Scarlet
Two years after graduation, Lucien and I were still going strong. We moved in together in a small house in upstate New York. It was close to his parents’ and my grandmother even moved into a home nearby. Everyone I loved was right around the corner, with the exception of my mother.
I missed her often, but we talked on the phone every day. In the past two years, we’d traveled back and forth between New York and Paris more than we did during my entire childhood. It was amazing how much our relationship had improved.
One morning, I was lying in bed next to Lucien. I was barely awake, my eyes squeezed closed against the bright morning sun, when I felt his lips on my shoulder. He kissed me softly, letting his tongue slide over my naked skin. He kissed over my collar bone and down to my breasts. When he reached my stomach, I was finally ready to be awake. My eyes flickered open, and I moved my hands to his hair. I ran my fingers through it slowly, enjoying the feeling of him as he continued to kiss me.
“That’s a hell of a way to wake up,” I mumbled.
He crawled up to kiss my lips. His body pressed against mine, and I could feel his cock growing harder against my hip. I moaned against his lips and wrapped my arms around him, holding him tightly to me. Our kiss intensified as we both woke up even more. Our bodies reacted easily to each other, grinding against each other and growing more desperate by the second.
Lucien’s hands were all over me, sliding beneath my tank top to grope my breasts, caressing my legs, and cupping my ass. I tugged at his t-shirt, yanking it over his head in one swift motion. Lucien sat up to pull his boxers off, and I joined him, throwing my tank top and panties to the floor. Now fully naked, we collided again, kissing and tasting every inch of each other.
Lucien’s mouth was everywhere, moving so quickly I could barely think straight. He was licking my nipples, then kissing my stomach, then burying his face between my legs. I was trembling and panting with desire, my entire body alive with sexual energy. Unable to take his teasing for another second, I flipped us over and pinned him to the bed.
I returned his torture, kissing his chest and stomach before putting his cock in my mouth. I swirled my tongue around him, taking pleasure in his desperate grunts. When he was just about to finish, I released him and climbed back up to kiss his lips.
“You’re the devil,” he said playfully.
“You love it,” I teased.
“Come here,” he groaned.
He grabbed me and threw me backward on the bed. Taking my legs and throwing them over his shoulders, Lucien positioned himself above me. I was sopping wet and ready for him when he finally slid inside me. I gasped and moaned at the sensation. He wasted no time, taking me roughly. My breasts bounced mercilessly, and I screamed with pleasure twice before Lucien even showed signs of being done.
“God,” I breathed. “Oh my god, Lucien!”
“I love you,” he grunted when he finally succumbed to his orgasm. “I love you so much.”
I loved him too. A brief wave of fear rolled through me over not having a condom, but I let it go. I wasn’t interested in messing up the moment. We would figure it out later.
Lucien fell onto the bed beside me, pulling me against his chest. He kissed my sweaty forehead while my legs continued to shake uncontrollably. Lucien could always bring me to my climax multiple times. He was amazing in so many ways, and sex was just one of them.
“That was a hell of a way to wake up,” I said again. “Holy shit.”
“I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself,” he said, laughing.
“What inspired that?” I asked, rolling over to face him.
“I saw you lying there,” he said. “You looked so damn sexy in that little tank top and your panties. I tried to control myself and behave, but I couldn’t. Really, it’s all your fault. You shouldn’t wear such things.”
“Well, I’ll be sure to buy some flannel pajamas later today,” I teased.
“Don’t you dare,” he growled.
He rolled over and pinned me to the bed. He kissed me softly, his strong hands smoothing back my hair. When our eyes met, I felt my heart melt inside my chest. Every time I looked at Lucien, it felt like the very first time. After two years together, I never got tired of being with him. When he wasn’t near me, I missed him with a powerful desperation, and when he was, he consumed me entirely. Our love was intense and passionate, but also sweet and innocent in the best way possible. Lucien took care of me, while still allowing me to grow into my own person. I never thought I would get so lucky.
As we laid together that morning, neither of us bothering to get dressed, I nestled against his chest and let my entire body relax. I was never more peaceful than when I was wrapped in Lucien’s arms. He could calm me down without a word and make all my stress disappear. It was amazing how well he knew me.
“I love you,” I whispered to him.
“I love you, too,” he said back.
I sat up to look in his eyes. He smiled at me and smoothed my hair down over my bare back. It tickled, making me squirm and giggle.
“I’m glad we moved here,” I said. “I love this little house.”
“It’s great, isn’t it?” Lucien asked. “When my mom showed it to me, I knew you would love it. It just screams Scarlet.”
