“What are you smiling about?” He asks.
“I’m just thinking about how we barely know one another and I’ve agreed to marry you,” I say with a schoolgirl giggle.
“I disagree . . . We live together Alicia. I think we know enough about one another to get married. We can just learn the rest along the way.” His returning smile makes my heart skip a beat. I bend down to give him a quick kiss on the lips. He’s so sweet, he knows just what to say and when to say it.
He sits up and pulls me on top of him so that I am straddling his lap. I tilt my head to one side playfully staring at him and he mirrors my movement with a silly grin plastered on his face. “Alicia St. James,” he says in that voice that makes the muscles in my little lady clench. I smile at him as he starts to massage my thighs. “It has a nice ring to, it doesn’t it?” He asks.
“It will after I get my awesome proposal,”
He lets out a sexy groan in agreement then he pulls me closer and we start to kiss, all lips and tongue. I wrap my arms around his neck and our kiss deepens. I can feel his erection bulging through his jeans and my hips start to rock back and forth against him in an attempt to alleviate the excruciating pain I’m feeling between my thighs. The pain that I’ve been wanting him to take care of since I sucked him up in the limo this morning. He puts his hands on my hips guiding me slowly and sensually across him because he knows that this is what I need from him at the moment. Not letting up from our kiss, he stands to his feet still holding me at my hips and my little lady clenches tighter because she knows what’s about to happen. His phone rings and he takes it out of his pocket to answer it and I start working on his neck kissing and suckling it.
“Hold on mum. I’m opening the gate right now,” he says and I stop in my tracks and look at him. “My parents are at the gate,” he says looking as disappointed as I feel.
I groan out of frustration.
“Go to the room. I’ll let them in and tell them to hold on,” he says quickly devising a plan.
“Heath, I’m not having sex with your parents in the house,” I say half angry and half amused. I climb down out of his hold. “We need to figure out something because I’m horny and if I don’t have an orgasm soon, no one is going to have a good night.”
“How do you think I feel Alicia? I’m about to answer the door for my parents and I’m as stiff as iron.”
I look down at him and he is not lying. Seeing his erection against his jeans makes my mouth involuntarily water. He grabs himself and does a weird half-squat to reposition it so that it isn’t as noticeable. I let out a chuckle because right now my situation doesn’t seem so bad.
“Kiss me,” he says and I reach up and give him a quick kiss on the lips. No sooner than I do, the doorbell rings. “Can you answer the door while I figure out what to do with myself?” He asks and then runs into the bathroom.
The doorbell rings again and I run down the hall toward it. I can see his mother through the glass door and I mentally roll my eyes because I haven’t seen her since the night Albert attacked me.
I do not have time for Himaya and her bullshit tonight.
When I open the door, I am greeted with a fake smile from her and an all-toothed genuine smile from Heath’s father.
“Good evening,” I say to them both and then move out of doorway to let them in.
“I didn’t know you were going to be here. Where is my son? It’s been forever since the last time I’ve seen him,” Himaya says as she walks right past me.
Well hello to you, too, bitch.
Raymond gives me a half-smile and a shrug as an apology for his wife’s messy greeting. “Good evening Alicia. How are you?” He asks giving me a hug. Then he whispers, “Heath told me that you informally accepted his proposal, but his mother isn’t aware yet.”
I stand back and look at him. “Good,” I say with a nod.
“Then let me informally congratulate you,” he says winking at me. “Ada and Chauncey are coming down tonight,” he says as we walk down the hall.
“Oh really? Heath didn’t tell me that.”
“I don’t think he knows. I was talking to her and mentioned that you two were coming here for a couple of days and I thought it would be nice to have the whole family in attendance. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh no of course not. I love Ada and I love the relationship that she and Heath have. I don’t really have a family, so watching you guys is like a breath of fresh air.”
“You have family. We’re your family.
“Aww, thanks Mr. St. James.”
Heath and Himaya are sitting on the adjacent sofas when Raymond and I make it to the living room. I take a seat next to Heath and he grabs my hand and starts to stroke the back of it.
“What are you doing for dinner? I have some important business I’d like to discuss with you,” Himaya asks.
“Well, Alicia and I are probably going to just order some take out and lounge around the house tonight because we’re both kind of tired. What is it that you’d like to discuss?” Heath’s tone is as if he knows she came there for something.
“I need you to talk to your colleagues at the courts about getting Albert’s bail granted. I’ve already arranged for him to have a lawyer and I’m willing to pay his bail.”
Is this lady serious? Why does she think that Heath will try to help the man who tried to ruin both of our lives get out of jail? Does she really hate me that much that she refuses to believe that Albert attacked me? Or does she want Albert out so that he will try to attack me again? My heart rate is increasing and I can feel my breath speeding.
“Mother, why on Earth do you think I would do such a thing?” Heath is not shouting but anger is present in his voice. “Albert tried to rape my girlfriend and told her that he was ordered to kill her, he can rot in there as far as I am concerned. And I won’t sleep well until I find a way to tie Nadia to this, too, I know that she has it out for Alicia.”
