Ransom (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Ransom - Chapter Five

Sue could feel his heartbeat accelerating under her hand, and the pounding of her own heart inside her chest.

"What would you like to talk about?" she quietly inquired, wondering if her voice was as raspy as she imagined it was.

"I would like to talk about all the things I would like to share with you," Jack said, having finally reached his goal. One inch at a time.

After ripping many inches at the seam, his hands were freely roaming under her nightie, sending shivers up and down her spine. He was making it very hard for her to concentrate and by the smirk on his face, he knew it.

"I'm...listening," she managed to articulate somewhat intelligibly.

"Are you sure?" he teased.

She was absolutely sure she wouldn't hear of word, and barely read one, but she wouldn't let him win so easily. "Unless you want to sleep on the couch I would start talking, Jackson," she warned quite unsuccessfully if his huge grin was any indication.

"What about I start sharing my love for you instead?" he said, having no intention of spending the night without her. He liked the shade of red that immediately rose to her cheeks. "See, my love, I was thinking."

He gently lifted her up so her body was aligned with his and her face only inches away.

"Thinking?" she murmured, very much aware of the intimacy they were sharing at this moment.

"About sharing my days, and my nights, with you," he accentuated each intention with a soft kiss, "sharing the present, and the future, from now on, till eternity," he declared sincerely, his eyes mirroring the deep love he felt in his heart for her. "Would you share the rest of my life, and become my wife?"

He could pinpoint the exact moment the words registered in her mind, as her body jolted in his arms and her eyes widened in utter astonishment. No quite the reaction he expected, but she looked so adorable that he burst out laughing.

"Jack, this is not funny," she chided him, beginning to doubt she read what she thought she read.

"It won't be funny if you say NO, but I like to believe you will agree to legalise our somewhat...heated situation." He grinned at her flustered expression. "So? Is it a yes? Are you going to let me make a respectable woman out of you?"

"JACK!" She buried her burning face in the crook of his shoulder. "You're terrible," she sighed, shyly lifting her head and meeting his tender loving gaze.

"Terribly in love with you," he agreed. "So? I'm still waiting for the right answer."

"Yes," she whispered, her radiant smile enveloping them both.

"Wise choice, my love." Reaching for a lingering kiss, he pulled away before the fire engulfed them. "Now, you keep your wandering hands where I can see them," he warned mischievously.

"MY wandering hands?" she exclaimed in disbelief, as HIS fingers were scorching her bare skin.

"I know it's my fault," he conceded apologetically. "I'm the one who let you set the pace of our relationship. Except, at the rate you're going I see no other option than to get married as soon as possible," he informed her with twinkles in his eyes.

"The rate I'M GOING? How about—"

He placed a finger on her lips to silence her.

"Of course, if you insist, we can skip directly to the honeymoon and worry about the trip to the altar later," he quipped, delighted by the nice shade of red he elicited once more. "Sue?"