Nick
LATER THAT NIGHT when everyone has gone, I sit beside her while she sleeps and look out at the Chicago skyline.
The lights twinkle and gleam.
Life has a way of presenting itself, and when it does, it’s best to grab it by the horns and just ride along rather than trying to fight it every step of the way.
And that’s what I decided to do.
This woman was handmade for me. When I’m with her, there are no constraints like attachment or commitment, because those seemed to have evolved naturally.
She has become my world.
Everything I never knew I wanted, but everything I need, and I’m not going to fight it.
Tess had spent the day in bed, but by five, she was ready to move around. Fiona came over and brought her some clothes and dinner. After we ate, Ash hung around so I could run out and do something I couldn’t wait to do any longer. By the time I’d gotten back, Tess had fallen asleep on the couch and Fiona had left. I thanked Ash, and he too went home.
It’s close to eight now, and Tess is just waking up. I’ve been watching her sleep, and thinking about life, and what I want from it. The answer is so clear—it is her.
When her eyes flutter open, I stand up and offer her my hand. “Join me outside by the fire,” I say.
She grins and gives me her hand. “Why Nick Carrington, are you trying to seduce me?”
Gently, I help her to her feet, careful to make sure the bruise on her stomach doesn’t cause her too much pain. “Baby, I’ve told you over and over, I don’t need game, my charm wins the ladies over every time.”
She wraps her arms around me and tugs me close to her. “Your charm might have worked in the past, but this lady expects both romance and charm.”
I look into her eyes. “Come with me, I have something for you.”
She pushes back slightly and starts patting me down. “Please don’t ruin the moment with another box of lubricant,” she laughs.
I shake my head. “Am I ever going to be able to live that down?”
“Never,” she grins.
Outside, we sit by the fire and talk. She tells me about Ansel, and her attack, and her deep sorrow that the café has been vandalized. I listen and reassure her that we will make her dream come true, but for now, I tell her, “I think we should leave that property alone.” Then I tell her what has happened with Carrington Development, and how Bigelow is gunning for us.
“This all started because I didn’t rent from him,” she sighs.
I shake my head. “This all started because I went to war with him, not because of you.”
She stares at me. “What’s going to happen?”
I look around. “I’m not sure. I’m going to have to sell this place to keep the company on its feet.”
“What? Why?”
“With so much of the company money tied up in Miami, if I don’t, it won’t be long before we won’t be able to meet our monthly obligational needs.”
“But you love this place.”
I hadn’t planned a way to do this because I knew I would never follow it. But now seems like the perfect time, so I drop to one knee in front of her. “And I’ll love my new place even more, especially if you agree to make it ours.”
Her eyes widen in surprise.
And then I reach into my pocket and pull the small velvet box from it. “I love you, baby, and I wanted to do this in the perfect moment, but I can’t wait.” I flip the box open to show her the perfect round diamond that sparkles just like her. “Marry me. I know we haven’t been together long, but I’ve wanted this from the moment we met. I just didn’t know it, but you showed me the way. So Tess, say yes, and make me the happiest man in the world. Tell me you’ll be mine.”
She is shaking and her hands are trembling, and at first I’m not sure what she’s thinking as the tears stream down her cheeks. But then she offers me her left hand and says, “Yes. Nick, yes! I’ll marry you. I love you so much.”
Once I slide the ring on her finger, I smile and push myself up so I can gather her in my arms, and then I kiss her as gently as I can.
This woman has become a part of me I never knew was missing and I don’t plan to ever be without her.
Minutes later we’re in bed and I’m holding her tight. “I have a confession,” I tell her.
She looks up at me. “Is it something bad?”
I toss her a rueful grin. “No, baby, it’s not. Remember when you asked me if I wanted you to be my baby momma?”
With a smile of her own, she cups my check with her left hand, her ring sparkling on her finger in the dim light. “There are so many things I could say right now, but I think I’ll go easy on you and just say yes.”
