He laughed and hugged me closer. “Tell me again how you feel.”
I removed the skirt and wiggled my panties off as I said, “I love you.”
He unfastened his pants and slipped on the protection. A second later I guided him in and rode him.
Cyrus had my heart, and his cock inside me drove me wild.
In seconds I forgot where we were, or anything other than I was entirely his, my heart, body, soul, and whatever else he wanted from me.
42
Cyrus
We cleaned up in the small en suite half bath, but I didn't scrub too hard because my skin smelled like her strawberries now. But I helped fix her strap so it was straight and then nodded down at her as I said, “You look great.”
She let out a throaty laugh and shook her head. “You’re sweet, but luckily we’re not looking to win, so hopefully no one notices my hair's a mess now. Let’s go.”
Right. I fixed my tie, and we left the private suite I'd booked so we could practice. I took her hand in the hallway as I caught up with her and said, “The plane is waiting for us.”
We entered the elevator, where we were squished in with others. She took my hand and asked, “Do you think your mom watched our performance?”
I nodded. “She’s probably already sent the clip to every relative, but I don’t care.”
Her cheeks still had that pretty flush, and I replayed what happened in our suite as we went over to the stagehand, who then directed us to where we would stand next to our competition.
The bright lights were hypnotizing, in part because I wasn’t sure what was happening.
But when the floodlights beamed directly down on us, the announcer said, “In third place, Cyrus Norouzi and Sarah Litchenberg.”
“Are you serious?” Sarah squeaked.
We were then given medals, but to be honest, I still can't remember a word that was said.
When dancing with Sarah, all I ever saw was her.
She was shaking beside me. When the announcers moved on to someone else, I leaned close and I whispered to her, “So you just won your half of three hundred dollars.”
She hugged me and said, “Keep it as a down payment on that phone.”
I shook my head. The phone was a gift, given simply because I wanted to make her happy. The announcers went on to the big winners, and I whispered, “Nope. How about we use it to enter another competition?”
She met my gaze as we took a step forward to be in the winner’s circle and said, “It’s a good thing I love you.”
She'd stopped being afraid to be seen with me.
I had something important I wanted to say, but I held back for now.
We took our last bow and then the lights were turned off.
Other competitors all shook hands, and I nodded.
Eventually we made it to the hall where the organizers waited with paperwork. My driver nodded when I signaled that he needed to wait a while longer, and we both took turns standing in line to leave and using the restrooms to change.
Once we were both in our white cotton clothes, the air fizzed now we were together again. Then I said, “I want us to make one call before we go to the plane.”
She tilted her head and said, “Sure. Any reason?”
I kissed her cheek. Everything I did was for her, though all I said was, “I’ll explain later, but if you don't mind signing for us, I’ll be right over there.”
Now I was sure she loved me, I wanted us to be together officially.
So I called the jeweler and talked to them to deliver a ring selection to the plane. I listened while the show organizers told Sarah, “Congrats! You and your partner were great today.”
She signed, and because I still had the phone to my ear, she said, “Thank you. Honestly this is the first time I've ever won anything—ever—so I’m thrilled.”
My heart thumped. She’d been denied so much in life, but now I’d be able to shower her with surprise after surprise for the rest of our lives. I smiled.
The organizer checked the paperwork and said to Sarah, “Honey, it looks like you won a guy who adores you, so I'd say you definitely don’t have bad luck.”
I was obvious. Good. I hung up the phone as she said to the staff, “Thanks.”
And then we were off.
More people took our picture.
She stayed tucked under my arm as we hurried to the limo.
Once we were inside and took off, a soothing quiet surrounded us. We were alone. She took a sip of her water from bottle left on her seat, and once she finished, she asked me, “Everything okay?”
I was surprisingly a little nauseous and praying she would say yes when she saw the diamond I just bought, and my skin prickled with excitement the limo wove through traffic on the way to our plane. I only said, “Sure, just excited to be on our way home.”
We were on the highway when she asked, “Who did you need to call so suddenly?”
I wanted to surprise her. I rubbed the back of my head and said, “I needed to get a gift.”
She waved her hand and took a deep breath as she said, “Oh, of course. I’m excited to meet your brothers.”
Right. She’d fit in with my family. We turned into the private airport, and before our driver could open the door I quickly said, “Soon we’ll be alone. I instructed the onboard staff to give us complete privacy and told them we'll fend for ourselves if we want anything.”
Her eyes had a twinkle, and I assumed she wanted me too.
We loved each other.
She only said, “Fun!”
The limo stopped, and once we were cleared to drive out onto the tarmac, she pointed to a man with a briefcase and touched the Cartier diamonds around her neck. “Is that the jeweler? He must want the necklace back.”
She slipped it off and handed it to me, then climbed out of the limo and waited for me. I walked her to the stairs while resting my hand on her back until we reached the jeweler and I said, “I’ll talk to him.”
She walked up the stairs while I watched her without a word.
