Night Shadow (40 page)

R&R for both of them. “The Council gave Knight’s powers to us.

Blackthorne and Fox were relieved. It shocked the hel out of them to

discover we were less than Halfs.”

Her eyes, her beautiful, dove gray eyes met his. “Didn’t that bother you

as wel ?”

Scared the crap out of him. “Yeah. Gotta admit, it was a relief to me too.”

“So now you’re all ful wizards?”

“Yeah.” If this revelation, and the monumental fix had happened at any

other time in his life, Alex would be consumed with the size of it. Right

now he was more concerned watching Lexi trying to unscrew her damned

finger. “Got a problem with the ring?”

“Yes,” she narrowed her eyes at him. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

165

Night Shadow

Alex’s heart swel ed with love for this woman. His warrior woman. With

her soft mouth, golden, spiky hair, and spirit as big as the sky. He loved

every smooth, rounded inch of her.

“Yeah?” he asked mildly, sitting on the edge of the mattress. Just out of

arm’s reach, because she looked far from loving right then, and capable of

reaching out and punching him in the nose. “What’s the problem with it?”

“Diamonds have dubious origins,” she informed him, still twisting.

“Not this one. DeBeers all the way.”

“It’s too big and ostentatious.”

He reduced it to three carats, saw by her expression it was still too big,

and changed it to two. While looking between the ring and her lovely face

he paused to admire her unbound breasts under the thin cotton of the

tank top. Apparently the touching part of the program was being delayed

some. Alex tried not to be too impatient. Lexi, being Lexi, needed things

spel ed out, apparently. He was good with that. He planned on spel ing out

anything she wanted over the next fifty to sixty years.

“Better?” he inquired politely, resting his hand on her bare knee.

“Eighty percent of engagement rings are diamonds.”

“Ah. Much too common for an uncommon woman. Got it. Do you have a

stone preference?” The skin on her leg was as soft and smooth as silk.

And very sensitive; her pupils dilated as he smoothed his palm up her

inner thigh.

“What I want—What I
want,
” she told him looking him straight in the eye,

her gaze steady, her color a little high. “What I want is to know your real

intentions. Was the ring a means to an end?”

He snaked his arm around her waist and tugged her closer. For a moment

he thought she’d resist all the way, but after a brief hesitation, Lexi

relaxed against him. “The ring was absolutely a means to an end.”

She let out a little breath. “Oh.”

He pushed her down on the nice firm mattress, with its crisp white sheets.

“The purpose was an outward declaration of how I feel about you.”

“And that is?”

“I love you.”

Lexi punched his arm. “Dammit, Alex, why didn’t you say that in the first

place?”

He grinned. “I thought it was fairly obvious.”

“I didn’t want to hope.”

“I love you, Alexis Stone. From the bottom of my heart, with
all
my heart.

From now until the end of time.”

“That’s good, because I love you, Alex Stone. From the bottom of my

heart, with all my heart. From now until the end of time.”

“Excel ent. Before we get from the great part to the starting the rest of

our lives really, really good part—What kind of ring would you like?”

“Emerald, incidental y the color of your eyes. Emerald cut. Two carats,

platinum band.”

Yeah, that was his Lexi. She’d probably started researching rings the day

they met. Alex grinned.

“You got it.” He materialized the ring. She held out her hand to admire it.

166

Night Shadow

“Perfect.”

“Yeah. You are.” He had to freaking kiss her before he exploded with lust.

His mouth covered hers, and her eager response made his heart swel .

He’d never conceived of loving anyone this deeply. The depth of his love

for her staggered him. After several minutes he lifted his head to capture

her cheek in his palm.

“Emeralds are a very soft stone, as I’m sure you know. So you have to be

very careful not to get shot at when you’re working. I’d hate to lose on my

investment.”

“You know I love you, Alex. There’s just one thing—”

Oh, Lord, what now? “Yes, sweetheart?”

“I’m not changing my name when we get married. That’s nonnegotiable.”

Laughing, Alex shimmered away their clothing. “Fair enough, my love. Fair

enough.”

167