I sigh as my back hits the soft mattress.

Herne's lips come down on mine, his body big and warm of top of me.

His familiar taste, his full lips...

As I sink into the kiss, a sense of rightness, of being exactly where I'm supposed to be, comes over me.

Just a short time ago, I was trying my best to simply keep my spirits up. Now Herne is here with me. He found me. I'm not just another girl to him.

As much as I tried to bury my own feelings about him, tried to move on, I knew that he was it for me. I just couldn't accept it when I had no way to contact him. And no way to know that he cared for me too.

The kiss goes on for long moments, deep and slow and thorough. We have all the time in the world now. We're in his bedroom. Not stealing time backstage or in the bathroom.

Now I'm the one who gets impatient. I missed him too much to go this slow. I break the kiss and tug his face away so I can look at him.

"You need to be naked," I demand.

He raises a brow, his eyes a little amused at the order. "Hmm. That can be arranged." He plucks at my shirt pointedly. "Of course, payment in kind would be necessary."

I grin at that, sliding my thumb across his full bottom lip, already pinker because of our kisses. "I think that's fair," I concede.

Somehow, I end up naked before he does. He's good. He pulls off my shirt, my bra, my shoes, and my underwear with my jeans. All in an impressively short amount of time.

Maybe I should have him undress me every time. I smile at the thought.

He stands to undress himself. I rise up on my elbows to watch. Seeing my interest, he slows down. He takes his time peeling off a lightweight, forest green sweater that brings out his eyes, and then a pair of slim trousers that hug his thighs and ass.

"You're pretty good at removing women's clothes," I point out, teasing, but I can’t keep a hint of jealousy out of my voice.

His face softens as he hears that hint. Then he hooks his thumbs into his boxer briefs and removes the last of his clothing. He's almost too perfect.

He's tall and muscled, with light brown chest hair sprinkled across his defined chest. His arms and legs are just as well muscled, roughened with hair. My eyes skate over all the skin he's just revealed, until they get caught on the narrow happy trail leading down from his navel. Right down to that impressive erection.

I swallow as I stare at it. Thick and long, it rises up from the cropped hair at his base, big enough that I wonder how I was able to take all of him. But I was.

As he puts a knee on the bed and crawls up my body, I slide my hands over all the skin I can reach, enjoying the texture difference between smooth skin and skin sprinkled with hair.

"I'm only interested in removing one woman's clothes now," he says, kissing me softly.

It takes me a moment to realize that he's responding to what I'd just said a moment ago. My attention is so thoroughly diverted by his body that I completely forgot.

"That's right," I say mock seriously, reaching down to squeeze his ass. Hmm. That's nice...

"I'm the only woman whose clothes you'll be removing from here on out," I add, kissing his shoulder.

"Of course," he says smoothly, his mouth quirked up at the corners as he raises himself up to look at me. "And, just so you know, I will be removing your clothes quite regularly. In fact, feel free to not get dressed at all." He kisses the tip of my nose. "It would really make things much more efficient."

I snort out a laugh, reaching down between us to take hold of his hard shaft. His smile fades and his jaw tightens as I stroke him.

"Also..." he says, obviously fighting to speak past the sensations. "I'm the only man you're ever going to be naked for. That's nonnegotiable."

I have no desire to be with anyone else.

"Just as long as you follow your same advice," I say, enjoying watching him lose control.

Enjoying having that power.

"Mmm. I'm willing to go along with this arrangement," he says hoarsely, looking down to watch my hands on him.

I take my time, moving slowly. Learning every inch of him. Cupping the soft weight of his balls. Thumbing the already leaking head of his erection. Finding what kind of touch he likes.

I want to drive him as crazy as he drives me.

"You're killing me, Elle," he groans, his body damp with a light layer of sweat. "I think that's all I can take."

He pulls out of my reach, away from my grasping hands. I make a disappointed sound and he smiles, though his face is tight.

"I'll let you touch me all you want later," he promises, spreading my legs. "But I'm too greedy for you right now to want to come that way. I need to be inside you."

