Emmett raised his glass with a huge smile. He didn’t think his smile could get any larger, but when he looked into Deja’s eyes, he knew it could. Just looking into her beautiful ocean blue eyes made him smile like a man in love with the best woman on the planet. And he was. To think he dragged his ass for so long, hiding his feelings for her, afraid she’d reject him and lose her from his life altogether.
Now look at his life. It was perfect.
He cleared his throat. “I want to make a toast. Just a few words.” He glanced across the living room to where Deja sat next to Sophie and Ava, holding little Jimmy in her arms. The picture sent an immediate sense of rightness and impatience. He wanted to kick everyone out and make sweet love to his fiancé. Without any protection. She looked so beautiful holding a baby, it almost made his heart hurt.
“Any day now, Emmett,” Ethan joked.
“Right.” He held out his glass a little more. “I just want to say that I’m happy you could all be here. This party was a last minute idea, but both of us were excited to share the news of our engagement.”
“Again.” Austin winked.
“Right.” He gave both Ethan and Austin a glare to shut the hell up. “Deja is the most courageous, strongest woman I have ever met, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her. The last few weeks, especially those first few hours after the accident, were probably one of the most horrifying moments of my life. I think we can all agree it would’ve been another huge loss to this family if she would’ve never pulled through.”
His voice started to crack as water filled his eyes. Damn it, he wouldn’t cry in front of his family. Steeling his features, he cleared his throat and willed the water to dissipate. “I’m blessed to have such a wonderful family and I’m excited to start a new one with you. I love you, Deja.”
Deja handed little Jimmy to Ava and stood up somewhat wobbly. Dare was by her side in an instant.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re still healing. Take it easy. He ain’t going anywhere.”
Deja laughed and playfully shoved Dare out of the way. She was in his arms within five steps. “Why did you have to get all sappy?”
“I have no idea.” He pulled her closer, sinking his head into the crook of her neck. “All I know is I saw you sitting there and I just felt compelled to say something. I know the last few weeks have been crazy, but I just need you to know how much I love you. How much I want to take care of you.” His voice dropped lower as he pressed a few kisses in between each word. “How much I want to make love to you. With no condom. No pill.”
Her breathing became heavy as she snuggled closer. “Emmett, your family is in the room.”
“I know. I wish they’d leave.”
She giggled, then stepped back. Which was probably for the best. He didn’t trust himself not to continue taking advantage of her.
“Thank you everyone for coming tonight.” She let out a huge breath. “Thank you for being there for me. If I was cranky at any point, well, you know I didn’t mean it.”
Austin stood the closest and pulled her into a hug. “We love you, Deja.”
Without warning, everyone decided to grab a hug from him and Deja, congratulating them once again. Soon after, they all said their goodbyes and left. Ethan couldn’t hold back when he walked him to the door.
“Have fun having some hanky panky.”
As much as it annoyed him, it also made him laugh. He was about to have some fun making sweet love to his fiancé. Or, in the words of Ethan, hanky panky.
Emmett locked the door, then scooped Deja into his arms and almost all but ran to the bedroom. Playfully, he threw her onto the bed and covered her body with his.
“I shouldn’t have done that. You just got home from the hospital, and here I am, throwing you around.”
“And ravishing me silly at all hours of the night. What is wrong with you?”
The twinkle in her eyes had him laughing as he took her shirt off. “Would it be corny to say I’m crazy in love?”
“Yeah.” She chuckled as she helped him take his shirt off. “But I like hearing it.” Her hands ran up his chest and up and over his shoulders, then down his back. “So, no pill or condoms, uh? Are you sure?”
“Only if you’re okay with it. If you’re okay with possibly getting pregnant before we’re married.”
“When are we getting married? Here we had this impromptu engagement party and we didn’t announce a date.”
“Whenever. You can plan it all. I just want to say I do.”
“I guess I could ask Sophie for help. I don’t know the first thing about planning a wedding.”
He started to layer kisses up and down her neck. “We could always see if Austin and Sophie want to have a double wedding.”
She shivered, whether from his kisses or his words, he didn’t care. He loved when she trembled like that. “That would be great. I would love that.”
He lifted his head, kissing her on the lips. “You know what? I think Sophie would, too. I’m sure Austin isn’t going to argue about it. I know I won’t.”
“It was your idea.”
“Yeah, but it also makes you happy.”
She grabbed his face, landing a kiss of all kisses on his lips. They tangled tongues, their bodies molding together as if they were one. They didn’t even get to the best part yet, but in that moment, he didn’t need to be joined in that way. Kissing her, holding her, was enough.
“No pill or condom.”
Her whispered words echoed around the room. He had hoped she’d say that, but honestly didn’t know if she would.
“Have I told you how lucky I am? Because I am the luckiest guy in the world to have such a beautiful, amazing woman like you.”
She chuckled as her fingers grazed down his back. “Remember that tomorrow when I walk back in the office and see what kind of mess you made.”
He tried to stop the wince, to hide the truth in those words.
“It hasn’t been that long. Please tell me you didn’t make the office a complete disaster.”
Shrugging, his face lit up with laughter. “I didn’t take it well when you left.”
Her face scrunched up as if she were irritated, then suddenly her fingers attacked him under the armpits. He started to squirm as their laughter rolled around the room.
“I’ll help you put it back together. Just stop tickling me.”
She let go as his body sunk down, resting in the perfect spot. He lowered his mouth close to hers, then his hands cradled her face. “I love you.”
She sighed happily. “Shut up, Emmett, and make sweet love to me.”
He did just that.
♡
Thanks for reading my book and I hope you enjoyed it. I would love to hear your feedback. Please leave a review.
♡ Much love,
Amanda Siegrist