Micah took extra care when they made love. As demanding and as dominant as he was, he was terrified of hurting her. He was no less commanding than ever, but he was exquisitely gentle now that she carried his child. She hadn’t felt the kiss of a whip in months. Hadn’t felt the thrill of the rougher edge of his dominance.

In time it would return. For now they delighted in a new way to make love. It was as much a discovery as the rest of their relationship, and Angelina cherished every moment.

When her underwear whispered down her legs to coil at her feet, she heard the swift intake of Micah’s breath.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he asked in a hoarse, low voice.

She raised her gaze to meet his and drowned in the warm chocolate of his eyes. They burned with so much love and desire. Her heart swelled with love. Her love for him. He was hers. She was his. They had created a child together. They had created love.

“I feel beautiful when you look at me,” she said honestly.

His eyes softened. “I want you to always see how beautiful you are when you see the way I look at you. I want you to know how loved you are.”

She smiled and waited quietly for his command. She loved moments like these when she awaited his pleasure, knowing he was content to just look at her.

“Come to me,” he said.

She crawled onto the bed and sank to her knees as she stared down at his muscled body. So perfect and beautiful. He was dark—nearly as dark as her own skin, though he had no Hispanic heritage. His hair was dark brown, so dark it looked black.

The same dark hair coiled at the juncture of his thighs and his cock lay to the side, semierect as if awaiting her attention.

She remained still, content to wait for Micah’s command.

He ran his hand up her thigh, to the curve of her waist and then higher to cup the swell of her breast. He toyed idly with one nipple, careful as always with the highly sensitive tips.

“You look tired tonight, Angel. Is your back still hurting?”

“It was earlier. I think I stood too long. It’s better now.”

“Come here.”

He pulled her down, arranging her so she faced away. His hand glided up and down the curves of her body. He ran it over her hip and up to palm her belly. Then he lowered his head and kissed the curve of her neck.

A delicate shiver raced down her spine, spreading goose bumps in its wake.

There was a dip in the bed as his hand left her and he repositioned his body. Then he began rubbing and kneading her back, his hands working sweet magic over her tired, aching muscles.

She moaned softly as he worked slowly down to her buttocks and then back up again to massage her nape.

“Feel good?” he murmured.

Tears pricked her eyelids. It was wonderful, but every day with him was wonderful. After surviving her attack months before, she was grateful for every moment she had with Micah. She lived as if each moment could be their last together, and it was ridiculous because she had the power to cement their lives together.

“Hey, are you okay, Angel girl?”

The worry in his voice made her heart squeeze. How could she find the words to tell him she’d never been better than right here, right now, in his arms?

She turned awkwardly, and in the end, he had to help her as she rotated to face him. Their noses were just an inch apart and she twined her legs with his, allowing his heat to seep into her body.

“Are you going to ask me to marry you again?” she whispered.

There was a brief flash in his eyes she could swear was pain. He stroked her cheek with one finger and then ran it slowly back and forth over her mouth.

“No, Angel. I’ve been pushing too much. I swore I wouldn’t pressure you but I’ve been doing just that.”

She put her finger to his mouth to cut off the words.

“Ask me again. Please.”

A wild spark lit his eyes and the pupils dilated, turning the brown to black. There was hope and fear simultaneously, one warring with the other. She hated the insecurity and hesitancy she saw as he came to grips with what she’d asked.

To her surprise, he pushed himself up and got off the bed. For a moment she wondered if she’d royally screwed up. But he reached for her, holding out a hand.

She slid her palm over his and he helped her to the edge of the bed until she sat with her legs hanging over the side, her feet just brushing the floor.

Still holding on to her hand, he knelt on the floor so they looked each other in the eye. Nervousness bunched in her stomach and her breathing shallowed until she realized she was holding it.

Micah raised her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss into the softness of her palm. Then he slowly pulled it away and gazed directly into her eyes.

“Will you marry me, Angel? Will you spend the rest of your life with me? Love me the way I love you? Have my children, grow a family with me, grow old with me and spend a lifetime allowing me to love you the way you deserve to be loved?”

Completely undone by the heartfelt words, she stared in wonder as tears slid silently down her cheeks. She raised her hands and cupped his face, gazing into the eyes of the man she adored—had always adored.

“You once told me that when I knew without a doubt that you loved me more than life and that when I trusted you with my heart, it was then you wanted me to marry you. I should have said yes a long time ago,” she whispered. “Yes. I’ll marry you. I love you. I’ll always love you.”

He rose up and crushed her to him. He held her tight, his entire body trembling against her. She felt every breath, every beat of his heart as it pounded wildly against her throat.

“Oh God, I love you, Angel girl. So much. So damn much. I thank God I didn’t destroy your faith in me, that I didn’t destroy your love. I couldn’t live with myself if I had. You and Nia are my world. I love you both so much.”

She pulled away and then took his hands and guided them down to mold to her belly. “We’re your family, Micah. She and I. She’ll love you as much as I love you.”

His smile made her heart ache. There was such joy in his eyes. It wasn’t until now that she noticed the shadows he’d worn for the past months. But now they lifted away and there was such relief in his face.

He lowered his head and pressed his lips to the hard bump of her belly. She threaded her fingers through his long hair and held him lovingly against the gentle patter of their daughter.

She closed her eyes and let the sweetness of the moment envelope her. They’d been through so much in such a short amount of time. But it was all worth it because here and now, she held everything she’d ever wanted in her arms and cradled in her womb.

Micah and their daughter. Her family.

She couldn’t help but think her brother, David, and Hannah were smiling down on them from heaven.

Micah lifted his head, then curled his hand around her nape and pulled her until their foreheads rested against each other. Their noses brushed and she felt his erratic breaths puff out as if he was valiantly trying to maintain control of his emotions.

“Tell me again,” he whispered. “Tell me you’ll marry me.”

She smiled. “I’ll marry you, Micah.”

“When?”

“Whenever you say when.”

“Tomorrow,” he breathed.

She laughed. “I think we’ll need a little longer than that. While I don’t want a huge wedding, I do want our closest friends—our family,” she amended, “to be there.”

“Yeah, I do too.”

“Are you sure this is what you want, Micah? You’ll be happy?”

He pulled away and cupped her face as she’d cupped his a moment earlier. “I’ve never been happier in my life than I am right at this very moment. But as overjoyed as I am right now, nothing will match the day you become officially mine in the eyes of the law.”

“I’ve always been yours, Micah. But now you’re mine. And I’m never going to let you go.”