One to Save (One to Hold 6)

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

Her body jerks with a sniff, and she cries more. She pulls herself up to me in a hug, burying her face in my neck, and I’m going crazy until she finally speaks.

“Stuart,” it’s cut off by another sniff. “Oh, Stuart, I want that so much.”

Relief blasts through me, anxiety gone. I wrap her in my arms, holding her close. Her face is still at my neck, and I feel her tears on my skin. I feel all of her against my skin, shoulders to stomach to thigh to knee, and I think about that old idea of becoming one. She’s the part of me that’s been missing for so long. Inhaling deeply, luscious jasmine fills my senses.

After a few moments, I slide my hands over her bare back, from her soft shoulders to her soft ass. “So is that a yes?” My voice is low and gentle.

She nods against me, squeezing me in her arms.

“Mariska?” I’m smiling now, holding my wife in my arms. Everything has changed. “Look at me.”

She takes a moment before pulling back, those beautiful eyes shining with her tears. “Will you please call about transferring to Princeton tomorrow?”

A laugh explodes from her lips, and she pulls up, hugging our faces together. “I guess if you put it that way.”

Kissing her jaw, her cheek, I roll her onto her back and prop myself on my elbows. “Thank you for agreeing to be my wife.”

Her eyes roll and she shakes her head. “As if you ever had any doubt.”

“You are a very strong, independent lady, Mariska Renee.” I pause to scoop her lips in another brief kiss. “I wasn’t sure you’d say yes so easily. I worried you might think it was too soon.”

“With as well as I know you?” Her cat eyes slant.

“I thought you might have some old-fashioned notion about finishing school or us needing to date for a year or something ridiculous.”

“Don’t give me any ideas.”

My brow lowers. “Is that something you want to do?”

“Is that something I should want to do?” How she manages to go from sassy to shy in the blink of an eye slays me. I can’t believe how vulnerable she is. Like I didn’t just ask her to fucking marry me.

“No.” I don’t even let that idea hang around five seconds. “I don’t want you away from me anymore. I’m getting your ring as soon as I get back from Baltimore. Give your landlord notice and start packing. You’ll start Princeton this fall. Summer if you want to start earlier.”

She laughs, and her body arches against mine. Her head falls back, and she lets out the most amazing happy squeal. I was above her, but she pushes me back against the pillows. I’m on my back watching her hold her brow and shake her head.

“It’s like a dream,” she says. Then she catches my face in both hands again and kisses me. I can’t help laughing now. “Do you remember how awful you were in Montana?”

“Hang on,” I try to act offended and fail. “You came at me out of nowhere.”

“You are literally the man of my dreams, Stuart Knight.”

“Don’t forget,” I say, smoothing both hands over her cheeks, sliding her brown hair back. “You’re the woman in mine, too.”

“Would you make love to me again?” Her lips curl as her hand moves down between us. Her fingers wrap around my cock, and my body immediately responds to her touch, hard and strong.

“With pleasure,” I say, before kissing her lips, her chin, her neck, making my way down her torso to the place I know will have her screaming my name.

* * *

Kissing Mariska goodbye this morning was the hardest thing I’ve done since this nightmare with Derek began. She’s dressed in only my white dress shirt, looking like the most beautiful sex kitten who’s ever agreed to marry anybody.

“My goal is to hit the prosecutor strong,” I say, grabbing my suitcase so I don’t grab her.

“Take as long as you need, baby.” Her eyes are round and serious, oblivious to how her words affect me. “I’ll be here doing my assignments.”

“Your assignments?”