“Oh, come on. It drove you crazy.”

He smiled. “You drive me crazy, honey. And I love every minute of it.” She smiled back. “I’ll consider getting it back. Maybe purple this time.”

“No, I like the pink. Don’t forget the glitter.”

“Shut up and kiss me,” she growled.

“With pleasure,” he murmured as his lips swept downward.

She opened her legs and then circled his waist, locking her ankles at the small of his back.

“Please, J.T. Don’t make me wait,” she begged. “I want you so much. I’ve waited so long for this.”

His elbows on either side of her face, he arched his hips, bringing his erection into contact with her pulsing entrance.

“I love you,” he whispered as his lips took hers again.

She melted against him, his sweet words like a balm. All the pain of the past disappeared, and hope radiated from her soul. Warm, giving, beautiful.

And then he slid inside her. So gentle. So tender. Tears clogged her throat as he paused against her, allowing her time to adjust to his size.

“You okay, honey?” he asked as he looked down at her. There was so much love in his eyes that she was afraid her chest might bust wide open.

She circled his neck with her arms and pulled him down to her. She took his mouth in a hot, breathless kiss, pouring every ounce of her passion, her love, into the gesture.

Their lips tangled, and their mouths moved heatedly as his h*ps flexed between her legs. He retreated, nearly pulling out completely, and then slid forward in one long, delicious thrust.

She closed her eyes and reveled in the feel of his complete possession. Yeah, what they’d had before was sex. Good sex. But this? This was making love. It was like the first time all over again. Could you lose your virginity more than once?

“You’re so beautiful,” he said in a hoarse voice.

Her fingers dug into the short hair at the nape of his neck then moved lower, splaying out over his back, digging into his shoulders as her pleasure mounted.

He moved faster now but still with exquisite gentleness. There was an unbearable tightening in her groin as her orgasm slowly built. No flashpoint this time. No sudden surge to completion. Slowly and leisurely, the tension built higher and higher.

Her breath came in agonized spurts as she struggled against the pressure. He was swollen inside her, heavy and engorged. He touched every part of her, sliding against the sensitive walls of her vagina. Each thrust, each time he dragged his c**k over her throbbing tissues, she felt an incredible burst of pleasure.

“J.T.!” she gasped.

“I’m here, honey. I’ve got you. I’ll always have you.”

“I love you,” she whispered. “I love you!”

Her words sent them both over the edge, plunging into deep, dark waters. Pleasure, blinding and hot, splintered deep in her pelvis, rushed outward in twenty different directions.

He tensed against her. His cry split the room. Then her cry mingled with his as they gave in and let go.

He gathered her close in his arms, his weight pressing her into the bed. She wrapped her arms tighter around him so he wouldn’t move.

Finally he raised his head and started to move off her. She whimpered in protest and held on.

“I’m too heavy for you,” he murmured.

Gripping her around the waist, he rolled until he was on bottom and she was sprawled across his chest.

“But you can lay all over me for as long as you want,” he added.

She smiled but was too tired and wrung out to do more than snuggle deeper into his arms. She tucked her head under his chin and kissed the damp skin of his chest.

“Did you mean it, J.T.?” she whispered.

“Mean what, honey?”

“That you love me and want to marry me.”

His hand tugged her head upward until her lips were just inches from his frown.

“Never doubt it, Nikki mine. You’re stuck with me forever, because there is no way in hell I’m ever letting you go now.”

She smiled and kissed away his frown. “Hold me? I just want to sleep for a while. I haven’t slept in nights.”

He tugged her back down against his chest and smoothed a hand through her hair.

“Then sleep, sweetheart. Right here, with me, and know that I love you.” Her eyes fluttered drowsily, and strangely she felt like crying all over again. Happy tears. When had she ever cried happy tears?

They leaked from her eyes and slid over J.T.’s bare chest.

“Hey,” he said softly as he lifted her head so he could look her in the eye. “What’s that for?”

She smiled a watery smile then leaned down to kiss him. “Nothing. I’m just happy.” He smiled back. “Okay then, that’s all right, I guess. Now get some sleep, honey.

