‘That was amazing,’ I said as we stepped inside the house with trash bags. Paisley’s birthday party was a total success. It was six o’clock in the evening, and finally, all the guests were gone. We’d been cleaning for the past thirty minutes.
‘I loved it. It was the best party ever,’ Paisley exclaimed, running a hand through her wavy hair. I’d painted pink strands in her braid today, and I’d caught her checking her appearance in every reflective surface possible all day long. She was so cute that I barely resisted hugging her all the time. If I’d learned one thing in all my years of teaching, it was that kids liked to play it cool in front of their friends.
After dropping the bags in the garbage, we went to the living room, where another pile of trash awaited us. Paisley opened all her presents in here, and there was paper everywhere and one unopened gift, a flat rectangular box wrapped in pink paper with a pink ribbon on the couch.
“Hey, where did that come from?” I asked.
“I want to open it,” Paisley exclaimed.
‘Don’t you want to go back in the yard and help your grandparents finish?’ We were almost done cleaning the yard of balloons, toys, and discarded paper cups. Lena and Emmett volunteered to help with the cleanup before taking Paisley to their place for a sleepover.
‘After I look inside. Pleaaaaase,’ she said.
Turning my head to her, I noticed that she exchanged a glance with Tate, who had joined us in the living room. A suspicious glance.
What’s going on?
‘Sure, why not?’ I said. ‘Tate?’
‘Yeah, I’m on board.’
‘Come on, Lexi,’ Paisley said, taking my hand and leading me to the couch.
I sat down, and, to my surprise, so did Tate.
‘Lexi, can you help me unwrap it?’ she asked.
‘Sure. I’ll tear off the paper for you.’
‘Thanks.’
I was so busy unwrapping it that I didn’t pay attention to the fact that Paisley was sitting unnaturally still. Under the wrapping paper was a beautiful gift box in black velvet that seemed very serious for a ten-year-old’s gift.
Opening it, I frowned. Inside was a card, and it was hand-drawn by Paisley. I recognized the stroke of her brush and the way she wrote the letters For Lexi. Next to it was a small jewelry box.
I looked up and found Paisley and Tate exchanging yet another glance. ‘What’s going on?’ I asked. My palms were a bit sweaty.
‘These are for you, Lexi,’ Tate said in a soft voice.
‘I made a card,’ Paisley added. ‘Do you want to read it?’
‘Sure,’ I said, a bit bewildered. ‘But it’s your birthday.’
‘I know. If you want, I can read it to you. I wrote it so I wouldn’t forget what I want to say.’
‘But why would you write me a card and give me a gift? It’s not my birthday,’ I said.
‘It’s all in the card. I’ll explain it.’
With a look at Tate, who nodded, Paisley took out the card and opened it. She scrunched her beautiful face in concentration.
‘Dear Lexi,
Today is a big day because it’s my birthday and I am ten years old. I asked Daddy to do this on my birthday because then it’s a special day for both of us. We love you, and we hope you want to be with us. I want to ask if you’d like to be my mom. I wrote it down because then it’s official.”
Her voice wobbled a bit, and she looked over the card at me.
My throat was completely blocked. I had a giant knot in my chest, and I could barely breathe past it, let alone speak. So instead of saying anything, I nodded and opened my arms. Paisley walked right into them, wrapping her arms around me. The card was scratching the back of my neck, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to let go.
But only a few short seconds later, Paisley wiggled out of my embrace, taking a step back.
“And Daddy also wants to ask something.’
She said a few more words, but I couldn’t hear them past the thumping in my ear.
Tate took the small jewelry box out of the big box, and then he dropped to one knee next to Paisley, who was standing still, holding her card with both hands.
‘Lexi, I love you,’ Tate said simply, opening the box. ‘As Paisley said, we both love you, and we want you with us, forever.” He took in a deep breath, and I didn’t miss the emotion in his eyes. “Will you marry me? Be my wife, my partner in crime, and my best friend? Will you be my everything, Lexi?”
