Page 50 of Playing with Desire

As they slowly recovered, the muscles in his arms began to shake, and Declan dropped to his knees on the carpet with her now straddling his lap, him still buried deep, and both of them trying to catch their breath. After a few moments, Declan lifted his head, frowning at her.

“This isn’t going to work,” he said, his tone slightly annoyed.

Not sure what he meant, she went still. “What’s not going to work?” she asked cautiously.

“Your new place,” he said, and the severe creases between his brows eased. “It’s too small, and we need a bed. Abigbed, like mine. I can’t keep fucking you up against the wall. Well, I could, but you’d be more comfortable on a mattress, where I can pin you down and put you in those cuffs you love so much.” A sinful grin curved his lips.

She ran her fingers through his hair, needing to be honest with him. “I don’t want to move back in with you. I don’t want to impose on Rick that way.”

He gave her an understanding nod as he stroked his hands beneath her shirt and up her back. “I don’t want that, either. What I want is you all to myself. Just the two of us, making a life together.”

She smiled at him, her heart feeling very full. “I like the sound of that.”

“First, we’re going to find a house that we both love, and I’m going to buy it for us. I have so much money saved from signing bonuses with the army and my military salary. I want us to have a place of our own.”

Liking the sound of that, she tipped her head curiously. “And after that?”

“I’m going to marry you and make you mine officially, permanently, and exclusively. If any man dares to even look at you while you’re wearing my ring, I will fucking kill him.”

She laughed at his caveman attitude. “And after that?”

His gaze softened, as did his voice when he next spoke. “I’m going to get you pregnant, and we’re going to have a family together.”

Surprise and delight wove through her, because they hadn’t yet discussed babies and whether they were a part ofhisfuture plans. “You want that?”

“With you?” He cupped her cheek in his hand so lovingly. “Yes, I want that. So damn much, kitten.”

It was so incredibly easy to envision a future filled with love, laughter, great sex, and eventually, children with him. “Me, too,” she said, pressing her lips to his and smiling happily. “So damn much.”

Epilogue

“Are you ready?”

Holding a small bouquet of roses and wearing a simple white wedding dress, Summer turned her head and smiled at Rick, who was standing beside her, looking very handsome in a dark blue suit. Her arm was tucked into the crook of his as they waited just beyond the back terrace for the wedding ceremony to start.

She gave him a confident smile, because the only fluttering in her stomach was due to the excitement of finally marrying Declan... and maybe something more. “I’ve been ready.”

“Are you sure?” His green eyes sparkled with playful affection. “Because it’s not too late to change your mind and run off and marry me instead.”

Used to Rick’s teasing, she laughed lightly. “I love you both, but Declan has my heart. He always has.”

“I know,” he replied, a touch of melancholy etching his features. “He’s a very lucky man.”

“And I’m an incredibly lucky woman.”

Despite how the three of them had started out, Summer knew that Rick wished only the best for his stepbrother. She, however, wished that Rick would find someone who completed him the way Declan complemented her. Rick deserved the love of a good woman, and she hoped he’d find that special connection someday soon.

“Thank you for walking me down the aisle.” As Declan’s stepbrother, he’d been the perfect choice, since Summer had no other man in her life to give her away to Declan.

He lifted the backs of her fingers to his lips, pressing a soft, chaste kiss there before tucking her hand back into his arm. “I’m honored to do so.”

The ceremony music began, indicating that Declan was in place, so she and Rick started down the steps that led to the backyard of the new home that she and Declan had bought to start their life together. Neither one of them wanted any kind of big fanfare, and since they’d only invited about twenty of their closest friends, having the wedding and reception in their spacious backyard was an easy choice.

Rick led her between the two sides of chairs that had been set up and along a grass pathway that led to where her groom stood with the minister. She passed her girlfriends and their husbands, who were also Rick and Declan’s co-workers at Noble and Associates. She considered every single one of them family, and even though Summer would have loved for her grandma Mimi to have been there, she knew the older woman was watching them from above.

As she neared Declan, she met his warm hazel eyes, so filled with adoration and deep devotion for her as he took in her upswept hair and the flowers adorning the strands and down the length of her simple fitted gown. She’d never felt so loved and cherished, had never been happier than in that moment, and knew it was only going to get better. Pledging the rest of her life to this incredible man was like her own fairy tale come true.

They exchanged their vows, then their wedding rings. The minister pronounced them husband and wife, and Declan sealed the deal with a passionate, possessive kiss that left her breathless while everyone cheered.

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