“Yeah.”
I set Patch down on his official K&D mascot doggy bed with something bright and rubber to destroy, then walked over to my desk and plugged my laptop into my monitors. If I was going to be traveling with Michael, I had to spend every available moment getting our new line of cards ready in time for Pride.
With Daniella and Lili’s input and several Patch related breaks, I completed three more designs before we called it a day. Michael would completely understand if I had some work to do on our trip but there was no way I was gonna screw up the perfect will-you-marry-me moment because I had my head firmly pointed at my laptop. This weekend would be all about me and him.
I headed home to pack and drop off my car, and after traffic died down, PJ took Michael, the puppies and me to the airport. Holger offered to look after them for us while we were away, his slick way of saying he didn't actually hate us for getting two dogs and that he was actually growing fond of them, but Michael insisted they come. Patch needed plane training.
And how. After we got Patch to sit the fuck down—he was not a good flyer—the cabin crew served us dinner. Ruben wasn't with us but I was surprised that Michael wasn't on his phone replying to emails. I curled up beside him on the cushy couch that ran up the right side of the cabin and grabbed the remote to the flat screen.
“TV or movie?” I asked as I brought up the guide.
“It’s my lady’s pick.”
“Hmmm, do I really want to watch something or do I just need a little background noise?”
“Background noise for what?”
“For this.” I reached over my shoulder and grabbed the beige monogrammed throw that was draped on the back of the couch. I slipped it over Michael’s lap, just in case Sandy, the flight attendant, came back to check on us. Then I turned on some movie that looked like Taken 4 or 5. I took my sweet time unbuckling Michael’s belt and undoing his fly, looking at the TV the whole time. Ignoring the way he was looking at me and what my hands were doing. He was fully hard when I stuck my hand in his boxer briefs. I snuggled closer, resting my head against his shoulder and slowly started jerking him off.
It took a few cross-country trips, but I was over my insecurities about fooling around with Michael when only a thin door separated us from the crew.
I knew he was enjoying it when he let out a rough puff of air through his nose, but I asked him anyway. “Does that feel good?”
“You know it does.”
“You’re not going to let me finish, are you?”
“Not a chance, but we can pretend for a few minutes.”
I laughed and gave him the gentlest of squeezes before I kept on with my thorough stroking. I think I’d managed to give Michael maybe four hand jobs to completion. It had become a little joke of ours, but every time I tried to jerk him off or give him head he almost never let me finish. He always pounced on me.
“How come you never let me make you come?” I asked him, even though I already knew the answer. “I just want to make you nut all over my chin.”
“You know why.”
I sat up and looked him in the eye, but I didn't stop. His cock felt so good in my hand. “Tell me again.”
“You want me to be dirty about it.”
“Yeah.” I flashed him a filthy smile.
“I like how good you feel.”
“You just like it?”
“I love it.” He groaned, stretching and opening his legs a little wider. “Shall I compare it to a summer’s day?”
“How good it feels to come in my pussy?” I said with an uncontrollable snort. “Yes please.”
But Michael just shook his head, then pulled me closer and kissed me. I kept stroking him, working him up and down. I was shocked when he told me he was close. He usually tackled me to the floor or the nearest cushy surface before we got to that point. I moved the blanket out of the way so I could watch him spill all over my hand, but at the last second I changed my mind and took him in my mouth. He growled out one of the sexier “Fuck”s I'd ever heard and then he came in my mouth. I swallowed every drop. He grabbed my hair, holding it back for me as I continued to suck and clean him off.
I sat up and let out a deep breath. “Okay. Now you do me.”
Again he was quiet as he smiled at me, but even though his eyes were still a bit bleary, he guided me to my feet between his legs. I watched as he unzipped my jeans and almost came instantly as he shoved his hand into my underwear. Grabbing his wrist and pushing his palm harder against my wet clit seemed like the right thing to do.
“You got what you wanted, my nut in your mouth. So you have to give me what I want.”
“That’s gonna be the next card I give you,” I said on a moan, my hips rocking forward. “A sonnet about your dick and nuts.”
“Pure fucking romance. I love it.”
I leaned over, bracing myself on Michael’s shoulders as he continued to fuck me with his hand. When I came, muffling my cries on his lips, from the way he held on to me, I think I gave him exactly what he wanted.
It was the middle of the night by the time we reached our beachside rental house. Michael suggested I get ready for bed while he took the dogs for some fresh air. I told him that sounded like the start of an episode of Dateline and insisted on going with him. Truth was, even though I was exhausted, I didn’t want to be away from him. After we got the dogs situated we both climbed into bed, exchanging light touches and lazy caresses until we passed out. I may have fallen asleep with a smile on my face. There was a very distinct possibility that I would be heading back to the Los Angeles a newly engaged woman.
I did not head back to the Los Angeles a newly engaged woman.
