“You haven’t known me long enough to know what you feel for me.”

“Couples have gotten married after one week of knowing each other and have been very happy. We’ve been seeing each other for over a month. Hell, we’ve quadrupled our chances of having a happy marriage.”

Alanna raised her head. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Yes. Do you want me to get on my knees?” He moved his hands to her shoulders, as if he was going to toss her off him. Instead, he gently rolled her over until he was above her.

“Let’s wait until we make any plans. I don’t know what Mrs.—”

“I don’t care what Diamond wants to talk about. It won’t make any difference to the way I feel about you. Would it change the feelings you have for me?”

“No … Matthew, if anything happened to you because of me, I’d never get over it. I told you Owen and Kate are dangerous,”

Alanna had told her how Owen and Kate had tormented her throughout her childhood. She still hadn’t gone through specifics as to as why she couldn’t have children, but he knew they both bore the responsibility.

“I can take care of myself. They are the ones who should be worried about me. Kentucky men will kill for their woman, and you’re mine regardless of whether you let me put a ring on your finger or not. You. Are. Mine.”

He could see the fear in her eye.

“Don’t think about them tonight, please,” he begged.

“They’re always there, no matter what I do.”

“One day, they will not be, I promise.” He gently lowered his mouth to cover hers. “Every time you think of them, imagine me standing in front of you, protecting you. I’ll never let them get past me. They won’t get past me.”

She didn’t respond at first, her lips trembling under his. He could feel her fear of them. Slowly, he released the control he kept over his body, allowing him to gradually raise his body temperature until her shaking body would absorb the heat coming from his. Carefully maintaining the temperature, he gave her soothing warmth.

“All I want you to do is repeat after me …” He moved his hands under the soft material of her sweater to feel the heated warmth of her silky skin.

“I …” he started.

“I …” she repeated.

“Love …”

“Love …”

“You.”

“You.”

“Now say it all together,” he instructed.

“I love you.”

“See? That wasn’t too hard to say, was it?” Matthew trailed his lips down her neck as he inched his hands higher.

“No, it was very easy. You’re very loveable, Matthew.”