Nicholas
“What’s that?”
I look down at the envelope I hold and smile as I shift it in Emerson’s direction. She takes it, looks over the return address on the front and raises her eyebrow. “It would seem that they are requesting my presence at their upcoming event. Being that I was their hottest ticket, I can’t say I blame them.”
I watch and wait for her response. I know the wheels in her mind are turning. The gorgeous woman before me has come so far since she rid herself of the man who had been dragging her down her entire life. She is vibrant, so happy and outgoing now. Even if I want to slow her down, I don’t think I can. Watching her each day has been a journey in itself. Emerson has so much to give, and I know this is just the beginning.
“I guess it’s about time I trade you in,” she finally speaks, pulling me back to the current topic. “I wonder who they’ll auction off this year?” She looks away from me and back to the paper she is unfolding. “I do think that they should offer a glimpse of the lineup somehow. Like bios or even headshots.”
She is attempting to get a rise out of me.
“Gia and I were talking the other day about the auction coming up. Wondering what we’d wear and who else we would invite to tag along. Make a girls’ night out of it.” Her lips curve into a smile. “That is, until we won our men because after that, we would most definitely want to branch off and enjoy our prize alone.”
“Is that right?” She nods. “So, are you saying that I should accept the invitation to attend?”
“It is for a good cause.” Emerson places the envelope with the invitation on top on the counter and moves toward the sink. With her back to me, she continues, “I think you should probably get a refresher course on your dance moves, not that they weren’t great, but I think they could be better.”
The woman is a brat at times, one who loves to get a rise out of me. She strives for it, testing my limits daily and I’ll admit I enjoy it too. At times.
“So, you don’t like my moves?”
She doesn’t turn to face me as I begin to walk in her direction. Not even when I step behind her and place one hand on either side of her body. Instead, she pushes her ass back against me and gives it a slight shift.
“Ready to trade me in already, huh?”
“I just don’t think it’s fair for me to tie you down when there are just so many other options out there.” Leaning in, I press a kiss against her shoulder. “Seems a little selfish on my part, don’t you think?”
“A little.” I continue up the side of her neck to the space just below her ear. “I am one hell of a prize.” This time I push my hips forward, feeling myself begin to grow harder. With my hand, I grip her hip and toy with the edge of her tank top. The second my fingers graze over her stomach, she shivers. “So if you’ve had your fix, then I should accept.” The dish she holds in her hands slips from her grasp and lands in the soapy water, splashing it onto the front of her shirt.
Her breathing speeds up to more of an even, rhythmic pant. Her nipples harden beneath the thin material of her shirt, and I smile against the side of her neck.
“I think we should take full advantage of the next couple months though.” She nods and I know at that point she has no fucking clue what she agreed to. She is so lost in her need and it makes my heart race.
As my thumb grazes over her nipple, her body bucks against mine.
“I think your shorts are in the way.” She quickly hurries to lower them and I find her actions very satisfying. I’d planned to tell her so were her panties, but she takes away that option when she pushes them down too.
Taking my free hand off the counter I push my shorts lower and fist my already hard cock, giving it a gentle stroke. I want to make her wait just a few more minutes, because a crazed and desperate Emerson is my absolute favorite. Especially when it is me she is in such great need of.
Once I enter her from behind, she practically melts in my arms, leaning over the counter before her to support her body. With long, slow strokes, I drag out the pleasure and grow even more satisfied when she begins to whisper “more,” over and over again.
“You still think you’ve had enough?”
“God no.” Emerson pushes back against me, demanding I speed up the pace. “Do you think there’s someone else that could make you feel better than this?” She shakes her head. Even the idea of another man touching her drives me mad. She is mine, she will always be mine.
Without a chance of holding back a second longer, I begin to quicken my movements. Easily forgotten is our teasing game and in its place there is nothing but deep moans of pleasure, the whispered words of appreciation for what we give one another, and the cry of release as we both reach our peak together.
* * *
We walk along the edge of the water, her hand held firmly in mine. Just that morning she’d gotten word that her mother sold everything and moved to an unknown destination. The woman never once tried to reach out to her daughter, but I think Emerson had already known that she wouldn’t.
