by Poppy Drake
“Will you make love to me tonight, Damien?”
I can’t disguise the vulnerability in my voice. But I don’t care. I know now that Damien loves me, and will never hurt me.
He nods.
“I will, baby. But do you want to do it here?”
“Yes,” I answer. “This gazebo means so much to me. It’s where I feel safe and where I feel I can be myself. And I want to be able to look at it and know this is where we first made love.”
“Okay, baby.”
I point to a large wicker basket against the railing of the gazebo.
“There are blankets and pillows in there.” They’re supplies I keep on hand for the days when I fall into a book coma in this cozy gazebo.
He stands and grabs the basket, pulling out the pillows. He lays them on the gazebo before reaching for a thick blanket and laying it out carefully on the wood floor. I turn on the fairy string lights that weave in and out of the wood planks of the gazebo, casting a romantic glow. It’s beautiful, almost like a scene out of a movie.
I lower myself to the floor and lie down on the blanket. Damien lies next to me.
Every muscle on his arms ripple as he hovers over me. His breath hitches in his throat as he looks down at me. His eyes have darkened and in the dim light hanging from the lights, he looks feral and hungry with need. A powerful feeling swirls through me as I realize he is hungry for me. I have the power to make this man shake with desire and need. Me.
My body tingles with excitement. I need this man just as much. My body aches for him.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “You don’t have to hold back.”
He laughs, shaking his head.
“You don’t know what you’re asking me to do, baby. If I don’t control myself, I won’t be able to stop myself … and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a year now. I want it to be perfect.”
“Just being with you is perfect,” I say, pressing my hand to his chest. “I can feel your heart racing.”
“I’ve never been this nervous before,” he confesses.
“Neither have I, but I want this with you. And I know you don’t want to hurt me, but I trust you.”
Damien exhales and leans down to press a series of kisses on my collarbone up to my neck. “I’m so in love with you,” he whispers in my ear.
His hands rove down my naked body, trembling with need and excitement. When his hands reach the elastic band of my panties, he pushes them down my thighs, exposing me. He presses more kisses along my breasts and down my stomach, pausing as he places his palm flat against my tummy.
He leans back and smiles.
“I can’t wait to see your belly full with my baby one day.”
The thought sends sparks throughout my body. More than anything I want to be a mother. And the idea of carrying Damien’s babies sends a streak of heat straight to my core.
Damien tugs at the corner of his t-shirt and quickly pulls it over his head. Though I’ve seen him shirtless many times at our pool, I’ve never had the opportunity to examine him up close. My hands instantly reach to touch the hard edges of his abs, tracing the lines of dark ink that cover his body. His tattoos tell stories that I want to know more about.
I want to learn everything about Damien. First on the list? I want to learn how it feels to have him inside of me.
Damien stands briefly and kicks off his shoes before unbuckling his jeans and sliding them down to the floor. His thumbs hook into the waistband of his boxers and then those come off next. His cock springs free, long, thick and hard. A bead of moisture trickles off the end of his cock.
Instinctively, I open my legs wider, eager for us to finally join together. Damien notices and a smile crosses his face. He kneels back down and settles himself between my legs, using his arms to hold his weight above me.
“Are you ready, baby?”
I nod and lift my hips, connecting with the edge of his cock. Slowly he begins to push inside of me. He fills every inch of me and I moan at the pressure. He continues, so deliciously slowly, until I feel him in my core. God, he’s so big. He feels amazing and I tell him in between moans and panted breaths.
With a final grunt, he pushes and is fully inside of me. He pauses, and looks down at me, concern written all over his face. I smile and nod, urging him on. Though there’s a little pain, it quickly turns to a pleasurable pressure that makes me toes curl.
Slowly Damien pulls out before thrusting back inside of me. When he does, a loud moan escapes my lips. I don’t recognize myself. The girl who always hid in the shadows is making love and shouting with pleasure underneath the moonlight.
Damien groans with every thrust, his pace quickening. My fingers scratch his back as my body quakes with pleasure. Needing him, I wrap my legs around him and thrust my hips upward to match his thrusts. I never knew that this kind of pleasure existed and now that I’ve had a taste of what making love with Damien is like, I know I can never go back.
Damien’s hot mouth finds my nipple and he sucks and teases it with his teeth. I cry out with pleasure, bucking against him.
“Fuck,” he moans as he bites down on nipple. “You feel so amazing.”
He rises to his knees as he continues to thrust into me.
“You are so beautiful, Jules. I’ve dreamed of this moment for months. Imagining what it would be like to be inside of you, to have you calling my name as you come on my cock.”
His dirty words ignite me and I moan, needing more. I love the way he doesn’t hold back. I’m so close. I need more, so I tell him.
“You going to come, baby?” he asks. “You like being fucked like this? You want to come on my cock and milk me dry so I can fill you up?”
He smiles as he teases me with his dirty, dirty words, knowing that every sentence he utters brings me closer and closer to my release.
“Yes!” I moan as I feel the muscles start to tense. My entire body locks, paralyzed, as I shout my release. “Damien!”
