Page 87 of Craving You

Pity. He’s looking at me with pity.

“Hailey Shae Donovan, not only are you full of surprises, but you also completely stole my thunder.”

Tears stung her eyes. “What…I don’t understand.”

That’s when he reached into his pocket, dropped down on one knee, and held up a ring. “I was hopeful,” he said with a boyish grin. “I’ve had this for over a month, hoping there would be a time when you would feel for me what I feel for you. I’ve kicked myself a thousand times for not reaching out to you after the wedding. You were all I thought about and you’re everything I’ve ever wanted. I know this baby put us on a sort of fast track to getting here, but…this was always where I wanted us to be.”

Tears were now rolling freely down her face, and she tried to quickly wipe them away before they completely ruined her makeup. “I’m sorry I waited so long to believe in us,” she told him. Still trembling, she smiled in between the sobs she was desperately trying to calm. “Everyone saw it but me, but once I did, I knew I wanted all the things you’ve been promising me. Every time you talked about our future, I felt like you were saying it all out of practicality. Like our getting married was for convenience. You never said that you loved me.”

“I should have,” he admitted. “I thought I was showing you how I felt, but looking back, I can see why it didn’t seem the least bit romantic.”

Slowly, she got back down on her knees so they were almost eye level, and she could see that his eyes were a little damp too.

“I wanted tonight to be special,” she went on. “I wanted to do more than just say the words. I wanted to show you.” And just because she couldn’t help herself, she reached up and cupped his jaw. “I thought I was so clever and you would never suspect it.”

“I didn’t. I swear,” he assured her. “This ring has been hidden in my dresser for the last month. When I moved into the house and the guest room, I took it with me because I swore as soon as the time was right, I’d propose properly.” Leaning in, Max rested his forehead against hers. “You just beat me to it.”

Hailey simply cherished the moment before slowly pulling back. “This ring was actually my grandfather’s,” she told him. “I know men don’t wear engagement rings, but this was more of something symbolic. He had given it to me years ago because it originally belonged to his grandfather and was handmade. It’s not new and shiny, but…” She held up the simple platinum band. “My grandfather used to tell me a story that was a spin on Cinderella, but instead of a glass slipper, there was a ring, and the princess would know when the right man came along to give it to.” Meeting his warm gaze, she smiled. “You’re the right man, Max.”

Then she silently prayed it was going to fit his finger.

Holding out his hand, Hailey slipped it on and nearly sagged with relief when it seemed to fit perfectly.

“This ring doesn’t have a story behind it,” he said quietly. “I kind of wish now that it did. When I went to look for what I hoped would be the perfect ring for you, I went in blind. We didn’t know each other well enough yet, but when I saw this ring, it felt right.” Then he grinned. “Great minds.”

The emerald-cut diamond was flanked by two smaller emerald cut stones, set in a platinum band, and when he slid it on her finger, she swore she’d never seen anything more beautiful. “If I could have picked it out myself, this is what I would have chosen. I love it.”

And then he finally kissed her. It was slow and sweet and so damn perfect. They awkwardly moved closer as Max’s arms banded around her. She loved his kisses—how soft his lips were, how warm and hard his body was—and wanted nothing more than to get up off the floor and take this to the bed.

Max must have read her mind—at least partially—because he broke the kiss and carefully helped her to her feet.

“This has been an amazing night,” he murmured seductively. “I just wish we were doing more than having sparkling grape juice and eating dessert—like stripping each other down and having a night of hot and sweaty nonstop sex.”

Was he serious? Did he think this night wasn’t leading up to them getting naked and making love?

“Um…I’m confused. Why can’t we have a night of hot and sweaty nonstop sex?” she bluntly asked.

He was looking at her like she were crazy. “Hailey, I want you. I was trying to be respectful. The doctor said you needed to rest, and I just thought that meant no sex.”

“Ah…okay. I asked the nurse today and I’m fine. There was nothing wrong and there’s no reason we can’t have sex.”

That was clearly all he needed to hear because, in the blink of an eye, he was hauling her up in his arms, and gave her a wicked grin before claiming her lips in a savage kiss.

But it ended way too soon.

Max took a step back and took off his suit jacket, kicked off his shoes, and loosened his tie. Hailey watched him with total fascination. Every move he made was sexy, and watching him undress was one of the biggest turn-ons. With his gaze steadily holding hers, he undid the buttons on his sleeves and rolled them up, exposing his forearms.

“Max…”

Then he was close and pulling her back into his embrace. “That’s better,” he murmured before he began kissing his way along her jaw and ultimately pressing his lips to hers.

The way he was holding her and kissing her told her he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. She loved this about them—the passion, the need. When they met that weekend and were finally alone, she remembered thinking that no man had ever felt that way before. She had been completely swept up in the excitement and ecstasy and she loved that every time with him, she got to experience that feeling again and again.

And I’m going to right now…

Together, she slowly moved across the room like an orchestrated dance. When they were beside the bed, she felt Max’s hands gently undoing the buttons on her collar. While he did that, she worked on the ones on his shirt, desperate to feel his warm skin. Breaking apart, they were breathless and smiling, and Hailey took that time to shimmy out of her dress.

“Damn, Hailey,” Max whispered reverently. “Look at you.”

---