Once she was inside, the exchange with the jeweler took seconds because the diamond looked perfect. I paid and he left.
Then I ran up the stairs and at first didn’t see her.
Finally I looked in the bedroom, and once the staff closed the doors behind me, she stepped out, showing off her gloriously naked body as she said, “Come into the bedroom, Cyrus.”
She was amazing.
First, I’d propose, and then she’d know she was mine, both intimately and eternally.
43
Sarah
Cyrus had stayed outside.
My heart raced, but I hadn't had enough of him. Maybe I’d never have enough of him.
It wasn’t because of the medal for winning, but because I needed to show him, so he'd finally, fully believe me. So I walked right into the bedroom before takeoff.
Earlier I’d been dreaming about the future without telling him what happened in my heart. Now it was beyond time to show him.
So I stripped but waited in the bathroom until I was sure we were alone.
Until I met him, I’d never thought I’d be this woman, who had a heart bubbling with happiness, and I needed him.
Finally I met his gaze and he walked backwards. I straightened like I was in full control despite being naked. As he walked in, I said, “In the movies it always seemed weird that people wanted to join the mile-high club, but, unlike in the movies, we have a bed.”
“I like this new, bold you,” he said, taking a step closer, though his hand was still in his pocket.
I tilted my head and noticed the bright smile on his face when I asked, “What’s in your pocket?”
His eyes widened as he went to sit on the bed and said, “You noticed right away.”
Then he went lower. He wasn’t sitting but kneeling.
My heart thumped as I said, “No. I am starting to read you… maybe… but honestly, why are you keeping your hand in your pocket?”
/> He reached in and opened a ring box as he said, “Guilty. I want to give you this.”
I gasped, stepped back, and pressed my hand to my chest. Every cell in my body trembled as I asked, “What are you doing?”
He took out the diamond ring and showed it to me while he said, “Sarah, I don’t want you as my employee, and 'girlfriend' is too simple to describe how I feel about you. I want to take you home as my fiancée. Will you marry me?”
My lips trembled. I wasn’t sure I could speak, but somehow, I managed to ask, “Are you joking?”
He shook his head and then slipped the ring on my finger as he said, “No. I hope the diamond will help you believe it's official.”
Tears streamed down my face as I said, “I love you.”
“Is that a yes?” he asked, still on one knee.
I nodded fast and urged him to stand as I said, “Yes! Yes…yes…yes…yes…yes!!”
“I love you too,” he said.
Then I hugged him.
It was time. Our lips met, but I helped him out of his shirt while he scrambled out of his shoes and pants and joined me on the bed.
The plane roared and we took off just as we fell backwards onto the bed.
I wrapped my legs around him and pressed my hands on the wood carved headboard so I was sure I wouldn't fall off if we hit turbulence.
He took full advantage and kissed my nipples and belly and then my core.
Clearly, he was in full control of himself.
Then my eyes rolled back from the bolt of lightning that shot through me because of what he was doing. I stopped thinking about how the plane stayed in the air, or what direction we were going, because I was lost. And ecstatic to be lost.
I was his.
I clutched him and then, as he entered me, the world disappeared entirely.
44
Sarah
The birthday party dinner took place outside, with lights all around us like a fairy tale, and seeing how his family all seemed so close tugged at my heart.
And Cyrus was attentive, sweet, and somehow mine.
His parents hugged me and welcomed me to the family. I was still teary-eyed while I chatted with Joel’s wife, Kendal, and Arman’s fiancée, Maddie, who’d known the family forever it seemed.
The other brothers were all single and sweet.
The house phone rang, but I hardly registered it while I sipped my champagne, and Adrien, who was still in college and last to the party, came to say hello.
As we finished, his mother, Roxanne, held the house phone in her hand and asked me, “Who’s Darren Davis, dear?”
My knees almost gave out as a bone-deep chill froze me to the spot. For a second, I thought about running out the door.
But luckily I looked to my left and met Cyrus’s gaze. No, I’d never leave him. I was stronger now, so I nodded.
And he, bless him, said, “I’ll handle it.”
I lifted my chin. He had no idea what an effect he’d had on me. So I shook my head and took the phone from his mother before he could get to it as I said, “No, it’s for me. Give me a minute.”
Cyrus walked with me into the house, and we went into a small sitting room. He closed the door, and then I put a finger to my lips to ask him to be silent.
He nodded, and I put the call on speaker as I asked, “Darren, why have you called me?”
“You ruined my life.”
For a moment I was speechless. I’d been so afraid of this man for so long, but I wasn’t a teenager anymore. I wrapped my hand around my grandmother’s necklace as I said, “You were calling before the Norouzis made sure you'll no longer be able to work with them.”
“I wanted the money your sister borrowed from me.”
My eyes widened, and Cyrus rested his big, strong hand on my back as I asked, “She what?”
“She and I had an arrangement.”
