He drags me into his bedroom before tossing me onto the bed.Before I can even think about rolling off the opposite side of the bed, he's on top of me, pinning me beneath him.He yanks my jacket off me and then rips my shirt right down the middle before grabbing my hands and pinning them beside my head.
"You said your piece, now it's my turn, little girl," he growls, a maelstrom raging in his steely eyes again.I try to avoid his gaze, but it sucks me in like always."You are crazy.You're the best goddamn kind of crazy I've ever met.But you have never and will never be a problem."
"That's not what you said on the phone," I mumble.
"I wasn't talking about you, baby.I was talking about this place.I was talking about the cabins.I can't fucking live another goddamn day knowing you're leaving in a week and I'm supposed to stay here without you," he growls."It's driving me insane.That'smy problem, Sunshine."
"Oh," I whisper, my heart leaping with hope.
"I'm so in love with you I can't think straight.When you leave, I'm going with you so I called Nell to have her find someone to manage the damn cabins.I didn't want to wait a week to tell you.Since today is Valentine's Day, I wanted to tell you today.That's what you heard me talking about, Cordelia."
"You love me?"
"Like crazy."
I sob his name, tears dripping into my hair."I'm an idiot."
"No, you're a fierce little pixie," he says, releasing my hands to wipe away my tears."You've been worried about me breaking your heart since you gave yourself to me.I realized that yesterday, Sunshine.I saw the look on your face when I said I never had a reason to leave this place."
"It made me sad," I whisper.
"I know it did.This place brought me comfort when I needed it, but it doesn't provide the same for you.It's not a shelter, but a prison for you.I can't ask you to live like that, Cordelia.You'd be miserable," he says.
"I'd do it for you if it's what you wanted."
"There isn't any version of this world where I want you to sacrifice your well-being for my sake," he says, stroking his fingers along my cheeks."Being out here doesn't just make you unhappy, it makes you uncomfortable.It frightens you and gives you anxiety.You think I'd let you live like that?"He shakes his head."Hell no, Sunshine.Taking care of you is my motherfucking mission in life now.I won't ever allow you to be miserable just because you think it'll please me.What kind of husband would I be if I allowed that?"
"Deacon," I wheeze.
"Yeah, I said it," he growls, his eyes flashing to my favorite gunmetal gray color.He shifts down my body, planting his lips against my collarbone."Husband."
I whimper, my head spinning as he drags his lips down my chest.
"Rule four," he breathes against my skin."You will marry me, Cordelia."
"I thought we decided I'm the boss."
"Boss me, Sunshine."
"Rule one," I say, my back bowing from the bed as his lips close around my nipple."We have to come out here at least one weekend a month."
"Agreed."He drags my nipple through his teeth.
"Rule two," I gasp."We're getting a satellite phone."
He kisses a trail down my body, which I take as agreement.When he dips his tongue into my belly button and then drags my pants down my hips, I decide it's definitely agreement.
"Rule three…" I try to think of one as he moves between my legs, draping them over his shoulders.
He blows across my sex, making rational thought impossible.And then his tongue slides through my folds.
"Rule three!"I cry."You have to keep doing that."
"This?"he growls and licks me again."You want me to keep doing this?"
"Yes!"I sob."Yes!"
Epilogue
