Beholden to You

by Sexton, Carlie

  I shook my head, too choked up to speak as I looked into his adoring face.

  “I know, because I can’t see my life without you.”

  Tears escaped my eyes as I looked into the handsome face of the man who was proposing to me, professing his love—the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with—the man who had become my everything.

  Mac took an exquisite emerald cut diamond ring out of the box and said, “My beautiful Natalie, will spend the rest of your life with me…be my wife?”

  “Yes, Mac. I want nothing more,” I responded. Mac slid the ring onto my finger and then moved up toward the bed to sit beside me.

  “I promise I will always love you, be strong for you, take care of you, and make you feel cherished. I love you so much, Natalie Carter.”

  “I love you too, Mac Carter,” I choked out. Mac’s mouth plunged toward mine. His kiss knocked me off my axis and I felt light-headed—drifting on a sea of ecstasy—his mouth overtaking mine. He kissed me for several minutes before pulling away. Standing up he began taking off his tux, and before I knew it, he was standing there only wearing his boxers. Mac’s body was lean and muscular. I gazed at his abs and wanted to run my fingers over them. Seeing him and knowing what we were about to do excited me, the intensity causing a throbbing deep down.

  He climbed into bed with me. “I’ve wanted to make love to you since we woke up in bed together, but I didn’t want to push you. I wanted you to feel ready. Are you okay with us being together? Now?” he asked in his boyish Mac way.

  “Yes,” I said. “I want you so much.” I untied my robe and Mac slid it off my shoulders. Feeling his hands on my body sent shivers down my spine. I could feel the heat between my legs and my heart rate quickened. I had been dreaming about this moment and finally it had arrived.

  “Mac,” I said, hoping to God that I didn’t sound scared.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’m going to go very slow.”

  How did he do that? He always seemed to know what I was thinking. He could read me so well.

  Before I could say anything else, Mac swallowed my words with his mouth ravaging mine. I surrendered to him completely, having a desperate need to be with him…to be his wife in every way.

  Mac’s hands glided over the bustier I was still wearing. As his hand made its way toward my breast, I felt a jolt of pleasure surge throughout my body. He pulled me forward, wrapped his hands around my body, going to work on the hooks at the back of my garment. My heart pounded more at the thought of Mac seeing my breasts for the first time and what he was going to do to them. Within seconds, they were freed as Mac pulled the bustier away from my body.

  “God, you are so beautiful, Natalie,” he said, looking with undisguised desire at my exposed body. All I had on was my thong underwear. I could feel Mac’s ridge pressing more firmly into my thigh. He was still in his boxers, and I so wanted him to remove them.

  Mac made his way to my neck and began sliding his tongue along the side. He found a spot that made me moan and the sound I made caused him to linger there, increasing the intensity of the feeling. His hands glided from my hips up my waist, finding their way to my breasts. Mac barely touched my nipples yet they responded to him. Eagerly. His kisses continued down my neck to my shoulders until his hot mouth found its way to my right nipple. He gave my breasts attention like a man eating a fine delicacy at a banquet. His tongue. His teeth. His hands. They were all becoming too much and the throbbing sensation at the apex of my thighs was sending me to the edge. I let out another low moan. Mac’s eyes met mine as he began moving his body to cover mine. His mouth departed from my breast and made it’s decent down my stomach. I knew where he was headed and excitement sparked in me like fireworks on the Fourth of July. He was almost there and I didn’t know what to expect, but I trusted him implicitly.

  Mac spread me apart and made a deep, low groan. “Baby, I’ve been waiting to taste you…all of you.” With that, his mouth descended upon me and I surprised myself by moaning loudly. Cries of pleasure left my throat as Mac’s tongue swirled around and around. He slid one finger inside me slowly, giving me a glimpse of things to come. His finger began slipping in and out of me while his tongue licked my tender folds, creating more desire than I could have imagined. I could barely catch my breath, as deep within me, a gentle pulsing began between my legs. Mac’s other hand slid up to my breast to lightly pinch my nipple. The onslaught of his mouth and hands sent me over the edge, I began feeling the intense vibration, squeezing his finger, as I yelled out in pure gratification. Mac made a few more licks as I began coming down from what he had just done to me. Everything had fallen away and all that remained was my quivering body, eager for more of him.

