Dungeon Games (Masters and Mercenaries #6.5)(65)

She’d conquered something so few people ever did. She’d faced it and come out stronger. Her words made him think she thought less of herself because she needed to go to meetings and talk, but he was in awe of her resilience.

Karina fell silent, her head against his chest. After a long moment, she spoke in hesitating tones. “Derek, I understand if you need to think about it.”

“Marry me.” He didn’t need to think about it. He loved her. He needed her to react emotionally before she really thought about the fact that he didn’t deserve her. He would worship the ground she walked on, would feel blessed for every day he lived with her.

“Derek? Did you hear a word I said?”

Brat. Little f*cking brat. Did she think he’d drifted and decided that the only way he could appease her was to ask her to marry him? She’d walked out naked. She’d meant something by that. She’d offered her submission by offering her body. “Knees, Karina.”

She slid off his lap, getting to her knees in front of him. He touched her hair and forced her to look at him.

“Karina, listen to me and listen well. I love you. I want you to marry me. I want you to call me husband in front of the world and Master in our safe places. I want you to trust that I will always take care of you.”

“I love you, Derek. Master. I love you but for a long time that felt wrong because I loved him, too.”

“I’m not asking you to forget about him. Tell me your stories, but, baby you have to let me be a part of them.” It was so hard to remember. “I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “No, baby. I’m sorry. He called me that and I felt guilty because I wanted you to call me that more than anything. I loved Kevin. I did. But I’ve never wanted a man the way I want you.”

“That’s good because god knows I want you.” His cock pulsed and there was no way he left her alone for the night. “How much do your arms hurt, baby?”

Her lips curled into a sexy grin. “I don’t think you’ll be tying me up for a few weeks, but I can handle whatever else you want to throw at me, Master.”

“I’m glad you said that because I’m dying here. Help me out.”

Her hands went to the fly of his jeans. She made quick work of the button, releasing his cock. Her hand went around him, holding him in a tight grip. His girl wasn’t tentative. She knew what he liked and she gave it to him. He liked her rough, strong, giving as much as she took.

Yeah, he’d been an idiot and he’d wasted so much time, but he wasn’t going to waste another second. She stroked him, her eyes on his dick as she licked her lips. That made him feel about twelve feet tall. “You’re going to marry me, baby.”

“Yes I am,” she replied. “I’m going to marry you because I love you and you keep a really clean house.”

Brat. “I would spank you if you hadn’t already been through hell.”

Her eyes came up as she licked the head of his cock. “I think you can come up with a way to make me feel better. I know I can make you forget about our crappy night.”

If he let her, she’d suck him dry and while that was usually a damn fine idea, he had other plans for tonight. It was his turn to be the supplicant. He gripped her wrist gently and pulled it away. He didn’t want to come until he was deep inside her. “Karina, I don’t want to wear a condom. I don’t want to wait.”

All of their friends were having kids. There would be a big group of them running crazy and wild and growing up together. He wanted that for his kids. His and Karina’s. Damn but her daughter would be a handful.

A brilliant smile crossed her face. “I’m not getting any younger, Master. I think I would like to be a mom very much.”

She moved back and let him stand. He quickly got out of his jeans and boots and shrugged off his shirt. He held a hand out to help her stand, but the minute she got to her feet, he leaned down and gently picked her up.

Her arm went around his neck and a dreamy look crossed her face. “I love it when you do that, Brighton. Somehow you make me feel dainty.”

She was dainty compared to him. He started for his bedroom. Finally, finally she would be where she belonged. In his bed. “Then I’ll just carry you everywhere.”

She laughed. “I think that might make it hard for me to work.”

Another thing to talk about. “Baby, I know you love what you do, but can you tone down the dangerous stuff? Please. You’re going to give me a heart attack.”

“I can’t have that.” She touched his jaw, brushing her fingers against the bristles there. “I think I’m going to take some time off and see if I can put that money Terry was willing to kill me over to good use. I’ve hidden so much of myself for a long time. I’m ready to talk, Derek. I’m ready to stand up. I think DPD can help me with a youth outreach.”

Oh, shit. She was going to be the bossiest community advocate any of them had ever worked with, and he would love every minute of sparring with her. “I can make that happen.”

Because making sure she got what she needed was his job.

When she gave him hell, he would just have to take her to the bedroom where he could be the boss.

He laid her down on his bed, turning on the light on the nightstand. He was damn glad he’d never had a woman here. He’d always gone to the woman’s place, telling himself this was his space, but now he realized the truth. Somewhere deep down, he’d been waiting for her.