My sister’s tuition made sense now. I winced when it occurred to me, she might have gone through exactly what I had, only she stayed and went after his money. My skin buzzed as I said, “You mean you raped her.”
Cyrus hugged me.
Darren said, “It wasn’t like that. Now, I need my money—fast.”
I swallowed. If he'd come at me while I was a waitress with no one to support me, then maybe I’d have caved. But I wasn’t all alone anymore. I lifted my chin and said a quick thanks to the Cosmos because I'd found love, and said to Darren, “I don’t have it.”
“Your sister’s bank account has six hundred thousand dollars in it that’s mine.”
Whatever was there wasn’t his. She’d more than paid for it. I gazed into Cyrus’s brown eyes while a deep calm enveloped me. I loved him, and he loved me, which was all that mattered. I said, “Look, I have to go now. You’re interrupting a party.”
Then I hung up. Cyrus said, “He must owe people now I've cut off his financial security from our family’s companies.”
I hoped he believed that I wasn’t—had never been—here to use him. He had my whole heart.
I swallowed, cleared my throat, and said, “My sister’s life always confused me. Waitressing was simple, and I kept to myself, but she decided to go to medical school and prove how smart she was. Yet she was a train wreck.”
He shrugged but then asked, “Why did she live in that small condo when she was paid so well by my brother?”
My mind buzzed with more questions. I guess book smart wasn’t enough to make someone a good person, but if she had that much money in the bank, then her two bedrooms did seem awfully small. I met his gaze and said, “I don’t know. She always said it was because she had student loans.”
He kissed my cheek and said, “My colleagues can usually afford… nicer.”
I hugged him and then shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe we can find some answers in the paperwork.”
Outside the door we heard his mother calling everyone inside.
Cyrus took my hand and said, “We’ll leave it to Jeff. Let’s go have dinner.”
He turned, but I tugged on his shoulder and said, “One second.”
“What?” He asked fast.
“When you love, you trust entirely. I love you, and I hope you realize that I’ll do anything for you and Joshua.”
At which point both our phones rang out with his cries. I laughed and said, “He seems to be awake. I’ll go get him and bring him to the party.”
He opened the door and said, “I’ll get the plates so you can sit.”
“You got my back and I got yours, Handsome.” I winked.
We both filed out but worked as one unit now. Nothing could be more wonderful than every second of today and every day—together.
45
Cyrus
When Sarah walked into the dining room, everyone stared at her because she was carrying our son.
She rocked Joshua to calm him while she blushed from all the attention, but she kept coming toward me, and my family started talking again.
She sat down, and I took Joshua so she could settle and place her napkin on her lap.
However, just at that moment he chose to coo at me, so I tucked him closer to keep him as I said, “I spoke to Jeff.”
Servants delivered our salads. She said "thanks" to them, but then she said, “Good, but tomorrow I want to check with the bank about what Darren said. If there is money, then it’s for Joshua.”
I picked up my fork but shook my head. “Or for you. I’ll ensure Joshua has whatever he needs.”
Her eyebrows went up, and she said, “I’m pretty sure that’s not how laws work.”
“He’d want it to be for you.” I said, and bounced my son, who curled against my chest. Then whispered, “I have a trillion-dollar inheritance and make plenty of money as a heart surgeon. He’ll be fine unless we blow all the money dancing around the world, but even then, I don’t think we'd be able to scratch the surface.”
“Dinner looks amazing,” she said, and settled beside me.
Whatever happened with her si
ster wasn’t a problem? My Sarah seemed more sure of herself than ever, and that made her even sexier than when I first met her.
46
Sarah
Waking up with Cyrus was amazing. I loved him and he loved me. Every second of every day I believed it a little more. Maybe one day I’d be a total believer in dreaming and happiness, but for now we needed to hurry.
His parents volunteered to watch Joshua this morning, so we cleaned up and went to meet his brother in the sitting room where we’d been last night.
His brother, Jeff, was waiting for us. I scooted my chair closer to Cyrus, and Jeff then said, “Her will named Sarah as the legal guardian, and with that, access to all her funds. However, since you’re getting married and we already prepared the court filings, I’ll get the paperwork for formal adoption from both of you.”
My eyes widened. My sister had seriously thought I’d continue taking advantage of the Norouzi family. She clearly hadn’t listened to me—ever. We were born in the same family, but we had such different ideas about life and happiness.
Cyrus took my hand and said, “Sounds good.”
Jeff blinked, and I could swear it meant I needed to say something, though all he did was hand me papers and a key and say, “And here is the bank info, including her security box.”
“Thanks, Jeff.” I said and clutched it. I’d deal with the bank later.
I refused to let my sister stop our forward motion.
We chatted for a few minutes more, but once we finished and Jeff left, Cyrus asked me, “Are you ready?”
For a second, I was lost in his gaze while warmth enveloped me like a hug. “Let’s be quick at the condo, because I want to get home to Joshua.”
We drove down the narrow paths of the small beachside town, and the air had a salty smell that filled my heart.
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