Blake glanced over at me as we pulled into the parking lot of the fundraiser that was being held in a swanky hotel back in our home town. We had driven all the way from the mountains together in his little blue sports car. With matching colored attire that we both coordinated, we looked like the hottest power couple there already, and we hadn’t even entered the building yet. Even the valets were giving us a second and third look.

“Are you nervous?” he asked.

I shook my head and took a deep breath. “Not really.” I wasn’t seasoned at lying to anyone, much less myself. But I felt a little rattled. I just didn’t want my colors to show to Blake because I wanted to appear strong to him. I wanted to impress him.

He gave me a heartfelt smile. “Well, just so you know, you look amazing.” He ran his hand over my inner thigh, slightly lifting up my skirt.

I smiled. I couldn’t help but absorb his compliments. “Thanks. You look like a major stud yourself.” My skin tingled with longing as he rubbed his hands across my skin.

He was profoundly handsome. He grinned and his eyes shimmered. I couldn’t wait to waltz inside with him on my arm. I knew that my parent’s jaws would drop. I didn’t need a date. I brought my own. I was looking forward to their reaction, even if it made my stomach feel a little anxious. It didn’t matter anymore. Their days of causing me anguish were numbered. From now on, I was in the driver’s seat when it came to conquering my own destiny.

It was long overdue in time to put my parents in their places. They couldn’t control my future anymore. I was here to make a stand with Blake. I was exceptionally thrilled to have him be one hundred percent agreeable to my plan and on my side no matter what happened in there.

“It might get ugly,” I warned him. “My father loves to get what he wants.”

“Not as much as I love to watch satisfying vindication unfold,” Blake said with a zesty grin.

“That’s true I guess,” I said with a chuckle.

“You’ll be fine.” His eyes flickered with sincerity as he took my arm and locked it with his.

I exhaled sharply. “I sure hope you’re right. Here goes nothing.” I was laying all my cards on the table. There was no turning back now.

My legs felt like jelly as I walked into the grand ballroom of the exquisite hotel. I felt at this point, it was probably essential that Blake held onto me no matter what to keep me from collapsing into myself like a dying star. I was excited to be proving my point and teaching my parents a lesson on leaving me alone and letting me live my own life. I just hoped that my unpredictable father wouldn’t make a scene in the process.

As soon as we sauntered into the room together, arm in arm, all my worries melted away. I was there with the hottest man in the room hooked to me. People’s eyes began to wander over to us. Recognition began to set in. People began to talk. I felt a surge of adrenaline pumping through my veins at the attention we were getting.

“I know you,” one gentleman with slick, jet black hair said and wagged his finger in recognition at Blake. “You’re that football star from back in the day.” The man began to chuckle as he marveled over Blake. “You were the best damn quarterback this town had ever seen. Where are you now, in the big leagues?”

“No sir,” Blake, ever the polite gentleman himself said with a smile. “I coach in my new hometown for a high school full of promising recruits.”

“I’ll be damned.” Another man strolled up and slapped the black-haired man on the back with a fond and brotherly smack. “Is that Blake Clemons or am I having another daydream?”

“Yes sir,” Blake chuckled. “In the flesh.”

The man pumped his hand with enthusiasm. “How are you doing, son?”

“Retired from the Navy. Got a house out in Arizona. Just doing my own thing. I can’t complain,” Blake said with a smile as he glanced my way. “I’m here to support Brooklyn and her family tonight with their banquet.”

“Oh right,” the men said in unison with a nod. “Your father is the frontrunner for this fundraiser tonight.”

“That’s correct,” I said with a nod.

“Fascinating,” the men said and stared at Blake as if they were in awe of him. “A true Navy veteran?”

“That’s right,” Blake said with a humble smile. I was happy for him. He deserved the praise and recognition.

“Thank you for your service,” the dark-haired man said and cast Blake a subtle yet dignified bow.

I peered up at Blake. He was stoic, but there was a gleam of pride in his eyes that made me smile.

“Brooklyn?” I recognized the sound of my father’s voice behind me. I spun around feeling my heart pound wildly out of control. Here we go. I had no idea what to expect with him.

“Oh, hi dad. This is Blake. Do you remember him?” I enhanced my smile for effect. “I met him in Arizona. He’s staying out there now.”

