"This is what I wanted all along," Mary told him, watching Reed approach the bed. This whole sex business was far more exciting than anyone had let on. She'd heard women talking about fireworks and explosions - but with Reed, it was so much more. It was...emotional.

She loved how he made her feel, both in her body and in her heart.

He made her feel special. That was actually nothing new, but now it was so much more intense. Loving Reed, and being in love with him, were two very different things.

"I don't want to hurt you," he whispered as he moved between her thighs. "You'll tell me if any of this is uncomfortable. I'll try to go slow -"

"You talk too much." Mary wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted against him. "And you're a terrible tease. Do you want me to beg?"

"No." He groaned. "Not necessary, believe me." His broad, beautiful shoulders glistened with sweat as he slowly, so very slowly, pushed himself inside her.

Mary groaned, too, not with pain but with incredible pleasure. "More."

A growled laugh and two seconds later, Reed gave her what she wanted. She felt the pressure building as he pushed deeper and deeper, felt the stretching of her inner muscles, but she also felt Reed, solid and powerful over her. Her friend, and now her lover. His scent was especially strong right now, hitting her on a basic level, making her want to drink him up. And the tenderness in his eyes...

"I love you," she whispered, then bit her lip in shock. She hadn't meant to say such a thing! She wasn't like other women, wasn't seduced by circumstances into losing control of her tongue. She didn't want him to feel pressured or uncomfortable by her excess of emotion. "I..."

His eyes flared with incredible heat and his body grew rigid. "You can't take it back," he rasped, then pushed completely into her with a harsh groan.

Mary held on tight as he found a deep rhythm, accelerating it until she couldn't catch her breath, couldn't keep from crying out. Without meaning to, she dug her fingertips into his shoulders. When Reed shouted, holding her so tightly she felt a part of him, she melted. Oh, she didn't see fireworks, but she felt the explosion in every limb, in every fingertip. And especially in her heart.

"I can't move," Reed said some minutes later.

Mary tightened her arms around his back. "Then don't." It was all she could do to keep from crying, and she had no idea why. But Reed evidently heard something in her voice, because he lifted his head and forced her to meet his gaze, even when she tried to duck her head against his chest.

"Mary?"

She swallowed hard and felt like a ninny when one tear escaped to roll down her cheek. She was not a weepy person. Her parents had neglected her but she hadn't cried. The town had frowned at her and she'd hid her hurt deep. But now, after receiving such incredible pleasure, she felt her emotions spilling over. It was such a dumb, female thing to let happen. Another tear joined the first.

Reed bent forward and very tenderly kissed it away. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Mary nodded. "Yes. In fact, I'm wonderful. You're wonderful." She sniffed, then offered him a watery smile. "Thank you."

Reed didn't answer. He continued to watch her, his gaze probing as if he could see into her mind, as if he knew her heart was breaking. He rested his cheek on her belly. In a whisper, he said, "I've always thought about this."

Feeling very uncertain of herself, Mary smoothed his dark hair. "About what?"

"Being with you this way." He sat up and smiled at her. "I have some things for you. I meant to dole them out little by little, but I've been... distracted."

Taken off guard by his new enthusiasm, she turned to her side to face him. "What do you have for me?"

He went to the closet and brought back several packages, handing her the largest box first. "Open it."

Mary laughed as she sat up and cradled the box on her lap. No one else had remembered her birthday, not even her mother. In fact, her mother was so excited about the prospect of remarrying, she barely remembered that she had a daughter.

Carefully, she opened the box and pulled out the bright yellow hard hat, decorated with daisies. Biting back a grin, she stuck it on her head and asked, "How does it look?"

"Almost as cute as you." Reed's hand on her knee tightened. "It makes me horny to see you in your hard hat."

He startled the smile right off her face. "It does?"

Reed slowly nodded, then handed her the next package. "I just recently decided to give you this one."

The present was around five by seven inches and flat. Mary tore the silver paper away, then felt her heart melt when she saw the photo of Reed and his horse, Biscuit. He looked incredibly handsome without a shirt, holding a curry brush in his hand.

"My dad took that a long time ago. I was going to tell you to put it by your bed, just to remember me by, but now I figure it might have new meaning."

