Eternally Yours - Brenda Jackson [91]
Syneda glanced up at him when she heard the pain in his voice and saw the hurt in his glare. Her heart squeezed in anguish when she realized what he’d been going through over the past month. And she understood what Marilyn Madaris had meant about the Madaris pride. She had trampled his pride by rejecting the love he had offered her.
She lowered her eyes, her long lashes fanning her cheeks. She stood nervously before him trying to find the right words to express just how she felt. She decided on the simple approach, to speak from her heart. She lifted her eyes slowly to meet his.
“I was wrong, Clayton. And I know that now. I do love you, and more than anything, I want your love in return. I know you offered it to me once, but at the time I was too scared and too unsure of myself to even consider accepting it. But now I know what I want, and if you’ll offer your love to me again, I promise to take it in my heart and cherish it. And from this day forward, I will always and forever be eternally yours.”
Clayton stared down at her. They stood transfixed, mesmerized by a sensual power that for the moment bonded them together in heart and mind.
Syneda saw his hands ball into fists at his side and knew he was fighting hard to resist her. But then, little by little, she saw the coldness leave him and watched as warmth crept back into his body, beginning with his eyes.
He slowly bent his head to kiss her, his mouth moist and gentle against hers, and she knew that love had won. When he lifted his head, a flood of warmth and love shone in his eyes.
Tears of happiness slowly found their way down Syneda’s cheeks, and he tenderly kissed them away. With a raw ache in his voice he said, “I want more from you than my shirt, Syneda. I agree with what you said about there having to be more between us than sex. And I want more, a lot more.”
He covered her hand with his and pressed her palm against his mouth. “I want everything you have to give and still more. I want you to marry me, to have my children, to be my partner in life and love. I want you to walk beside me, and to believe in me, and believe that I love you more than anything or anyone in this world. I need you.”
Syneda’s heart swelled with love for him. “And I love and need you, Clayton. I need a man in my life whom I can trust, a man whom I can believe in and depend on.” Her lips quirked in a smile. “And I want a man who wants more than the shirt off my back.”
Clayton laughed, pulling her gently into his arms. “You’ll get everything you want and more.”
Syneda pressed her face into his shoulder. “You’ll never know how hard it was for me to get out of your parents’ home unnoticed wearing my coat with only your shirt underneath.”
Clayton grinned. “You’re something else.” He hugged her tighter. “How soon can we get married?”
Syneda laughed affectionately as she pulled back out of his arms. “I’m open to suggestions.”
Clayton smiled. “How about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” Syneda laughed. “That’s kind of rushing things a bit, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to let you return to New York. Besides, I don’t want to run the risk of you changing your mind on me.”
“I won’t change my mind. I want all the things you’re offering—marriage, children, trust, and most of all love, your love.”
“I guess I won’t cheat my parents out of witnessing their last remaining son’s marriage. Especially since they weren’t present at Justin’s and Dex’s weddings. Do you have anything against a big wedding?”
Syneda shook her head. “No. In fact, I think I’d like that. We may as well do it right. How about a June wedding?”
“How about December?”
“June.”
“I’d like a Christmas wedding.”
“Next Christmas?”
“No, this Christmas.”
Syneda grinned, shaking her head. “That’s too soon. I say June.”
Clayton frowned. “June? I don’t know if I can wait that long.”
Syneda chuckled. “June’s only seven months away, and believe me, time will go by quickly. That will give us time to really plan things. Caitlin and Lorren will have