She came again, her body pushing back against his. Pulling her knees up, she inadvertently gave him access to go deeper. His release was so intensely powerful, it left him breathless. Tearing his mouth from hers, he buried his head between her neck and shoulders as he poured everything into her, body shaking uncontrollably.
He held her, still intimately joined, fingers soothing over the stiffness of her belly. Brushing the damp tendrils of hair clinging to her neck, he bent his head to press his lips there.
"Hungry?" He whispered after a few minutes.
"Hmm. A little."
"I could go down and bring the food up."
"No. I'm not ready. Let's just stay like this for a little bit."
She turned her head to look at him.
"It's yes."
"What is?" He asked tenderly.
"To marrying you."
His eyes darkened.
"We could get a special license and do it tomorrow."
She laughed, amazed that she no longer felt the panic bubbling up inside her.
"And cheat your family out of the planning? I don't think so. Your mother would never forgive me."
He trailed his fingers down her cheek. "I'm afraid you're right. How does three weeks from now sound?"
"Like you expect miracles to happen."
"With my mother and sisters, that's precisely what will happen. They're known to move mountains. You wouldn't have to lift a finger."
"I have no intention of staying out of the planning. It's my wedding and I'm going to be involved."
"I want to say something."
"Go ahead."
"I know you want to purchase your dress--"
"I do." He smiled at her choice of words. "And I'm not going to insult you by suggesting that I pay for everything. But I want to darling. No, just hear me out before you blast me to kingdom come. Obviously, I'm very well off. And I want the opportunity to spoil you."
"I want to give you everything you ever lacked." He shook his head and tried again. "I spoke to your mother as you know, and I felt this rage bubbling up inside me at what they put you through."
"That's not on you."
"I know." He withdrew reluctantly because he wanted to be facing her when he said his piece. "You asked why I seemed so distant and I was. I had no idea what to do with the information I had. I wanted to find your mother and confront her." His hands framed her face, his expression raw and vulnerable, sending her heart thudding.
"She hurt you, they both did and I wanted them to pay. I want her to pay for what she put you through." He drew in a painful breath. "No one is allowed to hurt you, not even me. I won't have it. I won't."
The lump that had lodged in her throat was too thick and it took several attempts to get rid of it.
Lifting a hand, she cupped his strong jaw, rubbing her thumb against the stubble. "I never believed I was worthy of love. No." She shook her head when he opened his mouth. "Let me speak, please. You grew up in a loving environment. I was brought up out of a sense of obligation. I was never hugged." Her eyes became shadowed with pain, and he wanted to tell her to stop.
"I had food and clothing and the basic necessities. I wasn't beaten, but there are worse things than physical abuse. I was sent to bed without a meal if I did something they deemed to bewrong. A slip in my grades, a curse word escaping my lips. My white socks getting dirty. Little things. I learned to be careful and to try and avoid being punished."
"I also tried to make them love me." She gripped his hand and moved in as if seeking the warmth of his body. He drew her against him as if he could wipe away the horrors and was careful to keep his expression neutral. "I never thought I was worthy of love until you." She lifted eyes drenched in tears to his.
