Sold on You (23 page)

She bolted up in the bed as she suddenly remembered why she'd been wearing that snug black suit. "Has Alex called? We're supposed to go out this evening."

"I canceled your date with him," he said bluntly.

"How dare you! Our working arrangement was off as of this morning. I'll date whomever I want, whenever I want," she said hotly.

Acting oblivious to her tirade, he stood and stretched. "You're wrong,
gatica. I'm
the only man you're going to be with from now on," he said with an arrogant set of his jaw.

She clutched her head in her hands, not feeling up to verbally sparring with him. "Please leave. I have nothing more to say to you."

"Well, I have plenty to say to you, but now isn't the best time," he said, studying her pensively. "Let's meet tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock in the hospital cafeteria."

"No. I'm supposed to be on vacation."

"Come on,
gatica.
I'm not asking a lot, just a chance to clear things between us."

"Oh, all right. But I can only spare a few minutes. My mom is arriving home from her honeymoon cruise and I'd like to spend the day with her."

"Fine," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

* * *

The next morning at Gabriela sat in the hospital cafeteria glancing at her watch. If Marcos didn't show up soon, she'd get up and leave.

Five minutes later, she glanced at her watch again. It was 11:05 and still no sign of him. Just as she rose to leave, she heard loud music. Turning to see where the commotion was coming from, she saw Marcos approaching her dressed as Santa Claus, flanked by two strolling musicians. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that he couldn't carry a tune, Marcos walked toward her singing the Spanish version of "You Belong to My Heart" in a loud baritone.

Darting a quick glance around her, she noticed everyone in the cafeteria had stopped what they were doing and were openly staring at them while he sang to her.

No sooner had she turned back than a smiling Abuelita Coqui appeared with Marisol beside her. Grinning broadly, Dr. Cortes stood on the other side of Abuelita Coqui holding her hand tucked into the crook of his arm. Gabriela was stunned to see her mother standing to their right weeping happy tears. When she blew Gabriela a kiss, she was tempted to embrace her mother, but she remained rooted to the spot, listening to Marcos' serenade her with her favorite love ballad.

Across the hospital corridor, a tall, dark man appeared carrying identical twin little girls. The whole scene unfolded in slow motion as the man let go of the toddlers. Suddenly, the squeals of two baby voices competed with Marcos's song. "Uncle Marcos! Uncle Marcos!" they cried in unison as their chubby legs propelled them forward. When they reached him, each latched on to one of his legs, hindering his progress.

Undeterred, Marcos picked up his little nieces and kissed them on their fat cheeks. When he handed them back to their father, Gabriela could only presume that the man with the dimples who was laughing the loudest was Marisol's husband, Clay.

By the time Marcos reached her side, he'd finished singing. Getting down on one knee before her, he said, "Gabriela, I love you. Will you marry me?"

His tender gaze was her undoing. Tears streamed down Gabriela's face as she took in the incredulous scene before her. This proud man whom she loved so much had been willing to make a fool of himself before his colleagues, friends, and family just to prove how much he loved her. He could have simply waited for her in the cafeteria and declared his love, but he'd chosen to make a bold statement before everyone.

She sank to her knees before him and took his dear, handsome face in her hands. "Of course I'll marry you!" she cried, kissing him with all the pent-up emotion she'd been harboring. "I'm crazy about you! You're the love of my life," she said, her voice thick with tears.

Deafening applause met her proclamation of love as everyone in the room rushed forward to congratulate them.

* * *

Three months later

Escaping the well-wishers at their wedding reception was no easy task, but somehow the newlyweds slipped away. After a brief drive, they checked into the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where it had all begun.

As soon as he shut the penthouse suite door behind him, Marcos pulled Gabriela into his arms. "You don't know how I've hungered for this moment. I thought the reception would never end." He wound his hand in her hair and kissed her deeply, thoroughly until she was flushed and breathing heavily. His other big hand curled over her bottom and held her anchored against his hard arousal. "I need you, darling."

"I need you, too," she uttered between his kisses. Her knees buckled at the searing passion in his kisses.

Marcos lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, his mouth making love to hers until she was boneless with desire. He slowly undressed her, stroking and kissing every inch he uncovered until she lay naked before him, mindless with yearning. He made short work of undressing and joined her on the bed.