‘Yes,’ I said in an overly emotional voice, but that was fine because if there was ever a moment to be overly emotional, it was this one. ‘Yes, I will.’
Paisley clapped her hands. ‘Can I put the ring on?’ she asked, and I nodded.
Tate held the box for her while she took out the ring. It wasn’t a classic engagement ring, but it was far more beautiful than any I’d seen, with a sapphire sphere set in white gold. She put it on my finger and then clapped her hands again.
“You’re going to be my mom. And then we can do mommy things together. We already did some, but now it will be official.”
“Yes, it will,” I said, smiling at her catchy enthusiasm.
‘I’m going to tell Grandma and Grandpa the good news and that they can come in,’ she exclaimed.
Tate kissed her forehead before she darted toward the back door.
He rose to his feet, his eyes trained on me. His gaze seemed even more intense than a few seconds ago. It was still full of emotion and radiating heat, and I was melting under its weight.
He reached out for me, one hand on my cheek, the other on my hip. His lips were hot and determined against mine, moving desperately, like no matter how close he was, it wasn’t enough. No matter how much he kissed me, it wasn’t enough.
I felt the same. My whole body was alive with excitement; it vibrated through me. Happiness coursed through my veins. A small tremor took hold of me as I skimmed my hands down his muscular arms. He was wearing a T-shirt, and all those delicious muscles were mine to touch. I was smiling when we paused to breathe.
‘Did you time everything?’ I asked in a shaky tone.
‘Yeah, except how much time I had for this kiss,’ he said as the back door opened and Paisley’s and his parents’ voices reached us. ‘Should have told my parents to keep Paisley outside for a while.’
‘How many helpers did you have, exactly? Your parents, Tyler, Reese, Paisley…’
‘Hey. I needed the element of surprise, and I couldn’t do it on my own, so I got everyone involved. We each have our set of skills. Reese is an excellent planner, Tyler can distract even the most suspicious of us, and Paisley is quickly learning something from everyone.”
‘Obviously,’ I said with a chuckle. I couldn’t believe all this. I still couldn’t believe the ring on my finger or that this beautiful man wanted to spend his life with me. He’d thought he couldn’t open up to love again, but he’d let me in all the way.
And Paisley wants me to be her mom.
My eyes stung a bit, and Tate didn’t miss it. He touched my cheek with the backs of his fingers, keeping his eyes fixed on me.
‘I love you, Lexi. I love you so much. I can’t imagine my life without you, babe. You’ve made me such a happy man today.’ He gave me another kiss, but this one was short and chaste, because the trio was close enough that we could hear what they were saying clearly.
They entered the living room the next second.
Paisley ran straight to us and hugged us both, looking up at me with a dreamy smile. I’d made this little girl happy, and Tate too. There was no better feeling in the world.
‘We hear congratulations are in order,’ Emmett said, coming up to us. ‘Well done, son.’ He clapped a hand on Tate’s shoulder before hugging me and kissing each of my cheeks.
Lena hugged me too, and she held on tight for a few seconds. My heart was so happy and full.
“You two make such a lovely pair.” Stepping back, Lena looked between Tate and me and then at Paisley. ‘Paisley, is your backpack ready? If we leave now, we still have time for a movie tonight.”
“It’s ready,” I replied. “We packed it before the party started and put it next to the front door.”
“Then I suggest we go. The yard is clean,” Lena went on.
Emmett nodded. “That’s right. No reason to linger.”
My cheeks were a bit red. I mean, I was sure Lena and Emmett just wanted to give us privacy, but I was equally certain that Tate was already harboring sexy thoughts. I could feel it in the stance of his body, the heat radiating off him, the way he put an arm around my shoulders, brushing his fingers up and down my upper arm.
‘Okay. What are we going to watch?’ Paisley asked.
