Page 77 of Planned Seduction
“I believe in you. And I pray we can have a future together.”
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted, Morgan. I told you as much weeks ago. You didn’t believe me then.” The hurt she’d inflicted was evident in his voice. Her heart ached with remorse. “What’s changed?”
Everything.“I learned a few facts this morning.” She took a deep breath. “They helped me understand our relationship better. All this time I’ve been scared to get involved with you. I was convinced you’d leave me and destroy our friendship in the process. I was wrong. If anything, I hurt you. I didn’t trust you or have enough faith to believe you would never jeopardize us.”
Tears filled her eyes and spilled over. “When I told you we were finished, I was convinced it was the right thing to do. Convinced we’d be able to go back to being just friends. We’d done it before, after you…after the exhibition. I never stopped to consider you might not want to end our relationship. It never occurred to me you might honestly love me.”
She looked up into his eyes. It was too dark to see them clearly, but she could feel his gaze on her face. A huge lump formed in her throat. “I love you. Please forgive me for hurting you. I was such an idiot.”
“That you were.”
“I want to make it right. I want so much more with you. Can we take our friendship to a new level? Please tell me you’ll be my lover, my confidant, my partner. I want you. All of you.” She repeated the words he’d said to her a few weeks ago.
She raised her face to his and kissed him. A gentle kiss, filled with the promise of everything she said. She loved him but still didn’t know if he would forgive her.
He groaned against her lips and held her in an embrace so tender she almost wept again. “What took you so long, woman? I nearly gave up hope.”
“Tell me you didn’t. Tell me there’s still hope for us.”
“There’s still hope for us. I love you, Morgan. If you give me the chance, I will never leave you. Ever.”
“Is that a promise?”
“It’s a vow.”
“Can you get past my appalling behavior?”
He pulled away slightly, and the flash of white teeth told her he was grinning his devilish grin. “I’ll consider it. If you accept you have to be punished for your actions.”
A shiver of anticipation raced down her spine. “Punished?”
“You’ll need to do penance.” He kissed her. “It won’t be easy.” He worked his chest back and forth against her breasts. “It will involve a lot of time.” Her nipples pebbled and she silently blessed her earlier haste that had prevented her from putting on a bra.
“How much time?” Breath left her body as Daniel’s hands crept under her shirt and cupped her bare flesh.
“A life sentence might cover it.” He pushed her shirt up, leaned over, and drew a nipple into his mouth.
“Hmm…that is a long time.” Her back arched, allowing him easier access. She moaned as he sucked and sensation shot from her chest to between her legs, accentuating the urgent tug of arousal. “What do I have to do?”
He released her nipple and kissed her mouth again. “Marry me.”
“You want me to marry you?”
“Yes.”
Laughter pealed out of her. “So Ben was right.”
“Pardon?”
“I saw your nephew today.”
Daniel looked baffled. “He told you I wanted to marry you?”
“Yes. And that you think I’m pigheaded.”
“He said that?”
“Yeah, seconds before Sarah hightailed it out of the shop in embarrassment.”
