Page 110 of Deathtoll

“Nothing?”

A sound of warning rumbled up his chest as he put his hands on her hips to hold her in place.

She squealed under his dark gaze, then confessed. “Allie’s bachelorette party had a plumber stripper. He came to the door and pretended it was a repair call, then ripped his overalls off and—”

“I’m going to have to have a talk with Harper,” Murph said with mock outrage.

“Later.” Kate began divesting him of the overalls. Stopped. “Oh God.”

She’d seen his cuts on the torture table, but not fully. His blood had covered them. Now they were out in the open. “How many stitches did you get?”

“What stitches?”

“You should lie down.”

“Maybe for round two. Seriously, I’m fully anesthetized. I feel no pain. And I mean to do things before that changes.” His intent gaze promised a wealth of pleasure.

“Why are you orange?”

“I’ve been swabbed with iodine.”

“I feel like I’m about to make love to Garfield, the cat.”

“Now that hurts my feelings.” But he was struggling with a grin as his seeking fingers caressed her skin.

She didn’t know what to say. Then, as he stood before her, naked, magnificent even in his battered and orange state, Kate remembered Linda’s marital advice, and she made her eyes go wide with wonder. “How is that thing getting bigger every time I see it?”

Murph burst out in a shocked laugh. “Marry me.”

She didn’t have to think about it. “Yes.”

God, the immolating look he gave her. The heat of it seared through her. And the endless love in it made her heart melt. Then she was naked too, and they were touching just about everywhere.

He only let her go to check her over. He was careful with her, tender, scrutinizing every inch of skin, swearing at every bruise, every scratch.

“I want to make love to you. But if you think we should wait—”

“Don’t wait.” She was weak, that was what she was. She wanted him with a desperate need. She couldn’t even pretend to play hard to get.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Do you want me to beg?”

“After what you’ve put me through these past months? Definitely.”

“Please.” There. Apparently, she was also shameless.

He hooked her right knee over his hip and unerringly positioned himself at her opening, his boiling gaze holding hers. “I’ve missed you.” He pushed inside, a tight inch, and her breath caught. They hadn’t been together like this in three months. Her body needed to adjust to him being back.

He gave her time. Held.

Until she grew impatient at last. “Murph!”

That evil gleam was back. “I’m not going any farther until you say you’re sorry for torturing me, and you promise not to torture me again. Promise that you’re not going to change your mind before the wedding.”

“Are you seriously blackmailing me while you’reinsideme?”

He didn’t say anything. He held.