“You want me to give in?” My heart was beating so fast it was hard to breathe. “Give in to what?”
His smile was breathtaking, all white teeth and full lips. “Me.”
“I don’t like forfeiting.”
“I think of it as more of a win/win. I love you forever and you just love me back… honestly even if you didn’t love me back I still wouldn’t go away. I’m annoying like that. Stay… Ames… stay with me.”
My vision blurred with tears as Ax shifted away from me and dropped to his knees. “Marry me.”
I couldn’t speak.
I wanted to.
Nothing came out of my mouth.
Ax reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out my stuffed lamb, the small ugly thing he’d given me when I was little. My most prized possession.
“A ring—” he held the lamb up. “—would look cheap, next to something you hold so dear.” His voice cracked. “Let me take care of you… Let me love you, Ames. Please… I can’t live without you. I don’t think I’m capable of living through that type of hell again.”
“Are you proposing to me with a stuffed animal?” I laughed as tears streamed down my cheeks.
He flicked a glance at the toy then met my eyes wearing a silly grin. “Yeah.”
“Just checking.” I let out a cross between a laugh and a sob then tackled him to the ground, our mouths collided, the lamb was thrown to the side, no longer as important as it was before — I had the real thing. The giver of my favorite gift. I had Ax.
“I love you so much, Ames.” He kissed my tears away, kissed my eyelids, his warm lips slid over mine, his tongue pushed into my mouth. He increased the pressure of the kiss changing it from urgency to passion, desire, everything I’ve ever wanted in life — from the only man who was ever capable of giving it.
“I love you too,” I said against his lips, not wanting to pull away, for fear he would disappear and this would all be a dream, a weird, blockbuster mafia style dream. “With everything I have.”
“I just want you to love me with something — I don’t even need everything Ames — but I’ll take it just the same.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Axton
WE DECIDED TO plan the wedding for that coming weekend. That gave the guys enough time to spread the word and get the rest of the families ready for what Nixon had still tried to convince us would be “no big deal.”
Right.
Shooting two people at a wedding, what? Made it a party?
“Hey.” I knocked on Amy’s door and let myself in.
She gasped, and held the towel — all she was wearing — tighter around her body. “By all means, come right on in.”
“Thanks.” I grinned suggestively. “Don’t let me keep you from getting dressed… I’m a patient man, I can wait.”
Her eyebrows arched. “Something you need, Ax?”
I wet my lips with my tongue as I allowed my eyes to wander over the goods. When her breathing visibly quickened, I pursed my lips and sent her an air kiss. “Need, want, desire. Take your pick.”
She trembled as she murmured in a breathy voice, “I’m going to be late.”
“So be late.” I moved towards the door and turned the lock then leaned against it. “I’m sure the girls will understand if you and I need to go over… more details.”
“Details?” Her laugh was deep, sexy as hell. “So that’s why you barged in, you want to go over details?”
“Sure?” I tilted my head to get a better view of her killer legs. “Long legs, short towel… remind me to stop buying you clothes. I like you better this way.”
“Ax.” Her cheeks blossomed with color. She took a step back and looked away. “Seriously I should go.”
I made my way towards her. She scrambled back more. Confused, I paused and held my hands up. “Talk to me, what’s got you all flushed and nervous?”
“Y-you,” she clenched the towel tighter around her body. I tilted my head again, maybe if I just fell to my knees and begged?
“Me?”
Amy nodded once and then turned bright red. “I um… don’t have experience.”
“With weddings?” I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.
“Well yeah that too but… with…” She swallowed and blushed even redder. Damn the color looked good on her.
“I know I’m brilliant, but I’m not a mind reader.”
Amy kept one hand over the towel, her knuckles turning white, and then put her other hand over her face. “I’m a virgin.”
I barked out a laugh of relief.
“Out.” She pointed to the door. “Forget this happened, never mind, just, just go.” Tears filled her eyes.
I didn’t budge. The smile fell from my face. “Is that why you’re so worked up?”
A single tear slid down her cheek before she could stop it.
“Ames, come here.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ll be late and—”
I gripped her elbow, slamming her body into mine. “Look at me.”
Her eyes were zeroed in on my chin.
“In the eyes.”
Slowly, her head lifted, her eyes were still watery, uncertain.
“I’d take you any way I can get you Amy, you know that… regardless of your sexual experience. You’re mine. All mine. In fact, I think we’re both lucky you’re a virgin. Now I won’t have to go kill any other guy who dared put his hands on you. And don’t doubt me, I know the other guys have had similar thoughts about their women and I’m pretty sure Tex tried to follow through on it — three times before Nixon stopped him. Just think — your virginity just saved a life.”
Amy’s lips moved, but she bit down on them.
“Aw, were you gonna smile, baby? Come on, one smile, just for me.”
With a huff she smiled and my world was complete.
“I love you.” I touched my forehead to hers. “You don’t need to be embarrassed or afraid… it’s me… your best friend. Not a stranger. We’ll go as slow as you need to, alright?”
Her blush wasn’t as bright as she nodded her head then kissed me softly on the mouth. Her taste was so sweet, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough of it. With a groan I pulled back. “Right, and if you really want me to keep my promise of not letting you be late for your little spa appointment with the wives then you shouldn’t kiss me like that.”