Caged (Mastered, #4)(141)
“I figured you could start. Tell me exactly what I did wrong so I don’t do it again. Because I swear to Christ, Molly, one small thing snowballed into a huge f*cking thing. I know I ignored you, hurt you, and pissed you off. Then the next thing I knew, you were gone. It kills me that I hurt you. But none of it was intentional. And I don’t want it to ever happen again. I just don’t know how to stop from doin’ that.”
His earnestness and anguish mixed with hope—and yes, the love she saw in his eyes—was a potent combination.
Oh, man of mine, what am I going to do with you?
Show him you love him unconditionally. Teach him to be what you need.
Molly remembered Amery telling her that trying to understand a man like Ronin Black, or predict how he might react, was the hardest thing she’d ever done—but if that was the price she paid for loving him and being loved by him in return, then she’d suck it up and learn to deal with things on Ronin’s level and his way.
That’s what Molly needed to do now. Deacon wouldn’t change overnight. But when she really thought about it . . . he’d already changed—or at least proved to her he was willing to try. The issues between them would never be as simple as him forgetting to refill the toilet paper dispenser in the bathroom. But having him here, looking at her like that, even after she’d left him in Texas . . . She would do whatever it took to make sure he looked at her that way for the rest of their lives.
But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t make the man grovel. Because for him, that would always be part of learning too.
“Say something,” he demanded.
She gestured to the candles and the flowers. “What’s all this?”
“After bein’ at your place, I know you like candles and flowers and shit. So I got some. For you.”
“Thought it’d help your cause, did you?”
“Figured it couldn’t hurt.”
“You put this together by yourself?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I called the orders in before I left Texas, and Knox picked up the flowers. He and I hauled it all up after Amery insisted I use the poolside as a staging area—whatever the f*ck that means. Then Shi-Shi arranged the flowers, ’cause I suck at that stuff. But I lit all the candles.”
“That’s a lot of candles. So you’ve been here awhile?”
“Seems like a f*cking eternity since I saw you last night.” Deacon shoved his hands in the pockets of his suit pants.
She was impressed he’d dressed up. Her eyes narrowed. Wait. He was still wearing the same clothes he’d had on last night. He’d been so anxious to get to her that he hadn’t taken the time to change clothes? “How did you get to Denver before me?”
“JFW jet.”
“That’s not fair.”
“I won’t play fair when it comes to you. You know that about me.” He paused. “Look, I’m sorry I ditched you at the country club. I’m sorry I was short with you in the hallway. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what was goin’ on with Dad and Julianne. There’s a lot I need to tell you. And I’m really f*cking sorry that I didn’t call you to say I wouldn’t be coming back to the hotel.”
“That’s a good start,” she murmured.
“It is?”
“Yeah. I was worried about you.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“So what happened with your parents?”
“I’ll fill you in on everything about that later. Because this right here? This is about us. Only us.” He locked his gaze to hers. “Molly, do you still love me?”
His vulnerability did her in completely. He hadn’t come here believing she’d fall back into his arms—but he wouldn’t let her go without a fight either.
“You hurt me. And I hated that I couldn’t talk to you about it. But I’m sure I hurt you too by leaving you with a helpful f*cking note. But it wasn’t a breakup note.”
He remained stoic. Waiting for her to continue.
“Love isn’t something that just stops. Not real love. So yes, I’m still in love with you. I don’t ever want you to doubt that, Deacon.”
Then he was on her. His hands cradling her face as he kissed her with hope, love, and passion.
The man definitely had the hot-makeup-kisses thing down.
When he finally released her mouth, he buried his face in her neck. “I need to hear you say it again.”
“I love you.”
He shuddered with relief. Then he said, “Close your eyes.”
Molly obeyed him without question.
Deacon kissed the knuckles on her left hand and slipped something on her ring finger.
Her heart hammered. Blood whooshed in her ears. Did that mean what she thought it did? No. It couldn’t. It was too soon, wasn’t it? But what if it—
“Babe. Gotta remember to breathe.”
She sucked in a huge gulp of air.
He curled his hand beneath her jaw. “Look at me.”
Those amazing blue eyes were the first thing she saw.
“Marry me.”
Of course the man didn’t ask her; he never did anything the right way. He did it the Deacon way. And that was fine by her. “Yes.”
Deacon smiled. And she wondered if she would ever get used to how gorgeous the man was when he smiled at her like that.