“So you’re going to believe the story of some American trash over your friend since childhood and your first love?”
Trash?
“Himaya!” Raymond interjects. “Apologize to Alicia this instant.”
“I will do no such thing. I don’t understand why Heath can’t see that this bitch is after his fame and fortune. She loves being in the spotlight. She’s been on every tabloid in England in the last couple of weeks.”
Bitch? Ok she’s gone too far.
“Mrs. St. James,” my tone is respectful. “You may feel the way you choose to feel about me, but let’s get a couple of things straight. I am not now, nor have I ever been anyone’s trash or bitch, so I’d appreciate it if you’d never refer to me as either. Alicia will do just fine. Secondly, you may believe what you’d like about what happened between Albert and me, but I know the truth. I’m not the type of woman who enjoys multiple partners and furthermore, how could I when your son keeps me wrung out and sated? For the record, I don’t like being on the front of anyone’s magazine, however, I do love spending time with Heath and if that means I have to take a picture while I’m out in public, then so be it. You may not like me, but I’d appreciate if you’d respect me because I’ve been nothing shy of respectful to you. Oh, and um, you might as well get used to having me around because Heath and I have been planning our future and it looks like I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.” I’m staring her straight in the face. I want to rip her fucking head off.
I know I just hit a nerve, and I don’t care. She needs to know to respect me and my position in Heath’s life.
“Ha! Don’t you know that you’re a rebound fling? Heath is still in love with Nadia. She is who he is going to marry.” Himaya’s voice is menacing. It would kill her if I told her Heath and I are planning to marry.
“Mum, I’ve had enough of you for one day and it seems as though you still can’t accept my decision to love Alicia, so I’d like it very much if you would leave my house,” Heath says in my defense.
“Dad, I’m sorry, but
she can’t be here if she can’t respect Alicia.”
His father nods telling him that he understands his decision.
“So you’re choosing that bitch over me?” Himaya asks angrily.
“Her name is Alicia and until you can refer to her as that, I don’t want you coming to any of my residences, because most likely she will be there and I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable where she lives. Good night mother,” he says standing and showing her to the door.
“I’m really sorry that she is so cold to you Alicia,” Raymond says.
“It’s not your fault,” I answer, noticing for the first time that my face is wet from tears.
Raymond turns and follows his wife out the door.
“Darling, I’m so sorry,” Heath says pulling me into his embrace.
“Why is she so bitter towards me?” I ask through my tears.
“Because she knows that I’m in love with you and all of the chances she has getting Nadia and me together are obsolete.”
“I’ve never been treated this badly in my life.”
“I know darling, and it will never happen again. Not if I can help it.” He rubs my back and lets me cry until I cry myself to sleep.
***
I wake up to my growling stomach and no Heath, but the minute I sit up I can see him sitting under the moon by the seawall. I grab my jacket and pull on my boots and walk out to where he is.
“Hey,” he says when I sit down next to him.
“Hey,” I respond
“How was your nap?”
“Refreshing,” I say with a smile. “Why are you out here in the cold?” I ask after a moment of silence.
“This is where I come to think.”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Us,” He says with a smile.
“Well . . . what did you come up with?” I ask nudging him playfully.
“That your happiness means more to me than anything in the world and I can’t wait to make you my wife.” He stands, grabs my hand to help me stand and then pulls me into his embrace. We’re standing here listening to the calm rustling of the sea and letting the moonlight pour over us as we hold one another. This is probably the simplest yet most romantic experience I’ve ever had. “I love you Alicia McAllister,” he whispers in my ear just before he kisses it, chastely, waking up my little lady from her unproductive frustrating day.
“I love you, too, Heath,” I say nearly breathless from everything going on at the moment.
“I want you to know that I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you feel like the most important woman in the world. I’m going to protect you, love you and honor you until the day I die.” He grabs my left hand, drops down on one knee, and my floodgates open. He reaches into his pocket and places a beautiful diamond ring on halfway up my finger. “Darling, will you please make me the happiest man on Earth and marry me?” He asks with tears in his eyes.
“Yes,” I say through my own tears. He stands to his feet, picks me up and twirls me around and then starts walking toward the house with me still in his arms. “Where are we going?” I squeal playfully.
“To bed,” he answers gruffly.
“But I just woke up,” I say
“We’re going to bed, but only for me to give you what I’ve been trying to give you all day.
Oh.
***
I wake up to the sun shining through the glass walls of the house. My body feels like it’s been hit by a freight train and my little lady is still throbbing and pulsating from last night’s activities with Heath. I smile as I briefly reminisce about how we made love for hours on end and how he made me come so many times that I lost count. I’m drained, tired, and dehydrated, but I am beyond satisfied.
I yawn, stretching my arms out in front of me getting a good look at my engagement ring for the first time, and it is huge! It has to be every bit of ten carats, and I’m not really knowledgeable on cuts, but I’m sure the solitary diamond is princess cut. It’s without a doubt bigger than the one that David gave me making me briefly wonder, again, how rich Heath actually is.