You’re going to need all the rest you can get because I don’t plan on letting you out of bed for at least a week.”

She dove back into the comforting warmth of his embrace and closed her eyes.

Maybe dreams did come true. Even for girls like her.

Chapter Nine

J.T. woke to a sweet, warm body draped across his chest, her legs tucked between his. They were all tangled up like two mating love bugs, and damn if that didn’t bring the stupidest grin to his face.

Unable to resist touching Nikki, he stroked a hand through her long hair and frowned again over the missing pink stripe. It had grown on him. Just like she had.

He relaxed and enjoyed the feel of her in his arms, nestled into his body like she was made for him. A perfect fit.

Yeah, he was too damn old for her, but at this point, he wasn’t going to argue the blessing of having such a beautiful, vibrant woman swear she was in love with him. And he sure as hell wasn’t going to let that keep him from spending the rest of his life loving her in every imaginable way possible.

A noise from the living room made him tense. Had he locked the door when they’d come in yesterday? Hell if he could remember. He knew he’d been pissed that it hadn’t been locked when they’d come in, but after that, he didn’t remember anything beyond making love to Nikki.

Before he could ponder whether or not he should get up and investigate, the bedroom door flew open, and a very large, very pissed-off Lucas charged in.

He couldn’t be sure who was more stunned. Him or Lucas. Lucas’s mouth fell open, and then his face tightened in rage.

“You son of a bitch!”

Nikki jumped in his arms, her eyes flying open.

“Shhh honey, it’s okay,” he soothed.

“No the hell it isn’t okay,” Lucas bellowed.

Nikki rolled off of him, grabbing for the covers to hide her nudity. Her face was bright red with embarrassment. She looked downright mortified.

Lucas stalked forward, and J.T. braced himself for impact. Then Lucas stopped and cast a disgusted look down at the bed.

“For God’s sake, get some clothes on so I can beat your ass properly.” If he wasn’t so sure that Lucas was going to do just that, he’d laugh. He cast a wary glance over at Nikki before rolling out of bed.

Nikki launched herself toward Lucas, the sheet wrapped tight around her body.

“Lucas, no! Stop, please. You can’t just barge in here like this and threaten J.T.” Lucas growled, but J.T. noticed he curtailed his anger when he looked at Nikki. His entire gaze softened, and he reached out to touch her cheek.

“I’m going to kick his ass, Nikki, and he knows it. He’s been expecting it. Why the f**k else would he be in bed with you when he knew damn well I was coming home?”

“Lucas, please,” she pleaded. “I love him. Don’t do this.” He put a finger to her lips. “J.T. doesn’t need you protecting him. If I don’t kick his ass now and get it out of my system, there ain’t a hope I’ll ever be able to stomach him.

He took advantage of you. He was supposed to be protecting you.”

“But—”

“Nikki, honey, let it go,” J.T. said as he dragged his pants on. “I want you to stay here, okay?” He leaned over and kissed her, hard. “Trust me.” Her eyes were troubled, and her bottom lip was firmly caught between her teeth as he started to follow Lucas from the room.

When they hit the living room, Lucas gestured curtly toward the door. “Outside.” J.T. sighed but followed. This wasn’t going to be pretty, but it was necessary. Lucas was one pissed-off son of a bitch right now. Yeah, he could hold his own, but both of them were going to hurt before it was over with.

He barely cleared the door before Lucas grabbed him and tossed him off the porch.

He landed with a thump, and Lucas came after him.

“You bastard,” Lucas gritted out as he landed a fist to J.T.’s jaw.

J.T. swung, bloodying Lucas’s lip and knocking him back. J.T. scrambled up and circled Lucas warily.

“Don’t you think she’s had enough hurt in her life?” Lucas demanded as they stepped around each other. “You made her cry, you son of a bitch. Our mother couldn’t make her cry. All the taunting and abuse she suffered at the hands of this town didn’t make her cry. You made her cry. I’ll never forgive you for that.” J.T. sighed. “Yeah, I did, man. I’m a lousy bastard.” He broke off when Lucas swung again. He ducked, but Lucas’s other fist connected with his nose.

