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  “Or not, if you’d rather just have the sex.”

  Still he said nothing, enjoying the desperation on her face that slowly transformed into delightful anger.

  “Look, you bastard, I know I was wrong. But I love you, and you’re stuck with me. So if you have some other floozy hanging around, dump her. You’re mine. And I love you,” she added again, for solid measure apparently.

  Ethan began laughing, he just couldn’t help himself. And suddenly she laughed with him.

  “Oh, baby, I’ve missed you so much.” He hugged her to him, wiping the tears of mirth and happiness from his eyes.

  “Me, too.” Jewel laughed when he picked her up and tossed her on the bed.

  In seconds he’d stripped out of his clothes and settled on top of her. “Look, if I promise not to make love to you so gently any more, will you stay with me?”

  She flushed. “Actually, I loved what we did that last time on the island. I was such an ass for running from you.”

  “From us,” Ethan corrected, and rubbed his hand over her collar. “Shit, Jewel. Do you have any idea what it was like to see you naked in my bed wearing only a leather collar? I jerked off to that image for a solid month while you were gone, and I still had wet dreams.”

  Her eyes danced. “Really? Me, too. Oh, not of me in a collar, but of being with you again. I love your muscles. The way you smell.” She inhaled the spot at the base of his throat, making him shiver. “And especially the way you taste.”

  He groaned and pushed against her, his cock at half mast. “Give me a minute. You took my strength with that pretty little mouth. Damn, baby, you made me come so hard I about lost my mind.”

  “And after that knock you took a month ago, you don’t have much left to lose.”

  “Very funny.” Ethan laughed with her, so happy he wanted to shout. “Now about this honest man stuff ‑‑”

  “No pressure. It’s a yes now or later. Doesn’t matter to me when you say it, so long as you say it.”

  But he could feel her tension. “For the record, I’m proposing. And you’re going to marry me. That’s final.”

  “You’re so bossy.” She grinned from ear to ear. “But just so you know, we have to do it in New Jersey, or I’m disowned.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. And you’re marrying into a family of thieves.”

  “Figures.” He shook his head, his eyes twinkling. “Both my brothers are cops, my dad’s a retired Fed, and I’m a prior Marine.”

  She laughed. “Oh, good. Family get-togethers will be sooo much fun.”

  “Yeah.” Ethan stared down into his future and wiped a happy tear from her soft face. “You know I’m going to milk as much apology out of you as I can.”

  She sighed with contentment and hugged him. “I know. I deserve it.”

  “We both do, baby. Remember, Bacchus favors us.”

  Jewel laughed, and he joined her, determined not to forget Rick on the wedding list that he planned on drafting just as soon as Ethan finished making proper love to his woman.

  “Jewel? If you’re really sorry, you’ll come in with me to work tomorrow. You see, everyone’s been blaming me for being such a bastard lately, but when I show you off, they’ll understand.”

  She grinned. “That’s what they said about me at work, too. You know, Uncle Tommy was right. We really are made for each other.”

  And the next day, when she passed the Marcy test, he knew he’d found a winner.

  Marie Harte

  Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic, but especially all things romance. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with the warmth of first passion and knew writing was her calling. Twenty-three years later, the Marine Corps, a foray through Information Technology, a husband and four kids, and her dream has finally come true. Marie lives in Georgia with her family and loves hearing from readers. To read more about Marie, visit www.marieharte.com and check out her blog at http://www.marieharte.blogspot.com.