“I have a surprise for you.”

I’m covering Reagan’s eyes and slowly guiding her down the path toward the beach. Tonight’s our last night at the cabin, and I’ve planned this alone time for us. Remy and Aimee are out with Dawson, so I can do this for her.

“I’m going to fall.” Reagan laughs.

As soon as we reach the private beach, I uncover my hands from her face, and I walk to her side. Her expression is priceless. Reagan loves the little things. The differences between her and Jennifer are significantly obvious. Jennifer would never want to go horseback riding on the beach or have a picnic. She prefers five-star restaurants and her Gucci.

Reagan lets me guide her toward the horses standing with their owner and good family friend, Sal Rogers.

“You got us horses to ride on the beach?” Her face turns and notices the blanket and picnic basket Dawson and I packed while she napped. “And a picnic for dinner?”

I love the excitement in her voice.

After last night, I wanted to make sure she was happy and wasn’t worried about her past. The woman I’m staring at is strong and fierce. She allows herself to be sad for a little bit before realizing how fortunate and in control she is of herself.

While Reagan and Aimee ate breakfast outside on the deck, overlooking the woods, I overhead her talking about wanting to go horseback riding and how romantic a dinner on the beach would be. My girl wants romance.

I haven’t had many chances to take her out and let her know I’m into this relationship. All of me. And it’s not just for the sex. That’s an added bonus. I’ve been acting like a damn horny teenager, wanting to be inside her as many times as I can. After finding out what she thinks is romantic, I immediately set a plan in motion. She deserves to be swept off her feet and have her heart racing. Being with Reagan, watching the woman she’s becoming, is more than I can ask for.

Tonight’s all about Reagan and showering her with all my love and affection. She needs to know, as amazing as the sex has been, my love for her runs deeper, beyond anything I can imagine.

“We are having dinner on the beach. Just us,” I respond. I kiss the top of her head.

Reagan’s face lights up brightly, and in this moment, I’m so in love with her. I can easily watch that smile on her face and become complete.

We’re walking the beach, hand in hand, and I can see the curiosity on her face.

“I wasn’t sure you would like my surprise.”

She pushes me a little and it makes me laugh this tiny woman thinks she can push me over. “Its perfect.”

She’s perfect.

When we get to where my surprise is starting, I peek to see an excited Reagan.

I introduce her to Sal, and he gives us a quick how-to. She informs us she’s ridden before, so neither of us has any questions.

As we’re riding along the lakeshore, I glance over and my breath catches when I see that smile on her face.

“This is so sweet,” Reagan says with a laugh. She pets her horse and turns her head to look at me. “You’re amazing.”

“Anything for you.”

The laugh slipping out of her plump lips fills the quiet air. “Sometimes, I feel like this is all a dream. One day, I’m going to wake up alone, like I was before. Everything will be gone, and it’ll just be me in the facility again.”

I slowly shake my head. “I promise you, this isn’t a dream. I’m real. Dawson’s real. You’ve grown out of your shell, and you’re starting to heal again.”

“Can we stop here?”

“Of course.”

We’re facing the lake, watching the calmness of the water shifting from the shore and back out. The swooshing sound echoes in the air. The sun begins to dip down, hitting the horizon with bright rays and colors. The sky’s a canvas of pink, orange, and yellow, but all I can see is Reagan. A slow, heavy feeling settles into my chest. She’s focused on the sunset, immersed in its natural beauty.

This is it.

I get off my horse, Luna, and gently touch her arm and help her off Belle.

“You okay?” she asks.

“Since I met you, I can honestly say I’ve never been happier. You and Dawson complete me.” I pause and wait a few moments.

During the silence, Reagan intently watches me.

“You’re the woman I see in my future. In my forever. I want to wake up to you every morning and kiss you good night before we go to sleep. When I look at you, everything becomes easy.”

Reagan covers her mouth, and tears spill from her eyes. I wipe each away and lean in to kiss her forehead.

“Dad!”

We both turn and see Dawson running toward us. Remy and Aimee are standing where the path meets the beach. I give them a wave and turn back to Reagan with Dawson at my side.

“Hi, Reagan.”

“Hi, sweetie,” she says, her voice hoarse with emotion.

