Hearts the Last Beat (Angel Fire #6) - Ellie Masters Page 0,83
thing that matters in the world.
“I’m sorry I hurt you.” I hug her tight and revel in the feel of her hot body pressed against mine.
“I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“I tried texting you, but you didn’t respond.”
“I know. I was mad at you at the time. I’m sorry I didn’t respond.”
“I want to know if you’re up for a road trip.”
“A road trip?”
“Yeah.”
“Where?”
“Vegas.”
“Vegas?” She goes still in my arms.
“Does that frighten you?”
“That depends. Are we going to play slots?”
“I was thinking about something else.”
“Spike…” Her breath whispers against my ear.
I get on my knee and do this right. “Angel, I need you in my life. It may be crazy, and it may be insane, but I don’t want to live another minute without you. I want you to be my wife.”
“Wife?”
“Pretty sure I didn’t stutter.” I try to crack a smile but wince instead as my cut lip protests the movement.
“What about the guys? What about Angel Fire?”
“Doesn’t matter. As long as I have you, I have everything I want.”
“You’d give that up for me?”
“I already did.”
“I can’t let you do that.” The smile slips from her face, and with it, her joy fades.
“I don’t think it’s really up to you. Or to me, for that matter. Either way, you’re all I want.”
“What about Lucy?” She nibbles on her lower lip.
“I ask you to marry me, and you want to know about Lucy?”
“We can get married anytime, but babies don’t wait.”
“I want you to meet her. Her husband is a really great guy. Their baby is going to be beautiful, but all I want right now is to make you mine. Let’s make it official, today and forever. We can meet Lucy’s baby later.”
“You really want to do this?” She pulls away from me and stares deeply into my eyes. “Now?”
“More than anything. What about you? Is it too much?”
“Sounds perfect to me, but you’re pretty messed up.”
“Nothing a little cold pack can’t help.”
“You sure you don’t need stitches?”
“I have a pretty good idea Skye is going to stitch up what needs to be stitched.”
“Your face…” She scans the damage. “It looks like a hamburger grinder went to town on your face.”
“It’ll heal.”
“I’m sorry about your piercing.” She reaches for my temple and lightly strokes the skin. I pull away, not wanting her to get too much blood on her hand.
“Go get your things.” I get up and usher her inside. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” I stroke her cheek, her neck, and along her jawline, brushing her skin as if I can’t stop touching her.
A heated look simmers in her gaze. Her beauty is arresting. Angel is my addiction, and I’m happily her addict. Until the last beat of my heart, I will always love her.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous. You know that, don’t you?”
“Only because I see my love reflected in your eyes.” She squints at me. “Or at least in the one eye that’s not swelling shut. You sure you don’t need…”
“Skye’s going to take a look before we run off.”
“Is there anything I should pack?”
“Your driver’s license. You’re driving on the way there, and we’ll need it at the courthouse.” I’ve researched Vegas weddings. They don’t require much. I’ll get us a room, schedule the wedding, and anything else we might need.
It’s not the white church wedding Angel deserves, but that’s not how the men of Angel Fire roll. When we find our one, we don’t waste time. That’s our tradition; we elope, too eager to tie our women to us to wait for anything.
My heart aches. Not in a bad way. The foolish organ in my chest jumps with the thrill of finally making Angel mine. Like it’s tired of waiting and is excited that I’m finally on board. My fingers feather along her collarbone, but I withdraw.
She needs to pack, and I need—I need a moment to wrap my mind around what I’m doing.
Angel’s hazel-green eyes spark beneath the dazzling California sun. Heady warmth spreads through my body and gathers into the most delicious sensation. I want her. I want her with every fiber of my soul.
“Hurry up. Go pack.” I give her backside a little tap. If she doesn’t get out of my sight, I’m going to strip her down right here, right now, and damn the consequences. I stand, a little unsteady, and head inside. Skye waits for me, as expected, in the kitchen with her full medical bag.