Mary pressed the photo against her breast. "It does." She laughed self-consciously as another silly tear went down her cheek. "And if I keep it by my bed, I'll likely never get any sleep."

Reed drew a deep breath. He still held one package, the smallest one and the most ornately wrapped. "Thing is," he told her, "I don't even want you to put it by your bed anymore."

"You don't?"

"I want to put it by my bed." Mary's mouth opened, but he put one finger to her lips. "Because that's where you should stay."

Dumbfounded, Mary could only stare at him.

His last gift fell to the floor when he grabbed her shoulders and pressed her flat, then came over the top of her, pinning her down with his weight. "Marry me."

Her heart lurched and her eyes widened. "Marriage?"

"Why the hell not?" He shouted the words, then shook his head and ran a hand roughly through his hair. "Damn it, I meant to do this real nice. On one knee, with flowers, the whole bit." He met her flustered gaze with a glare. "But it doesn't change anything. You want me. You even said you love me."

So, Mary thought. That's what this was all about. Sadness welled up to choke her, but she squelched it. She loved Reed far too much to let him be noble. "Reed, you don't really want to marry me. What would everyone say?"

"I don't give a good damn what anyone says! Besides, anyone smart would say I was a lucky bastard for getting you."

She shook her head. "If I hadn't come to you with this crazy plan to get pleasured, you never would have -"

She gasped when he gently shook her. "It was not a crazy plan! And I would have, anyway. I'd decided to marry you long before you made me that offer."

Skeptical, Mary watched him while trying to decide what to believe. She loved him; it was possible she'd always loved him, even if she was only now getting around to admitting it. But Reed was only person she'd ever had in her life that she could feel that way about. It was just the opposite for Reed. He'd had very supportive, caring parents, the respect of the whole town, and half the single women after him. Why would he want to tie himself to her?

Reed took one look at her face and heaved a sigh. Counting off on his fingers with measured impatience, he said, "You're beautiful and sexy. And smart. And independent. And funny." He paused to say, "You do make me laugh, sweetheart. And I love playing with you, like with the acorns today." Then, with fingers once again lifted, "And you're strong, and unique. And determined. Did I say intelligent?"

Mary covered her face with her hands, laughing in spite of herself. "You're nuts! And yes, you already said I was smart. It's the same thing."

"And I love you."

Her hands dropped away. She stared at him helplessly.

"Mary, I don't want anyone else." His gaze searched her face, intent and determined. "I'd be miserable with any other woman."

She drew a deep breath, feeling some of the restriction in her lungs ease away. "Oh."

"Haven't the past couple of days shown you how good we are together, in every way? Didn't you feel how special it is when we make love?"

Mary swallowed hard and nodded, almost afraid to believe this was happening.

"Here, I have a last gift for you." Reed reached off the side of the bed, groped around on the floor until he found what he was after, then handed her the small box. "If you don't like it, we can pick out another."

Her heartbeat unsteady, her palms starting to sweat, Mary peeled away the tissue paper and opened the velvet box. Inside was an oval diamond surrounded by small rubies. This time the tears came in earnest and there was no way she could hold them back. "Oh my." She blinked hard and sniffled. "Isn't it... isn't it just the most beautiful thing you've ever seen!"

Reed, grinning like a fool, used his thumbs to brush away her tears. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Now please, honey, say yes."

She wanted to, she was ready to, but first... "I told you I love you."

Reed nodded. "Happiest moment of my life."

"You really do love me, too?"

He kissed her silly. "I love you, Mary, honey. I always have. I want you to be my wife, to help me make this house a home again, and to become a permanent part of my family. I want to go riding with you and skinny dipping and I want to make love to you every night for the rest of our lives. Sometimes under the stars, sometimes in this bed. Hell, sometimes even on the kitchen table." His hands shook as he gently cradled her face. "Now tell me yes."

Laughing and crying, Mary threw her arms around him and shouted, "Yes!"

"Hallelujah!"

Pressing her face to his neck, Mary whispered, "This the happiest birthday I've ever had."

"From now on, I'm going to make all your days happy."

Mary believed him.

The End