From the first day I met her I wanted to cook for her. Having total control over those ingredients to create whatever I wanted was my guilty pleasure. Being able to share that with someone I cared about was even better.
As I drove to Jefferson Manor I realized that not only had I never cooked there, I didn’t want to. Cooking to me was intimate, sensual. That big kitchen, while the space made everything easier, it wasn’t the image I had in my head for our romantic evening. Instead of stopping at the main house, I went directly to the cottage.
Opening the door brought back memories. I still enjoyed the simplicity of the small house and wondered why I left. I even had some clothes at the cottage from when I lived there.
I changed out of my suit and into a pair of old jeans and a tee shirt. I started the fire in the fireplace and went to the kitchen to start prepping. It had been a long time since I cooked. I never liked preparing a meal for just myself, felt like a waste of time.
The cottage was the perfect place. I wanted to show Ashley that I didn’t need all the fancy stuff. I knew she felt uncomfortable around so much of it and the small house gave me the chance to talk to her and romance her without everything else getting in the way. Tonight was going to be special.
I chose this meal because it was decadent but quick to make. The souffl�� took the longest to prepare out of everything if you excluded my making the pasta. Maybe I was a control freak but I wanted everything to be perfect.
I had flowers delivered to the main house earlier and brought them to the cottage. I didn’t overdo it like I had at the museum but I wanted to have some flowers around since she liked them.
I heard my phone ring and was going to ignore it but noticed it was Drake.
“Yes Drake?”
“I wanted to make sure everything was going to plan. Anything I can help you with?”
“No, thanks you’ve done enough. Part two should arrive soon. Then I want to pick her up at work. Make sure she doesn’t leave the museum early.”
“Got it. Good luck!”
I hung up with him and changed back into the charcoal grey suit with ice-blue tie knowing she recognized it. I still had a few more things I needed to do before heading back to the museum. I grabbed my car keys and vowed that tonight would be the first of many great nights for her. I just wanted to make her happy.
Chapter Eleven
Ashley
As soon as Xander left, I tried figuring out if I had enough time to get changed before he picked me up. I wasn’t sure what I was going to wear, but anything would be better than what I had on.
“Drake, I’m sorry but I need to leave early.”
“No. You have a job to do. There’s a major delivery arriving any second and you have to stay for it.”
“But Drake, you know I’ve been waiting for Xander to change his mind.” I couldn’t believe Drake was being like this.
“No Ash, I know you’re young but you need to learn that work comes first, your personal life can wait.” He turned as the front door opened. “That should be the delivery now. Go!” He clapped his hands as he rushed me.
I went to check on it even though I was angry with him. He was right, just because the man of my dreams showed up and declared his love for me, that didn’t mean I could just up and leave to get ready for a date. I couldn’t act like old Ashley who had no responsibilities and got no where in life.
As I walked into the museum’s grand hall I spotted Joshua with two women. Next to them were hair and make up train cases and wardrobe bags.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m your fairy godmother darling. You can’t go on the most important date of your life without being happy with how you look. Xander called and arranged all this. He knew you’d want to doll yourself up.”
“But I can’t. I have to work.”
“Ashley, sometimes you can be so dense.” Drake laughed as he entered. “They’ll get you ready and then Xander will pick you up. I’ll take care of everything here. You know I’m a sap for romance.”
I hugged both men then took Joshua and the two women to a small empty room towards the back. We found a chair and while one woman brushed my hair out, the other applied my make up.
“I brought two dresses for you to choose from. My first choice is this one.”
He pulled out an ice-blue halter dress with a deep V on the bodice. It was a soft lace with sequins that made it glitter like a snow flake. The dress was much shorter than anything he had previously made for me, with a full skirt that would hit above my knee. The dress was youthful yet sophisticated and I fell in love with it instantly.
“I don’t need to see the other one. That’s the dress.”
He grinned and pulled out a pair of silver strappy sandals for it and I realized I hadn’t painted my toe nails. Joshua must have seen the look on my face.
“Don’t worry Ash, we’ve got everything under control.”
The woman who worked on the mess I called my hair, smiled and opened a case filled with nail polish. I laughed as relief rushed over me. I wanted so badly to look amazing for tonight.
Joshua was right to call himself my fairy godmother because I felt like Cinderella getting ready for the ball with all the attention they gave me. As usual the dress fit perfectly and once my hair had a little hair spray in it and some lip gloss was applied, I stood up and admired myself in the mirror.
“I know he’d wait forever for you, but Xander’s outside,” Drake said as he peeked into the room. “You look lovely.”
“Can you help me? Put this on?” I handed Drake the platinum necklace with sapphire solitaire Xander had given to me in Hawaii. I wore it everyday but took it off when my hair was getting done. Wearing it made me feel closer to Xander, even when we were apart.
Drake put the necklace on me and then kissed my cheek. He and Joshua walked me to the front of the museum where Xander stood outside of the limo waiting for me in his suit. I smiled seeing him and once again remembered the frightening scowl that managed to melt my heart.
