It’s been weeks since I left the hospital, and every time I try to get Heath to touch me, he uses my injuries as an excuse.

Not this time. I’m fed up with that asshole Jim fucking up my life. I need more than tender kisses and gentle hugs. I know I’m not up for the kind of rough I enjoy with Heath, but I’m definitely up for some dick.

Heath should be leaving work soon, so I need to work fast. I pull out my phone and call.

“Hey sweetheart. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just checking when to expect you so I can go ahead and order supper.”

“I just have a couple things to finish up here, so should be there inside an hour.”

“Perfect, I’ll see you then.”

“I love you.”

God, every time he tells me this, my chest squeezes. “I love you too.”

As soon as he hangs up, I call our favorite Thai place and arrange for us to have a good two hours of peace before the food arrives.

Forty-five minutes later, I hear Heath come through the door, and I scramble across the room to position myself, kneeling, at the foot of our bed. My heart races, and I work to slow my breath. I shouldn’t be this nervous, but there’s a tiny piece of me wondering if he’s only with me now out of pity.

Heath comes into the bedroom and spots me on the floor. “Hey, what’s all this about?”

“I want to go back to how things were before…”

“We will, but not before you’re all healed up.”

“That’s not going to work for me. I know I’m not ready for things exactly as they were, but I’m ready for more than nothing, which is what I’m getting now. If you’re done with me, Heath, nut-up and tell me so I can stop making a fool of myself.”

Crouching in front of me he cups my cheek. “Sweetheart, I am nowhere near done with you. And I am sorry I gave you any reason to think I am. I’m just so scared of damaging you.”

“You won’t.”

His expression hardens, making me go all gooey inside. “You’re right, I won’t. And you’d better safeword if you feel even the slightest bit of discomfort, because I don’t want to wait a minute more than absolutely necessary to fuck you until you beg for mercy. In the meantime, I’m sure I can come up with something to make you beg. Before we go there, though, I think it’s time for you to pay the piper for terrifying me. Up on your knees and open wide,” he says unbuckling his belt.

I do exactly as I’m told, and a moment later, his cock is sliding down my throat. “Georgia, this is going to be fast, because it’s been a while, and I want to be able to take my time when I fuck you.

My belly flutters as his hands fist in my hair and he pumps deep and fast into my mouth. Minutes later, I’m eagerly swallowing his last spurts of come.

“Up you get,” he says, taking my hand and helping me to my feet. “On the bed on your back, legs spread and arms above your head.”

He quickly undresses, and joins me on the bed, kissing his way up my body until we’re eye to eye, mouth to mouth. “This is going to be slow and gentle. I want you to know exactly how precious you are to me.”

Sliding into me, he rocks his hips, then grinds against my clit. After all the rough sex we’ve had over these last months, I’m convinced there’s no way he’s going to give me enough of anything to get either of us off.

He brushes his lips against mine, slipping his tongue into my mouth, twirling it against mine. I push my hips up to meet his, and his head pulls away, looking intently at me. “Even slow and gentle, I’m in charge. Now behave and let me love you.”

That gruff voice of his makes me weak. He kisses me again, this time he slides his hand between us and uses his fingers. My orgasm is slow to build, but when it comes, I’m completely lost.

Later, while we’re sitting in the kitchen eating dinner, Heath sits back in his chair and folds his arms. “Georgia, I’ve got to be honest with you, sweetheart. What you do scares the hell out of me. I know you’re well-trained to handle whatever situation you’re faced with, but every time your phone rings, you’re still walking into a dangerous situation.”

I take a deep breath, ready to blast him with both barrels for being a paternal ass-hat.

“I’m not done,” he says, raising his finger.

I’m irritated, but I’m willing to hold my tongue. May as well give him all the rope to hang himself.

He cups my face and touches his forehead to mine. “I will never ask you to give up your job. But I need to trust you’ll follow protocol to the letter and never go into another situation where you know the person in any capacity. Can you promise me that?”

“I promise.” I made a huge mistake, with terrible consequences, but I learned from it.

“I love you so much, and I have no idea what I’d do if I lost you.”

Blinking back tears, I shove the table out of my way and climb into his lap. His arms wrap around me as I bury my face in his chest. I never thought I’d hear those words from anyone, and I’m overwhelmed.

Heath holds me tight and just lets me be while I work through my emotions and gather the courage to say it back.

I take a big shaky breath and let the last barrier around my heart fall away. “I love you, too.”

“Enough to marry me?”

I pull back, giving him a teary-eyed death glare. “I hope that wasn’t your idea of a proposal.” I know it is, and my stomach does back flips.

“Would it have been better if I spelled it out in cane stripes on your ass? Because I can do that.”

“Tempting…but no thank you.”

“For real, Georgia. Will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

“Soon? Like, really soon?”

“Depends. Does it need to be a big wedding with all the trimmings and a thousand guests?”

“Only if that’s what you want.”

“I want small. Closest friends and family only.”

“Sounds perfect.”