Page 94 of Protecting Josie
Blink rolled them suddenly, cutting off her words. He reached for the drawer next to the bed, keeping Josie under him. When he returned to hover over her, he clasped a small object in his hand.
“I like you in white. No, that’s not true, I like you in any color you want to wear, and in nothing at all. But white looks good on you. Maybe you’ll wear it when we get married? White, that is, and not the sexy lingerie.” He forced himself to shut up as he held up a ring.
Josie’s eyes widened. She stared at the ring, then at him, then back at the ring.
Her hesitation made Blink sweat. He’d moved too fast. Rushed things between them.Fuck.
“Yes,” she whispered. Then a huge smile crossed her face. “Yes!” she yelled, throwing her arms around his shoulders.
Blink was so startled, he dropped the ring. But he’d find it later. The only thing that mattered right then was that the woman he loved so much it was almost scary, had said yes.
Later, when Josie was once more draped across his chest, and the lost ring was poking into his ass, Blink stared up at the ceiling with a goofy smile on his face.
“Can we invite your brother? And maybe his pilot friends? I don’t want a big ceremony, but I do want a huge party. I want all my new friends together in one place. Forgettingabout the bad things in the world and just enjoying being together.”
“We can do anything you want,” Blink told her, pleased as hell that she’d thought about Tate. He’d been texting his twin more often. Almost losing Josie had made Blink more aware of how fleeting life was, and he needed to know those he loved were all right.
“You know, when I was in that cell, I couldn’t think about the future. Literally, all I could think about was living through the next minute, then hour, then day. My body was trying to shut down, but for some reason I refused to give up. To just lay down and die. Now I know why. It’s because I was waiting for you. You’ve changed my life, Nate, and I can’t imagine you not being in it. I love you.”
This woman. She’d changedhislife. “I was the same way,” he admitted. “I spent day after day sitting at Aces, lost within myself. All I could think of was what I should’ve done differently, and how my team didn’t have to be killed or hurt. When I was sent back to the place where it happened, I believed I was meant to be there. At the time, I thought it was so I could do what I should’ve done before, sacrifice myself for others. But now, I realize I was meant to be there to meet you.”
“Nate,” Josie said with a sniff.
“No. No crying,” he ordered gently.
He was rewarded with her small chuckle. Then she said, “That cup? The one I wanted on the shelf on the wall, so we could see it every day?”
Blink frowned. He hadn’t been so sure about putting a reminder of a horrible event on display, but he’d done it,because she’d seemed so adamant. “Yeah?” he asked when she didn’t continue.
“It represents hope to me. Resiliency. Not giving up. That’s why I want to see it every day. To remind me that even when things seem hopeless, they aren’t.”
His Josie. Stronger than anyone he’d ever met.
He lifted his head to kiss her…but just then, her stomach growled. Long and loud.
She giggled. “Ignore it,” she ordered as she kissed his lips.
But he couldn’t. His woman was hungry, and Blink would be damned if he ignored her needs for his own. Lifting her off his cock, he bit back the moan of complaint that threatened to leave his throat. If he had his way, he’d live deep inside her hot, wet heat, but he needed to feed her.
“Don’t bother showering,” he informed her bossily. “Because I’m just going to haul you right back here after we eat. Besides, I love seeingthat.” He’d put her on her feet next to the bed, and he couldn’t take his gaze away from the bead of come that was making its way down her inner thigh.
Josie rolled her eyes. “You’re weird,” she complained, as she licked her lips and stared at his erection covered in their combined juices.
Blink walked over to the dresser, ignoring his clothes strewn all over the floor and pulling out a pair of boxers and one of his T-shirts. He stepped into the underwear, then walked back to where Josie was struggling to remove the ruined lingerie from around her waist. When she managed it, he eased his shirt over her head, helping her find the arm holes.
She should’ve looked ridiculous in his shirt, which wasfour sizes too big for her tiny frame. But he loved seeing her in his clothes. Resisting the urge to kiss her, knowing it would lead to him throwing her back on the bed, Blink reached around her for the ring that was reflecting the sun coming through the window.
He picked up her hand and slid the ring down her finger. The small princess-cut diamond looked amazing. And would look perfect once it was paired with the matching wedding band he’d picked out to go with it.
“Nate, it’s beautiful,” Josie breathed.
It dawned on Blink that this was the first time she was seeing the ring properly, since he’d dropped it before he could get it on her finger.
“You’rebeautiful,” he countered, leaning down and kissing the ring on her finger. “Hamburgers okay for dinner?”
“Perfect,” she said. “Give me a minute in the bathroom and I’ll come help.”
Blink could handle making the meal without help, but he’d never turn down spending time with this woman. Ever. “Sounds good.”
