by Roxie Noir
For some reason, my heart does another flip. This isn’t the first time he’s proposed, even though he knew I’d say not yet, but it’s the first time he’s asked if I’d say yes someday.
“Of course you will,” I say, suddenly serious.
He takes my hand in his and kisses it slowly, his eyes searching mine.
“I’ve been asking the wrong question,” he says, a smile coming into his eyes. “I should have known.”
“So ask the right one.”
“Marisol,” he says, his voice quiet and serious. “If I ask you to marry me six months from now, then will you say yes?”
I swallow the sudden lump in my throat.
“Yes,” I whisper.
We kiss again, and I roll onto my side so now we’re embracing, face to face.
“And you know I turned you down because I love you, weird as that sounds, right?”
It’s true. If all the experts and literature recommend no big changes for a year, I’m going to follow that, no matter how much I want to tell him yes every time he asks. Anything I can do to help, I will.
I’m still here. I still love him. Fiancée versus girlfriend is really just semantics, anyway.
He smiles, rubbing the tip of his nose against mine.
“I know,” he says. “Though it’s not going to stop me asking, most likely. You’ll have to stand firm.”
“It’s harder than you think, you know,” I admit.
“Good,” he says, smiling, and kisses me again, his hand traveling down my back until his fingers are at the base of my spine, drawing me in. I open my mouth against his and we wind our tongues together, the familiar heat building inside me.
“I love you,” he says when he pulls back. “And I promise that in six months I’ll propose properly, with a ring and everything, not naked in bed moments before I ravish you.”
I grin and bend my leg, sliding my knee up the outside of his thigh.
“What’s wrong with this way?” I ask, laughing.
Gavin takes my thigh in his hand and pulls me against him, kissing me hard.
“Nothing,” he says. “Absolutely nothing.”
The End
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Acknowledgments
First, foremost, and always, this book is for Mr. Noir. Thanks for bringing me to this big, sunny, loud, weird city that I love almost as much as I love you.
A giant thanks to Sennah, who fixes all my sentence and story problems; Vivian, who beta read this mess; and Lara, who turned what I can only describe as “word vomit” into a gorgeous cover. I’m glad you put up with me.
And finally, to the Smashing Pumpkins, who will certainly never see this: thanks for Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. I’m pretty sure it’s what got me through 1997.
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Some fairy tales start after midnight.
The crown prince and I have nothing in common.
He's a rugged, battle-hardened soldier who spent four years in an elite military unit. I met the King and Queen for the first time wearing leggings and a sweatshirt.
But there's the way he looks at me, eyes blazing with hunger. Like he knows every dirty thought I've had about him - and he likes them.
I don't know how long I can resist.
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I learned my lesson, grew up, and moved on. Now I’ve got my first huge assignment as a photographer, and if I play it right, this rodeo shoot could make my whole career.
There’s just one problem, and it’s got spurs, boots, and hazel eyes.
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Playing with fire gets you hot, but playing with a fireman gets you wet.
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Also by Roxie Noir
Contemporary Romance
Convict: A Bad Boy Romance
I’ve never loved anything but trouble.
Loaded: A Bad Boy Romance
They call me the scorpion.
Paranormal Romance
North Star Shifters
Shifter Country Bears
Shifter Country Wolves
Copper Mesa Eagles
About Roxie
I love writing sexy, alpha men and the headstrong women they fall for.
My weaknesses include: beards, whiskey, nice abs with treasure trails, sarcasm, cats, prowess in the kitchen, prowess in the bedroom, forearm tattoos, and gummi bears.
I live in California with my very own sexy, bearded, whiskey-loving husband and two hell-raising cats.
roxienoir
www.roxienoir.com
[email protected]
