THE NEXT MORNING, I rolled over onto my side and found the spot beside me empty. I always got up before Coby. No matter the situation. But this time, he got up before me. My chest tightened. Why the hell did this bother me so much? It was something so damn small, but the change in our routine threw me off. I didn’t like it.

Putting on a brave face, I pulled my stiff body out of bed and threw on one of his shirts. The scent of him wafting into my nose made me sway. Coby had always smelled so damn good. It was a mixture of leather and spice. Almost woodsy. It contradicted his businessman persona, but fit the Navy SEAL in him. It was perfect, since he led two very different lives.

Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was not even eight in the morning yet. Why was he up so early?

I let out a huff, desperately needing a cup of coffee. Pulling my curly hair up into a messy bun, I headed out into the hallway.

I could hear Coby moving around in the kitchen, the scent of bacon in the air, making my mouth water.

Once I reached the end of the hallway, I faltered in my step when my gaze landed on a pair of suitcases sitting by the door. What the hell?

Coby stepped out from the kitchen. He wore black sweat pants that hung low on his waist, revealing those sexy as hell hip bones I loved to nibble on. My body flushed. I gave myself a shake. This was not the time for that shit. He had some explaining to do.

“You’re up.” He gave me a small smile. “How did you sleep?”

“How did I sleep?” I repeated, shaking my head. “How the hell do you think I slept? And what’s this?” I thrust my arm out, pointing towards the suitcases. “Are you leaving me? Are you giving up on us already?” I took a step towards him.

“Brogan,” his brows narrowed to sharp peaks in the center. “Let me explain.”

“Explain what?” I cried, punching him in the arm. “After all this time, you’re just going to pack up and leave like a fucking pussy. Or are these my bags? Are you kicking me out? Is that it, Coby?”

“It’s not what it looks like, little one.” He cupped my cheek. “I promise.”

I slapped his hand away and shoved him back. “I won’t let you leave me. If anyone is leaving, it will be me for putting up with your shit.”

His eyes darkened. “Listen to me, Brogan. I can explain.”

“No,” I turned around. “I don’t need to hear it. I don’t want to hear it.”

Coby grabbed my arm, pulling me back against him. “You will listen to me good, little girl.” His teeth sunk into the side of my neck forcing a moan from my lips. “If I wasn’t trying to be all damn romantic, I’d have you tied up on my table with my cock shoved in your mouth just so you would listen to what I have to say.”

I shivered, the image he put into my head making my heart skip a beat. “Are you cheating on me?”

His body stiffened. “How could you ask me that?”

“What do you expect from me, Coby?” I turned around, placing my hand on his pec just above his heart. The thump thump of the strong muscle beat beneath my palm. “You’ve been gone every night for the past week. You come to bed late at night. We haven’t made love in that time either.”

Coby wrapped his hand around mine and brought it up to his mouth. “I love you, Brogan.” Much to my surprise, he got down on one knee. “I’m not cheating on you.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was trying to be romantic and plan a surprise trip but I guess the packed bags by the door could be a little alarming.”

“Just a little,” I whispered, not exactly sure what he was trying to say.

“I’ve been away a lot this week because I’ve been trying to set up this weekend. I made a hair appointment for you at one of the best salons in the country. I made reservations at a nightclub because I know you’ve never been to one. I’ve also been meeting with a security company over someone local to our city that could help me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. “I’ve also been working on getting this moment perfect, but clearly that’s backfired.”

A sob escaped me. I fell to my knees in front of him. “Coby.”

He cupped my cheek, brushing his thumb under my eye. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for how I’ve been. I’m sorry for being late to our sessions. I’ve been distracted. That’s no excuse. I understand that, but I hope that this will make up for a little bit of how I’ve been acting. I love you, Brogan. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You are the better part of me. The only part that matters. I’m strong because of you. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to heal and when Dr. Santos asked me what I was going to do. I realized that this,” he opened the box, “this is what I need. I need you. I need to marry you. I need you to be mine in body, mind and soul. I need your submission like I always have, but I need your love even more.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks, Coby blurring in front of me. I nodded after everything he said.

“Will you marry me?” he asked on a whisper.

“Yes,” I cried, punching him in the chest. “You scared the shit out of me.” Sobs wracked through my body at the relief I felt, knowing Coby wasn’t, in fact, leaving me.

He chuckled, pulling me against him and wrapping his arms around my shaking shoulders. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m not good at this shit.”

“You didn’t have to make it all special, Coby,” I leaned back and punched him again before covering my face. “You had me thinking…God, I hate you.”

His laugh hardened. “I love you, Brogan.”

I sniffed, wiping under my eyes. “Give me that damn ring, Porter.”

Coby grinned, sliding the ring onto my finger. The solitaire diamond shone in the early morning sun cascading in through the windows.

“I can’t believe you did that,” I grumbled. “You’re such an asshole.”

“You love me.” He kissed my finger and then my nose. “I am sorry for being disconnected from you.”

I cupped his face, covering his mouth with mine.

Before we could say anything more, his hands were in my hair and his lips crushed against mine.

