Chapter Thirty-Nine
Two Weeks Later
Gavin
Maddie and I had been inching into our relationship as best we could, trying to learn each other through the process of dating, but it was hard. I wanted her in my bed every night, and her ring sitting on my dresser haunted the hell out of me.
There was no doubt in my mind. She was going to be my wife.
So why the hell were we waiting? I'd already paid for the ceremony, and it had been beautiful. No one knew it was fake but us. All we had to do now was to sign the papers, and it wouldn't be fake anymore.
And we would be husband and wife. The thought alone made my body tight with the need to dominate my pretty little model.
If nothing else, she had to move in with me soon. I hated her living across town in an apartment all by herself. It was depressing for her and worried me.
I picked up the phone as I forced myself to finish getting dressed. "Hey. Make sure you wear something nice."
She laughed. "For pictures? Not this again, right?"
I smiled. "You might want to take a few photos, but that'll be up to you."
"I do like having your handsome face on my phone."
"Alright, tease. I'll see you shortly." I reached for a tie and decided against it, knowing my mom would give me hell if she were still around, but if I were being entirely honest, half the reason I didn't wear the damn gray tie was to get a rise out of her.
It’s what guys did to their mothers.
I drove over to Maddie's place and got out, walking to the door and popping my key in the lock. I walked in to find her in white lacy bra and panties, leaning over to slip sandals on her feet.
"Where is your dress, beautiful?" I walked toward her and slid my hands up her back to cup her shoulders as she stood.
"On the bed. I was trying to figure out which one I wanted to wear." She pressed her back to my chest, rolling her hips and playing with my dick. "Or maybe we could just skip dinner and make love all over my apartment."
"We did that last night." I moved back and popped her ass. "How about you wear the dress that requires you to not wear panties? I like those dresses best." I walked toward her room with her following me, her laughter causing me to smile.
"You're corrupt. Just like the women you date." She moved past me, and I reached out, grabbing her wrist and tugging her back.
She crashed into me with a soft yelp and pressed her hands against my chest.
"You're the only woman I date." I leaned down and kissed her a few times. "And if you don't hurry up, we're going to miss our reservations."
"And if I'd rather seduce you?"
"Not going to fall for it tonight, sweetheart." I kissed the tip of her nose and walked around her to sit down on the edge of the bed. "Now, get ready."
"So bossy!" She huffed and reached for a strapless blue dress that reminded me of the colors of spring. "I don't know any other man who would pass up the opportunity to have his girlfriend bend over and work him from 10 different angles. You're just wrong, Gavin Hayward."
"Ten different angles?" I lifted and eyebrow and glanced down at my watch. "We might actually have time for that." I let out a loud huff as she smacked me in the chest and gave me a look.
"Nope. You didn't want it."
"I'll always want it, Maddie. Now, stop talking and get dressed." I stood up and walked to the door, pausing for a second to look back at my beautiful girl. "Or no spankings for you."
She flipped me off and worked her dress over her head. She was rowdy and a little rough around the edges, but she sure as fuck was mine.
"No, you didn't." She slid her hand into mine as I pulled up to the hibachi restaurant I'd taken her to a few weeks back and proposed the first time. Though it was all planned and staged, it felt real to me at the moment, and still did now.
"I did." I gripped her hand tightly and walked toward the door. "Let's get something to eat and then I have a gift for you."
"Is it what I think it is?" Her smile lifted her lips so much it had to hurt. I loved it.
"No. It's not half a million dollars. Jeez." I reached out and held the door as she walked in and glanced over to give me a look. "Too soon?"
"Way too soon." She shook her head and moved up to the hostess stand. "Two."
"We actually have the whole restaurant again." I took my place beside her and wrapped an arm around her slender shoulders.
"Show off," she whispered and glanced up at me, her words a little airy.
She liked me spending my money, and if it impressed her, I didn't mind so much. From the lessons I'd learned, you couldn't take it with you anyway. Better to use it to enjoy various parts of life that were hard without it.
We followed the hostess to our table and sat down, ordering sake and a few appetizers. We chatted throughout dinner, laughing about some of the things we had done and said during our fake proposal and wedding.
"It was a beautiful ceremony, though." She smiled and glanced down to her hands as they lay in her lap.
"Yeah. I've been thinking a lot about that." I reached out and took her hand. "I've been thinking about a lot of things you said."
"You have?" She scooted closer to me, brushing her knee by mine.
I took a quick breath and pulled the ring from my pocket. Her ring. I moved to my knees between the chairs and took her hand fully in mine.
"I realized something."
"Gavin. What are you doing?" She glanced around and back down at me as she paled. "You don't have to—"
I ignored her. "I know you talked about wanting to start over and doing things differently this time, but I'm not sure I'm good with that."
"No?" she whispered, her pretty eyes growing wide.
"No." I pulled her hand up to my mouth and kissed her knuckles as her breathing got a little off kilter. "I want to pick up where we left off and keep going. We'll sign the papers down at the courthouse and get them over to the pastor that married us. Let's don't start over. I wouldn't want to go through another wedding without my mom there. Not unless you want to so that your parents—"
"They already think we're married, remember? I never told them the truth. The only people that know are me, you, and Ron."
"Is that a yes?" I lifted the ring toward her. "Will you be my wife, baby? For real this time. We can grow old together, have babies."
"Make babies?" She lifted her eyebrow and I fell in love with the naughty girl all over again.
"Absolutely. Practice makes perfect." I slipped the ring onto the tip of her finger and looked up into her eyes. She loved me. I had no doubt. "Say yes, Maddie. Make me the happiest man in the world tonight."
"I would never deny you anything." She pressed her finger into the ring and leaned forward to kiss me, mumbling “yes” against my lips.
Life would never be the same. It would be better than good. She was mine, and this time, I wasn't letting go. No matter what.