“Before Dad says anything more, I wanted to tell you I really love you. You make my dad happy. He’s not sad anymore when you’re with us. I like that we play and spend time together. You’re really cool, and you make the best breakfast ever. I know I have a mom, but”—Dawson pulls his arm from behind his back and hands her lilies, and by the look on her face, my son chose well—“will you be my second mom?”

Reagan immediately gasps and kneels, hugging Dawson. She looks at me while I get down on one knee.

“Reagan Nicole Halloway, will you spend forever with me as my wife, my best friend, and partner in this crazy thing we call life?”

“Yes!” She throws her arms around me and tightly holds me against her body. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

I let her go and keep her at arm’s length, so I can place the three carat diamond ring on her finger where it’ll stay until the end of time plus infinity. Dawson’s little arms hug us both, and the three of us laugh, holding each other.

“I love you guys.”

“We love you, too, buddy.”

“So much,” Reagan tells him.

My pulse finally slows as Remy and Aimee run to us.

Remy slaps my back and hugs me. “I’m happy for you, man.”

“Thank you.”

The five of us make it to the blanket with the horses. We say good-bye to Sal, and I look at Reagan and Dawson sitting close to one another, sharing a plate of cheese and crackers.

“Come on, Dad! You need to eat.”

“All right, buddy.”

* * *

As soon as we put Dawson to bed, our clothes are thrown off, and I’m buried inside her.

Holy fuck.

Reagan’s my piece of heaven. Her pussy’s squeezing my cock, and it’s the best feeling, being inside her.

“Faster, Drew,” she moans.

“I can’t control myself. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Reagan’s eyes turn dark with yearning and desire. “I trust you completely. With all my heart and my body. Please let go and lose control. You can make love to me next. Now, I want fast.”

I blink, and without any more thought, I pull out and push my cock harder inside her. Our bodies move together in perfect rhythm.

“Fuck,” I cry out.

Her legs wrap around my waist as she grips the cream-colored bedsheets, and our breathing matches to an erotic rhythm.

When I look down and see the glisten of her ecstasy on my cock, I fight off the close orgasm and focus back on her eyes. We’re synced together, fluidly moving as one. She bites her bottom lip as I pound harder into her. The slapping sounds of our bodies drive me crazy, and I lose control, gripping her hips and pulling all the way out, only to slam back inside her.

“I’m so close. Oh my God. Drew, ah, yes.”

“Reagan,” I call out.

The orgasm rushes through our bodies, calming down our racing hearts. A gleam of sweat covers us, as I taste her soft and swollen lips before slowly pulling out.

"I'll be right back," I whisper against her lips.

When I get off the bed, I head to the en suite, and come out with a warm cloth to gently clean her. I toss the cloth on the floor when I’m done and pull the covers over us.

“I love you,” she whispers.

“I love you.”

I want to freeze this moment in time with her. When I take her left hand and hold it up, staring at the ring I placed on her finger just a few hours ago, I know this is how I’m going to spend the rest of my life.

“You’re so beautiful, Reagan. Thank you for saying yes to becoming my wife. I can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle toward me.”

“To our forever,” she speaks softly. “You know, the more you keep talking like that, the more I’m going to want you back inside me.”

I turn on my side and press my lips to hers. “Well, maybe that’s what I want. If I remember correctly, you wanted me to fuck you hard and then make love to you.”

She looks down, and her eyes widen. “How are you hard already?”

“Don’t sound so surprised.” I pretend I’m wounded. “It’s never enough with you.”

“Drew…” The sweetest sound of want lets me know she needs me, too.

I slowly get up and pull off the covers, staring at her naked body and cherishing what’s in front of me. I need to go slow and take my time, savoring each second so that it cements itself into my memory. I need her to feel everything I’m feeling and to know how much I love her.

As I slowly begin making love to her, I cover her body with my lips, kissing every inch I can possibly kiss and focus on each nipple. Her nails dig into my back, and she lets out a low moan.

“That feels so good.”

I slow my thrusts, and each time I’m inside her, I make sure to go deep and feel all of her. “This is where I belong. Right here with you.”

“Nothing’s ever going to take me away from you, Drew. I promise.”

After we finish making love, her words repeat back to me, and I smile, bringing her closer to me and promising I’ll never let anyone or anything take her away from me.