I carefully roll out of bed, put on my bathrobe and then start searching the house for Heath. I find him on the terrace drinking a cup of tea and talking to someone on the phone. I run back into the room, pull on my boots and then go outside to join him sitting down in the chair across from him.
“Thank you Benjamin. I’ll see you in a bit,” he says before he hangs up. “Good morning my fiancé. I trust that you slept well given that it’s nearly noon and you’re just getting out of bed,” he says teasing me.
“I slept just fine thank you,” I say giving him a faux pout. “But I’m hungry because my future husband decided that screwing my brains out was more important than feeding me.”
“I’m sorry, I just got a little carried away. It’s not every day that the woman of my dreams accepts my proposal.” He smiles.
“Speaking of proposals, where in the hell did you get this ring?” I ask because I just need to know.
“Is it not up to your standard? I can change it. I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
“Heath, the ring is absolutely gorgeous but you didn’t have to go out and buy something this big.”
“I just wanted something to reflect how happy you make me. I know you said you wanted an awesome proposal, but last night when I was sitting by the sea wall all I could think about was making you mine forever. Then when you came out, you looked so beautiful sitting next to me and it made me realize how badly I wanted you. I wasn’t supposed to ask you until tonight, I had people coming over and I was going to propose with a firework show but I just was so taken over by my love for you that it kind of slipped.”
“Heath, I was just playing about the proposal, and honestly, I don’t think anything could top the way you asked me. It was beautiful and heartfelt and genuine.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but I still have people coming over tonight, so we’ll just announce our engagement then. Is that alright with you?”
“That works for me,” I say with a smile. Then my stomach loudly reminds me that I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon.
He laughs. “There is no food here, so let’s get showered and go grab a bite to eat. Benjamin will be here in a couple of hours with clothes for tonight.”
***
Heath has really outdone himself with this party. Everything is perfect. There are tables aligned and simply decorated under the moonlight with candles burning to give off a romantic feel and the DJ is playing smooth R&B. What more can a girl ask for? Because it’s cool out, Benjamin brought me a pair of skinny jeans, a red silk top, black blazer, and my black Christian Louboutin stilettos. Heath is looking hot as hell in his fitted jeans, beige shirt and signature Gucci loafers. There are lots of people here, but I only know a handful of them. Ada and Chauncey are here which makes me really happy, Raymond is here but his wife is nowhere to be found. Ada and Raymond offer me their apologies for the way Himaya acted toward me yesterday. I accepted, but told them it wasn’t necessary. Benjamin is also here as a guest and it’s nice to see him outside of his traditional butler tuxedo drinking a beer and relaxing.
“Alicia, I’ve been meaning to raid your closet since the weekend Chauncey and I stayed with you and Heath. Now that we’re going to be sisters, it won’t seem so much like stealing,” Ada says all too excited about Health’s and my engagement. “Let me get a good look at your ring.” She takes my offered left hand and her face drops. “Holy shit! This thing is three times larger than the one he gave Nadia. He really really loves you.”
“We love each other and I don’t need a ring this big for him to prove that to me,” I say with a big gushing smile on my face.
“Well, I’ll take it if you don’t want it,” she says jokingly.
We both laugh.
Heath and Chauncey walk over to where Ada and I are standing. Heath, with a beer in hand, wraps his arms around me from behind. “Are you enjoying yourse
lf darling?” Heath whispers in my ear after kissing the back of my neck.
“Everything is great. You did a really great job. Thank you,” I respond.
“Come with me. I’d like to introduce you to a couple of people. Just do me a favor tonight and don’t be Alicia the investment banker, be Alicia the newly engaged woman. Can you do that for me?” He asks looking me in my eyes for the truth.
I take a deep breath. “Yes.”
After meeting half of the corporate officers from The St. James Company, two of Heath’s college friends, and the priest from the church he grew up in and getting all of their feedback, it is safe to say that Heath loves and adores me.
Ada pulls me out of a conversation with Heath and one of the members of his pit crew to introduce me to her best friend, Bethany, who just arrived and wanted to ask me questions about an internship position. As I am giving her the information, my attention is diverted to the couple that just arrived. I roll my eyes when I realize it’s Lindzi . . . accompanied by . . . David.
What the fuck. Why can’t I get rid of him?
Chapter 18
“Alicia, it’s good to see you again,” Lindzi says giving me an awkward one arm hug. “Congratulations on your engagement,” she says clapping excitedly like she’s actually happy for me. “May I see your ring?”
I offer her my hand and she lets out a fake gasp. She doesn’t care about me being engaged to Heath, she just wants confirmation that David can be all hers.
Little does she know.
“That is absolutely gorgeous, isn’t it honey?” She says to David.
“Yes it is,” David grumbles a response. “Congratulations on your engagement Alicia,” he says sounding like he’d practiced that one line all the way here.
Heath is at my side in no time. “Lindzi, David, what a pleasant surprise,” he says as he hugs Lindzi and then shakes David’s hand. I can hear a slight undercurrent of anger in his tone. “Lindzi, may I speak to you for a moment?” Heath asks as he pulls his naïve cousin to the side leaving David and me to converse. I don’t want to talk to him so I look around hoping someone will call my name.
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