“You can’t blame me for being jealous, not when you look so fucking hot in those trousers,” I grumble. Truth is, I trust those two with my life as I do Jess. Doesn’t mean I want them looking at her though. Sometimes I’d like to tuck her away and keep her from everyone but then I remember the side she only shows me. The real Jess. And I’ve got to admit, it does quite a bit for my ego to have her trust me with that.
“Well, I am wearing these for a reason.” She kisses the corner of my mouth and slips out of my arms before I can press the kiss deeper. With that sexy strut of hers, she strolls over to the door and glances over her shoulder. “You coming?”
I gulp and nod. “Yeah, sure.” I don’t know what the hell she’s up to but seeing that cute ass all in leather does something to a man’s brain.
We head down to the parking lot underneath the building. Jess stays frustratingly quiet, refusing to answer my questions. She takes my hand and leads me through the dimly light car park. A few weeks ago I’d have been worrying for her being in the dark parking lot after Lucas skipped bail, but having read the papers the other day, I can relax. Seems he didn’t want to go to jail and jumped in front of a tube train when the police tracked him down.
She tugs on my hand. “Jess, what the h—”
“Ta da!” She points to the motorbike parked in on dark corner so that I didn’t see it when I came in. My motorbike.
“What the hell?”
I let go of her hand and stride over to the bike. Sweeping my hand over the seat, I try not to gape. I didn’t think I’d see it again and I’d come to terms with that. Being with Jess is a clean start for both us. No more baggage from the past, even my Dad’s bike. As far as I was concerned it was going to get crushed after being written off. And that was fine now I have Jess, but I can’t say I didn’t miss riding, especially with Jess wrapped around me.
“I kind of talked to Connor and got him to fix it. It’s not all your old bike. He had to bash a few bits together but a lot of it is still there.”
“Princess, you are really something.”
A flash of teeth. “I believe I said the same thing about you once.”
“Fancy taking a ride with me, Jessie?” I crack a grin, hold out my hand and lean back against the seat.
Her cool fingers slip into mine and that familiar thrill shoots up my arm, sending my thoughts a little hazy. I tug her close and she reaches up to rake her nails across my chin. “I’d ride with you any day, Hunter.”
“Even after the accident?” I skim my hands down her back and cup her rear.
“Of course.” Green eyes sparkle under the overhead light, lit with love. “The accident wasn’t your fault and I know you’d never hurt me.”
My heart stretches and squeezes at the idea of being loved by this woman. I hold her fiercely to me. “Never,” I promise. “I will do everything I can to make you happy. To protect you from this world. I don’t know what’s around the corner but I’ll always be here to defend you, you know that, right?” I draw back and hook one finger under her chin to raise her gaze to mine. “Whatever we face in the future, we’ll do it together. I’ll always be by your side.”
“I know. And I’ll always be by yours.”
“No more running?”
“Never. Only into your arms.”
“Good.” I nod. “Then you had better marry me, princess.”
“Is that a proposal?” Both of her brows rise.
“Shit.” I let go of her ass and push my hands across her cheeks so I’m cradling her face. “I meant to do it properly. The ring is upstairs,” I admit.
Truth is, I’ve had that ring for a few weeks now. I knew she’d say yes but I was looking for the perfect moment. I intended to make it amazing. But as I stare down at this beautiful woman, I realize that every moment with her is perfect. Whatever shit we’re dealing with, as long as she’s by my side, we can’t go wrong.
“Well?” I prompt as silence reigns. My mouth dries a little. Maybe she did need roses and candlelight and stuff. “We’re practically married already. Hell, we bought an apartment together.”
Her lips tilt. “Hunter—”
“And you’d look amazing in a wedding dress.”
“Plus Connor and Mitch need a wedding to hook up with some hot bridesmaids.”
“Hunter—”
“Don’t forget the honeymoon. I’ll take a break after this next job and take you somewhere warm where I can see you in a bikini all day long.”
“That sounds wonderful but—”
“And I won’t have to worry about men drooling all over you if you’re wearing my ring.”
“That’s a terrible reason to get married,” she scolds. “Anyway, no one drools all over me. Not since leaving Murphy’s.”
“That’s not true. You still look hot in your buttoned up little suits,” I grumble.
Jess laughs. “Hunter, I—”
“Okay, how about this? Marry me because I can’t get enough of you. Marry me because I love you and need you by my side forever. Marry me because I’ll do all I can to make you happy. I can’t bear the thought of not having you as mine.”