Real Men Last All Night (10 page)

Words wouldn't come to his mind or his mouth. If he said any-thing, she'd probably come out of that bed and after him in a flash.

"I'm a big girl, Zane." Color had returned to Willow's face. "I may not always do the right things or make the right choices, but with you I have. If you're going to leave me then it better be a damned good reason because this sure as hell isn't."

"Christ—"

"Do I have to knock some sense into that thick head of yours?" She started to rise out of the bed. "Because I will, Zane Steele. How do you think that creep got his broken nose?

I'm not above bodily injury."

To his surprise, he almost smiled as he got up and pushed on her good shoulder to get her to lie back down.

"I can't help but love you." The words came to Zane so easily it surprised him.

"Everything about you. But it scares me.
This
scares me."

Willow's features relaxed and she smiled. "I know."

"You've said that since the first time we met." Zane found himself starting to smile. "Do you know everything?"

"Of course," she said. "And I'm never going to let you forget it."

He bent over her and stroked her hair from her cool forehead. "Never?"

"Nope." She shook her head on the pillow. "I intend to kick your brothers' asses at basketball for a long time to come."

Zane was almost grinning now. "Are you asking me to marry you?

Her smile was so brilliant it made his heart thump like crazy. "Is that a yes I see in your expression?"

He moved his knuckles across her cheek. "One thing."

She raised her brows. "Watch it. . ."

Zane had never smiled so much in his life as he did around Willow. "
You
haven't told
me
that you love me."

"Oh, that." She reached up her good arm and caught him by his shirt, bringing him down for a hard kiss.

God, she tasted sweet and womanly, warm and incredible. She only allowed him to draw away slightly. "I love you, Zane Steele. Now say you'll marry me. I promise to get a ring and do it right when I get out of this place."

Zane laughed at the image of Willow on one knee presenting a ring to him. She'd do it, too.

"Yes." He kissed her again. "When?"

"Before I defend my dissertation." Willow smiled. "Then instead of Dr. Randolph, I'll be Dr. Steele." She captured his gaze and held it.

" 'Dr. Steele' has a nice ring to it," he said.

"Yup."

"I think I've found a way."

She raised an eyebrow. "A .way for what?"

"To keep you from picking up strange men in the Common."

Willow smiled and drew him down to her again. "I think you have."