  Mac’s nose nuzzled my belly button while he moved up my body. He began sliding his boxers down his hips and I decided to help him by hooking my toes between the waist band, pushing them down more. Suddenly, it all became very real to me that Mac and I were about to become one. His body would be inside my body. I hoped that I would make him feel as good as he had made me feel.

  “Are you okay?” he asked with glistening lips.

  I touched his face and stared into his eyes. “I’m not okay…I’m amazing. You made me feel… so… there are no words.”

  Mac’s face softened. “Trust me, baby. This is just the start; we’re just beginning our lives together. There’s going to be a whole lot more of what you just experienced.”

  Mac’s mouth invaded mine again and he began rubbing his iron hard rod against the slippery flesh between my thighs. He slipped inside of me just a little and the pulled out, rubbing his head against me entirely. Each time he did it, I felt more and more tightening deep down. I ached for him to be all the way inside of me…to feel him…to make love to him.

  I began lifting my hips to meet him when he entered me, but he kept taunting me with his short insertion and a rubbing of my clit. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, and I placed my hands on his firm ass, pulling him inside of me, not letting him depart. “Make love to me, Mac,” I said. “I need to feel you. Now.”

  Mac slowly moved in and out of my drenched core, filling me each time. Between his intent movements and his tongue finding its way to my left breast, I exploded again, making sounds that echoed the ones from moments earlier.

  “God, Natalie, I love hearing the sounds you make when you come,” he said, his breathing ragged. “You. Feel. So. Damn. Good.”

  His pace quickened and within seconds Mac was moaning in my ear, finding his release.

  He stayed on top of me for a few minutes and I relished the feeling of our bodies joined together. I never wanted the incredible feeling to end.

  I was so glad that I had waited until I was sure. I knew I loved Mac, and I was now certain of his love for me. Making love with him was so worth the wait. I cannot believe the bundle of tingling mess that I was. Coming apart twice like that. Was I okay in bed for him? He has had many lovers before me, so I just hoped that I hadn’t let him down.

  Chapter 28: Mac

  Our evening together had been incredible. I had been captured by her dazzling beauty, the feeling of her body connected to mine, the tasting of her sweetness, but mostly, knowing that she wanted me and loved what I was doing to her. She communicated that loud and clear with each erotic sound that escaped her juicy lips. I was completely intoxicated by my beautiful girl in every way…until Natalie laid her head on my shoulder and began to cry. She tried to cover it up at first, but her body began trembling and a small whimper left her voice. Then I felt a tear drop onto my chest.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?” I asked, as I began sitting up so I could look into her eyes. Damn it. She wasn’t ready for this. How could I have been so stupid?

  A long pause descended between us as I waited for Natalie to speak. After several deep breaths, she regained her composure.

  I traced the curve of her face with my index finger and rested my hand on her shoulder. “You don’t regret that we made love, do you?” I ask
ed, hoping the answer was no. Please let the answer be no. Making love to her had been life changing for me. I needed her more than anything.

  Natalie shook her head. “It’s not that. Being with you tonight was incredible. You are an amazing man, Mac.”

  I looked down toward the sheets, anxiety rising up inside me at what she was going to say next.

  “Are you not sure about us, Natalie?” I somberly asked.

  Natalie pulled my chin toward her so I was looking her in the eyes. “It’s not you, it’s me.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  She exhaled loudly. I was beginning to brace myself for the worst.

  “I’m scared,” she said in a quiet voice.

  “Baby, I’m here. There’s nothing to be scared of.”

  “I’m afraid at some point you won’t be here. That something will happen or you will leave me. Everyone I have ever loved I have lost. I couldn’t take losing you.”

