I gasped. My stomach tightened the very next second. “I was just... I mean, I know how that sounds.”
“Sounds like you believe in what we have. I know I do. And today I just had this glimpse of what it feels like to have a family, and I want it, Heather. With you. And I bet you’ll be hot when we’re fifty.” He lightly bit the side of my neck, laughing like we were just playing around, when he was claiming more of me with every word.
I want it, Heather, he’d said. But we’d known each other for two months only. Was he ready? Was I ready? I had no answer, but I knew one thing: I loved being wrapped up in him like this. He was holding me tightly to him. If I stood still, I could feel his heartbeats echoing against my body.
“Choose something,” he whispered in my ear.
“What?”
“Anything. I want to buy you a gift.”
“That’s not necessary. And you’ve already bought so many things that we’ll need a truck to transport them.”
“I want something just for you.” He pushed my hair to one side. I felt his breath on the exposed skin behind my ear.
“Choose something, Heather. Or I’ll choose for you.”
By the way his voice had taken on a rougher edge and his fingers pressed on my belly, he’d choose something dangerous. I wasn’t sure in what way, but I wanted to find out. I just wanted to be surprised, and that was saying something, because I usually liked to be on top of everything.
“You choose,” I said.
He laughed softly, moving his fingers in the shape of a small eight on my belly. I sucked in a breath, hoping to steel myself against the contact. Somehow, it had the exact opposite effect. Goose bumps broke out on my skin. How on earth could that touch affect me like this?
“Fine. A few rules.”
“There are rules to getting a gift?”
“Yes. You’re not allowed to refuse it, or to return it.”
I whirled around, looking him straight in the eyes.
“Will I regret this?”
His mouth curled in a devastating smile. “Probably.”
“Give me a hint. So I can brace myself.”
“That wouldn’t be a surprise now, would it?”
I pouted, holding up my thumb and forefinger. “Just a tiny little hint?”
“You belong to me, Heather. Every part of you. I want everyone to know that. Our families, friends, strangers.”
Oh, wow. I didn’t even know what to say.
“Am I scaring you?” he asked.
“A little,” I admitted.
“You trust me?” he asked.
“Y-yes.”
“That was a stutter. Not very encouraging.”
That devastating smile was back.
“Should I give you tips?”