Ain't Misbehaving by Shelley Munro Page A

at her back stopped her retreat.
    She speared him with a glare, a figurative stomping of her foot. “You can’t make me.”
    “I thought you loved me.”
    “I do.”
    “But not enough to marry me,” he said. “That makes me feel used.”
    Pearl snorted. “You didn’t seem to have a problem with that last night. I didn’t hear a single protest.”
    He tugged on a lock of her hair, winding it around his finger with quiet concentration. “Things have changed this morning.”
    “I hate games and I won’t marry you.”
    “Liar. What the hell do you think you’ve been doing all this time?”
    “No. I…I…” she trailed off, her mouth opening and closing until she resembled a fish.
    “I love you, Pearl. I’ve loved you for a long time and I would like to marry you. If you don’t want to marry me, fine, but don’t expect me to walk away with my tail between my legs. I fight for what I want.”
    When she didn’t move, didn’t reply, he started to worry about misjudging her. He placed a fingertip beneath her chin and gently exerted force so he could watch her eyes, see her emotions. His breath caught when he met her tear-filled gaze. A faint tremor worked through her body, and he swallowed in an attempt to force his alarm aside. His fingers flexed on her upper arms while he tried to force himself to move, to step back and release her.
    “I want children.”
    It took him a while to focus, to discern her words. “Children?”
    She nodded. “At least three. And a puppy. I want a puppy as well.”
    Justin’s mouth quirked in the beginnings of a smile. It was possible they had a child on the way already. “We’ll need a bigger house then. Anything else?”
    “I want to be an equal partner.”
    “I wouldn’t expect anything less. Is that all?”
    Pearl leaned into him. “One more thing. I don’t ever want you to give me pearls and we’re not giving our children any ‘gem’ names.”
    “Done. When will you marry me?”
    Pearl relaxed and twinkled up at him, worry sliding away to let her love show. “Whenever you want.”
    “Tomorrow.” Thank you, God. He’d be a good husband, better than she’d ever imagined because he understood her fears. He understood her. Together they’d be a powerful force. No way did he intend to give her a chance to change her mind. “We’ll put things in motion straight away.” He dipped his head to claim a kiss, savoring the warm armful of woman. His woman.
    When Justin finally lifted his head, his breath came in rasps. Pearl wasn’t much better.
    He lifted his brows. “Bedroom?”
    “Too far. Couch.”
    “I love the way you think.” Justin tugged her shirt over her head, desperate to have her right now, to cement their love. He flicked open the clasp on her bra and drew the lacy lingerie down her arms.
    Laughing, she kicked off her sandals, shimmied out of her jeans and leapt at him, curling her bare legs around his waist and clinging. “Someone is lagging behind.”
    “Not for long.” Justin walked through to the lounge and followed her down onto the leather couch. He cupped her face in his hands, rubbing his lips against hers and taking sensual nibbles. At her urging, he took the kiss deeper, sliding his tongue into the softness of her mouth and savoring the taste of her. She trembled beneath him, her breasts flattened against his chest.
    Mine , he thought, letting himself believe. His cock throbbed, pressing insistently against his fly.
    “Hurry. Get naked,” she urged.
    Pleased but determined to make this loving last, he nuzzled her neck beneath the curtain of blonde curls. He gently rubbed his cheek against hers and licked across the shell of her ear. She trembled, pressing against him with urgency and silent demand.
    “Justin.”
    He chuckled. Maybe not so silent. Standing, he toed off his boots and ripped his shirt over his head. Then without taking his eyes off her, he unfastened the button on his jeans and unzipped the fly. Hunger throbbed between