Her body lurched on top of him.
He just held her tighter.
“So let’s get this straight, shall we?”he suggested.
“Okay,” she whispered, her eyes bright and still staring.
Marcus had a feeling with what he’d already said she had itstraight.
But he went about making certain.
“I handle you with care.I’llalwayshandle youwith care.I will never, not ever, Daisy, give you reason to leave me.I won’tcheat on you.I won’t beat you.The gambles I take will be in business only,but you’ll always be covered financially regardless.I like to drink but Inever drink too much.I’ve never taken drugs in my life.I like control and youcan’t be in control inebriated or stoned.To end, you’re safe with me.You’llget from me only what you deserve, which is everything I can give you doing ithandling you with care.”
“Okay, sugar.”She was still whispering.
“Is that completely understood?”
She nodded.
She was staring at him so closely he decided she didunderstand.
Completely.
Regardless, he kept going.
“If I break any of those promises, you’re free to leave me.If I don’t, you’re not.Not ever.If something isn’t working, we talk it outand make it work.Which means we’ll always work so there will be no reason toleave.”
With that, a different understanding was all over her facewhen she said softly, “I got stuff twisted in my head, Marcus.”
“That was clear.”
“It’s untwisted now, baby.”
“Good.”
She drew her fingers down his jaw, dropping her face closerto his.
“Nevergonnaleave you, Marcus.”
“Good,” he grunted.
“God,” she whispered, her gaze moving over his face.“Whowouldathought,givin’ my heart,havin’ it broken,learnin’ toguard it, I’d learn something else one day.Thatbein’the best way to keep it safe is to find a man who’d prove he could handle itwith care and give it to him.”
That felt good.
Fucking good.
So fucking good, he’d never felt anything that good in hiswhole goddamned life.
But Marcus didn’t share that with her because he knewwithout a single doubt she knew it too.
“I’m glad you got that part, Daisy.It’s important.”
She looked into his eyes.
“Now,” he continued, rolling them to their sides, “we canget to the cuddling, whispering, and groping part.”
She smiled at him, a brilliant flash of teeth added to adazzling flash of humor in her cornflower-blue eyes.
