Blaine, Destiny - Roping in Forever [Forever 1] (Siren Publishing Allure) (8 page)

She pushed him away. “I didn’t want to take just any man to my bed. I wanted you!”

He gulped. “Do you honestly think I didn’t want you right back? Hell, woman! Why do you think I was in the bathroom?”

Her nose twitched. She was fighting off a grin and maybe an outright laugh. He wouldn’t have blamed her if she’d heehawed considering she caught him jacking off and sweating bullets, tugging himself like the dickens, all in her honor.

The air was thick with a right smart amount of tension. She swiped the hair out of her eyes and stared right at his cock.

“It’s hard. In case you’re wondering.”

“Then why don’t you do something about it?” she challenged him, shaking her head and pacing around the room.

“I plan to,” he said, stalking her. “I’ve been planning to for a while now.” He stopped abruptly, running his fingers through his hair. “I mean…I just decided here today—I’m doing something about this.”

“Which explains why you’re still the slowest cowboy in the whole state of
Texas
?”

“Yes,” he said, the anxiety building in his chest. He was more nervous than the second before. He felt like he was about to enter a bull pen with a beast he’d never be able to ride, one he’d never be able to control. Yet, he was gonna do it or die anyway. “I have something to ask you.”

Her eyes met his. The silence was alarming. Corbin was nervous.

“Yes, Corbin,” Bella whispered.

“You don’t know what I’m gonna ask yet.”

“No, but if it’s about whether or not I want you, the answer is still yes.”

Corbin sniffed. This was a big step and by damn, he didn’t want to get all teary eyed when he popped the question, but he was feeling that sentimental urge, that real soft side, threatening to surface. “Would you sit down there on the bed for a minute?”

She arched a brow. “Sit?”

“Yes, damn it, sit.” He cleared his throat. “Please.”

She took a deep breath and sat down like she was aggravated all to hell because she was playing along and following his demands. This was not how he imagined things would go, but so far nothing with Bella had been predictable or perfect.

She was anything but easy.

He retrieved the small jewelry box from his pocket, lowering himself to one knee. He felt like he was gonna fall over right there, so to steady himself, he took her hand—something he needed anyway. Or at least, he sure hoped so.

Bella’s eyes were wide, and she looked so surprised that he wasn’t sure if he was even doing this right. So maybe he was rushing things, but according to Bella he was the slowest cowboy in
Texas
so perhaps this gesture would change her mind.

“Bella McDermott, I want you to know that I plan to do right by ya, if you’ll have me.” His palms were clammy, and he was feeling sort of light-headed. He stared at her then and grew really nervous as he watched the tears stream down her cheeks. “I reckon I’ve sowed a few wild oats, and maybe I don’t deserve you, and maybe that’s why I’ve stayed away as long as I have, but I’d like to marry you all the same. If you’ll become my wife tonight, I’d be honored.”

“Tonight?” she screeched. “Tonight, Corbin?”

“Or tomorrow night. Why yes, tomorrow night will work just fine, too.”

* * * *

Bella stared down at the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen in her life. The thing must’ve cost a fortune, but the expression on Corbin’s face was far more priceless than the gold and diamonds. His eyes were moist. His lips were dry. And he looked like he was anxiously awaiting the answer she’d always wanted to give. In fact, as a girl, she’d practiced her reply many times.

“Yes,” she whispered, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheeks. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“Well, thank God,” he said. “Maybe now I can breathe again.”

He wiggled the ring away from the velvet holder and slid the symbol of his love on her third finger. “Lookie there,” he drawled. “It fits. Who would’ve thought?”

“It’s perfect,” she said, holding her arm away from her body. “You shouldn’t have, Corbin.”

“Yes, I believe I should’ve. I reckon you deserve the finest in jewelry since you’re getting a less-than-perfect man” he said, drawing her wrist to his lips and kissing a trail down to the center of her palm. “I’ll make you the happiest woman around, Bella. I swear I will. I’ll make up for any shortcomings you think I had in the past, and I’ll make a good husband. You’ll see. I’ll be the man you can depend on, the man you’ll be proud to call your own.”

“I know you will,” she said gleefully, wrapping her arms around his neck. “But I have something to tell you.”

“What?” he asked, alarmed.

“I can’t put together a wedding on short notice.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “You said yes. That’s all I care about. When you said yes, you became my wife in my heart, Bella. We’ll make it legal whenever you say so, but I couldn’t go to
Tulsa
day after tomorrow without knowing you belonged to me or without you there with me.”

“You want me to go to
Tulsa
?”

“Why yes, that’s a fine idea. I’m glad you thought of it,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

“Corbin Cansey, you’re full of surprises!” she exclaimed, leaping into his arms and laughing as he spun her around.

He shot her a wink along with a wicked smile. “You have no idea, but you’ll have some by the time the honeymoon is over.”

Chapter Fourteen

Bella descended down the front steps a few hours later. Corbin stood in the foyer watching his beautiful bride, the woman who’d wormed her way into his heart seven years prior, when she was still too young to know what she wanted, and far too young for Corbin to claim.

Dressed in the beautiful low-cut lavender and lace gown—something he’d purchased from the lingerie shop earlier that day—Bella looked at ease, not at all like the nervous blushing bride he’d half expected.

“You look sensational,” he said, slipping a kiss upon her hand when he laced their fingers together. “Perfect.”

“Something smells good,” she said, peering over his shoulder.

“What would a wedding night be without a little dinner and dancing before the honeymoon?”

“You went to a lot of trouble. You didn’t have to do all this.”

He led her to the candlelit dining room and pulled out a chair. “Some women are worth the effort.”

