Page 63 of Just a Little Desire

Her eyes lit up.“Actually, it’s my birthday.”

I grinned and leaned closer, running my fingers over the back of her hand.“And do you have a birthday wish?”

She pretended to think about it, tapping one finger against her lips.“If I could have anything for my birthday…” She met my eyes, and the playfulness shifted into something deeper, more real.“I think I’d like to spend the night with you.”

She put just the right amount of sweetness in her voice to make it feel authentic, and desire slammed through me.This woman.God, she drove me absolutely crazy in all the best ways.

“Let’s get out of here.”I signaled the bartender to cash out my tab.“I know of a hotel nearby.”

“How convenient,” she murmured with a knowing smile.

Anticipation quickened my pulse as I took her hand and led her across the street.I’d already checked into the room earlier, so we headed straight for the elevator.

Of course it was the same suite as last time.But I’d made it special for tonight.

I let Morgan enter first, watching her face as she took in the rose petals scattered across the bed, the champagne chilling in a bucket of ice next to a slice of chocolate cake, and the flameless candles flickering throughout the room.

“Liam,” she breathed, turning back to me.

She gasped when she saw that I was already down on one knee, holding a black velvet ring box.The time for role-playing was over.I opened the box to reveal a princess cut diamond on a white gold band.My hands were steadier than I expected, but my heart was racing.

“Morgan Starling.”My voice came out rough with emotion.“I can’t believe how much you’ve changed my life this past year.I never thought I’d be brave enough to love again until you came along and knocked down all my walls.You made me realize that real love is impossible to resist.More than that, I don’t want to.Because loving you makes me happier than I’ve ever been, happier than I knew I could be.”

Tears glistened in her eyes, but her expression was radiant.

“You’re my best friend.My partner.The person I want to come home to every single day for the rest of my life.”I took a breath.“Will you marry me?”

“Yes.”She nodded, laughing and crying at the same time as she held out her hand.“Yes, of course I will.”

My heart felt like it would burst from happiness as I slid the ring onto her finger.The fit was perfect.I’d used one of her other rings weeks ago to get the size just right.

I surged to my feet and pulled her into my arms, kissing her like my life depended on it.She wrapped her arms around my neck, kissing me back with equal intensity.

“I love you, Liam Powers,” she whispered against my lips.“So much.”

“I love you too, baby.”I swept her up and carried her toward the bed.“And I’m going to spend the rest of the night showing you exactly how much.”

“The rest of the night?”Her eyes sparkled with mischief and desire.“That’s all?”

I laid her down on the bed and covered her body with mine.“You’re right.That’s not nearly enough time.”

“We have the rest of our lives,” she said softly, cupping my face in her hands.

“The rest of our lives,” I echoed, the words filling me with a contentment I’d never thought possible.“I love the sound of that.”

Then I kissed my fiancée and showed her exactly how much I planned to enjoy every single moment of our future together.

Starting right now.