The far wall of the living room is all glass that looks out on the back of the property. The kitchen is to the left, and it’s stocked with top-of-the-line appliances. The staircase to the second floor is to the right. “This place is beautiful.”
He steps behind me and presses his lips to the back of my shoulder. “There’s a fireplace outside. Why don’t you pour us some wine and I’ll light a fire?”
“Okay,” I agree, happy to have some romantic time alone with him, a bottle of wine, and a warm cozy fire. I walk into the kitchen and open the fridge, surprised to see it fully stocked. I pull out a bottle of wine, open it, and hunt down two glasses. I pour each one full before heading through the living room and out the glass door that leads to the patio. To my left is a built-in fireplace, and he’s sitting in front of it on a small, two-person loveseat. I hand him his wine, then take a seat next to him. He takes a sip and places his glass on the table before stretching his arm out around my back. He pulls me to his side, and I rest my chest against his shoulder.
“Did you really think I’d bring another woman to the party?” he asks, and I feel my face flush with embarrassment.
I sigh.
“Why? I thought I made my feelings very clear when it comes to you.”
I shrug. “You did. It was my fault for doubting your word. It just… it never made sense to me.”
“What didn’t?”
“That you, a man who’s sexy and has such a great life of traveling the world would ever see something in me, a woman who’s never left Colorado.”
“You don’t see yourself clearly.”
I snort. “Or you don’t see me clearly. That’s all I am, Shepard. Just a small-town girl.”
“You’re so much more than that, Destiny. You’re beautiful and kind. You’re smart and you challenge me. When we’re together, I feel like I can take on the world as long as I have you by my side. I told you that I always know exactly what I want. Well, I want you. Not just for now. I told you that I bought this place with my future in mind, and well, I’m hoping you’ll be a part of it. I want you forever, Destiny. I love you and I want to marry you one day. I want to be the father of your children. I see us growing old here and watching the children grow up and move on with their lives. I want family holidays here, where the children will come to visit. Where our grandchildren will come to visit. I want a whole life, but I only want it with you.”
I’m so shocked that I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say. He’s not exactly asking me to marry him right now. All he’s saying is that he can see a future with me, and, well… I can see a future with him, too. I lean forward and capture his lips with mine. My hands cup his cheeks while I hold him to me, exploring his mouth with my tongue. He kisses me, hard, raw, and full of passion. His hands fall to my hips and he pulls me onto his lap.
I’m straddling him and I can feel his excitement pressing against the needy spot between my legs. It’s only been a few days since the soreness disappeared, but already I’m yearning to feel it again. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull my chest to his while our mouths move perfectly in sync. His hands squeeze my hips, and he rocks them back and forth, allowing the junction between my legs to grind against his hardness.
“Make love to me, Shepard,” I whisper against his lips.
“Right here?” he asks, nipping my bottom lip.
“Right here.” I move my mouth back to his and the next thing I know, I hear my dress being ripped from my body. The cool night air blows against my overheated skin and it makes every nerve ending tingle and come alive. It’s like my body is a fire and it’s no longer being smothered by the dress. The air has touched my flame and I’m finally allowed to burn hot and out of control.
My fingers make quick work of unbuttoning his dress shirt and I have it open within seconds. I press my chest against his and it’s like ice meeting fire. He lays me back on the sofa and covers my body with his as he works to remove his shirt completely. When he has it off, he pulls back and begins to pull my panties down my legs.
He wets his lips, making them glisten in the bright moonlight. “You have no idea how badly I want you, Destiny,” he whispers before tossing my panties to the side and kissing his way up my leg, starting at my knee.
I want to pull his mouth back to mine. There is no time for playing around here. I don’t need to be primed. I need him, all of him, right now. When his mouth lands on my clit, my hips buck upward, his hands wrap around them, and lower them back to the couch. His mouth continues with its assault before one hand moves away from my hip. The next thing I know, he’s sliding his fingers deep inside me, rubbing against that magical little spot while his mouth sucks my clit, his tongue rubbing against me at a perfect pace.
My stomach tightens and my whole body tenses in order to prepare for my release. My toes go numb, and my legs start to shake. My breathing is labored, and it sounds like my heart is running a race it’s going to win. Within seconds, I find myself falling over the edge as waves take over my body. Strong waves that pull me down deep to the ocean’s floor. I can’t breathe. I can’t move. I can’t do anything except ride out the beautiful wave of pleasure he’s providing. It feels like a flood rushes out of me and when my release ends and he pulls away, his lips and chin are glistening with my arousal. He wipes his face quickly before moving up my body and pushing his pants down his thighs. He takes himself in hand and positions himself at my entrance. Without needing permission, he pushes forward and fills me to the brink of exploding. His hands move to my hips and he pulls me against him while he thrusts into me. Each thrust is deep, fast, hard, and precise.
I open my eyes to see his expression. His brows are drawn together, causing two little lines to form between them. His eyes are closed, lips parted slightly, and his hair is a mess from running my hands through it. His arms and chest are flexed and rock hard. He’s easily the sexiest man I’ve ever seen, and now he’s mine forever.
I reach for him and pull his lips to mine. While he continues to move inside me, our lips and tongues dance to the perfect song, the music of our lovemaking.
“Fuck, Destiny. I needed you so bad. I don’t know how long I'll last,” he whispers against my lips, his hips never stopping or slowing.
I lace my fingers through his hair and direct his eyes to mine. “That’s okay. We have forever,” I tell him.
Shepard smashes his mouth back against mine and his hips pick up speed and force. We’re scooting the sofa across the wooden deck, and we’re filling the night air with the sounds of our labored breathing, our whimpers, and our lovemaking. Just as I feel my release building again, he lets out a deep moan and his hips shudder. Feeling his seed spreading through me is enough to make my orgasm rise to the surface and my muscles squeeze around him, milking him for all he’s worth.
His hips finally go still, and he rests his head against my chest. I lace my finger through his sweaty hair and hold him to me.
“Your heart is racing,” he quietly says around labored breaths.
“For you,” I reply, holding him a little tighter.
He kisses the swell of my breast and lays his head back, listening to the way my heart is reacting to him. I never expected this outcome when I took the job working for Shepard. I had hoped that I’d score a date or two, but I never expected to find the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I never thought the man I met that first day at the event center could turn into this. That man was cold, rough around the edges, and pig-headed. But this man, the one who just made love to me and who is kissing my skin and making it burn, he’s soft, sweet, gentle, and he loves me. Most importantly, I love him, and I know the rest of our lives are going to be just as perfect as this moment is right now.