J.T. went sprawling, but he got up just as quickly and lunged for Lucas. They went down in a heap, rolling in the dirt as they fought for position. J.T. punched him in the gut, and Lucas grunted.

“You don’t deserve her. No one in this piece of shit town deserves her,” Lucas growled.

J.T. rolled off Lucas and scrambled to his feet.

“You’re right, Lucas. I don’t deserve her. But I love her. She loves me.”

“Oh, so now you love her. What happened to I think I love her?”

“I’m a goddamn idiot,” J.T. said. “What do you want me to say? I love that girl, and nothing you say or do is going to keep me away from her. You got that? Do your worst, Lucas, but remember that you’re trying to beat the shit out of the man your sister loves. I don’t think she’ll forgive you for that.”

Lucas’s shoulders sagged, and a murderous gleam entered his eye. “Fucking pussy,” he grumbled. “Hiding behind a woman.”

J.T. grinned. “There are worse things than hiding behind Nikki. She could take you, I think.”

Lucas rubbed a hand through his hair and let out an exasperated sigh.

“Hey, dude, are you AWOL?” J.T. couldn’t keep the concern out of his voice.

Lucas smiled. “Nah. My CO has a baby sister too. He was only too happy to let me go kick some ass.”

“Well then, instead of me kicking your ass, why don’t we go out and have a drink to celebrate the fact that I’ll be your brother-in-law.”

“You kick my ass?” Lucas sputtered. “I was going easy on you because I didn’t want to permanently injure the guy Nikki thinks she’s in love with.” J.T. glared at him.

“Married? For real?” Lucas asked as if he’d just caught that part. “You’re marrying her?”

“Well, the hope is that she’s marrying me,” J.T. said. “Now, can we get cleaned up?

I’m starving.”

Lucas glared at him again. “Don’t say another goddamn word about why you’re starving or I swear to God, I’ll kill you.”

J.T. chuckled. “Come on. Let’s go. Nikki will be glad to see you.”

Chapter Ten

Nikki sat on J.T.’s lap at Tucker’s while Lucas navigated his way through the crowd, holding a pitcher of beer. He gave her a decidedly big brother indulgent smile as he plunked the beer down.

“Hey, got room for us?”

Nikki looked up to see Seth and Zane with a grinning Jasmine sandwiched between them. She stifled her laughter when she saw a very bold blue streak down the side of Jasmine’s dark hair.

“Hey guys, you’re just in time,” J.T. said.

“In time for what?” Seth drawled. “Your ass-kicking?” Lucas snorted. “That already happened.”

Nikki reached over and punched him in the arm.

“Nikki has agreed to put me out of my misery and marry me,” J.T. announced with what she could only call extreme smugness.

“Hey that’s great!” Jasmine said, a wide smile on her face. She leaned over and kissed J.T. on the cheek. “Glad to see you finally wised up.”

“Congrats, man,” Seth offered.

Zane leaned down and kissed Nikki on the forehead. “Way to go, girl. Guess it’s true what they say about determined women.”

Jasmine arched one eyebrow. “Oh? And what’s that?” Zane grinned down at his wife. “That they always get their man?”

“Or men,” Nikki murmured mischievously.

Seth choked on his laughter, and J.T.’s arm tightened around her waist.

“That’s man singular to you, honey. Don’t you forget it either.” Nikki grinned and plastered a big, sloppy wet kiss on his lips.

“Can we get on with the beer drinking?” Lucas drawled. “I’ve had about all the mushy shit I can take for the day.”

There was a chorus of agreement from the guys as they all reached for mugs. Nikki sat back and snuggled deeper into J.T.’s arms.

The group crowded around the table, commandeered chairs from other tables, and soon they had one big crowd, laughing and drinking beer.

“Do you think you can be happy here?” J.T. whispered in her ear. “Here in Barley? I know the town hasn’t been good to you, but honey, I’ll always love you, and I’ll always protect you.”