by Diana Nixon
“Slow never worked for us.”
She looked up at me, a new challenge in her eyes. “Let’s see if I like your promised surprise first.”
“And then?”
“And then I’ll see if I can make any of those fantasies of yours come true.”
“Sounds promising.”
“James, I need you to go with me,” Olivia said, breaking into our conversation. “It’s time to take the floor.”
“Right.” I turned to Stella. “Don’t miss me, okay?”
“I’ll try…” She gave me another warm smile and I headed for the scene in the center of the room. The guests gathered around me, making me feel a little uncomfortable. I hated crowded places and even less did I like public speeches. But today, I was going to read the longest speech ever.
“Ladies and gentleman, welcome to The One book launch. I have always been terrible when it came to relationships, especially those that threatened my independence and freedom.” Laughter filled the room. “I hated everything that put me and commitments in one sentence. I preferred things to be easy… But then, I met a woman who made me doubt my beliefs. All of a sudden, I felt like giving up on everything but her. She became my everything…” My eyes met Stella’s, I smiled at her and proceeded, “She broke into my world like a hurricane of beauty, grace and endless passion for life. She took my heart and wrapped her arms tight around it, making it beat for her only. And then, she disappeared… One day I woke up and realized that my life didn’t make sense anymore, because she was no longer there with me… I made mistakes, I dedicated myself to the wrong things, I trusted the wrong people. But when with her, nothing of the above mattered. Because she made my existence so perfect… She believed in me, and she trusted me, maybe even more than I deserved. And then, I thought it was time to thank her for everything that she made me feel, for everything that she had done to change me… I wrote The One hoping that one day, she would read this book and forgive me for everything that I did wrong.”
I took a copy of my book, opened it on the last page and started reading, “I hadn’t realized how close I was to crossing the line separating her world from mine until the moment I was completely lost in her. I didn’t have a right to intrude into her life, but I shamelessly let myself in, unable to stay away from her. I had been lost and broken for so long… And then, she found me. She opened her heart for me, and in her eyes, I saw everything that I had ever wanted, everything I’d wished for and longed to – I found myself in love with the most amazing woman in the world…
I didn’t even know I was capable of falling in love again, but she proved different. I have finally had found a woman to care for me and a soul to hold on to. She changed it all: my past, my present, my future. But the most amazing thing was that I was not afraid to love anymore. I just needed a little more time to realize how wonderful the feeling was and how complete it made me feel. My scared soul had finally found its home – within the depths of her mesmerizing eyes that I never wanted to stop diving in. I didn’t want to run away anymore; I was tired of running.
With every beat of my heart, my love was speaking in silence, breaking the icy shell covering it for years. Inhaling deeply, I felt my inner word exploding with millions of emotions that could be described with one simple word – love… I looked into the eyes of the woman by my side, feeling the long-forgotten trepidation building in my chest. She was mine now, mine forever, just like I wanted it from the very first moment I saw her months ago. She was my sun, the star of my night, the light of my life. She was the one…”
I closed the book, afraid to look up and see the eyes that I knew so well, the eyes that I loved with every fiber of my heart. The room was so silent, as if I were the only person standing there.
Slowly, my eyes rose from the book that I was still holding in my hands and the sound of people applauding scattered across the room, filling every corner of it with its echo. But I didn’t care about anything or anyone but her…
Stella’s gaze met mine, and no words were needed to know that she was stunned, probably taken aback by the piece that I had just read to her. I never told her I loved her, though I think I fell in love with her even before I knew it was love that wouldn’t let me take her image out of my head.
I put the book aside and stepped into the crowd, heading to where she was standing. No one spoke; the guests were watching my every step, apparently waiting for something unpredictable to happen. I came to Stella and took her hands in mine, repeating the words from my book in a whisper, “I don’t want to run away anymore, Stella. I’m tired of running… I just want to be with you, always.”
“Say it, James… You know what I want to hear.”
I smiled against her lips. “I love you, Stella Holt. Always did and always will.”
“I love you too, James Collins. I never stopped loving you.”
“Not even for a second?”
“Never,” she said again, and then wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me softly.
The crowd cheered around us, applauding. Too bad we were not alone at the moment, I didn’t want to break the kiss and get back to my duties as the host of the launch. I just wanted to be with Stella, somewhere I wouldn’t have to stop at kissing her.
“Well, well, James… What a great finale to your story,” Rick said behind me.
I smiled, wrapping one arm around Stella’s waist. “It’s not the finale, it’s just the beginning of our story. By the way, this is Stella, the Stella.”
He nodded approvingly, smiling at her. “I’ve already figured that out. You must be a very special woman if you managed to melt this bastard’s heart. I thought it would never happen, but I’m glad I was wrong.”
