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“If you can talk, you can breathe?”
“No. The other part. The part where you called me…”
“…love,” he finished, and smiled when she dropped her eyes, lashes sweeping down. She was so achingly, perfectly beautiful. Every scar. Every nervous little gesture. Everything about her, from the way she compressed her lips when she was angry to the way her nails bit into his back when she cried out his name in the heights of passion. “My love. Now, and always.”
She hid her face against his shoulder. “Now you’re just embarrassing me. Shut. Up.”
“I don’t think you’re embarrassed. I think you like it…love.”
With a growl, she shoved him off, then straddled him. Her eyes shone. Her hair framed her face in a lustrous tangle of chocolate. “I’ll make you
shut up, if you won’t do it on your own. And trust me, you won’t be able to handle my methods.”
“Try me,” he said, and rolled his hips against her.
She gasped, then slid down his body and kissed a path to his hips. Her lips were like silk on his skin. Her fingers caressed his erection, making him throb and stealing his breath.
“I will,” she said. “Trust me, I will.”
He bit back a moan. “Have I mentioned how much I love you?”
“Possibly. And it’s entirely possible I might love you, too.”
Then her lips closed around him, and he lost the ability to speak.
She was right. She knew just how to shut him up.
Chapter Seven
Erica stretched and smiled up at the ceiling. The past three days had been amazing. Jeremy hadn’t left her side for longer than it took to shower and eat. Every night, he’d held her in his arms. They’d talked for hours, about everything. What had happened when they’d been apart. Their families. The life they wanted to make together.
And every morning he told her how beautiful she was, and made love to her in the rising sunlight.
It was entirely unfair that soon he’d have to return to base, hours away—and not long after that, he’d be away on deployment again. It hurt to think she wouldn’t see him every day, or feel his skin against hers while she slept. Her smile faded. She ran her hand over the empty place in the bed. If only he could move here, and stay with her. But the military didn’t work that way. Jeremy still had three years on this tour, and no plans to leave the Marines.
He was a career soldier, and proud of it. She was proud of him, of everything he fought for. But what did it mean for them? She’d deploy with him in a heartbeat, follow him anywhere he meant to go. She loved him, had always loved him. But it was too soon. Too fast.
Jeremy sauntered into the bedroom carrying two cups of coffee. “In case you were wondering, yes, I also provide valet service.”
She forced a smile and sat up. She couldn’t let him know she was worried. Not when they had so little time left together. “Thank you,” she said, taking a mug.
His gaze roamed over her face. “What’s wrong? You look upset.”
She sighed. Damn the man for knowing her so well, right down to her false smiles. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just so…happy.”
He quirked a brow. “And that upsets you…?”
“You’re leaving.” She swallowed hard. “I’ll miss you here.”
“I’ll miss you, too.” He kissed her forehead and settled at her side. “We’ll make it work, though. My weekends are always open.”
She nodded. “I can make mine work.”
“Or…” He locked those scorching eyes on her. “When you’re ready, we could look into you coming out with me.”
“When I’m ready?” she replied with an uneasy laugh. “What about you? Don’t you have to be ready, too?”
“I’ve been ready to spend my life with you for years.” He set his coffee down, took hers, and set it on the nightstand. He slid his body over hers, pressing her down into the bed with his deliciously hot weight. His fingers laced with hers and held them pinned to either side of her shoulders. “I’ve just been waiting for you to feel the same. When you’re ready, so am I. I want to have it all. Marriage, kids, crappy base housing.” He grinned. “I want all of that, but only with you.”
