Page 125 of Rogue
“Oh my God,” Madelyn gasps.
Me? I’m speechless. Nine months running rogue. One lover lost then found. The jokester, prankster, the mercenary assigned to terminate me, now reaching into his beach bag. Jesus, am I happy we both didn’t kill each other.
“How about we take thisthingbetween us to the next level?”
“Thingis a horribly vague word, Jaxson. You’re going to have to be a lot clearer with what you’re asking me,” I manage to say.
Yes. Oh sweet Mary, yes!
“Have it your way, fireball. I love you, Kylie. I don’t want another day or hour or second to go by without you as my wife. This isn’t going to be easy. There’s the job to consider. You going to school here in St. Pete while I’m on assignment. It’s the life I chose. But if anyone can understand what’s required of me, it’s you. We can make this work. I know we can.”
“No women. Tell Hayden. Or better yet, I’ll make sure the message is clear.”
Jaxson chuckles. “Believe me, you’ve already hit him over the head with a hammer while driving that point home.”
“Women?” Madelyn asks, scowling fiercely. She steps toward Jaxson and waves a holier-than-thou finger down at him. “If you hurt her, you’ll be answering to me.”
Who is this person and what have they done with my sweet sister? Jesus, do we have a lot of catching up to do.
“Noted. And although this is a bit backwards and I should have asked your permission first, is it okay if I marry your sister? You’ll get a brother-in-law in the bargain?”
She raises an eyebrow, then her lips curl. Family. We’re a family, the three of us. My heart feels about ready to burst out of my chest.
“Think carefully before you reply, Madelyn,” I quip, choking back my emotions.
To my amazement and Jaxson’s surprise, she bends down and plants a kiss on his cheek. Yeah, my man’s that irresistible. “I’ll see you both tomorrow,” she tells me, kissing my cheek as well before tossing her hair and headed off home, leaving my lover, the love of my life, my future . . .husband. . . hanging.
That a girl.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Jaxson shouts after her.
I drop down onto my knees so Jaxson and I are face-to-face. The only thing between us is the gorgeous diamond ring brilliantly glistening in sunlight. Reaching out, I run my thumb across his cheek. Taking my time in drawing an invisibleKover his smooth skin. Marking him just like he’s so fond of marking me. Just like the initial branded on his back shoulder. Yeah, there’s more than a ring bonding us together.
“I love you. I want you. I need you,” Jaxson murmurs. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes. Oh yes, Jaxson,” I respond.
Gently, he takes my left hand, removes the ring from the box, and slides it on.
“It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” He grins at me, stands, and helps me back up to my feet.
I frown. No kiss?
Sauntering forward, I wrap my arms around his shoulders and bring him in tight. “How about you carry me across the gated threshold, we check out our new home, then find a secluded room to get busy in?”
He sweeps me up off my feet, kicks open the gate, and steps inside. “Now.”
“Now?”
“About that kiss . . . to new beginnings.”
“To happy endings,” I laugh.
“That too.”
Jaxson bends his head and kisses me, carrying me up the sidewalk and up the few porch steps, where he fiddles with the unlocked door—yep, the devil had this planned all along—and leads me deep into the living room.
