He laughed hollowly, raking a hand through his hair. “It should be me saying that to you.” His hands trembled, his stance rigid, and I realised how much he’d hidden from me in order to take away my pain.

My heart melted a little.

Okay, a lot.

He paced the room, butt naked and incredible. The man’s physique was beyond cut. He was powerful in every way, and none of the muscle was for decoration. I knew that now. Plus, the man had speed, determination, tenacity, love…what was I saying no to at this point?

His pacing grew agitated, his turns on the thick pile–yeah, pink–carpet leaving heavy indents as he stalked across the length of the room and back. It was the first time I’d seen him lose his shit, and I hated it. Wanted to fix him.

So I did the thing I thought he wanted most.

“Hudson, stop,” I said quietly.

He spun on his heel, staring down at me with a hard, closed face. “You know I gave you everything. Everything, Skye. And my heart–fuck,” he muttered rubbing his chest like he could remove the ache that tore him up from the inside.

I sympathised. Mine was the same.

“Come here,” I whispered, unwrapping the blanket, and getting on my hands and knees to crawl to him. I kept it sexy, but I wanted him to see the lack of threat, what I was willing to put aside for him.

I had no idea how this would work; if it would work, but suddenly I saw what had been right in front of me the entire time and somehow missed it.

Missed him.

But he saw me when I needed him, and now I had to return that favour.

He knelt before me, hauling me up his body, frowning at me. “You shouldn’t be down there.”

“But it seemed like the right thing to do.” I shrugged, looping my wrists behind his neck and settling over him.

Large hands caught my hips firmly and pulled me right into him, leaving no space between us. “Damn, you feel good, girl. You gonna give this thing a go? Or was that the last time I got to touch you like this?” he squeezed my ass, digging his fingers right in.

A breath whooshed from me, along with a mewl. I snapped my mouth shut and gave him a hard look. “No more freebies for you, fireboy.”

“That’s Ranger, princess. Just like you.” He kissed me quick and drew back just as suddenly.

My heart thumped hard, and heat rose in my chest. “Do it again, but slower,” I whispered. “And maybe we can find out just how long summer really lasts.”

His smile turned sinful as he lifted me up and set me back down, right on top of the hard length that impaled me until I moaned his name against his mouth.

And then everything was long and slow for a damn long time.

I loved it. Him. Maybe that sort of love could cover a world of hurts, despite being so freaking scary. But with him I’d try it. Maybe for a real long time. He twirled the ring on my finger I forgot to take off, and gave me a hard squeeze.

“If I take this off now, it won’t be long before it’s back on,” he promised darkly, before he began to move and I forgot all the arguments that could wait for the road trip back home to Texas.

Cliche? Maybe. But remember, ladies. If you’ve got a man who’s willing to kneel for you, he thinks you’re a queen.

Take that crown and be worthy of it. He’ll never stop kneeling.

Source: www.seynovel.com