Chapter Twenty-Four

Janna pulled away, staring up into his burning green eyes.

"Janna, sweetheart," he said softly, brushing away her tears with his thumbs while he cupped her face. "Don't cry."

Janna looked down, and he pulled her tight into his chest. "I'm so confused..." she whispered.

"I know, and I'm sorry. Just hear me out, and whatever you say after that, I'll respect your wishes."

Brice bent down and picked her up, carrying her into the house, leaving her crutches abandoned on the front porch. He bypassed the sitting room and carried her upstairs, all the way into her room, and set her on the bed. Instead of sitting on the bed next to her, Brice knelt, putting his hands around her waist and positioning himself between her knees.

"Janna, from the first moment I saw you, I wanted you." His voice was low, earnest, and his green eyes revealed the truth in his words. "You're such an intoxicating mix of intelligence, charm, and irreverence, that I think I fell in love with you that first night."

Janna gasped, the tears continuing to fall down her flushed cheeks. Brice leaned in and kissed them away, and each touch of his lips sent a fiery sensation through her.

"I know you think I'm a spoiled rich guy, and maybe I was, but ever since I've met you, I've been trying to prove you wrong. Yeah, I made a few mistakes, but I hope that in the end, I've shown you that I'm not some narcissistic playboy who thinks other people are toys. I'm a man, with feelings, with a heart. A heart that you've stolen."

He moved in closer, pulling her into a tight hug, his breath hot on her ear as he whispered the words to her. "I have something to say, and this time you aren't going to stop me. I love you, Janna."

She pulled back, wanting to see his face.

"I love you," he repeated, then captured her lips. The kiss was soft, teasing as if he realized that she could flee at any moment. But she didn't want to, not this time. She was ready to take a risk, to give him a chance. A second chance. Still, the doubts wouldn't let her surrender quietly.

"But...what if I'm not enough for you? I don't fit into your world; you know that already."

"You are my world. End of story. And you are enough; you're more than enough. If you never want to go to another charity fundraiser, if you never want to stand in front of the paparazzi again, then I'll make sure you don't. But I think you'll realize that not only are you enough; you're better. Money doesn't make someone a good person; it just makes them wealthy. But you're rich in another way. You're rich in beauty, in knowledge, in wit--"

"And virtue?" she said sardonically.

"Yes, virtue too," he replied, smiling before his face became serious once again. "Please, Janna. I know I've made mistakes, but I promise, if you let me try again, I'll prove to you that I'm the right man for you."

"You already have," she said, "I just needed to convince myself."

She pulled his head in and kissed him, not restraining herself as he had. She licked at his lips until he opened them, then drove her tongue inside his mouth. Brice groaned and held her tighter, her desire igniting his own.

"I love you," she whispered against his lips, and he moaned and bit gently at her bottom lip before stealing another passionate kiss.

"I love you, too. I didn't know if I could love again, but you made me realize that what I felt that first time wasn't even close to love."

"I'm your second chance, too," she said with a soft smile.

"Yes, my second chance at love. But this time, it's a love that will last a lifetime."

"A lifetime of second chances," she murmured as he kissed his way down her neck.

"I've missed this." He pulled her dress over her head and began unfastening her bra. "You don't know how badly I've wanted you, how hard it was to hold you and touch you, but not make love to you. It's been torture."

"It hasn't been easy on me, either," she chuckled, and he smiled, revealing that sexy dimple. She leaned in and licked it, causing him to growl and ravish her mouth again.

Brice stood, picking Janna up and moving her onto the bed before removing his clothing and joining her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again until she was breathless and needing him.

"Oh, Brice," she whispered, as he kissed his way down to her breasts.

"You're so beautiful." He bent to take a nipple into his hot mouth.

"Fuck!" She'd missed this, missed the passion, the power of his lovemaking.

His hands smoothed over her skin, tracing small circles down her belly, then across her thighs, moving inward. Janna held her breath until he touched her there. It was like coming home.

"I love you," he said, staring into her eyes. She couldn't look away. Then he entered her, and she closed her eyes in bliss.

His lovemaking started gentle, like the rocking of the ocean waves, until Janna felt like she would expire, drowning in the soft feelings. Then his restraint broke, and it became wild, a storm-tossed sea that had Janna climaxing again and again. At last, he called out her name and came inside her. They floated into the clouds, and Janna thought she might have fainted.

The next thing she remembered was being pulled against Brice's chest, his lips kissing her awake.

"Never leave me," he whispered, and she nodded without hesitation.

They drifted, not speaking, content to breathe with one another. Just as Janna was sliding into sleep, Brice spoke.

"We forgot again."

"Forgot?" she murmured lazily.

"The condom."

"Oh," she said, waking up slightly. What a way to ruin a romantic mood.

"It will probably be okay," she said, grateful again for her IUD.

"It would even be okay if it weren't," he replied.

"What?" She sat up, confused.

Brice sat up beside her, pulling her tight against him. "I love you," he said, kissing her brow, then he bent down to the nightstand, pulling out a drawer that was so flush with the surface that she'd never even noticed. He handed her a small box, and she exhaled heavily.

"Open it," he said softly.

She did. And she let out a cry.

"Marry me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, have babies, grow old together," he said, gently taking the box from her hand and pulling the ring from it. Discarding the box, he picked up her left hand and slipped the ring on it. It was a beautiful white-gold ring with a huge emerald winking up at her. My favorite color, she thought.

"How long have you had that hidden here?"
Brice smiled. "Since you said you'd spend your recovery here. I tucked it away before you got here. The ring though, I've had it for over a year. It was my mother's ring."

Tears welled up, and she let out a sob. "Oh, Brice!"

"Well...how about it? Will you marry me? Will you give me a lifetime of second chances?"

Janna smiled and nodded. "Yes!"

Brice let out a shout of joy, then captured her lips in a passionate kiss. When he finally pulled away, she said, "And if you're spending a lifetime with me, you're going to need them!"

THE END

Author Note: I hope I did Brice’s story justice. Last one we’re sharing as a thank you is, Worth the Effort, which is Alexander Drake’s story. You met him in Worth the Distraction. Enjoy!