Leaning closer to me, Stella looked up at me, saying, “I’m glad I’ve managed become the one… I would have never agreed to anything less than that.”
Rick laughed. “I hope it doesn’t mean now your books, James will turn into written soap operas. I kind of like your bad-ass writing style.”
“So do I,” Stella said. “Don’t worry, Richard, I’ll make sure he has enough inspiration to write more great stories.”
“Hold that thought baby, we will get back to the ways you can inspire me after I’m done with this book launch.”
“Don’t forget about the book tour that starts in two days,” Rick said warningly. “I’ve worked my ass off to plan it. Don’t you dare to screw it!”
“How long will your book tour last?” Stella asked.
“About a month, why?”
“Which means you will have a whole month to sign books and take a break from writing, right?”
“Yes.”
She squinted, smiling mysteriously.
“What are you up to?” I asked, curious.
“Well, since I never learned how to make pizza… I thought maybe you could give me a few more cooking lessons.”
Rick smirked next to me. “Just don’t fry his ass on a stove, Stella. That would be such a shame if our famous writer wouldn’t be able to sit and write anymore. I know your cooking sessions never end well, unless you actually try to cook this time…”
Stella’s cheeks reddened, as she shifted her eyes between Rick and me. “Just don’t tell me there’s a part in the book telling about the cooking session.”
“I couldn’t miss it, Sweetheart. It was one of the best memories ever.”
“Oh, you are so dead, James Collins!”
Rick laughed. “Don’t kill him, Stella. I’m gonna miss my friend. Besides, don’t you want to know what other memories were mentioned in the book?”
“Ugh, I should have read it till the end before coming here.”
I said, almost offended, “And here I thought you wanted to give me more new ideas for the future stories.”
“This time, it will be a crime story, that I might as well try writing for you, since I doubt you will be able to do it yourself after I kill you.”
“Remember I told you that if you ever want to kill me, do it with a kiss?”
“I have a better idea - I’ll do it with one of your books, James Collins.”
Epilogue
First rays of morning sun broke through the curtains of my hotel room. I opened my eyes, and smiled at the memories of the last night that Stella and I spent together. It has been almost a week since she joined me on my book tour. I didn’t want to leave her in New York, so I called Steven and asked him to let her go with me. In exchange, she was supposed to write an article about my new book and the tour. Not that she had a chance to start writing it yet. She went with me to my every book signing, and then, after we were back to the hotel, we didn’t waste a second for talking, writing or cooking. We made love. With no rush, relishing every single beat that our hearts made next to each other.
She was lying with her back to me, her breath was slow and steady. I held her closely as if I were afraid she would disappear with a new day coming. I was still afraid of losing her. Every time I looked at her, I felt incredibly happy – the feeling that I thought would never live inside me again. But somehow, Stella managed to fill and repair every empty and broken part of me. And I was immensely grateful for the love that she endowed me with, the love that I could feel in her every gaze, in her every word, touch and kiss. The love that I could feel overwhelming me as well.
I leaned closer, placing a small kiss on the back of her neck. The familiar need started building in my lower body, making my cock stir and swell.
She moved slightly next to me, and smiled, saying, “Good morning to you too.”
I giggled into the curve of her neck. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Didn’t you?” She pressed her back harder against me, letting me know that she could feel my arousal.
My left hand began to palm her flat stomach, enjoying the smoothness of her skin. It was so easy to be with her, like breathing. She felt me so perfectly well, always knowing what I wanted and needed. And I don’t mean just sex.
My fingers circled over her tummy, slipped up to her breasts and rubbed one of her hardened nipples. A soft moan broke from her lips. Her eyes were still closed, but I knew she was not asleep anymore. I firmly clasped her breast, urging her body to be even closer to mine. My hips started to rock back and forth, my cock pressed against her ass, making her arch her back in a silent invitation.
Neither of us spoke, but no words were needed. We just felt each other.
Her thighs started moving with mine. I pushed my leg in between hers, needing to feel the warmth of her all around me. She covered my hand with her palm, as I kept gently toying her nipples, showering her shoulder and collarbone with my kisses. Her other hand reached between her legs and touched my building head, guiding it closer to her entrance. I slid in between her moistened lips, teasing them with slow rubbing. She arched her back again, the same moment when I pushed myself forward, slipping inside her hot wetness. We both gasped at the amazing feeling of our bodies connecting. My hips moved with long, deep thrusts, as I kept holding her in my tight embrace. I never seemed to tire of making love to her. I would probably spend the rest of my forever in one bed with her, showing her how much I loved her, over and over again.
