Witch Fire (28 page)

He glanced at her before turning his face away. She glimpsed relief in his eyes. Maybe he wasn't yet ready to absolve himself of responsibility, but hopefully that had given him a starting place to heal.

She paused, feeling her eyes fill up with fresh tears. “And I love you back.” Her voice shook. “I love you so much.”

He leaned forward and took her into his arms, laying a sweet kiss to her mouth. “I'm so glad to hear those words from your lips,” he murmured. “I'm so relieved.”

She felt another tear roll down her cheek, and he kissed it away. Mira rolled her eyes and gave a little laugh. “Please, Jack. I've loved you ever since that day you kissed me in your kitchen and set my magick free.”

“Do you think that some day you might be able to forgive me for hiding the truth from you?” He cupped her cheek in his hand. “I'd happily spend the rest of my life working for it.”

“Wow.” She gave a short laugh. “The rest of your life. And I thought you were just in it for the sex.”

“The sex is great.” He ran his thumb down her cheek. “But I love the whole package. In fact, I can't imagine living without you.”

A smile flickered over her mouth. “Ditto, Jack. You made a mistake in not telling me the truth, but we make mistakes sometimes. I can forgive you.”

“I wasn't kidding about taking the rest of my life to make it up to you.”

Her breath hitched in her throat. That had sounded like a proposal and he was down on his knees…and now he was pulling a small jewelry box out of his pocket.

No!
She couldn't get married again.
Never, ever.

He cracked the box, revealing the most gorgeous diamond and sapphire ring she'd ever seen. It wasn't a traditional engagement ring, but it was close enough to make her worry.

“Jack,” she said warily.

He must've seen the horrified look on her face because he chuckled. “I'm
not
asking you to marry me, Mira.” He took the ring out and slipped it on her finger.

It fit perfectly. She stared at it glittering there on her hand. It looked so much better than her wedding band ever had.

He pressed his forehead to hers and cupped her cheek in his palm. “But I am asking you into my life on a permanent, forever-type basis,” he murmured. “Maybe one day you'll decide that marriage to the
right
man might not be so terrifying, and this ring can become an engagement ring instead of simply a gift from someone who loves you deeply.”

“Jack,” she started, and then stopped, trying to find the right words. They never came. She smiled so broadly she thought her face might crack. “Okay.”

He kissed her sweetly at first, then his tongue feathered across her lips, urging them to part. They did, and he slipped within her mouth to rub his tongue against hers. She heard the jewelry box drop to the floor as Jack pulled her into his arms and off the couch. He laid her on the floor beneath him, his mouth still working on hers.

The way he kissed her, the heat of his body, and his sheer masculine presence overwhelmed her and stole her breath.

She slid her hands over his shoulders, down his back, and pushed them beneath the hem of his sweater, seeking warm flesh. Her body responded so easily to his kiss. Her nipples grew hard and her sex reacted, growing warm and aroused.

“Jack,” she gasped, when they broke the kiss. “I want you.” Mira pulled a thread of magick, and the candles extinguished, plunging the room into darkness.

“Honey, I'm yours.”