  I put my hands around Natalie’s head and pulled her to me for a kiss. “You’re not going to lose me,” I said reassuringly. “I’m in love with you and I want to be married to you the rest of my life.” I pulled her body closer to mine and held her for a long time. Her fear was understandable since she had lost so much in her life. Then it dawned on me. “Is this why you wanted to keep our marriage a secret from Kate and Charlie?”

  The forlorn look on Natalie’s face said it all. “For so long, I have shielded myself from having a relationship. I didn’t want to tell Kate and Charlie because I knew they would be excited and they would do things to push us together. I love them for being such great friends, but in all honesty, being in self-protective mode, I haven’t let them be close to me either…at least, not the real me. But then you came along, Mac Carter, and broke through all the walls that I have built around my heart.”

  I had to admit hearing her words made me relax a little. I didn’t know why it worked out the way it had, but from the moment I held her on Thanksgiving, I had a need for her…a desire I couldn’t quite understand. Perhaps it was love at first sight…a concept I always thought was a little hokey, but now it had happened to me.

  “You broke through my walls too, Natalie. When we met on Thanksgiving I was instantly drawn to you, but not just because you are so incredibly beautiful. There was something radiating from the inside that I wanted to know…needed to know. Then when you excused yourself to the ladies room and Kate informed me about your sister and your parents, I felt connected to you. I knew the pain you were experiencing from all that you have lost,” I said, wiping her tears away.

  “When I found you alone on the terrace and you let me hold you and comfort you, I felt like the luckiest man in the world. You were letting me in and that so rarely happens nowadays.”

  Natalie looked at me with her big blue eyes. “I don’t know why, but when I met you that day I knew I could trust you. I have no reason for it and I still don’t know how or why all of this has happened between us. I’m beginning to understand why they say that God works in mysterious ways.”

  “Yes, He does,” I said, placing my hand on her waist as I leaned in to kiss her. Wanting so much to relieve her of her worries, I said, “Everything is going to be okay. You’ll see. You’ve had more bad things happen to you at such a young age, more than most people experience in a lifetime, so it’s completely understandable that you are worried. But I believe that all of this is happening for a reason.” I picked up her hand and placed it on my chest so she could feel my heart beating. “I know in my heart that we are going to have a long and happy life together. Plus,” I said, putting my hand on her stomach, “we have this little nugget that we have created and having a baby with you is going to be the greatest thing I ever do.”

  “Oh, Mac,” she said, her eyes filling with more tears. “How did you get so deep into my heart?”

  “It’s probably my good looks and boyish charm that did it for you,” I said, waggling my eyebrows. Natalie laughed as I grinned at her. Hearing her laughter lightened the mood. I wanted my girl to be carefree and happy. She had been bogged down by life’s most tragic circumstances for far too long. She’s been alone for just as long. Not any longer. The girl was mine. She won’t know another moment of loneliness.

  “I definitely think it must be your modesty, too, that attracted me,” she said, looking at me through her long lashes.

  I chuckled. “Yeah, there’s that, too,” I said, as my breathing became heavier. We had been laying there in bed together, totally naked and the sheets had pooled around her waist, revealing the breasts that I wanted to do all sorts of things to. I just wanted to get my hands and mouth on her luscious body again. “Come here, baby,” I said, pulling her close.

  Natalie’s body became draped over mine, her breast pressed against my chest and her thigh wrapping over me. Having her body so close gave me an array of ideas of what we could do right now.

  “Baby?” I whispered.

  “Yes,” she whispered back.

  I ran my hand up the back of her thigh, over her perfectly heart-shaped ass, and said, “Do you want to make love again?”

  Natalie shifted her body on top of mine, straddling my hips. Her hands were on the bed on either side of my chest, effectively pushing her breast together. This was a sight I could behold forever.

  “Yes, baby. I want you over and over again,” she said, as her mouth descended to mine.

