by Ari Thatcher
“Good thinking. That way we can get to dessert even sooner.”
Her bare ass begged to be touched, but if he did, they’d end up eating the lasagna for breakfast. Remembering the gift he brought, he walked over to it. “Better open this now, before I get distracted.”
She set down the garlic bread and took off the oven mitts. “What’d you get me?”
“Open it and you’ll find out.” Why did women drag out opening gifts? He’d rather rip the paper off-or tear the tissue from the bag-and get the suspense over with.
After reading the card and kissing his cheek, Bree pulled out the small box. She glanced up at him, then back to the box.
“Now, don’t get too excited.”
“Okay…” She popped it open.
He watched her face to see how she liked the diamond earrings. They were simple studs, not even huge, but he thought they looked perfect for her. “I figured when you wear your hair up, these would add a bit of glamour without stealing attention from your beautiful face.”
Bree took out the earrings she wore and put the diamonds in. “That has to be the most poetic thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“Really? Then you’ve been hanging around with the wrong guys.”
“Yes, but I gave up that bad habit for a good one.” She stretched up to kiss him.
He pulled her closer, running his hands over the silky fabric on her back, then the warm, naked skin lower down. He squeezed the smooth roundness. As his tongue slipped between her teeth, he tasted mint.
Bree’s arms wrapped tightly around him, pressing on his shirt as if he wasn’t close enough. If he were any closer they’d be one person.
When he began to each lower down her back, tracing the spot where her ass met her thigh, she stepped back, breathing hard. “We’d better stop.”
Ash looked at the food she’d dished up. “That does look great. Let’s eat so we can get to the good part of the night.”
“That’s all you want me for?”
They sat at the small glass dining table and she poured two glasses of wine. Ash took a bite of the pasta dish. “No, your cooking is pretty good, too.”
“Pretty good?”
He met her gaze. “Pretty damned good.”
“All right, then.”
After dinner they carried their dishes into the kitchen and set them by the sink. Before Bree could walk away, Ash put his hands on the counter on either side of her.
She pushed on his shoulders. “Wait, I have garlic breath.”
“So do I. And I happen to like garlic.”
Turning her head to one side, she said, “I can’t kiss you. Not until I brush my teeth.”
He stepped back. “Then you’ll smell great and I’ll still reek of garlic.”
A slow, sensuous smile spread on her full lips. “Hang on a sec.”
He waited while she disappeared in the bedroom and made a mental note to get breath mints to keep in his pocket.
Bree returned with a gift bag in her hand. She offered it to him. “It seems kind of cheap compared to yours.”
He forced himself to pull the tissue out slowly, like she had. In the bag he found a toothbrush, a razor, and a bottle of his aftershave. He looked up at her. “Is this…”
She nodded. “I want you to stay the night. Any time you come over.”
Setting down the bag, he reached for her and she came into his arms. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I love you, Ash. I hope you feel the same.”
He nodded. “Hell yeah, I love you. I planned to tell you tonight, but wasn’t sure when to do it. You know, if I wait until after sex it seems kind of cheesy.”
“I don’t care when you say it, just as long as you say it often.”
“I can handle that. I love you, Bree.”
Her hands clenched his arms. The look she gave him made him as hard as a rock. “Prove it.”
He lifted her up and carried her to the bedroom to do just that.
Epilogue
Sitting in the sand at County Line beach north of Malibu, Bree shivered in the damp, cool breeze. It was awfully cold for Memorial weekend. She shoved a wisp of her hair back behind her ear. Her eBook reader lay beside her on the blanket as she watched Ash paddling his surfboard out to find another swell.
Who would have thought, six months ago, that she’d be on the beach at the crack of way-to-early, watching this handsome gamer boy ride the waves? A smile came from deep inside her and she sighed. It was easy to change some of her habits when she saw how much it delighted her man.
A few other surfers were out in the water, but no one else was on the beach. The quiet was just plain amazing. This had to be the best getaway ever. Ash had rented a small motor home and a space at Leo Carrillo State Park just for the two of them. Campfires at night with the sounds of the campers around them, the smell of the ocean, and the fog that greeted them in the morning. It couldn’t get any better.
Ash came trotting up from the water, the leash on his board still attached to his ankle. When he neared the blanket, he propped his board in the sand, unbuckled the ankle cuff and walked over to Bree. Before he sat, he shook his wet hair, spraying droplets of water everywhere.
Bree squealed. “That’s cold!”
He grinned and dropped onto the blanket. “Enjoying your morning?”
She met his gaze, reading the gleam of satisfaction there. It sent currents of happiness through her. “I am.”
“That’s good. I really hoped you wouldn’t be bored.” He looked out over the water as if deep in thought.
They sat quietly for a few minutes, then he grabbed his small duffle bag and dug around in it before sitting back, his hand fisted. “You know…” He cleared his throat. “I know we’ve really only been going out a few months, but I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
He paused. Did he expect her to speak? To agree? They’d worked together for a few years, so yes, it felt like she knew him well.