He walked up the steps and took my hand as he helped me into the limo. Sitting beside me, he smiled and intertwined his fingers with mine.
“I hope you don’t mind, we’re not going anyplace very fancy.”
“I don’t care where we go or what we do. I just want to be with you Xander. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
He leaned towards me and kissed my lips. It was such a delicate kiss, it was almost like it didn’t happen but I felt that kiss down to my toes. I leaned my head against his chest and looked out the window.
The city faded away as the rolling countryside took its place. I thought about my cab ride to Jefferson Manor not that long ago and then wondered if that was where he was taking me. I looked up at him and as always, it was like he read my mind.
“Yes, I’m taking you home.” He paused. “Kind of.”
“Kind of?”
“We’re not going to the main house, we’re going to the cottage.”
As we pulled into the long driveway, I saw him text something but despite how curious I was, I didn’t want to ask. The limo turned away from the Manor and turned towards the stables before coming to a stop in front of the cottage. By the stable door I saw Tara and waved to her as Xander helped me out of the car.
The cottage looked like it had fallen out of a book of fairy tales. I couldn’t help but think this was the perfect place for my Cinderella date. The roof of the small house sloped down the length of the house and seemed to have grown out of the wildflowers in its front yard. Early lightning bugs flashed in the flowers, making the place seem magical.
When I stepped inside I saw the fireplace going and tiny candles along the hearth and the tables throughout the small living area. Calla lilies, orchids and roses adorned several vases, making the room was warm and romantic at the same time.
“This is wonderful Xander!” I couldn’t stop smiling. “I thought you promised me the best meal of my life though,” I teased him.
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“Yes, I did. Sit right here and I’ll serve the salad so you can eat while I make the main course and get dessert in the oven.”
Once again, he left me speechless. I sat at the small dinette and picked at the salad as I watched in awe as he made an alfredo sauce and then saut��ed shrimp with garlic, lemon and butter before serving it together in a giant bowl.
Chocolate filled the air as the souffl�� baked in the oven. Xander sat across from me and served us both. His dinner was amazing and I thought what made it even better was that this gorgeous man made it just for me.
The entire time we ate I could only think of one thing though���how our time in Hawaii was interrupted. Now that we were alone and in the cottage, my mind was filled with only him and what he would look like without the suit. He got up to take the souffl��s out of the oven, his suit jacket hung on the back of his chair and I admired his firm ass and broad shoulders that made the shirt taut across his chest.
“Try this Ash.”
He held a spoon with chocolate and whipped cream close to my mouth. The deep taste of the chocolate with the light whipped cream and airiness of the souffle was heavenly. I closed my eyes as I tasted it.
While my eyes were closed, Xander kissed me. His strong lips parted my mouth as his tongue moved along mine. I grabbed onto him, not wanting him to stop when he suddenly pulled away.
“I’m sorry. I tried. I can’t help myself anymore.”
He picked me up and carried me the short distance into the living room. He leaned down and blew out the candles on the cocktail table out before kicking it out of the way and laid me on top of the plush rug in front of the fireplace.
Frantically we pawed at each other’s clothing. I fumbled with his shirt buttons so with one quick motion he yanked his shirt open and took it off. I almost forgot what an incredible body he had. His chest was muscular and strong, not the torso of a man who sat behind a desk most of the day and when I unzipped his pants, I saw he had those hip bones I always found sexy on men.
He unfastened the dress at the back of my neck while kissing me hungrily then unzipped the rest and lifted it off, tossing it like a rag. Before I knew it we were completely naked in the glow of the fireplace, me on my back and him supporting himself over me as we kissed.
His lips moved with mine as his strong hand slid down my soft, naked body. I sighed happily as I marveled in how good his touch felt and how his strong lips seemed so in control. My body reacted to every touch of his fingers and the slower he moved, the louder the throbbing between my legs became.
I needed to have him. I didn’t know how much longer I could take it. Having him so close, his lips against mine, his body pressed against me, I obsessed over what I wanted next.
As he laid beside me, I felt his powerful back underneath my fingertips then slid my hand to his chest and over every nook of his hard abs as I moved closer to my goal. His lips left mine and traveled down my neck and I lost control.
It wasn’t like me to be pushy or aggressive but I wanted him so badly. I knew if he didn’t want me to, he wouldn’t let me do it so I pushed him onto his back.
Seeing him laying there next to me got me even more excited. I kissed his shoulder as my hand traveled down his body to his stiff member. His hands cupped my heavy breasts as his thumbs moved in circles over my erect nipples, making them ache.
He lifted me up towards him as if I weighed nothing. I straddled his body and let one hand feel his hard chest while my other hand moved slowly up and down his shaft. Lifting himself up a bit, his mouth covered my nipple as he sucked hard. His hand pinched my other nipple and I knew I had enough. I lifted my hips and positioned his member at my wet entrance.
Moving his hands to my hips, he guided my hips down onto him. I gasped softly as I felt his thick cock slide inside me. I leaned forward, putting my weight on my hands on his chest and rocked my hips.
