I give him a shrug. "Why not?"

James barks out a laugh. "I'm going to make you the happiest woman on earth, sweetheart."

"You already do."

I close the distance between us and wrap an arm around his shoulders, the need to feel him against me consumes me. Cupping my cheek softly, James leans in and captures my lips with his. I open for him and allow his tongue to stroke mine. My eyes close and I press my chest to his, kissing him back with the same slow intensity he's kissing me with.

There’s no rush to this kiss.

We kiss like we’re making sweet love to each other. Soft caresses mingle perfectly to the beat of our hearts.

Twenty-Four

My arms loosen from around James’s neck. Flattening my palms, I pull them down over his broad chest and catch the sparkle of my engagement ring.

"I know you keep saying you're going to make me the happiest woman on earth, but I need you to know I intend to do the same for you. Marriage was never a goal of mine, but now that I'm going to marry you, it scares me because of the love I already have for you, and how much more I want to give you."

"You know what would make me really happy?"

Laughter bubbles in my throat. I feel like I know where this is going.

"What's that, handsome?"

"You on your back naked with nothing but that ring on your finger, and me deep inside of you. Aubrey, I gotta get in you."

Warmth curls around my neck. I want that too.

"In front of the fire?"

"That's where I'm going to have you first as my soon-to-be wife." He pauses for a second. "I was thinking when we do get married, we keep it small and intimate. Just a thought."

"I want what you want. But can we please make love first? I'm dying here, baby."

"If I didn't love the way this dress looked on your body, I would've ripped it off you already." His fingers grasp the zipper and start a slow descent down my spine. James and his dresses. I smile to myself knowing he's about to see my new tattoo.

"You love every dress I wear."

He nods in agreement. "Because you look fucking incredible every time." He lets out a breath. "I can't wait to call you mine forever," he says, then kisses me again.

It must've slipped his mind that I've been his since day one.

The zipper reaches the bottom, and my dress falls in a whoosh at my feet, followed by my slip.

James's palm skims my bare body, creating a trail of warmth through me. He growls and I feel it in his chest. I went without panties or a bra, and he's pleased. As his hand skims up my waist, he stops when he reaches the Saniderm bandage that was placed over my tattoo. James breaks the kiss and pulls back. He turns my body to inspect what he touched. He bends down and moves in closer.