Fortune's Mergers. Bronwyn Jameson

      Why had he proposed? she asked herself for what seemed like the millionth time since Case had popped the question. He’d never once hinted at marriage, never so much as whispered the words “I love you.” They weren’t a couple … or at least she’d never considered them as such. The length of their relationship—if one could call it that—certainly didn’t lead a woman to expect a proposal. Two weeks was hardly enough time for two people to become acquainted, much less engaged.

      She glanced down at her hand and the ring that adorned her left finger. The setting was gorgeous, with rows of baguettes surrounding a huge center diamond. Any woman who received such a stellar engagement ring should be ecstatic, over-the-moon in love.

      Gina felt only nausea.

      She needed answers, an explanation, but hadn’t a clue how to phrase them … or the opportunity to ask them, since the man with the answers was currently on the phone.

      Case ended his call just as they stepped into her loft.

      Gathering her nerve, she turned to face him and asked the single most question that burned in her mind. “Why did you ask me to marry you?”

      He frowned, as if puzzled that she’d ask, then opened his hands. “I’d think that would be obvious.”

      “Maybe to you it is, but it isn’t to me. My, God, Case! We’ve known each other less than two weeks!”

      “I wasn’t aware there were time restrictions on how long a man had to wait before proposing.”

      “That isn’t an answer,” she said impatiently. “And why did you propose in front of all those people? Everyone was staring at me. It was embarrassing.”

      His smile indulgent, he crossed to her and caught her hands in his. “Gina, Gina, Gina,” he scolded gently. “There was no reason for you to be embarrassed. Those people, as you referred to them, are my family and friends. Becoming engaged is a big step, a milestone in my life, in our lives. I wanted them present to share in the occasion.” He gave her hands a tug, drawing her to him, then released them to wrap his arms around her. “Don’t be angry with me, darling.” He pressed a kiss against her forehead and her nose, then tipped her face up to his. “I wanted to make this special for you, for us. An event we would always remember.”

      He tipped her face higher and she watched his face drift down, until his lips touched hers. “Please tell me you’re not angry with me,” he murmured. “I don’t want anything to mar this night.” He rained kisses over her face. “Please, Gina,” he begged softly.

      Weak, she clung to him, all resistance melting from her. “I’m not angry. It’s just that … it was so totally unexpected.”

      He withdrew slightly and caught her left hand. With his gaze on hers, he lifted her hand and pressed his lips against the ring he’d placed there. “Do you like your engagement ring?” he asked.

      She shivered, as he stroked his thumb over the back of her knuckles. “I-it’s beautiful.”

      He smiled, as if her response pleased him. “When I saw it, I knew it was meant for you.” He slipped his hands inside her jacket and rested them on her shoulders. “Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?” he asked softly. He dipped his head to nibble at her throat.

      Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back, giving him easier access. “I-I don’t remember.”

      “Then I’ll tell you now. You look beautiful.” He swept his hands out, easing her jacket over her shoulders. “Gorgeous, as radiant as any bride on her wedding night.”

      Goose bumps pebbled her flesh as he smoothed his hands down her arms, relieving her of her jacket and letting it fall to the floor in a heap at their feet. Her breath was coming faster and faster, heat danced beneath her skin. She wanted to open her eyes, anchor herself on something substantial to still the dizziness, but her lids were simply too heavy to lift.

      She felt his fingers at the back of her neck, heard the soft scrape of her shell’s zipper, as he pulled the tab down.

      “Case,” she said breathlessly. “Stop. Please.”

      He closed his mouth over hers and peeled the shell from her body, tossed it aside. “There’s no reason to stop,” he said, nipping at her lips. “We’re engaged now. Remember?”

      She gulped, remembering she’d told him that she wouldn’t sleep with a man until she was married to him, or at the very least engaged.

      And, as of three hours ago, she was engaged to Case Fortune.

      “Feel this?” he asked, rocking his groin against hers. “That, my darling, is passion, what you do to me.”

      A knot twisted in her belly, fear of the unknown. She was grossly inexperienced when it came to sex. Yet, her body responded to his caresses, to the heat that burned between them. Her hands itched to touch him, as he was touching her, to explore his body in the same way he was exploring hers. Her breasts ached for his touch, her lips for his kiss. She wanted him, what pleasure he offered, the secrets he could show her, there was no questioning that.

      Growing bold, she slid her hands to his waist and, with trembling fingers, eased his shirttail from his slacks. She felt the quickening of his body as her fingers brushed his skin, the rapid rise and fall of his chest against her breasts.

      “I want you in bed,” he murmured against her lips and began backing her in that direction as he stripped off his dinner jacket. “I want you naked beneath me, your legs spread beneath mine, your arms around me.”

      His whispered list of wants made her pulse kick into a faster beat, her womb throb in anticipation. By the time her legs bumped the side of her bed, his jacket and shirt were gone, his chest bare. She gulped, watching, as he unfastened his slacks, pushed them down his legs. His erection pushed at the fly of powder blue boxer shorts.

      Swallowing hard, she lifted her gaze to his. “I’ve never done this before,” she said uneasily.

      His lips curving in a tender smile, he cupped a hand at her cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you all you need to know.”

      She gulped again, then stepped out of her heels and slacks. Down to her bra and panties, she had to fight the urge to wrap her arms around her middle to cover herself as she watched Case pull back the covers.

      When he turned back to her, her heart shot to her throat. His eyes, always a gorgeous blue, seemed to have taken on a darker hue, one that smoldered and burned. He reached out and placed a hand on her cheek. “Make love with me, Gina.”

      His voice was husky, his touch gentle, as he cupped her face. Helpless to do anything else, she stepped into his embrace, his kiss.

      His lips were first soft, then commanding, as he used his chest to force her back on the bed. She felt as if every nerve ending in her body was cued to register each new sensation. The weight of his body sinking against hers, the heat that seeped into her skin, the sweep of his tongue around her mouth. With a hand cupped on her breast between them, he kneaded the mound, making her nipple ache to be touched as well.

      Within minutes, she was writhing beneath him, her body demanding a satisfaction she had no idea how to ask for.

      “Case,” she begged breathlessly. “Please.”

      “Give me a minute.” He rolled off her and stretched to retrieve something from the pocket of his slacks. A condom, she realized nervously, and gulped, as she watched him open the package and slip it into place.

      Protected now, he slid a hand down her back and rolled her to her side to face him. With his gaze on hers, he stripped off her panties, then settled his hand between her legs.

      She tensed, gasping, as his fingers brushed her center.

      “Ssh,” he soothed, kissing her. “I won’t hurt you. I just want to make sure you’re ready.”

      She nodded, then closed her eyes on a groan, as