Page 37 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

They slowed gradually, gasping for breath until they were finally still. Marc rolled to his side, keeping her with him as he caught locks of her hair and pushed them away from her face. He placed his hand at her throat and she knew he could feel her racing pulse.

“See what you do to me?” she whispered.

“My pulse is just as fast,” he said. “We do that to each other.” He showered light kisses on her ear, her throat, her cheek. “You’re marvelous, Lara. This has been a fabulous night. I want you to stay right here in my bed, in my arms, all night long,” he said as she wound her arms around him and held him.

“It was good, Marc,” she said, kissing him lightly, her fingers wandering over his smooth back. She wanted to hold him all night.

“I want you to stay with me tonight. Don’t go,” he repeated.

“I’m not moving. I’m not going anywhere out of your arms,” she whispered. Ecstasy, euphoria, happiness filled her, and for a moment in time, she felt wanted and loved. She held him in her arms and wished she never had to let go. She knew that was impossible, but for a few more minutes, this was paradise.

* * *

She had no idea how late it was when she woke in his arms. Needing a bathroom break, she slipped out from beside his sleeping body.

When she returned to the bed, he stirred. “Don’t go.”

She didn’t bother correcting him. Instead, she burrowed against him. “That suits me.”

While he kissed her throat, she clung to him, twisting her fingers in his chest hair.

“I don’t want to let you go,” he whispered as he tightened his arms around her.

“But you will let me go,” she said quietly, wondering how much their relationship had changed tonight and how significant making love would be in their lives.

“Shh. No tomorrows. Tonight you’re in my arms, in my bed, and I want you to stay.”

“And tonight, that’s fine with me,” she said. Their legs were intertwined and she felt as close as she could get to him. “We’ve been good together, Marc.”

“I think so. I think asking you to marry me was one of the best things I’ve ever done. You’re perfect and you’ve made my grandparents and my mom happy. And all that family happiness—and some of my own—is going to make our breakup hurt a little. My mom isn’t going to like it when we break up. I’m going to hurt her and I don’t want to do that.”

“I suppose that’s unavoidable since you couldn’t find someone you really loved and wanted forever.”

“Not in one month,” he remarked.

She didn’t say anything about how she would feel when Marc divorced her and the marriage of convenience was over.

As he held her close, they stopped talking and lay together, holding each other and caressing each other. She knew when the moment changed and he wanted to make love again.

In seconds, his arms tightened around her and he leaned down to kiss her. She slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him in return. She didn’t think it was possible, but in no time he had her wanting him as much as she had earlier in the evening. They made love again, taking even longer than the time before.

Midmorning she stirred and looked around to find him propped on his hand looking at her. He smiled at her. “That was a fantastic night.”

“And long over. I think we better shower and go home. Are all those guys here who work for you?”

“I have no idea where they are. I haven’t stepped out of this bed since the sun came over the horizon, but I imagine they’re long gone. But not to worry. They know we’re newlyweds.”

“That’s a little embarrassing. Your car is still here.”

“We’re married. What’s wrong with us staying in for a while?”

She laughed. “I don’t feel very married.”

He caught her hand and held up her ring finger. “I’d say that’s very married.”

“Yes, you’re right when you put it that way,” she agreed when she looked at the diamonds glittering on her finger. She sat up, pulling the sheet to her chin, aware of him with the sheet over his hips, his skin looking darker than ever against the white sheets.

“I’m going to shower and dress. We should go home. I have an assignment that’s due Monday that I need to work on.”

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