It had never been just about sex with her. Now I knew it for sure. She was the most precious of my possessions and I cherished every second with her, in and out of bed. I just loved her so much, it took my breath away.
With my every new move, she became more and more wet, making my thrusts so easy, it made the fantasies in my head go wild.
“Fuck, Stella… Being inside you is one of the most amazing feelings in the world.”
My breath caught, as I started pushing harder, faster. It was almost impossible to control myself with her. She turned her head and looked at me with her eyes full of rising intensity. Again, I felt like drowning in their depths. The feeling of anxiety shattered me. I ran my tongue across her lower lip, then slipped it inside her mouth, exploring within. She tasted like heaven.
I felt dizzy from everything happening between us at the moment, lightheaded and a little drunk, as if she were the most exquisite wine that I couldn’t get enough of drinking. The pace of my thrusts increased, making more sweet sounds break from her lips. My mouth then moved to her cheeks and down her neckline, kissing her tender skin. I could see her forehead damp with perspiration, as she kept responding to my moves, rocking her hips with mine in a perfect connection.
The air was thick and heavy around us. I could almost taste the scent of our lovemaking. Stella raised her leg higher, opening even more for me. I wrapped my fingers around it, giving her a few deep thrusts. She gasped quietly as I stopped after another thrust, holding myself deep inside her.
“More?” I asked, already knowing what her answer would be.
“Yes, please,” she responded in a breathless whisper.
I could feel my cock becoming rigid, I was so close, making continuing rhythmical contact with her soft flesh, tightening around me. My mouth found a gentle spot on her shoulder, biting it lightly with my teeth. Electrifying tension started building inside me, running down my spine and then bubbling in my lower body, ready to explode. I held Stella more tightly to myself, afraid she would slip away too soon. She turned her face to mine again, touching my cheek with her palm and finding my lips with hers. My hand moved to her clit, circling it with my thumb.
“I love you, Stella, love you so much…” I breathed into her parted lips. And then I came hard inside her, feeling her orgasm joining mine just a second later. Her lips locked with mine, kissing away my low groan, as I emptied myself into her wet pussy.
Our bodies froze, giving each other a few more seconds to enjoy the pleasurable relief filling our veins and minds. It was as if we were swaying on the waves of our passion, watching the worlds collapsing around us and then rebuilding again, bringing us closer to the new day that we were going to spend together.
For a few silent moments, nothing but our rapid breathing and two hearts beating as one existed. It felt like the universe came to rest to give us a chance to drink each other in.
“Marry me, Stella,” I said, looking down into her eyes. “I want you to belong to me, for as long as I can see your beautiful eyes watching me with so much love, and even longer.”
She turned fully around, caressing my lips with her fingertips. “I’m already yours, James.”
“I know. But I think there’s one more line in a book called our future that I can’t wait to write.”
“What line?”
“I want you to have my name. I want to call you my Mrs. Collins.”
She laughed quietly. “You are so selfish, Mr. Writer. But I don’t mind being your Mrs. Collins. After all, it will also make you mine forever.”
“Looks like I’m not the only selfish person in this room.”
“We are cut from the same cloth, remember?”
“No, we are so much more than that… We are a perfect match.”
We kissed on the lips, with our tongues sliding slowly against each other.
Together we lay there again, with our eyes and bodies locked, and there was nothing more important that this very moment of our souls and minds connecting. I had never felt so loved before, and I had never felt so free… Inhaling deeply, I kissed Stella’s forehead, mentally thanking God or whoever was up there for bringing her into my messed-up world and making it so perfect. There was a reason I wanted to be a better person now, to live a life so completely different from my past. And the reason was her…
THE END.
About the author
Diana Nixon is a Bestselling Author of contemporary and paranormal romances. She was born in Minsk, Belarus, where she currently lives and works on her books.
In 2008 Diana graduated from Belorussian State University. She has a Master of Law degree and speaks several foreign languages, including English, Polish and Spanish.
Visit author’s website:
http://www.diananixon.blogspot.com/
More books by Diana Nixon:
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nbsp; Love Lines (Love Lines, # 1)
Songs of the Wind (Love Lines, # 2)
From Scratch (Love Lines, # 2.5)
Diamond Sky (Love Lines, # 3)
The Curse of Blood (Love Line, # 4)
The Souls of Rain (Heavens Trilogy, # 1)
The Prisoners of Dreams (Heavens Trilogy, # 1.5)
Hate at First Sight
Love Undone (Love Undone, # 1)
In Your Eyes (Love Undone, # 2)
Checkmate (Checkmate, # 1)
No Strings Attached (Checkmate, # 2)
Back in the Game (Checkmate, # 3)
Louise (Louise, # 1)