I slide my lips to her hand and kiss it. “Thank you, I really appreciate that.”
“Oh, there’s no need to thank me. I expect something in return, but I’ll save my request until you tell me why you’re asking.”
I shake my head. Even slightly battered and bruised, her sass is still there. “What if I told you I wanted to say yes, when you asked me that?”
She rises onto her elbow. “You mean you want to get me pregnant on purpose?”
I kiss her on the lips. “Yeah, I do, but only after I marry you.”
Seriousness crosses her brow. “But you just said you’re going to be homeless, and there’s no way we can live in my small place.”
A deep belly laugh escapes my throat. “Oh, baby, I’m going to buy us a house, and hopefully have you pregnant by the first day of summer.”
Her beautiful eyes stare at me in wonder.
I run my finger along the bandage on he cheek. “Tess, I will always take care of you. I’m going to sell this place because what I’ll get for it will be enough to buy a house and float the business.”
“Do you think we could find something close to Fiona and Ethan?”
I give her a smile. “Is that what you want?”
She nods.
“Then I know we can. So is that yes?”
She nods again. “Yes, I’ll have your babies.”
“Babies?”
“I want four kids.”
“Four?” I pretend to be in shock, but secretly I was thinking more like six.
She gingerly moves her body so she’s lying on top of me.
“What are you doing?”
With a press of her hips to mine, she purrs. “Getting started on our family.”
I shake my head. “Baby, we shouldn’t. You have to take it easy.”
She presses her mouth lightly to my neck. “Then we’ll take it easy, and slow.”
I groan and thrust my hips upward. “Are you sure you’re up for it?”
Her hand glides down and finds my cock, already getting hard. “This is what I want for being a good girl earlier.”
I smile and drag my fingers up the skimpy camisole she’d changed into before getting into bed. It didn’t go unnoticed that she was only wearing that and her panties when she slipped in bed.
I, on the other hand, opted not to sleep naked like I always do, and to keep my boxers on, to ensure I would be a good boy.
Guess even good boys turn out to be bad.
Once I have the hem of her top in my fingertips, I push it up. “You were a very good girl, and I think you deserve whatever you want for that. Tell me,” I whisper, my fingers gliding up the sides of her breasts. “What do you want?”
“Do I get anything?”
“Always.”
Tess slowly moves off of me and sits against the headboard with her legs spread wide. Her top is halfway up her body, where I left it.
I watch her, my breath catching at the vision before me.
“I want you to love me.”
I look at her and see the same desire in her eyes that is flowing through my veins. Unable to deny her, I strip my boxers off and crawl down the bed. “Always,” I whisper, as I place a kiss on each of her ankles. “Forever,” I say nuzzling her knees, one then the other. “Until the day I die,” I moan, licking up the inside of her thigh.
Her fingers trail over my body, soft and sensual, with every move I make.
I map out her body, each beautiful inch of it. The inside of her elbows, the tips of her fingers, the long column of her neck, the slope of her breasts, the curve of her hips, the dip of her belly button.
Only once my mouth has grazed every square inch of the front of her body, do I cup her face against mine where I feel the flutter of her lashes against my skin, and whisper, “I love you. You’re mine. I’m yours. We belong to each other, forever.”
“Forever,” she whispers.
And then slowly, softly, and gently, I remove her clothes and very carefully roll her onto her stomach, where I kiss each of her shoulder blades, lick down her spine, kiss the backs of her legs, her calves, and her ankles again.
Trailing my tongue back up one of her thighs, I stop before I reach her sex, and then gently roll her over so that I can stare down at her. “You’re beautiful.”
She takes my face in her hands and says, “I love you.”
With her words all I can hear, I slide into her, and move so slow that it takes us each a very long to climax. When we do finally tip into orgasm, her name is on my lips, my name is on hers, and I can feel the love between us, unlike I’ve felt anything in my life.
And it feels really, fucking great!