We had a great time. Good food, perfect weather, a-fucking-mazing sex. Sex in the giant bed right in front of the massive French doors that opened to the water. Sex in the spacious kitchen. Sex on the beach right after sunset. We did it that time on top of a sheet. I don't do sand in the crack. Michael even surprised me and fucked me from behind in the shower. All the perfect kissing and cuddling I could handle, nice quiet walks with the puppies. I found out that Michael sucked at checkers and then I found out he just liked letting me win at checkers. The whole time he didn't take any calls. He attended to some emails, and he blew up Ruben’s phones with texts because he did have a lot of shit to do once when we got back, but he was all there, attention on me.
There were several different times I thought he might pop the question, over breakfast, on the beach, when I was playing tug of war with Penny and I caught him staring at me with this dreamy look in his eye, but the next thing I knew we were back in the jet, flying somewhere over the long expanse of California and Michael was mid-Monday morning conference call and still, nada. I tried not to be upset. I knew it was stupid to be upset. Well I wasn't really upset, more like disappointed. Knowing you're about to get something so huge, something you didn't think was even on the table and then to have to wait? It was the best tease ever. Still, I knew Michael and I knew he liked to do things his own way. If he was going to ask, he was going to ask at the right time for him.
I shot Daniella a quick text—On own way back. I’ll be in the office tomorrow. I’m available now though. Working on the plane—then I set to work on more designs and I was making some pretty good progress when Daniella texted me back.
Well?!?!
He didn’t ask.
What? Bummer! He will soon.
I hope so. I’m going crazy. I want to kill my sisters for telling me.
True. Kinda ruins the surprise.
And turns me into a crazy person.
HAHA. Patience darling. You’ll be Mrs. Michael Bradbury before you know it.
Okay. My impatience sounds creepy when you put it that way.
I glanced up from my phone and found Michael looking at me from across the cabin. He was talking to Steven and a few of their associates about an app for their dating site dedicated to seniors. He threw me a wink that made my chest ache. I gave myself a little internal sla
p. He was gonna ask when he asked and even if he never popped the question, this was the man I wanted to be with and right there, in that moment, was where I wanted to be. Damn straight. I pulled up his textbox on my phone and sent him a message. Not exactly a sonnet, but...
My cunt is still sore
To whom do I owe this bliss
Your dick n nuts. Sweet.
I hit send and then focused back on my design work, doing my best to ignore the way Michael tried to cough to cover his laughter.
Four
The next day it was back to the office. More design work for me. So far I had come up with five designs to support people coming out at any age, five gender neutral valentines, two “it’s okay if you’re still figuring yourself out” type cards and five humorous gender neutral “I love you so much I think about doing things we both find intimate like fisting or going to the zoo” type cards. I wanted to get more specific and fun with my same sex stick figure cards, but I was still happy with my progress.
Daniella and I finally decided on the printer we wanted to use after so, so many test samples, and Lili had gotten into a hilariously adorable online back and forth with whoever was running the Twitter account for Notable Moments, one of the larger greeting card companies. That snagged us another one hundred followers before quitting time. All in, it was a good and busy day, and after I made my way past an accident on the PCH, I was happy to be home. I had crap TV to watch and my man to make sex with.
Patch and I walked in to find Holger finishing up dinner prep. “Hello, my dear. And Patch.”
“Hello,” I said as I stepped out of my shoes. “That smells delicious.”
“Pecan crusted chicken.”
“Is my boo thang home? Or does PJ have him out and about? I saw his car in the garage.” Just as I said the words I heard the approaching jingle of Penny’s tags. Patch ran to meet her, their clumsy play tangling around Michael’s legs as he walked into the kitchen. He'd worked from home all day, but he’d ditched his usual hoodie plus boxers, no shirt, ensemble for jeans, a dress shirt and a blazer. His long hair was up in a ponytail.
I shed my own light jacket and kissed him. “Hello,” I said with a smile.
“Good evening. Would you care to join me by the pool for dinner?”
“Absolutely.” I giggled as Michael held out his arm. He was more of a hand holder, but still I took hold of his muscular bicep and followed him out to the pool deck. It always looked gorgeous this time of day. The sunset over the rises and valleys of the Malibu terrain just beyond his property, glittering off the ocean that was barely a mile away but seemed to go on forever. The coyotes were out, yipping and calling, egging each other on. The perfect backdrop for the candlelit table right in the middle of the shrouded cabana.
Holger served dinner and dessert as I told Michael about my day. His upcoming business plans were about forty times more interesting, but he listened intently as I talked about the things I was still learning in Illustrator and the fascinating world of card stock.
“You don't know stress until you've been through every version of glossy and matte that six different vendors have to offer.”
The corner of Michael’s mouth turned up in his signature smile. “You have amazing taste. I can't wait to see the final products.”
“Hopefully I'll have something soon.” I stretched, pointing my fingers at my toes, and fought the urge to pat my full belly. “What a lovely way to spend a Tuesday night. Thank you.”
Then Michael got serious. “There is something I need to speak with you about.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be right back.” He stood abruptly and walked back into the house.
“Oh my god,” I breathed the second he was out of earshot. This was really happening. He was really going to do this. I rocked on the bench cushion, trying to keep the restless tapping of my feet under control. Be cool, Kayla. Be cool. Michael’s just going to propose. No big deal. Happens all the time.