  Chapter 29: Natalie

  Dreams of Mac, carried me through the night, and I awoke thinking about all of the delectable things he had done to me. A few of weeks ago, I couldn’t have imagined that I would be waking up in bed with my gorgeous, sexy husband, pregnant with his child. Surreal was a gross understatement in the scenario that was playing out before my eyes, and I felt like I was a bystander watching my new life take shape. I wanted to just believe Mac that everything was going to be okay, but my experience was that life kept throwing curve balls, some of which I had no way of swinging against. During the next few days, there would be another ball when the trial started for the death of my sister.

  I rolled over and looked at Mac, much like I did in Vegas. Except this time, I felt blissful, not confused. It was time to let our friends in on our secret. We were having an early brunch together, so that would be the time to tell them. Knowing Kate and Charlie, they would be ecstatic for me. I could always count on them to be supportive.

  I snuggled up to Mac and drifted for a few more minutes in the arms of the man I loved. I wondered if my feet would touch the ground when I got up. I was so happy in that perfect moment.

  Half an hour later, Mac was beginning to stir. His hands glided up my thigh to my hip and he pulled me back toward him. Pushing his erection against me, his hand found its way to cup my breast. Kissing my neck and shoulder, he said, “Good morning, Mrs. Carter.”

  “I think it’s about to be a really good morning,” I responded. Mac’s hand slid down my abdomen to the apex of my thighs. His hand meandered its way to my hot core and he inserted two fingers inside me.

  “Baby, you are so hot and wet for me,” he said, spreading my slippery juice up the tender folds of flesh that he had acquainted himself with the night before.

  Needless to say, we weren’t in any hurry to leave the bed. Not for a good hour. Not until both of us were almost asleep from being sated so deliciously.

  ***

  Our friends were already sitting in the dining room when we arrived for brunch. I wasn’t sure who was glowing more, Kate or I. Kate and Charlie had huge grins on their faces as they watched Mac and me walking hand in hand. It was time to let the cat out of the bag.

  Mac pulled my chair out and we both sat at the round table with our best friends in the world. I had kept my hands hidden under the table.

  Kate looked at me, she looked at Mac, and then back at me. “Natalie, so help me if you don’t start talking…”

  I blurted out. “We got married in Vegas.” I never saw such shocked expressions in all my life.

&n
bsp; “What the hell are you talking about?” Charlie asked. “You went back to Vegas and got married…without telling us?” she shrieked.

  “Not exactly,” Mac said, stepping in. “The first night there, when I took Natalie back to her room because she was drunk and I was tipsy, we stopped by a chapel and got married. Natalie didn’t want to take the limelight away from you Kate, so she kept it a secret.”

  Kate’s eyes filled with tears. “Nat, you put me before your own happiness? You have to stop doing that. What you want, matters. What you need, matters.” Kate and Charlie got up, came around the table and hugged me. It was the first time since I could remember that I truly let them in. I was going to work at not being shut off, but I knew it would be a process. At least, this was my first step in being transparent—something I had learned from Mac. His transparency was so evident in the way he loved me so unconditionally, so patiently, so passionately.

  Neil and Mitch shook Mac’s hand, but they didn’t seem to be as shocked.

  “This is so incredible,” Kate said. “So, what’s going to happen now?”

  “I’m not a hundred percent sure. We haven’t gotten that far,” I said, glancing at Mac. “Last night, we decided to stay married and let you all in on it this morning. Mac even officially proposed,” I said, lifting up my left hand so they could see the ring. A flash of the first ring he had given me made me smile. I would always have that ring. It signified the beginning of our whole romantic love affair and would be precious to me forever.

  “Wow, it’s gorgeous,” Charlie said, taking my hand in hers. She gave my hand to Kate who just stood there shaking her head. “It’s just stunning.” They both sat back down.

  “I was thinking,” Mac interjected, “That we could have a dinner party on my yacht tonight to celebrate. Can you come around four? We’ll have cocktails, dinner, and watch the sunset.”