He kisses each of my breasts lightly, nibbling at the sensitive lower curves.

And then he dips his head between my legs, latching his mouth on me exactly where I need it. There's no teasing, no slow seduction. His mouth is just there, hot and wet and utterly perfect. He drives me up hard and fast, using everything he's learned about me and applying it with so much skill I can't help but be impressed. He's a fast learner.

I cry out, arching up against his mouth as my orgasm rolls through me in a sharp ripple of sensation. He pushes me through it, his tongue flicking, his mouth sucking. It's almost too much, the long moments of pleasure. He doesn't let up until I'm pushing him away, my breath coming in gasps, my body so sensitive even the cooler air feels like a caress.

Then his hot body is on top of me again, the broad head pushing into me, the rush of wetness down there easing his entrance.

We both groan as he squeezes his way in, the fit as tight as I remember it.

"Elle..." he whispers, kissing my forehead, my cheeks, my lips. "I don't think I'm going to last very long," he admits.

I slide my hands down his broad back, arching up into him.

"It doesn't matter," I reassure him, moving restlessly, already needing more. "Herne, move," I order, taking hold of his slim hips and pulling him in even deeper.

He chuckles, the sound a little strained. "Yes, ma'am."

I moan as he pulls out and pushes back in obediently. Oh, it feels so good. He feels so good.

"You feel so good," I say, wanting him to know.

He lets out a breath.

"You feel like a dream," he says. "I don't want to wake up."

I feel my heart crack a tiny bit at the sweetness of Herne.

We settle into a steady, smooth rhythm, Herne's muscles clench and release as his body moves in that rolling motion that hits all the right spots in all the right ways.

This time, my orgasm catches me by surprise.

"Herne!" I cry out, my nails digging into his back as I push up against him hard, grinding against him as it rolls through me in a tingling rush.

He growls, pushing one of my legs up and wide so his next thrust is even deeper, even more intense.

I cry out again as another rush of sensation hits me.

His body shudders as he fights past my clenching core, forcing his erection to bottom out inside me, his cock jerking and throbbing with his own orgasm.

We stay locked like that as our orgasms tear through us.

Our breathing is harsh in the quiet as he rolls us over so I'm on top, his eyes closed as he smoothes a hand down my back.

"I think I might be dead," he says.

I prop myself up on his chest and stare down at him. He face is so relaxed I know he could fall asleep at any moment. I poke at him a couple of times. His eyes crack open to look at me.

"Still alive," I say cheerfully, lying back down on top of him.

He chuckles, and the deep sound vibrates through my body where I'm pressed up against him. I snuggle in closer. His arms tighten on me as he kisses my forehead.

"I love you, Elle," he whispers. "I'm going to ask you the question that's been burning a hole in my mind. Elle...will you marry me?"

I didn’t expect this. Not at all.

I rise up so I can see his face, wanting to be sure he really means this.

His eyes are steady on mine when I meet them, his arms holding me possessively.

"You want to get married?" I repeat, wanting to be sure I heard him right.

"Yes," he says simply. "I need to seal the deal before you decide to run off again, after all," he adds with a smile.

I laugh, cupping the side of his face with my hand.

"I'm not going anywhere." I memorize the clean lines of his face, his mussed hair, his half-lidded eyes. I want to remember this moment. "I love you too. And you don't even have to marry me to keep me here."

He scowls. "Let me rephrase this, then. I think you might be mistaken about my intent." He takes a deep breath, his hand covering mine on his chest. "Elle, I love you and I want to marry you because I want you in my life from here on out. Even if you have permanently retired your running shoes."

I grin.

"How romantic," I say, feeling my heart ache. In a good way. The best way. "Then yes. Let's get hitched."

The grin he flashes at me after that response sends another bolt of lust through me. The man is dangerous. And then he's flipping us over yet again, kissing me, the joy and love bubbling up between us.

My heart is full to bursting.

I've found my Prince Charming.

* * *