“Because I knew the house was a death trap, Mara. I’m an architect, and I know old houses. I couldn’t inspect everything, so I bought the damn house and looked at what had—or should I say hadn’t—been done to it over the years. The fire was my fucking greatest fear come to life. I wanted you out of there before it happened. I was too damn late, and it nearly killed me when that house caught fire.” He paused for a moment before continuing in a forlorn tone, “I knew you’d be upset that the house had been purchased, but at least you’d be alive,” he said huskily. “I also knew you’d probably hate me, but I couldn’t leave Amesport knowing you were living in a house that was dangerous. I couldn’t do it.”
Mara’s heart felt like a large fist was wrapping around it and holding it in a crushing grip. “So you were trying to save me?” Sweet Jesus. He’d been trying to save her life even back then. “What were you going to do with the house?”
“I had no fucking idea. I don’t need another place in Amesport. It would have had to go through costly renovation or come down.” He was silent for a moment before he added, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Once I fell completely in love with you, I didn’t want you to hate me. Once you said you loved me, I was terrified that you wouldn’t love me anymore.”
She felt like her heart was completely exploding, the pressure unbearable. “I’ll always love you, Jared,” she choked out. Getting up, she pushed their coffee to the center of the table and straddled him on the chair. “You love me?” Even now, Mara longed to finally hear the words.
He grasped both sides of her head so she’d look directly at him. “Jesus, woman, if you haven’t figured that out by now, I don’t know how else to show you how much I love you. When you left the reception today, I was more afraid of losing you than I’ve ever been scared of anything. I need you, Mara. I love you so damn much that I can’t fucking breathe.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I was scared, too. Loving a man this much is frightening,” she whispered as she lowered her mouth to his.
Snaking his arm behind her head, he took control of the embrace immediately, ravaging her mouth with such ferocity and desperation that Mara could do nothing except wrap her arms around his neck and hold on. He conquered. Controlled. Adored. Loved.
Wrenching his mouth away from hers, he growled, “I love you, dammit. I love you.”
“Show me,” she panted.
He stood, taking her body with him, and Mara lowered her feet to the ground. He stripped her quickly, lowering the zipper on her dress and letting it drop to the floor.
“Christ!” he cursed in a low, predatory voice. “If I would have known this was beneath this dress, I would have fucked you before we ever left home.”
“You like?” she teased, glad that Jared appreciated her sexy lingerie, black thong panties with a matching garter belt and stockings. She tore at his clothing, divesting him of his jacket, shirt, and the accessories of the tuxedo. Once he was bare from the waist up, she stroked her palms lovingly over his chest, savoring the rippling muscles as she moved her hand lower.
“No,” he growled as Mara reached for the zipper of his pants.
Tossing their coffee cups into the sink with a loud clatter, he lifted her onto the kitchen table, his hands immediately reaching for her bare breasts. “These have haunted me all day. All I could think about was getting you out of this damn dress so no other man could see what was mine.” His mouth closed over her nipple, biting gently before laving it with his tongue.
Mara clutched his hair, urging him for more. He gave it to her, his mouth alternating from breast to breast, teasing them both until they were so sensitive it was almost unbearable.
Finally, Jared straightened, his hungry gaze fixed on her. Mara felt wanton and beautiful, her sexy, lingerie-clad body sprawled out on the kitchen table, Jared’s hungry eyes devouring her. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said fiercely, his fingers stroking lightly over the silk panties. “And you’re so wet for me.”
“No teasing,” she begged. “I need you today.”
“You have me forever,” Jared pledged gruffly. “I hope you’re not too attached to these panties.” One hard tug pulled them from her body, a loud ripping noise audible as the material gave way to Jared’s considerable strength.
His fingers stroked through her welcoming heat, sliding against her clit.
“Jared. Please,” she pleaded, writhing on the table.
He unzipped his pants and liberated his cock, using the head to tease her clit. “You’re mine, Mara. Say it,” he commanded.
“Yes. Yes. I love you, and I’m yours,” she whimpered.
“I love you,” he groaned, plunging deeply inside her, his hands gripping her hips as he slid her ass to the edge of the table.
“Oh, God. You feel so good.” Mara thrust her hips forward, savoring the feel of him inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, needing him even closer.
“I’m claiming you. No more bullshit about me not making you mine,” he said gutturally as he slammed into her again.
“You’re mine, too,” Mara asserted with a loud moan.
“Always, baby.” He started moving inside her faster, harder.