“It really does,” I said, laughing. “How did you know?”
“Because I know you,” he said simply.
“How are you doing with this change?” I asked, cupping his cheek in my palm. “I know this wasn’t exactly what you wanted.”
A few months earlier, Lucien went to work at his family’s logging business. After graduation, we both jumped around between jobs for a while. Finally, I settled into my true role as a romance writer. Nothing had ever fit me better. I was able to write the same love stories that inspired me as a child. I felt fulfilled and beyond happy.
Lucien struggled for a long time. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but he was determined to avoid his family’s life. No matter how much it called out to him, he ignored it. Finally, he realized it was the right thing for him. He decided to join the business, and we moved upstate.
“I’m happy,” he said simply. “I know I fought this for a long time. Too long. But it feels right. I think I was just scared to settle down too much. I was afraid that I might lose my adventurous spirit if I followed in my father’s footsteps.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” I said. “You’re still the same person you’ve always been. You’re just an adult now, that’s all.”
“Are you happy here?” he asked seriously. “I know how much you miss your mom. We never really discussed whether you wanted to move back to France.”
“No,” I said firmly. “France is great, and I do miss my mom, but this is my home. I was never really myself in France. I didn’t realize who I was meant to be until I moved here to New York. This is my home. This is where I want to be. Here. With you.”
“Are you sure?” Lucien asked.
His eyes were serious as he searched my face. I could tell he was worried that I was lying, that I was just telling him what he wanted to hear, but I wasn’t. I meant everything I said. I loved our little house in upstate New York, and I loved being close to his family and my grandmother. I even loved the logging company.
“Of course, I’m sure,” I said. “Lucien, I was just worried about you. I want you to be happy here, too.”
“I am,” he promised. “I really, really am.”
I smiled and kissed him slowly. He held the back of my head gently, keeping my lips pressed against his as long as possible. I felt him sigh against me, and I felt happier than I’d ever been. We were living a great life together, and I never wanted it to end.
When we pulled apart, Lucien was watching me with that same concerned expression. I frowned and sat up.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, sitting up with me. “Nothing at all.”
“Then, why do you keep looking at me like that?” I demanded.
Lucien smiled and sighed again. He looked at me one last time before he leaned over and opened his bedside cabinet. I heard him move a few things around before he turned back around to face me. The smile was still plastered on his face, but he looked nervous as he cleared his throat.
I glanced from his face down to his hands and then back again. There weren’t words to describe the shock I felt when I saw that tiny black box tucked between his hands. My chest felt tight, and I stopped breathing for a few seconds. My heart was racing, and my head was spinning. I couldn’t believe this was happening. For a second, I thought the box might have been earrings or a bracelet. I couldn’t wrap my head around the truth until he opened the box and I saw the glittering diamond ring winking up at me.
“Oh my god,” I whispered.
“I know this isn’t the most traditional way to do this,” he said with a chuckle. “I had this whole big thing planned. Dinner and everything, but I just can’t wait any longer.”
Lucien cleared his throat again and held the box in one hand. With the other, he took mine and looked me in the eye. His expression was soft and open, more vulnerable than I’d ever seen him. My eyes filled with tears at the sight. I thought this was all just a dream, like I was still asleep and I would wake up any minute.
“Scarlet Amelia Timms,” Lucien said. “When I met you that day in the Paris airport, I never thought we would end up here. You were just this shy, adorable little thing that caught my eye, and then, you were so much more. I fell for you quickly. Faster than I wanted to. It scared the shit out of me, and I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t. You are everything to me, Scarlet. Everything. I couldn’t imagine my life without you in it.”
Lucien paused and cleared his throat again. I saw tears brimming in his eyes, and it made me melt. I was crying with earnest now. Tears poured down my cheeks with abandon. I didn’t care. I was too mesmerized by Lucien and the words coming out of his mouth.
“If the only thing I have is you,” he said. “I know I’ll be happy. I don’t need anything else, Scarlet. We could be broke and living on the side of the road, and I wouldn’t care. You are the only thing that I need, the only thing I want. I never, ever want to live a day on this Earth without you. So, please. Will you be my wife? Scarlet, will you marry me?”
I couldn’t speak. My emotions were too overwhelming. My vision was blurred from my tears, and all I could do was nod and cry. As I nodded, Lucien breathed a sigh of relief and kissed me deeply. When he pulled away, he took my left hand and slid the diamond ring on my ring finger. I stared at it through my tears, trying to believe it was real. I couldn’t stop crying as Lucien pulled me into his arms, held me close, and whispered “I love you” over and over again in my ear.
The End…