Khan (Bowen Boys, #2)(35)
But waking alone a few hours later had set her off again. How dare he? She wasn’t sure how he dared at anything at all, but still stomped around the room gathering her things. She went into the bathroom to have a nice soak when she stopped in her tracks. Someone had been very busy.
There were candles everywhere. On the counter, around the garden tub, and in the windowsill. She touched the rose petals that were around each of the scented candles and marveled at how soft they were. The pink of them matched the candles perfectly. There was also a bottle of wine in a bucket by the tub and two long-fluted glasses.
“I wanted to surprise you.” She turned to look at Khan when he spoke. “I was all set to wake you when I realized that I forgot the corkscrew. But you woke before I came back.”
She nodded, not sure what else to do. She looked back at the inviting water with the candles that had yet to be lit floating around and more rose petals. It was beautiful.
“Here, let me light these so you can see them. The guy as the store said that they burn for hours.” He leaned in the tub and set them to flame. “They smell like lilac. Do you like them?”
“Yes. They’re one of my favorite flowers.” She could tell that he was nervous, so she sat down on the toilet seat and looked up at him. He was so wonderfully handsome.
“I wanted to make it up to you for being an ass since you met me. I wanted to…I need to make sure you know how much I love you.”
“I do. None of this is necessary. I know—”
“But it is. I need this for you.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I’m not doing this right. I wanted to show you that I’m not a big Neanderthal. I can be, I know, but I’m not always. Especially when it comes to sex.”
“You’re doing fine.” She looked around the room as it soured a little for her. “So you did this because you want me to stay with you because of the sex. That you somehow think that I’m going to—”
He dropped to his knees before her and took her hands. “No. Never that. I meant that I didn’t want you to think that I only want sex from you. I want you to hold me, love me, not because you have to because of a twist of the fates, but because you like me enough to give me a chance. I love you, Monica.”
When he fumbled on the counter and then reached into the drawer closest to him, she watched him as he swore. It was funny to see the unflappable Khan all messed up about something. He finally seemed to gather whatever it was he needed.
“I wanted to do this after I swept you off your feet and had you begging me for more, but I can’t wait. Actually, I’m too terrified to wait any longer.” He got up so that he was only resting on one knee and kissed her hand. He did look a little afraid, and she leaned into him and kissed him.
“Whatever it is, we can fix it.” She kissed him again when he stayed where he was. “I don’t want to live without you either. So just tell me.”
He nodded. “Monica, will you marry me?”
The ring he put on her finger was beautiful. She moved her fingers around and let the candlelight catch it, and laughed when it sparkled around the room. She loved the color and thought the chocolate diamond matched his eyes perfectly. She looked up at him. “You didn’t have to do this. I love being your mate. If you’re doing this to show your dad or because he made you, then you didn’t—”
“No, I did this because I should have. A long time ago. And Dad helped me pick it out. He wanted the yellow one, but I thought you’d like this one better.” He looked up at her. “You do, don’t you? I can take it back and get the yellow one if you want it. Or the white. But—”
She cut him off with her mouth. She lifted her head, looked into his face, and fell in love with him all over. And she told him so. When he kissed her again, he pulled her up off the seat and laughed.
“I guess I could have found a more romantic place to propose to you, but I didn’t want you to get away before I asked you.” He kissed her again, this time with a little of the hunger she was feeling for him. “If you don’t mind, I’d really like to bathe you. I’ve never done it before and find that I really want to try.”
She watched him strip down, and when he was naked, she reached for him. He told her no, this was bath time, and not making love. He told her he had plans for afterward and he didn’t want her to mess them up. She giggled as she took off her own clothes.
“Okay, this might have to be both. You’re very beautiful without clothes on. With them too, but I think my favorite is like you are right now.” He helped her into the tub and settled behind her. “This is very nice.”
He’d gotten a large sponge, and he’d washed her back, then her legs. She tried teasing him into making love to her in the tub, but he kept turning her down. When he washed her hair, she made sure she brushed against his hard cock as many times as she could until he set her away from him.
“You, my dear, aren’t playing fair. You will behave or I won’t give you the rest of your gifts.” She sat very still for all of three seconds and lunged at him. “Are you going to make me spank you?”
She moved forward in the tub. He’d gone to so much trouble for her she didn’t want to spoil it for him and tell him she would indeed like for him to spank her. Instead, she kissed him. Gently, but with as much love as she could put in it. When she pulled back, she could see that his eyes had darkened. Lust was there, as well as love. She smiled at him and stood up; water ran down her body.