“Whatever you want, poppet,” Lena said. She put a hand at the back of Paisley’s neck, steering her toward the front door. Emmett walked out next to them. Tate and I trailed behind, chuckling when Paisley started to negotiate. She wanted to watch two movies.
I had to admit, I wasn’t totally listening to the conversation going on. I was too lost in my happiness. But once they left and we were alone, all my senses went into overdrive. Especially when Tate wrapped his arms around my waist, whispering, “We’re alone. Finally.”
I giggled. “You’ve been waiting for a while, huh?”
“The whole damn day. I wanted Paisley to be part of the proposal, but now it’s just you and me, and I want to tell you a few more things.”
“I’m listening.” I suspected my man was going to make me swoon again.
‘I love you, Lexi, and I can’t wait for us to be married, for you to officially be mine. Thank you for teaching me how to feel again, how to want, how to live. You’re everything to me.’
I’d been right. I was swooning.
‘And you to me.’
“You’re mine, Lexi. Do you know what that means?”
“What?” I whispered.
“That I get to spoil you every day. Take care of you. Your problems are my problems too. So, if you changed your mind about me helping with your parents’ medical expenses, let me know.”
“Hmmm… you had to bring this up while I’m swooning and happy, huh?”
“Yeah,” he said with a slight grin. “Thought it might increase the chances of getting a yes.”
“I’ll take it under consideration,” I said in my best stern tone. “And that’s all I’m gonna say on the topic today.”
His grin turned devilish. “Let’s see if I can change your mind.”
“I can’t wait to tell my parents about this.”
The corners of his mouth twitched.
I narrowed my eyes. “What?”
“They already know, babe. I asked them for your hand.”
“Oh my God! You did? How? When?”
“That’s our secret.”
I rose on my toes and touched my lips to his. Desire coursed through me like wildfire. I put my arms around his neck, pressing my body against him. Feeling those hard abs was stirring all my hormones. The effect this man had on me was insane.
My nipples turned hard. They felt almost painful pressing against his chest.
His hands slowly descended to my sides, gripping my hips. He pulled me against him, and I could feel how much he wanted me. He was semi-hard already. With a groan, he took control of the kiss, deepening it, and bunching my dress up until his fingers brushed the bare skin on my outer thigh. The contact turned me on like nothing else. Tendrils of heat flared through me, gathering between my legs. My clit pulsed.
We moved swiftly, and not until I felt a hard surface behind my back did I realize he’d pushed me against the door. His kiss was even more frantic now, as was his touch. His hands were everywhere: on my shoulders and my thighs, under my dress. His tongue stroked mine even faster. I loved being engulfed by him like this.
He led me away from the door, but we didn’t get too far. We were too busy devouring each other.
We’d never make it to the bedroom.
He kissed me even more hungrily as we walked through the hallway and into the living room, where he laid me down on the plush carpet. I rolled around because I wanted to be on top of him. He smiled at me lazily while I pushed up his T-shirt, slowly grazing those gorgeous muscles with my fingers. Throwing away his shirt, I mapped the same spots with my tongue and my lips, luring out groan after groan from him. I loved the delicious sounds he made. They turned me on until I was already slick between my legs.
I kissed up his neck and his Adam’s apple before straightening again. I moved off him and was immediately even more hungry for him, but I needed to get rid of his pants first, that pesky belt, the boxers, and everything else that was in my way. To my astonishment, he removed a wallet from the back pocket of his pants, taking out a condom while wiggling his eyebrows. Then he started undressing me. His job was way easier.
He tugged at my dress, yanking it up over my head. I wasn’t even wearing a bra, since most of my summer dresses had sewn-in cups. I did have panties, though, and I expected him to take them off right away.
