David was riding my last nerve at the moment.
“That is an exquisite diamond, Miss James.”
“Thank you,” I responded absently, my attention stolen by the large diamond sitting on my finger. My card and the small bag being placed in front of me finally pulled my attention back to the moment. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize, Miss James. And no resizing is necessary.”
“Really?” I couldn't hide my surprise as I put my card away.
“It could be a quarter size bigger, but Mr. Taylor insists it's unnecessary.”
Of course he does. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome, Miss James”
I smiled, grabbing the bag and turning to find David standing no more than three feet behind me. “I'm ready.”
He didn't say a word as he wrapped an arm around me, quickly maneuvering me out of the store and into the waiting limo.
“Everything okay?” he asked as soon as he settled next to me. The material of his worn jeans against my bare leg did nothing to stop his body heat from seeping into my skin.
“Yeah.”
“Hey, if you're mad at me, be mad at me. Don't try to hide it,” he coaxed, reaching over to play with my engagement ring. He waited a moment then started again. “You just got me any old thing, huh? That's fine—”
“What?”
“We spent less than thirty minutes in there. You spent even less time looking.”
His insinuation instantly pissed me off.
“You are an asshole! You know that? A fucking asshole! ”
He started laughing—a deep throaty sound.
“What about me is so fucking funny today?” I fumed.
“Shhh.” He reached for me, pulling me into his lap as I uselessly struggled to get free of him. “Sweet girl, calm down. I'm not laughing at you ...Not really .”
He easily manhandled me into position until I was straddling his thighs. Not that I bothered to continue struggling, it was pointless. And if I was being honest, I liked it. I liked that he was strong enough to handle me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I'd never known a man who could handle the latter two.
“I'm just happy you're not hiding from me. I don't care if you're being a bitch or sweet as hell... I just wanna see you.” His grip on my hips tightened as he pulled them fractionally closer. “No walls. None of your controlled responses. You snapping at me in there like that made me so fucking happy. I want you, all of you. Nasty. Mean. Sweet. Everything you have inside you. I want it all.”
“You like me snapping at you? You are crazy,” I sighed, the anger and frustration leaving me.
My gaze fell to my fingers as I absently traced the contours of his chest through his tee. I was stunned at how he still managed to prove how much he wanted me—bitchiness and all. And I was more amazed that I felt safer with him with each day that passed. At this rate, I would never be able to give him up if things didn't work out. I would always be searching for this again—with him—if we lost it.
“So.” He ducked his head down to look into my eyes. “Can I see my ring?”
“No,” I pouted, still insulted that he thought I would get him any old thing, that I wouldn't put thought into it.
“Hey, I'll get a tattoo ring if you want. I don't care.”
“I did put thought into it,” I said, barely above a whisper.
“Did you?” His voice was soft and hopeful. “Can I please see it?”
My gaze darted to the bag just before I reached for it. I hesitantly handed it to him, my eyes never meeting his. It dawned on me that he didn't wear jewelry and what I chose might not be something he would like.
I watched his hands as he took the small box out of the bag and opened it. When he didn't say anything, disappointment crept in and then hurt.
He doesn't like it.
After what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
“Sweetheart... is this how you see me?” His voice was soft and something else I couldn't place.
“Yeah... Well, it's how I see us, I guess.” I was suddenly very nervous. “It's fine if you don't
“That is an exquisite diamond, Miss James.”
“Thank you,” I responded absently, my attention stolen by the large diamond sitting on my finger. My card and the small bag being placed in front of me finally pulled my attention back to the moment. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize, Miss James. And no resizing is necessary.”
“Really?” I couldn't hide my surprise as I put my card away.
“It could be a quarter size bigger, but Mr. Taylor insists it's unnecessary.”
Of course he does. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome, Miss James”
I smiled, grabbing the bag and turning to find David standing no more than three feet behind me. “I'm ready.”
He didn't say a word as he wrapped an arm around me, quickly maneuvering me out of the store and into the waiting limo.
“Everything okay?” he asked as soon as he settled next to me. The material of his worn jeans against my bare leg did nothing to stop his body heat from seeping into my skin.
“Yeah.”
“Hey, if you're mad at me, be mad at me. Don't try to hide it,” he coaxed, reaching over to play with my engagement ring. He waited a moment then started again. “You just got me any old thing, huh? That's fine—”
“What?”
“We spent less than thirty minutes in there. You spent even less time looking.”
His insinuation instantly pissed me off.
“You are an asshole! You know that? A fucking asshole! ”
He started laughing—a deep throaty sound.
“What about me is so fucking funny today?” I fumed.
“Shhh.” He reached for me, pulling me into his lap as I uselessly struggled to get free of him. “Sweet girl, calm down. I'm not laughing at you ...Not really .”
He easily manhandled me into position until I was straddling his thighs. Not that I bothered to continue struggling, it was pointless. And if I was being honest, I liked it. I liked that he was strong enough to handle me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I'd never known a man who could handle the latter two.
“I'm just happy you're not hiding from me. I don't care if you're being a bitch or sweet as hell... I just wanna see you.” His grip on my hips tightened as he pulled them fractionally closer. “No walls. None of your controlled responses. You snapping at me in there like that made me so fucking happy. I want you, all of you. Nasty. Mean. Sweet. Everything you have inside you. I want it all.”
“You like me snapping at you? You are crazy,” I sighed, the anger and frustration leaving me.
My gaze fell to my fingers as I absently traced the contours of his chest through his tee. I was stunned at how he still managed to prove how much he wanted me—bitchiness and all. And I was more amazed that I felt safer with him with each day that passed. At this rate, I would never be able to give him up if things didn't work out. I would always be searching for this again—with him—if we lost it.
“So.” He ducked his head down to look into my eyes. “Can I see my ring?”
“No,” I pouted, still insulted that he thought I would get him any old thing, that I wouldn't put thought into it.
“Hey, I'll get a tattoo ring if you want. I don't care.”
“I did put thought into it,” I said, barely above a whisper.
“Did you?” His voice was soft and hopeful. “Can I please see it?”
My gaze darted to the bag just before I reached for it. I hesitantly handed it to him, my eyes never meeting his. It dawned on me that he didn't wear jewelry and what I chose might not be something he would like.
I watched his hands as he took the small box out of the bag and opened it. When he didn't say anything, disappointment crept in and then hurt.
He doesn't like it.
After what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
“Sweetheart... is this how you see me?” His voice was soft and something else I couldn't place.
“Yeah... Well, it's how I see us, I guess.” I was suddenly very nervous. “It's fine if you don't
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