“You get me. You know my passion and don’t think less of me. It feels as if you like me better because of it.”
“I do. I’m in awe of your talent.”
He smiled, but looked out over the water again. Bree’s stomach tensed. Where was he going with this? It didn’t sound like a break up. He seemed to be enjoying the getaway as much as she was. It wasn’t like him to hedge around what was on his mind like this.
“I like your talent, too.”
She raised an eyebrow to tease him as though he was talking about her dancing abilities.
“What?” His eyes widened and he grinned. “Oh, wait, no. I didn’t mean that. Although I do appreciate the way you move that gorgeous body.” He leaned over and nipped at her shoulder where her cover-up had slipped off. “I mean your way with words. You make it look so easy.”
“Well, I have been talking for a while now,” she said, returning his smile.
“Smartass.” He cleared his throat again. Had he swallowed some salt water when he’d been out in the ocean?
“Ash, what is it you want to say? You can tell me anything.”
He exhaled hard through his lips. “Yeah, okay. You might not think it’s been long enough, and we can take it slow if you want. But I know what I want, and it’s you.”
She frowned, then quickly relaxed her facial muscles before he could think she was turning him down. She wasn’t even sure what he was saying. They were already dating exclusively. That had happened from the start. Neither one of them had any interest in other people.
Did he want to move in together? She could handle that. As long as they moved into her place. Not that his place was awful, but she really loved sitting in the dark in her living room at night and looking out at the lake.
“Bree?”
She blinked and focused on him. His face was pinched with worry. “What, exactly, are you saying?”
He reached out his hand and opened it. As he did, the sun broke through the fog, causing the diamond on his palm to twinkle. She gasped. “
Ash?”
“Marry me. I know it sounds corny, but make me the happiest guy in the world.”
That part was a given, she’d do anything to make him happy. Nothing gave him more pleasure. But was spending the rest of her life with him what she wanted?
Yes! screamed the voice in her head. Why are you even thinking this out? Tell the man the truth. Her throat tightened. “I think you’re the first guy in the world to see past the ‘girls’,” she said, cupping her breasts. “You don’t care that I like talking about work. Or my flamingo pink Alexander Wang sandals. Or the Louis Vuitton bag I saw. Or anything. You laugh at my jokes even when I screw up the punch line. I fell in love with you long before we ever went out. Even before Greg’s wedding.”
“Me, too.” Ash’s eyes were filled with the same sort of softness she usually saw after they made love. “So?”
“So, I’m surprised you even question my answer. Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, I’ll wake up next to you for the rest of my life.”
He held the ring out for her to slip her finger inside as if they were exchanging vows.
The cold metal looked perfect on her hand. The giddiness inside couldn’t be contained. “Yes, I’ll freeze my ass off just to watch you ride that board of yours.”
Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? That sexy little ass of yours is cold?” He reached around her back, slipped his hand under the hem of her cover up and worked his way to the string of her bikini.
“You’d better not start something you don’t intend to finish.”
“Oh, I intend to finish. Eventually.” That spark she loved appeared in his eyes. He lowered his head and pressed his cold lips against hers. And his hand slid beneath the string.
She pulled away. “Not here.” Glancing around, she made sure no one noticed them.
“You? Afraid of letting someone see some skin?”
She made a face. “Seeing skin and watching me make love are two different things.”
He sat back. “Yeah, you’re right. Thank you.”
She tipped her head to one side. “For what? Turning you down?”
“No, for telling me you really do think of me differently than the other guys.”
“I do. I always have, even before we went out.”
He began to lean again, his gaze aimed toward her mouth, then suddenly jumped to his feet and held out his hand. “Come on.”
The sudden heat between her thighs matched the speed of her nipples tightening. “Yes, sir. Anything you wish.”
“Anything?” He shook out the blanket and folded it over his arm.
“You mean there’s something we haven’t already tried?”
He licked his lips and she shivered. “Maybe. You’ll have to hurry up if you want to find out.”
She grabbed her sandals, tucking her eBook reader into her purse. “Right behind you, babe. Show me how much you love me.”
“I plan to spend the rest of our lives doing just that.”
About the Author
Ari Thatcher has always loved romance, the hotter the better. Turning up the heat level in her own writing involved closing her eyes as she typed the "good" parts, but soon she got used to using "those" words and was pleased with the result. Finding out that others enjoyed it, too, was icing on the cake!
Her stories are split between light contemporary and paranormal genres, with some BDSM in the mix for good measure. She enjoys being in a metaphysical world filled with shapeshifters and psychic gifts, but some stories just insist that sex and romance is enough.
Visit Ari’s website for excerpts of her other books, stay up to date with her on Facebook, and sign up for her newsletter for release announcements.
Ari also writes sweet romances as Aileen Fish.
Other Books by Ari Thatcher
Contemporary Romance
His Wedding Date
The Rock Star’s Wedding
Paranormal Romance
Immortal Temptress
Renegade Wolf
Table of Contents
Title
Copyright
Blurb
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
About the Author
Book List