Instead, he decided to tease me. Nudging my legs farther apart, he rubbed two fingers along the fabric covering my pussy. The soaked material felt cold against my heated flesh. This time, the pleasure ricocheting through me was downright shocking. I bent at the waist, gasping for air. A tremor shook me when I felt Tate hook his thumbs in the waistband of my panties. He took them off carefully. I had to lean on all fours, lifting one leg and then the other so he could get rid of them.
‘Don’t you love summer?’ I teased, pushing myself up on my knees again. ‘You can get me naked so fast.’
‘I fucking love it,’ he said, kissing up the side of my body and reaching my breasts. He took a nipple in his mouth, and I gasped again. I’d never been as sensitive to his touch. The way he was looking up at me was downright sinful.
He cupped my other breast, flicking his tongue over my nipple, and then he brought one hand between my legs, pressing the heel of his palm straight on my clit. I nearly tumbled down onto him.
‘Tate,’ I gasped.
He moved his hand over my clit in the same rhythm he was circling my nipple with his tongue, and I was so overwhelmed by the sensations that I couldn’t even breathe. I wasn’t sure where the tension ended and the pleasure began, but I couldn’t get enough of it. It vibrated in every cell, through my bones, and spread like wildfire. I didn’t even know where it started from: his hand on my clit or his mouth on my breasts. But I came apart so hard that my legs shook and my jaw clenched. I pressed both hands on his shoulders to balance myself.
‘I’ve got you, Lexi. I’ve got you, babe. Fuck, you’re so beautiful when you come. I could watch you come all day long.’
I gasped a few times, riding out my orgasm and moving my hips against his hand until I had wrung out every drop of pleasure.
He looked at me with a satisfied grin, and I grinned right back. Then he captured my mouth, kissing me deeply. I loved the lust in his kiss and the way his hands felt against my body, no matter where they touched me. They said the same thing: You’re mine, Lexi. Every inch of you is mine.
He was sitting on the floor, and I was still on my knees, so I straddled him again, wrapping my hand around his cock and moving it up and down.
He groaned, tipping his head back. ‘I need you, Lexi,’ he said in a dangerously calm tone.
I smiled at him, drawing my thumb over the tip of his erection before putting the condom on him and sliding him into my core, moving slowly, taking him in inch by inch. I was still sated from before, and my inner muscles were clenched tight. I was feeling everything even more intensely; I never thought it was possible, but apparently it was. My legs shook with every inch I took in. Little tremors spread through me with every move, like aftershocks from the orgasm.
We locked gazes, and I hoped he’d look at me like this for the rest of our lives. The passion, the love, the possessive streak in that gaze was everything to me. When I took him all the way to the hilt, he grabbed my hands, lacing our fingers, and I moved my hips back and forth, slowly at first but then harder and faster.
I was still so spent from before that I didn’t have much strength, not as much as I wanted. Leaning forward, I propped my hand on his chest, taking in a deep breath, just feeling him inside me, hard and hot and so damn delicious.
He groaned again and gripped my hips, and I knew he wanted to take over. The next thing I knew, he’d rolled us over so we were lying down on one side.
‘I love this angle,’ I whispered before he sealed his mouth over mine. I was so overwhelmed by Tate: his hands on me, his cock inside me, his mouth on mine coaxing my tongue. He brushed my clit on every thrust, pushing his pelvis against me. I felt him thicken and widen inside me, and I knew he was close. I didn’t think I had it in me to come again, but oh wow, was I wrong.
Whereas I could feel the first orgasm building up, this one took me by surprise, rocking my world.
I came hard while I felt Tate explode too, and our thrusts became even more frantic, more desperate. We both chased our pleasure until we were completely out of breath and could barely move. My body was exhausted but so full of happiness.
Neither of us could move, but I liked the way we were lying down on the floor, limbs intertwined, heads resting on the carpet.
He grinned. ‘I love this smile. I promise to put this happy, sated expression on your face every single day.’
I felt my smile widen. ‘That’s a promise right there, mister, and I’ll make sure you keep it.’
‘You have my word.’