While she’d showered and changed, he’d turned down the sheets, placed rose petals on the bed and candles throughout her room. Then, he’d prepared dinner—grilled steaks, salad, and mashed potatoes. Pouring a glass of sparkling non-alcoholic champagne, he said, “I want this night to be everything you’ve ever imagined, and I want you to remember your first time, our first time together.”

“Corbin, I’ll always remember,” she promised, twisting around in her chair so she could look at him.

She was eye-level to his cock and took the time to trace the ridges with her dainty fingers, pressing against him and watching him curiously, asking for permission without saying a word.

“Soon,” he said, gripping her wrist and leaning over to deliver a heated kiss.

“But I’m starving,” she told him, the statement loaded.

“Before the night is through, you’ll be properly fed, baby. Trust me. Save a lot of room for dessert.”

* * * *

After dinner, they danced to one country song, something about giving up loves and finding new ones. Corbin didn’t know anything about that. All he’d known since the day he met Bella was that somehow, she had a place in his life.

He waited on her to grow up, and he almost tarried too long.

He hadn’t meant to run from her, and it was a complete waste of time. He’d been trapped in a damn triangle, trying to find his way out when Bella had always been right there in the center of his pyramid, watching and waiting, loving him from a short distance in spite of his flaws. He had plenty of those, but Bella seemed to love him in spite of them.

When the music stopped, he drew her against him. “I’m gonna love you, Bella McDermott Cansey, for the rest of my life.”

“We’re not married yet,” she reminded him.

“The hell we aren’t. Back in the olden days, how do you think a man and woman got together and decided they were married?”

She shrugged. “I don’t think about the way people used to live, Corbin. Right now is the only moment that matters.”

He kissed her, rubbing the texture of his lips against hers, nuzzling her as he moved with her body, drawing her closer, holding her securely, afraid to let her go. “They consummated it, by the way.”

“What?” she asked dreamily.

“Back in the good old days, that’s how things were done,” he informed her, realizing he was buying time, understanding once they went upstairs, his life as he’d known it was over. Then again, the changes had already begun, and the future ahead was much brighter than the past he chose to leave behind.

“Then what are you waitin’ on, cowboy? I think you have a bride to bed.”

He hoisted her into his arms, and she looped her thin limbs around his shoulders, resting her head against his chest. He carried her to the bedroom, across the threshold, and placed her on satin sheets, surrounding her with the soft red petals he’d earlier placed there.

That’s when reality struck. He was a committed cowboy, a man who was finally ready to devote his life to the woman who had always been destined to become his wife.

Chapter Fifteen

Bella was somewhat relieved when Corbin didn’t tote handcuffs and blindfolds to the bed right along with him. She was hoping he’d shelf his dark side and save that part of himself for another night.

Oh sure, she was curious about Domination and submission, but she wanted a more traditional wedding night, since Corbin seemed hell bent on referring to their first night together as their honeymoon. As long as Bella had Corbin in her arms, she didn’t need an official marriage certificate or an engagement announcement in Sunday’s newspaper.

A preacher hadn’t married them, and they hadn’t exchanged vows before their family and friends, but Bella knew in her heart Corbin had decided to make her his wife. He’d stopped running. He was willing to give her a special place in his heart.

He towered over her, spreading her legs with his knees as he brushed her body with his, dropping soft kisses against her lips while driving her mad with the growing need for his touch. His tongue parted her lips, and he kissed her like he planned to be right there doing the same thing this time next week. He wedged his tongue between her lips and left her longing for more of his affection.

“I won’t hurt you, Bella,” he promised, relaxing his grip, grinding between her legs, until she was panting, moaning, and biting back a real hankering to scream. She wasn’t embarrassed by her own heat, but she was quite aware of her swollen clit, the warmth between her legs, and the dire need she possessed. The full-throttle urgency consumed her, rushing through her veins like alcohol and making her intoxicated, totally high.

Bella ached for his touch, longed for his hand. Oh yes, she was quite convinced the hottest heat wave Texas had ever gauged was settled between her legs, contained deep inside her pussy. Only one man could cool down the burn. Only one cowboy could ease the pain, but first he’d torture her with a small taste of pure pleasure, foreplay she’d never forget.

Bella gripped Corbin’s shoulders, riding the covered length he allowed her to feel, the erection pulsing under his denim pants, bulging for freedom. She clawed at his buttons, ripping them, tugging them free from the aggravating slits, wise to the fact she was greedy, acting like a lost lover feeling her way through the darkness, hoping to find her way home.

Corbin took her hand in his and raked her fingers across his lips. Kissing them, he whispered, “Easy, Bella. We have all night.”

But she didn’t want all night. She wanted to take what was hers to have.

Bella had waited, lurked in the shadows of an unexplainable agony only a woman in love could understand. She’d stood by as the man she desired penetrated another, made love to a stranger, while she’d witnessed the pleasure his body delivered. Without a doubt, after what Bella viewed, after what she endured and barely survived, she understood the havoc lust could bring when desire was fueled by love.

She pushed her hand down the front of Corbin’s pants, fighting for a good grip as she freed him. Touching his shape, she caressed the heavily veined flesh, tracing his thickness.

Returning to his middle, she glided upward, sliding her palms across his chest, but itching to hold him, stroke him. Returning to his lips, she braced for another ravenous kiss, his sweet taste filling her senses the moment their mouths met.

She held him to her lips, kissing him like a woman who would never find enough in one kiss, who would always seek more than she’d gain in the next. She straddled him then. Leaving his mouth, Bella took advantage of her position and the new wave of overpowering lust. She was hungry for more than she’d ever been permitted to taste.

Hoping Corbin wouldn’t stop her, Bella used her body and groveled for penetration. Her mind churned with explicit ideas as she rubbed her pussy against his heated skin.