My heart breaks for her because I still am not sure how anyone can forget her so easily. Emerson’s a beautiful soul, so kind and compassionate that she manages to knock me on my ass daily. My mother and sister have taken her in as part of our family and I can’t be more thankful. Never have they treated her like anything less than the amazing woman she is. They love her, adore her, and are about as ready as I am to make things official.
I want to make her mine entirely. The last step to clear her of the Mansfield link.
The feel of the cooling water runs over our feet, and she hops on one foot, her body pressing into mine from the side. “That is so cold.” Yet she still kicks at it with her feet and as it retreats, she steps out, almost as if she is chasing it.
My free hand remains inside my pocket as I toy with the ring it holds. A ring that I bought two days after I told her one day that I would eventually make her a Vaughn. That was close to seven months ago, and I’ve been waiting for the chance to ask her. I wanted to give her time to heal, time to find out who she was, and time for her to learn to love herself.
It’s been a pleasure watching that all happen.
“So, I have some time I can take off from work.” I look out over the water though I can see out of the corner of my eye that she looks up at me. “I thought that I’d use it to take you away for a week or two.”
“Where would we go?”
We stop walking, me still looking out over the water as she continues to look at me from the side. There is no right or wrong way to do this; I just know that I have never been more sure about something in my life. Living without Emerson by my side was not an option. I need her and I know that fact will never change.
“Depends on what you would prefer.” I finally take the time to look over at her to find her staring back at me with excitement in her eyes. I feel the same way every day when I wake up—I fall in love with her all over again. “We can stay in a villa in Tahiti that overlooks the water. Wake up to views of the lagoon and Mount Otemanu every day.” A smile creeps over her lips, and I know she loves that idea for sure. “Or we could also go—”
“I’ve never been to Tahiti.” She stops me before I can go on with different ideas. I am glad because I love the idea of staying in a secluded villa, holding her captive in bed, hours upon hours with the windows and open balcony doors allowing the breeze to blow through.
“Neither have I, but Will and his wife went there to celebrate their fifth anniversary. They loved it and with all the pictures and videos he’s shared, it looks like the perfect place to go.” Her eyes light up. “Romantic, or so his wife says.” Emerson nods her head, getting that dreamy look in her eyes almost like she can see it.
“A week, maybe, or a little longer with travel.” I pinch the ring in my pocket between my fingers and am careful to remove it so she doesn’t see before I am ready. “I was thinking May 3rd.” I step around her so we are face to face and I am able to look directly into her eyes.
“Well, you know that my schedule won’t be that hard to adjust.” That is just another thing I love. For once in her life, she is doing what she wants and not what she was being forced to do. I am able to give her that and I will continue to do so for as long as she allows. I love taking care of her. “If we leave on May 3rd, how long would it be until we got there?”
“I thought that we would leave on May 4th.”
She tilts her head slightly and gives me a confused stare. “But you just said May 3rd?”
“Yes,” I nod, “but I never said exactly what we would be doing on May 3rd.”
“You’ve lost me.” Her forehead wrinkles up and I lean in to give her a quick kiss which changes her expression almost immediately.
“On May 3rd, I wanna marry my best friend,” I say, feeling my heart race in my chest. “And then on May 4th I’d like to take her away to celebrate.”
Tears fill Emerson’s eyes and I reach up to cup her cheek as I place my lips to hers once again. “So what do you say, beautiful, are you ready to marry me?”
“Yes.” Her whisper sounds hoarse. “I’m so ready.”
I lean away from her, but only long enough to slide the ring I’ve held onto for a long time on her finger. Her eyes widen when she takes it in, and a tear runs over her cheek.
“It's beautiful.” She looks away from the ring and her gaze connects with mine.
“Not even half as beautiful as the woman wearing it.” Her eyes close and I let her have her moment before she opens them again. “I love you, Em, and that will never change. I want us to build a life together, one that is so full of happiness that the memories of the past will never taint it.” She nods. “I’ll always cherish you, care for you, and protect you. You’re my everything.”
“And you are mine.”