Running her hands over his rigid shoulders, Gabriela gasped at the slight rasp of his chest hair against her sensitized nipples. Marcos' blistering gaze held her enthralled for a heat-charged moment before he lowered his head to kiss her breasts and lave their aching tips.

"God, you're beautiful. I can't get enough of you," he growled, his voice rough and low. "You taste so good."

"Make love to me,
mi amor,
" she moaned, closing her hands over his taut hips as he lowered his hard-muscled body over hers, but Marcos wouldn't be rushed.

He took his time caressing her breasts, her belly, fondling her buttocks—kissing and pleasuring every inch until she thought she'd go out of her mind. "Now, please," she urged.

He anchored her wrists above her head with one hand and gently nudged her thighs with his knee. A potent tremor shook her as his hand deftly stroked her soft feminine folds. Molten desire pooled between her quivering thighs as his fingers tantalized and teased her sweet spot until she begged him to end her torment.

Gabriela's moans escalated as Marcos looked into her eyes and entered her with firm strokes, each deliberate thrust driving her higher and closer to release. She murmured raggedly, "Marcos... Marcos, my love."

She clung to him as the building crescendo became so intense she bucked her hips upward, frantically pulling him in deeper. She wanted all of him, harder, faster. The sweet, possessive way he drove into her while he told her that she belonged to him threw her over the edge. Little cries escaped her throat as she spiraled out of control and convulsed with delicious tremors, crying out in exquisite release.

Marcos' hoarse shout accompanied his powerful orgasm as he surged to his release. For several moments afterward, they laid entwined, shattered. Their profound connection had gone deeper than mere mating and their souls were fused as one in the lusty aftershocks.

"I never dreamed it could be this wonderful," Gabriela said, gazing at him through teary, passion-glazed eyes. "I love you, Marcos, more than you'll ever know."

"You have no idea how much I love you,
gatica,
" he said, cradling her in his arms.

"Oh, but I do," she said, swallowing a happy sob. "I can't imagine any man doing what you did that day in the hospital cafeteria. And in front of all those people," she said, giggling through her tears. "I'll never forget how you were willing to humble yourself to capture my heart."

"You captured mine long ago—probably the day you cooked dinner for me wearing those naughty librarian glasses. You were so adorable, from that moment on I was lost," he admitted with a crooked grin. His hand stroked her back in lazy circles. "I hope we made a baby today."

"Wouldn't
that
please the family?" she asked dreamily.

His chest rumbled. "Abuelita Coqui is probably toasting right now to the triumph of her 'plan' with Clay and Marisol and your mother and step-father."

Gabriela laid her face against his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat, reveling in his solid embrace. "I love being part of your family."

He tilted her chin up and peered into her eyes. His tender smile held a promise of love and fidelity. "We have a lifetime together
.
"

"I'm glad I accepted your irresistible offer."

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Which one?"

"
All
of them. First to be your pretend fiancée and now to be your wife and someday have your babies." She hugged her husband tightly.
Her husband.
The binding words filled her with wonder.

He kissed her damp temple and rested his face on her head. "Thank you, darling."

"My pleasure," she whispered, her heart bursting with joy.

The End

Page forward for more from Sophia Knightly

Excerpt from

Wild for You

by

Sophia Knightly

Previously written as Victoria Marquez

Chapter 1

"For Christ's sake, Marcos, I'm a detective, not a baby-sitter," Clay muttered.

"Marisol isn't a baby, as you'll soon find out." Dr. Marcos Calderon looked burdened as he leaned forward on the leather stool in the cool, dim bar. "I wouldn't be asking you to watch over my little sister if I didn't think she was in danger."

Clay took a swig of beer and studied his longtime pal. Marcos' eyes were grim and his normally confident tone sounded weary. Something was off. When Marcos had texted him to meet at the Grove Bar, Clay had thought it was to catch up over a few beers, like old times. He hadn't seen Marcos since he'd moved from Miami to Naples, Florida.

"Why do you think she's in danger?" Clay asked.

"She let it slip that she's been getting weird messages from some anonymous guy. When I pressed for details, she clammed up. I'm sure she doesn't want me to get involved. She never does." Marcos let out an exasperated breath. "It was a lot easier to keep an eye on her when I lived here."

Clay hunched forward and contemplated Marcos' request. Six years older than his sister, Marcos was fiercely protective of her, especially since she'd moved to the States from Argentina. In the past, Marcos had talked about Marisol, but Clay had never met her.