Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [160]
She looked at him, puzzlement mixed with indignation in her golden eyes. It wasn't enough that the man was destroying her life, rejecting her, tearing her emotions to shreds. Now he had the gall to march in here and shout at her!
“I have no idea what you're talking about,” she said belligerently. “I wish you'd just get out of here so that I can finish dressing. I wouldn't want to be late for that plane you're so anxious for me to catch.”
“To hell with the plane!” he muttered. “You're coming with me, damn it!” He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her, struggling and protesting, from the cabin. He strode purposefully down the corridor and up on the deck.
“Jake, let me go!” Jane gasped furiously. “I'm tired of being carried and pulled and pushed around like some sort of glorified piece of luggage. Will you please treat me with a little dignity?”
“Be quiet,” Jake said between his teeth, pushing her ahead of him into the lounge. “You're insane if you think I'm going to let you make my life hell on earth. You can just forget about that bloody Peace Corps. You're going to marry me, damn it!”
Jane shook her head dazedly. Peace Corps? Then his last statement sank in.
“Marry you?” she whispered, her eyes widening so that they were enormous in her pale face.
“Marc has full authority to marry us on the high seas,” Dominic said, striding toward the phone at the bar and dragging her along behind him. “I'm giving orders for us to get underway. In thirty minutes we'll be out of Mexican territorial waters.” He reached for the phone, but she suddenly put her hand on the receiver and stopped him.
“Why, Jake?” Jane asked quietly, her face pale and tense. “Why do you want to marry me?”
“Why do you think?” he replied bitterly. “Because I'm a selfish bastard who can't even do one decent, unselfish thing to ensure your well-being. I don't give a tinker's damn anymore if I'll be good for you or not. I'm grabbing you and holding on, come hell or high water.”
Jane felt hope flower in her, its golden petals tentatively opening to a beautiful, unbelievable possibility. “But why?” she persisted, her eyes shining like jewels in her heart-shaped face.
“Because I love you!” he snapped, his face grim. “Because I don't care what's right or wrong, or even what's best for you, as long as I can keep you with me for the rest of our lives.”
Jane closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It seemed too gloriously, wonderfully perfect to be real. When she opened her eyes, Jake caught his breath at the glowing, starlike radiance in their depths.
She moved forward slowly, her arms slipping around his waist and her cheek nestling against his chest with a touching childishness. “You're not joking?” she asked huskily. “You really love me?”
Jake's arms went around her, and his voice was suspiciously ragged when he said, “I love you, redhead.” One hand left her waist to press her head closer to his heart. “And may God help you, because I can't let you go.” His hand tangled in the silky curls and tilted back her head to look down into her glowing face. His features were curiously vulnerable, and the dark eyes held an uncertainty that was foreign to them. “Last chance, sweetheart,” he said thickly. “Tell me no now, and I might be able to muster enough willpower to stop myself. Once you're committed, I'll be the only man in your bed and in your life for the rest of your days.”
“I told you once that I'd never say no to you,” Jane replied firmly. “That hasn't changed, and it never will.”
Dominic lowered his head and covered her lips in a kiss that was as solemn and binding as an exchange of wedding bands. When their lips parted, they were both shaking and clinging to each other like two lost children.
“You don't have to marry me, you know,” Jane whispered. “All I ever wanted was for you to love me. I can understand if you'd rather not be tied down.”
Jake kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose. “You may not mind living in sin, you shameless woman, but I find my reactions are verging on