten minutes.”
“Incorrigible.” And impossible to stay mad at. “That’s what you are.”
“Yep.” He sent her a sly glare as he unfastened her pants, tugged at her zipper, then yanked the jeans down her thighs. Naturally, her panties followed, leaving her bare from the ankles up. “Is that what you’re going to tell your mama when I meet her?”
Rachel opened her mouth to answer, but he rubbed the heel of his palm right over her sweet spot. Her breath caught. Sparks and tingles zoomed right behind her clit, and she struggled to find her brain. “Why would you be meeting my mother?”
“If I’m going to stick around, I’ve got to.” He smiled softly at her . . . even as his hand played between her legs. “And believe me, I plan to be with you for a long time.”
“It’s really hard to think when you’re doing that.” She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Then don’t. Just look at me.”
The way his command caressed her, like supple velvet, had her complying. She focused on him. “What?”
“I’m not joking, and this isn’t a line. I’m your Mr. Right. I want you. I love you, Rachel. Marry me.”
She blinked up at him and sucked in a breath. Not a hint of a smile creased his face as he pulled off the last of her jeans and panties, then tore off his own clothing, donning a condom and crawling between her legs. He probed at her opening gently, then eased deep inside her in one long stroke that made her shudder with pleasure.
Of her own volition, her thighs parted. Her back arched. She moaned in welcome.
“Home is where the heart is, and mine is right here. Trust me. Believe me. Marry me.”
Rachel moved with him, tilting to take him deeper and melting into him when he wrapped his arms around her and snagged her gaze, seized her mouth, and captured her heart for good.
He took his time, working her body with unhurried strokes and questing fingers, caressing her all over, making her feel like the most beautiful, most beloved woman in the world.
“Why?” she whispered, her stare clinging to him.
“Because I’ve needed you my whole life. Roots and home and love. You’re all that for me and more. I know it’s fast, and you don’t know me well . . .” He paused to seat himself deeper and send her senses reeling with leisurely thrusts designed to steal her breath. “But I can make you love me if you’ll give me time. I’ll be your shelter, your protector, your . . . whatever you need.”
The last of her anger and fear bled out. Only Decker and his earnest gaze remained. He’d never be easy to live with. He’d probably be really unpredictable, but she needed some of that in her life.
“I do.” Rachel laid her lips across his. “Love you, that is. You made me realize how good I could feel, how sexy the right man would find me . . . the kind of caring about my feelings and my pleasure that a partner should give.” She grinned at him suddenly. “Hey, are you affiliated with Google?”
He laughed and pushed into her again, the pleasure surging, rising, about to crest. “No, I just swiped a few pick-up lines from them.”
“I don’t know, Decker . . . You have everything I’ve been searching for.”
Somehow, he smiled at her through a groan. “Is that a yes?”
Rachel rotated her hips beneath him, and felt ecstasy begin to tingle through her body. “Yes!”
The bliss exploded, and as she pulsed around Decker, he slammed into her, then let go of his restraint with a cry.
Her heart beat furiously, and she struggled for her breath. Decker barely let her drag in some air before he jumped off her, tossed away the used condom, and dragged her to her feet. “Let’s go.”
She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Where?”
“Vegas. I don’t want to wait until even tomorrow. We’ll find a nice chapel and get married by Elvis and have something to laugh about with our grandkids.”
Rachel would have giggled . . . except that he looked dead serious.
“What about your parents?”
He shrugged. “They’ve got a big shindig for my younger sister and her fiance coming up in a few months. We’ll send them pictures. Bet our wedding will be more fun.”
“Well, my parents . . .” What? They had seen her get married in the big white gown once. Did she really want to do all that again? No. This time was just for her and Decker. “They’ll enjoy the pictures, too.”
Decker pulled her in tight for a hug. “That’s the spirit! It’s either that or I’ll call the police and report you for stealing my heart.”
Would she ever get used to his crazy sense of humor? A whole bunch of protective male covered it and roared when she was threatened. But she loved this side of him, too. She’d thank him later for picking her up on false pretenses and lying to her to keep her safe. Let him sweat a little. In the meantime, she couldn’t wait to be his.
“Um . . .” She started giggling uncontrollably. “This is crazy! What will my last name be?”
“You still don’t know, do you? That’s awesome!”
“It’s a little irresponsible, so put me out of my misery and cough it up, Decker.”
He peered at her playfully. “Would you believe Papadopoulos?”
“Papa-doodie . . . what?” She smacked his arm. “No!”
“Pavlyuchenko?”