I moaned, snaking my arms around his neck. His tongue pushed between my lips, controlling the kiss much like he did my damn soul.

Fisting my hair, he tugged my head back, breaking apart the kiss.

Our chests rose and fell with ragged breath. “I’m going to make love to you.” He lifted me in his arms, carrying me to the bedroom. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life, showing you just how much I love you, and even then, it won’t be enough,” he said, placing me gently on the bed.

“Just love me hard, baby,” I lifted the shirt over my head and bared my naked body to his hungry eyes. “That’s all I need.”

Coby flipped me onto my stomach, brushing his mouth along the hair at my nape. “I’m spending the rest of the day making love to this sweet body.”

“And then you’re taking me out of here?” I asked, looking at him over my shoulder.

“Yes, little one,” he brushed my hair off my neck. “I still can’t believe you thought I was leaving you.”

“What did you expect me to think, Coby?” I rolled over onto my back and ran my hands down his chiseled torso. “You’ve been distant. Quiet.” I kissed his chin, my lips trailing down the length of his jaw. “I know you so fucking well that one little change, throws me off my game.”

He chuckled, kissing the top of my head. “I never meant for that to happen, little one.”

“I know,” I whispered, my lips brushing along his collarbone. Running my hand over his shoulder and down his arm, I reveled in the feel of his muscles jumping beneath my touch. He was so strong. Powerful. But he was also soft and gentle when needed. Right now was one of those times.

Coby kissed my nose before pinching my chin and tilting my head back to meet the impact of his mouth.

My hands ran down the length of his hard torso, pushing his sweatpants lower.

A breath escaped me at the heat coming from his body. My fingers brushed over his straining cock, the heavy muscle jumping beneath my touch.

“Brogan,” he whispered, his lips moving, ever so softly, down the line of my jaw.

“Yes?” My fingers wrapped around his cock, sliding up and down the hard shaft.

He shivered, trembling above me. His muscles were tight, his neck strained. He was fighting for the control I took from him. My body heated at what he was giving me. Even if it was just for a moment, I would take it and make him feel better.

“I love you, Coby,” I told him, my fingers tightening their hold on the part of him that had given me so much pleasure.

“I love you,” he grunted. “Fuck I love you so damn much.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “Make me come for you.”

My hand pumped, moving faster up and down his cock.

Coby reached for my knees, spreading my legs apart and dug his fingers into my inner thighs. “Fuck, baby.”

“Come all over my pussy, Coby,” I demanded. “Come hard.”

His dick swelled, my name leaving his mouth on a hard growl when his release shot all over my lower abdomen.

Lowering his mouth to mine, Coby slid his tongue between my lips at the same time he sank inside me. I let out a small gasp, arching beneath him.

For the rest of the morning, we stayed connected like that. Moving as one. Loving as one. It took a while, but we were finally taking a step in the right direction.

 

 

“When do we head out?” I asked Coby later that same day while moving my hand back and forth in the afternoon sun. The light twinkled off the huge ass diamond, forcing a smile on my lips.

“I like that smile, Brogan,” Coby kissed the side of my neck and gave my ass a light tap. “We leave now, if you can ever stop looking at that thing.”

I laughed, stood on tiptoes and kissed his chin. “You didn’t have to get me something so big. I would be happy with a piece of string.”

“I know, baby,” he smiled down at me. “That’s one of the many things I love about you but I’m a possessive man, Brogan. I want everyone to know that you’re taken.”

I shivered at the delicious undertone of his words. “Okay. Can I ask where you’re taking me exactly or is that a surprise too?”

“I’m taking you to a Bed and Breakfast just outside of Hope Town, but first, we’re going to head into town so you can get your hair done while I will make a stop at Corps Security.”

“That’s the company  helping you?”

He nodded once. “You should get ready. As much as I like seeing you with that just fucked glow and sex hair, we have to go.”

I laughed, pulling my messy hair on top of my head and wrapping an elastic around it. “All better.”

Coby raised an eyebrow. “You’re still naked.”

“I am,” I licked my lips. “Is that a problem?”

He chuckled. “Later, little one. Trust me, you’ll thank me after.”

I pouted, rose from the bed and headed to my dresser. “So how did you hear about this place?” I asked, pulling a white tank top over my head.

“I came across the Corps Security website while looking through hundreds of other security companies and found that they were reputable, and located close enough. Brogan,” Coby said, his words taking on that deep tone I had come to crave.

“What?” I glanced at him in the reflection of my mirror.

“I can see your nipples through that shirt. That’s not helping.”

“I was going to put on a sweater,” I told him, flushing as his heated gaze roaming down the length of my body.

“Fuck it. We can leave in an hour.” In two steps, Coby was on me. With his hands on my ass and his mouth against mine, he pulled me hard against him.

I gasped, a flush of heat spreading through me at the contact. My body was sore, even a couple of hours after he proposed and made love to me. But no matter how much pain I was in, I would always be ready for him.

Licking along his bottom lip, I gave it a gentle nip. “I love you, Coby,” I whispered against his mouth.

“I love you, Brogan,” he nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck. “More than you’ll ever know.”