Recognition for Blake was all over his face, but he probably remembered that time he caught Blake kissing more than he remembered Blake’s accomplishments. My father grumbled something inaudible in greeting to me and nodded at Blake as if he were one of the staff members carrying around trays of food and champagne. He looked disgruntled.

“Brooklyn, I have to say, as good as it is to see you here tonight, I’m a little surprised. You didn’t tell me you were bringing a date.”

“Did I not mention it? I’m sorry.”

I watched as my father visibly set his jaw. He stared between Blake and me as if he wanted to start yelling at us both, but knew he had to contain himself in a public place where he was trying to receive funding from billionaires alike.

My mother looked mortified. She just stood there in the background with her mouth hanging open in shock.

“I have something I would like to announce,” I said and peered up at Blake with a naughty gleam in my eye. I had a trick up my sleeve, and I hoped that Blake would go along with it.

“Blake’s my fiancé.”

I paused and waited for a reaction. A crowd had formed around us. Some people gasped in reaction, others clapped and whispered their congratulations around the room. I heard a man behind my father clear his throat. My dad turned around. His face was ashen. All the color had drained from his cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Peter,” the man said with a regretful shake of his head. “I just don’t know if things are going to work out now between us.”

My father spun back around to me and had a menacing glare flickering in his gaze. “I need to speak to you privately,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Of course,” I said. I was happy to oblige him because I wanted to look like the sane one in this conversation, but I took Blake with me.

My father took me behind a corner. “You just lost me the biggest potential donor in the room,” he hissed. “You won’t even be able to meet with his son after that stunt you pulled.”

“His son? Who said I wanted to meet his son?”

My father growled in frustration.

“Look,” I said. “Obviously, I don’t want to marry or date anyone according to your standards. We can set up a business meeting, but under no circumstances am I dating anybody or marrying anybody. My body, my life, my hand in marriage isn’t for sale. Is that clear?”

“I was fairly confident that we’d win this investor over,” he said, ignoring my question. “Until you sabotaged me.”

I scoffed. “I didn’t sabotage you. I want to be with Blake.” I looked up at him with prized fondness. “I haven’t committed any crimes.”

My father threw his arms up in the air in exasperation. “I just don’t understand you, Brooklyn. This…” he pointed to Blake. “Isn’t what we had in mind for you?”

“Hold on just a minute, dad. Blake isn’t a criminal either. He never was. Just because he wasn’t born with a silver spoon and a million dollars in a trust fund doesn’t make any of these other bachelors any better than him.”

“Whatever. Going behind my back in high school to run off to see him makes him worse than a criminal in my book. Don’t make me bring out the evidence. I had the two of you followed your last year of high school and I couldn’t believe some of the pictures they took. I could have had him locked away, but you were of age then.”

I gasped. “Unbelievable! You invaded my privacy? His privacy? Our privacy.”

“I did. You’re my daughter. I didn’t approve of you running around with the likes of him. He was trying to ruin you. I saved you from a life of squalor.”

“Dad, you’re freaking crazy.” I didn’t know what to say. I was in disgust. I thought I was dropping a bombshell tonight, but my father had just taken the wheel. “I’m done with your games and attempts to control my future.” I took a domineering step closer to him. “You are an intelligent man. If you want continued funding for your foundation, then you’ll just have to think of other ways other than offering me up to the highest bidder.”

“Lower your voice,” my dad demanded.

“No. I won’t be quiet about this.”

“Brooklyn, you—”

“I don’t need your money either. I don’t want it. So, don’t hold that over my head anymore.” I was emotional. Saying the words out loud was like taking a whip to the back. “And for the record, Blake’s a better man than any of these players will ever be.” I spun on a heel. I didn’t want to wait for my father’s retort. I was finished arguing with him. I needed to take a breather. I had to cool off my temper and sticking around for more of my father’s lectures wasn’t going to help matters.

I found Blake about ten feet away from the debacle. He must have distanced himself after my father revealed he had intimate photos taken of us when we were together.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yes. I’m so sorry, Blake. I had no idea he did that.”

“It’s not your fault. I remember vaguely back then that I thought someone was following us, but I thought I was paranoid since I had recruiters looking at me.”