Our eyes locked as he thrusted his hips from underneath. My breathing came faster. Each time I moved my hips, I felt my body flush then cool. Shivers shot up my neck. I swore electricity ran through my veins.
For the first time I wasn’t aware of my size or weight. It didn’t matter that I was exposed on top of him. He made me feel sexy and alive and the intense feeling of him inside me overruled all the negative voices in my head.
He reached up and grabbed my hair and pulled me down to him, locking his lips back into mine. I stroked his beard with my fingers as we kissed then he moved his lips to my neck. His beard tickled my neck and I giggled.
Sitting up, he crossed his legs as he repositioned me like a rag doll with my legs wrapped around his waist. His strength intoxicated me. My breasts rubbed against his chest as he lifted my hips slowly. The slow rise and fall of my body sent jolts of energy through my body as the pressure inside of me grew.
I shifted myself so my knees touched the floor again and moved my hips faster. I heard his breaths shorten. Between the heat of our bodies and the fireplace a soft sheen of sweat developed between us. Our thrusts quickened and our panting became louder.
I let out a moan as I felt a chill go up and spine and I knew I was going to come. He pressed me tight against him as the intense feeling inside me exploded. I clutched him as the waves shook my body which felt out of control as I trembled in his arms.
As I cried out in ecstasy, he groaned before releasing himself inside of me. I felt his warmth pulse into me as collapsed, exhausted but happy. We slid back down onto the rug, still in each other’s arms as we tried to catch our breaths.
The fire was beginning to die as we laid panting. He kissed my forehead then my lips before he lied back against the floor. Outside I saw the sky beginning to lighten and I knew sunrise was approaching.
“Let’s go outside,” he whispered.
“I don’t have anything but that dress with me, it’ll be too cold.”
“You can borrow my clothes. They’ll be big but it doesn’t matter, I want to watch the sunrise with you.”
He disappeared into the bedroom and came out with sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and socks for me. While I dressed, he put on a pair of jeans and a sweater. Since I only had the sandals he let me ride piggy back with my legs wrapped around his waist and my chest pressed against his back.
He carried me to the other side of the stables where there was a stone fire pit in the middle of a hardscaped walk way. Putting me down on a bench, I noticed a break in the trees that gave us a full view of the rising sun. He started a fire and wrapped his arms around me as he sat down.
“I never knew this was here before.”
“It wasn’t. A lot has changed around the house since you left. All for the better.” He leaned down and kissed me before clearing his throat. “There’s something I want to talk to you about. I know it might be sudden and I realize it doesn’t make any sense, but when I bought you that necklace I also bought you this.”
He handed me a small blue box with a white ribbon around it. I recognized the box as Tiffany without having to see the name. Holding the box in my hand I looked at him. I was frozen, unable to pull the ribbon. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, it was too crazy a thought, surely there was something with less significance in the box but I couldn’t look.
“I…Xander…I don’t know. What is it?”
He pulled the ribbon and took the box from me. Lowering himself onto one knee on the cold surface of the patio he removed the small hinged box and opened it to face me. A vintage style emerald cut diamond gleamed in the orange streaks of the rising sun.
I sat with my eyes wide, unable to believe this was happening. He held my hand with his free hand and looked into my eyes.
“I bought this ring on impulse in Hawaii because I knew back then I wanted you to always be in my life. I know what I said before, and I ended things because I was confused and still hurt from losing Darcy. I didn’t understand that I could still love her and love someone else even more. I didn’t know I was capable of feeling as much love as you have shown
me. I know I could lose you one day, as I lost her, but if I can’t be with you…if you weren’t in my life, then my life would be a waste. I love you. And whether you say yes or not, I will love you for always.” I felt his eyes piercing mine, as if he looked into my soul. “Ashley Monroe, will you marry me?”
“Yes!”
June
Chapter Twelve
Ashley
As I admired myself in the full length mirror, I couldn’t believe how quickly six months had past. It had been almost a year since I first met Xander on that fateful night at the Boone Art Gallery. Now I was moments away from marrying him.
Joshua smiled as he helped affix the long veil to the tiara in my hair. He designed a simple but beautiful wedding dress. I didn’t want anything too extravagant especially since we planned a small intimate wedding.
The white chiffon wedding dress had a low V-neckline with soft elegant ruffles that came down the sleeveless shoulders then joined on the side at the waist and cascaded down the length of the long dress. The dress was modern and classic at the same time and could easily be worn at the beach. Those were my only requirements for the dress and Joshua knocked it out of the park as usual.
Having only six months to plan the wedding was difficult but Xander helped every step of the way. The most difficult part was finding a location and while we toyed with doing a tropical wedding, Xander came up with an idea that I loved even more.
Since we met at the Boone, Xander suggested we get married there. It seemed like a perfect idea. The space could accommodate whatever we planned.
My old friend Jackie came into the room wearing a simple blue sheath dress.
“Everyone is here and in place. Sam has all the hors d’ourves ready to go with a full staff prepared for the champagne toast. I think you’ll really be impressed with her.”
His One Desire Page 4