CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Tony and my parents got along better than I ever could have asked for, which only served to scare me more. Dad and Gayle always liked Tony, but it was obvious that they’d fallen for him just like I had.
On day two after my kidnapping, I woke to find my charm necklace on the nightstand. Tony said, “I’ve kept that in my pocket since I took it from you. As soon as your neck is healed, I’m putting it back around your neck.”
On day three after my kidnapping, Tony went back to work. He had a business to run and he couldn’t afford not to. He even took my dad with him when he worked on the property or in the stable, and I honestly couldn’t say that I’d ever seen my dad happier. Gayle did her thing and kept up with the house and the cooking; there was no stopping her and she refused any help I offered.
I went back to work too, but only in the stable… specifically with my girl Starla.
It was inevitable that I’d run into Shane. I was glad to know that Tony actually let Shane come back to work. Shane and I talked, but I made damn sure he didn’t touch me. He was upset and expressed his guilt for leaving me alone at the house before I got taken, but I put a stop to it quickly and asked about Shannon. That shut him up.
Poor Shannon.
What I hadn’t expected was for Tony to join our conversation. He hadn’t even glared at Shane; not once. He even asked Shane if he still wanted me to help at the clinic. Tony offered to drop me off and pick me up, or if I wanted, I could take one of the work trucks until I he bought me a truck.
The fuck?
My heart pounded in my chest when he brought it up. He tried, but how long would it last?
The whole week he’d been great… more than great… perfect, but I was terrified. We’d been through so much in such a short period of time that I didn’t know what to expect next with him. I guessed that’s to be expected with any relationship really. Nobody could predict the future.
But every night, every morning and numerous times throughout the day he’d whisper, “I love you,” in my ear. He’d kiss me on the lips first thing in the morning and right before he fell asleep. He still didn’t want me wearing clothes to bed, but I didn’t mind because my body craved his touch… but that was as far as it went… touching.
I had no idea what I was supposed to do now. I’d told Tony I would leave when my parents went back to New York, but we’d just returned from dropping them off at the airport and I didn’t want to leave anymore. I sat on the edge of the bed that had become ours and glanced at the closet. I wondered if I should begin packing.
I’d enjoyed the quality time I got to spend with my parents. I’d known I missed them before, I just never realized how much. But I was slightly relieved when they left. I wanted to have a conversation with Tony without him feeling obligated to say or do the right thing because they were here.
“Trish!” I heard Tony call out and I jolted out of my daze. I ran out of the bedroom and when I hit the living room, the worried expression on his face stopped me in place.
“What’s wrong?”
“Starla needs you,” he said quietly.
I lost it.
“No,” I pleaded, my voice hoarse. I ran, threw the front door open, and nearly fell off the porch steps when I spotted Starla standing in the front yard.
I ran to her, felt her over and faced Tony when I saw him join me.
“What’s wrong with her?” I asked frantically, desperately wanting to help her. I looked at her again. She looked fine, she was standing, she didn’t look to be in pain. She even brushed my face affectionately with her nose.
“She doesn’t want the woman she loves to leave her,” Tony said.
I twisted my body to look at him.
He was right in front of me...
On his knee…
One knee.
And he held a ring.
His words sunk in and I covered my mouth with a trembling hand to hold back my soft sobs. I shook my head furiously.
“Mi reina, I want you to be my wife. I want you to be the mother of my kids. I want us to start a family together soon. I want to love you and take care of you. I want to fight with you. I want to make love to you. I want you to be mine for the rest of my life. Will you marry me? Please?”
I fell to my knees in front of him and threw myself at him. I kissed him over and over.
“Yes,” I whispered. “You didn’t have to say please for that. I would have said yes anyway.” I smiled against his lips
“I wasn’t taking any chances,” he said, lifted my hand and placed the diamond on my finger. I pulled back slightly.
“You want to make love to me?”
“Mi reina, right now, I’d rather throw you up against the wall and fuck you hard, but I don’t think that would have worked well in my ‘Will you marry me’ speech.”
“We’re playing a game,” I stated and watched Tony frown.
“A game?”
I lifted off my knees and sat back on my feet, but I didn’t stand. I wanted to get a head start.
“First person to the bedroom gets to be on top,” I said, jumped up and ran back to the house, but he caught me before I even made it inside.
He picked me up, carried me to our room and we tore at each other’s clothes.
As soon as we were both naked, he grabbed my ass and lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held on to his shoulders as he walked forward. He pressed my back against the wall and one hand wrapped around my backside.
His fingers touched my sweet spot and I whispered, “Hurry.”
“Nothin’ between us anymore; especially here,” he dipped a finger inside and I whimpered. “You get pregnant before we get married, it’ll be our little miracle.”
My stomach quivered.
“Okay,” I agreed softly as my eyes locked with his. He kissed me. I felt his fingers leave me, his hips surged forward and he filled me instantly.
My head fell back to the wall, my nails dug deeper and I demanded, “Harder.”
“Give me your mouth,” he groaned and I did. Every surge pushed me further over the edge, but he suddenly slowed, stopped, wrenched my body from the door and headed for the bed. We never disconnected.
He climbed onto the bed, still held me around the waist and lowered me down with his body. He worked his hips, slower this time; less frantic. When I looked in his eyes, he was already watching at me.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too, mi reina. And I’m going to show you how much… every day… for the rest of your life.”