Michael came back a few minutes later holding his new tablet, this massive beast with a screen bigger than my laptop monitor. He put it down on the table between us and then took a seat, scooting a little closer.
“What’s this?” I asked lightly as I read the header at the top of the wall of text. It took a second for my mind to process what the words said. Michael reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear. I usually lived for his gentle touches, but I was fighting the urge to throw up the amazing dinner Holger had just prepared for us. The words Prenuptial Agreement punched me in the gut.
“I’ve been told there is no easy way to bring this up.”
“Something you guys talk about at your billionaire boys’ club meetings?” I said, trying to laugh. Michael did let out a little chuckle.
“Yes, something like that. Usually you pop the question first and this comes up some time before the actual signing of the marriage license.”
“But?”
“But I don’t feel comfortable asking you to make such a major life decision without knowing all the factors.”
“Is this—is—are you asking me to marry you?”
“I am. I want you to be my wife and I want to be your husband, but I want you to know that you’re taken care of, and if we have children I want you to know that they’re taken care of too.”
My eyes snapped to his. “Do you want to have kids?”
“I do. I know I’m getting up there—”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I just—you just—you seem so bachelor-y. The dogs seemed like such a big step for you, a big step for us.”
“They are. Having you here has been a big step for me too. I lived by myself for over twenty years. If you don’t account Holger.”
“Yeah,” I breathed. Or at least I tried. My face was so hot and my head was swimming. “Kids. Yeah, yes. I do want to have kids. Not like right this second, but soonish I guess.”
“This is why I wanted to talk to you like this. I love you, but there’s a lot we haven’t discussed yet. Coming to Miami with me is one thing, but I want us to be on the same page about a real future together. You sound so surprised to hear that I want to have children, I regret not telling you sooner.”
“No, no. It’s just a lot. Go on.”
“Take some time. Read it over.” He said something after that, but I couldn’t really hear him. The roaring in my ears was too loud. The screen of the tablet was becoming blurry right before my eyes.
Michael placed something else on the table. “—she came highly recommended by Cassandra.” I picked up the business card. Sarah McNamara. Attorney. Beverly Hills. Cassandra, right. Steven’s wife. She was married to a billionaire. She would know what to do. “She can walk you through each section. I don’t think you’re a murderer, but I had my will amended to include you and your family as well. Kayla.”
“Yeah.” My voice didn’t sound like my own. I turned the card over in my hand.
“I understand if this something you don’t want to do.”
“What?” I looked up into his bright blue eyes.
“I get it. I’m old as shit and this isn’t exactly romantic. It wouldn’t be shocking if you had other plans for the rest of your life that didn't involve me. I’ll understand—”
“No! No. I’m sorry.” My non-reaction was giving him the wrong impression. That’s when the tears started rolling down my cheeks. I’m talking huge, fat tears taking turns on the Slip N Slide that was my face. Michael reached up and started wiping them away.
“You can say no and we can just be together.” I knew what he was saying. Michael was so afraid of making me do things I didn’t want to do. He knew what his money did to other people, what money did to most people, how it could intimidate and coerce, but it had never been like that between Michael and me. Yeah he was into K&D for a hefty chunk and we lived together. I owed him so much, but Michael had never made me feel indebted to him in that way. We’d never even detoured down that awkward road. I loved him and I never felt for one second lik
e there was anywhere I wanted to be more than with him. I didn't think he would suddenly pull the rug out from under me. I just wasn’t expecting this.
Clearing my throat, I got with the program. “I—I want to marry you. I love you. Yes. Yes. I'm saying yes.”
Michael didn't say anything, but this million watt smile spread across his face, making his gorgeous eyes crinkle in the corners. And then he kissed me. I was having an out of body experience for sure, but I kissed him back, I know that much. I could taste the salt from my tears on both our lips.
He pulled away then, reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. When he opened it, I almost choked. The biggest fucking diamond I’d ever seen in real life was floating in a hexagonal diamond halo setting.
“What’s that? A CZ?” I laughed through my tears.
“Not even. Shiny plastic and plated copper. It’ll probably give you a skin infection.” Michael reached for my hand and slid it on my finger. It fit.
I let out a choking sound as Michael took both my hands in his. We were both shaking. “Oh my god,” I said, my voice thready and not in a good way. What the fuck was wrong with me?
“Are you okay?” he asked. Even he could tell it was more than just nerves that had me all off kilter.
“Yeah. I think I stopped breathing there for a second.” My laughter felt genuine this time, but it still sounded a little crazy. “I love you.” I couldn't stop crying.
“The twins helped me pick it out. Kiara said, quote ‘This is Kayla. Like so Kayla.'” Michael turned my palm in his so we could look at the ring together. His ring. My ring. He had actually asked me to marry him. I still couldn't breathe, I definitely couldn't think. So my body took control and launched me out of my seat right into Michael’s arms.
“Good morning,” Daniella said, looking up from her computer screen.
Lili offered her usual, “'Sup.”
SO RIGHT: A Sugar Baby Novella Page 4