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“I already agreed to all this, Braden.”
“Yes. But I want more. Marry me, Charlotte.”
Literally nothing he could have said would have shocked her more than that particular question. It wasn’t even a question, more of a demand. A politely worded, romantic-as-fuck demand, but a demand none the less.
Which, she supposed, was also par for the course.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Completely. I’ve never been one to wait around for something I wanted. And I want you. Forever.”
“Braden, I… I don’t know what to say. We haven’t even had sex yet.”
A smug smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Do you have doubts about my ability to satisfy you in that regard?”
“No. But I never thought I’d marry the first man I slept with, either.”
“Plans change.”
That they did. She’d also never thought she’d sell her virginity to the highest bidder, either, and look how that had turned out.
Marrying Braden was an easy choice, on the surface. She’d literally be able to live next door to her dad, and Braden had more than enough money to keep her in the lifestyle she’d grown up in.
And if she married him, that’s exactly what everyone would think. That she was marrying him for his money. The thought left a sour taste in her mouth. “I don’t need you to rescue me, Braden.”
“I never said you did.”
“Then why do you want to marry me?”
“Because I’m in love with you.” When she simply stared at him, he sighed. “Because you’re stubborn, and mouthy, and you have the biggest heart of anyone I know. Because you were willing to put yourself in a dangerous position just to save your father’s reputation. Because I want to spend the rest of my life spanking that gorgeous ass of yours when you’re naughty, and making you come so hard you see stars when you’ve been a good girl. Because your laughter instantly makes my world brighter, and I can’t imagine going a single day without seeing you smile.”
Tears pooled on her lashes and once again she was left feeling like she couldn’t breathe with the love for him crowding her chest. “Those are a lot of really great reasons.”
Setting his glass on the table, he knelt down on one knee in front of her, taking her free hand in his. “Marry me, Charlotte Duvall.”
Everything in her was screaming to say yes, but she held back. “I want children.”
“I’m still young,” he said with a grin. “And spry. But we should probably get started on that pretty soon.”
“Okay.” Love, terror, and a dozen other emotions burst out of her on a nervous laugh. “Oh, god. Okay. Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
With a whoop of joy, he jumped to his feet and hauled her up out her chair, spinning her around the kitchen in a very clumsy sort of waltz.
“Braden, the wine!”
“Better not spill it, Lottie-bug, or I’ll have to spank you.”
It was tempting to dump it on him, just to see where the spanking led. But she’d been waiting long enough, dammit, and she had better plans for the evening.
So she put her wine down and looped her arms around his neck, rising up on her toes so their lips were just a whisper apart. “Daddy?”
“Yes, little one?”
“Will you please, for the love of god, fuck me now?”
“As you wish, my princess.”
* * *