Realizing that my heart was still beating erratically, and my breathing was labored, Blake wrapped his arms around my waist and gave me a comforting hug. I swung my arms around his neck and kissed him. We were still in view of the entire event and watching eyes, but I didn’t care.

Blake’s face was lit up with mischief. “You were incredible back there. You stuck to your guns.”

“Thank you,” I whispered and gazed sensually into his eyes. “I needed the help, I guess.”

“I’m here for you.”

I took his hand. “Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

“Wait a minute, Brooklyn. I wanted to ask you something,” he said, squeezing my hand. He had this faraway look in his eyes, and I noticed that his palms were sweaty.

“Well, I can’t take another minute of my father spying on us. I won’t give him that benefit. Let’s go somewhere else. Maybe outside until this thing is over with.”

“It’s raining out there.” He pointed to a window.

I rolled my eyes. “Rain, rain …go away.” I pulled him down the hallway anyway and pushed myself into a storage closet. He closed the door behind us.

I felt the same magnetic attraction and burning heat of desire pull us together like an unstoppable force.

“It’s dark in here. I can barely see you,” he mumbled.

“I can still feel you.” I pressed my center into his groin, begging for a bit of attention in return. I didn’t have to beg for long though, his cock responding with a lengthening erection.

Blake began urgently showering me with kisses. Everything happened so fast. He pressed me up against the wall and groaned. I helped him pull out his massive, thick cock. I knelt down on the floor, grabbed him in my fists, and sucked him into my mouth. He propped a hand up against the wall and groaned as I tongued his meaty, veined cock up and down. He was salty and sweet and already leaking pre-cum. I licked up every spilled drop.

“You’re so sexy and hot,” he moaned. “I want you so bad right now. Get up. Let me fuck you.”

I obliged his command. “Remember how we used to do it back in high school? We’d do it anywhere. Up against trees. Behind the stadium. In your car.” I was sizzling with lust from the inside out. My clit throbbed with an impulsive ache to feel his shaft rubbing up against me.

“Yes, I remember. Any time, any place.”

Blake pushed himself inside of me as he hiked me up against the wall and held me in place. I straddled him and dug my heels into his back. My tight dress was already pushed way up on my waist. I squeezed my thighs against his waist and pressed my naked chest against his. I wanted him to feel the sensation of my erect nipples on his skin. I raked my fingernails through his hair and continued to press intense kisses onto his lips.

Blake began pumping in and out, sliding with delicate ease because I was so wet and so hot for him.

I sighed as sexual euphoria filled me up. Blake’s girth was exceptional as he pounded into my g-spot, driving me insane with wild amounts of pleasure using the wall behind me for support.

I ground my hips against his, wiggling around on his cock. I didn’t want him to show me any mercy. I loved him. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I wished it hadn’t taken me so long to realize what I really wanted in life. Blake was the total package. He had more to offer me than any of those other men in that banquet hall had combined.

I moaned sensually in his ear, coaxing him on. He was so close to sending me over the edge. It felt so good having his swollen shaft inside of me, rubbing up against my clit.

Harder and faster, Blake vigorously thrusted until we both climaxed together, in unison. It was a perfect and magical way to represent a new life that we wanted to start by each other’s sides.

After we had both finished, I ran my hands through his sweaty hair. His eyes were glazed over with fresh lust. I was climbing down from the clouds with him as we continued to rub each other all over, grinning eagerly.

“I love you,” I told him. “I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that I did all along.”

Blake was glowing. “Me too. I love you so much. I always have.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. “I have something for you. I’ve been wanting to ask you…”

Then, he did something that shocked even me. He got down on one knee and pulled out a little black box. I stopped breathing. He opened it up to reveal a giant princess cut diamond inside.

I held my hands up to my mouth. No one had ever gotten on one knee for me. My eyes flooded with tears of joy. “What are you doing?”

“Something that I should have done a long time ago,” Blake said. “Brooklyn Bridges, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I cried. I squealed. I don’t know what other sounds came out of me, but I was floating through this blissful dream. I snaked my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “I can’t wait to be your wife.”

When it came to Blake, the only answer I knew was yes. I didn’t even have to give it a second thought. Underneath it all, my heart had always belonged to him. I had my high school sweetheart back. He was mine to keep. To have. To hold.