Hearing my name and feeling my body clenching around his, Damien grunts loudly and thrusts one final time inside of me. I feel ribbons of heat inside of me as he orgasms, my name repeated on his lips as if he were praying: Jules, Jules, Jules.
We both lay there, still connected, for several long minutes. Damien collapses on top of me and rolls us over, pulling me close against him. After a few minutes I shift, feeling an emptiness as his cock slides out. I push my ass against him and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me tightly against him before grabbing an extra blanket at our side and covering us both. It’s a warm summer evening and sweat droplets cover my body as an internal heat courses through me.
I feel elevated. A new woman.
As I nestle against Damien, I feel his breath against my neck. And just as I begin to fall asleep, I hear him whisper, “I love you, Jules. And I am never letting you go.”
Chapter Ten
“Damien! We need to get up!”
I blink a few times, adjusting my eyes to the sunlight. Juliette is at my side, scrambling to put on her dress from the night before.
I shoot up, realizing that the night before wasn’t a dream. It really happened.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?”
Juliette looks at me, her eyes wide.
“It’s almost ten in the morning! We were out here all night. And I have like twenty missed calls from my uncle! He’s probably worried sick about where I am!”
Her voice is shaky and I grab her hands, clapping them in mine.
“Baby, it’s okay. Calm down. Take a breath for me, okay?”
She pauses before nodding. She closes her eyes and inhales a deep breath, and then another, before opening her eyes. She looks a bit less panicked, though still anxious.
“Text Robbie that you’re okay and will be home in five minutes. Then we’ll get dressed and walk back together, okay?”
She nods and shoots off a quick text to Robbie. He replies instantly. I feel a prickle of guilt imagining how scared Robbie must have been t
o realize his little girl didn’t come home last night.
I throw on my shirt and tug back on my jeans before putting my shoes back on. I help Juliette adjust the strap on her dress. Her body is practically vibrating with nerves. Before we leave, I thread my fingers in her hair and press a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“Don’t be scared, okay? We’ll face this together. Everything we do now, we do together.”
My words seem to soothe her and she nods. She slips her hand in mine and we walk back toward the main house. The remnants of the party litter the entire backyard. The cleaning crew that is coming later today will definitely have their work cut out for them.
As we near the house, I can see that Juliette is getting more and more nervous. I squeeze her hand reassuringly as I lead us into the house through the back patio.
We weave through the hall into the kitchen where we find my mom and Robert both standing at the long kitchen island. They look a bit rough, and I can tell that they definitely enjoyed their party last night.
When they see us walk in, they rush toward us. Juliette’s hand leaves mine as she rushes to hug her uncle. My mother lifts her brow and gives me a questioning stare. She hadn’t missed the fact that Juliette and I had walked in holding hands. But she’s used to my antics and has already spent more than a few sleepless nights waiting for me to stumble back home in the morning.
Robert, however, has never experienced that before and I can see the relief on his face as he tightly embraces Juliette.
“I was so worried about you!” he says as he lets go of her. “It’s just so unlike you to not come home!”
“I know, Uncle Robbie. I’m so sorry for making you worry. But I was safe.” Juliette gestures back to me and Robert looks at me and sighs.
“That’s what I figured.”
Juliette looks at her uncle, her eyes wide in surprise before glancing at me and then back at her uncle.
“What?”
Before he has the chance to respond, my mom takes a step forward.
“Guys, why don’t we all grab a coffee and sit outside together? It’s a beautiful morning.”
Robert offers her an appreciative smile. “Great idea, honey. Juliette, would you mind grabbing a few mugs. And Damien, can you bring the milk? I just brewed a fresh pot and I’ll bring it outside to the veranda.”
Juliette and I share a similarly puzzled look. We had both expected to find our parents hysterical and upset. But it seems like not only are they okay with Juliette and I spending the night together, but that they had anticipated it.
As Juliette collects four mugs, I grab the milk out of the fridge. When my mom and Robert are out of eyesight, Juliette rushes toward me.
“What is going on?” she asks, her voice shrill with panic.
I put the milk on the counter and grip her shoulders.
“Baby, calm down. It’s okay. I don’t know what is going on, but whatever happens will be okay because we have each other. I love you.”
Juliette nods and offers me a tender smile.
“I love you, too.”
I decide then and there I will never get tired of hearing those words coming from Juliette’s sweet lips. I press a quick kiss to her forehead, pick up the milk and nudge her out of the kitchen. The steps to the outdoor veranda feel like miles. My mom and Robert are already sitting, occupying two chairs next to each other in front of one of the small patio tables. The two chairs across them are empty and Juliette and I each take a seat.
No one says a word as Robert carefully pours four cups of coffee and distributes them. There is an awkwardness that hangs in the air, along with an uncertainty and discomfort. I hate it.
At my side, Jules’ knee bounces up and down with nerves. I place my hand on her knee, steadying her. She looks up at me with round eyes and subtly gestures to her uncle sitting across from her as if to say, he can see!
I shake my head and smile. It’s okay, I mouth. This doesn’t calm her, but has the opposite effect and she jiggles her other leg now.
Thankfully Robert clears his throat and starts to speak. He leans in and directs his attention to Juliette.
“Juliette, you are the absolute love of my life. While I would give anything in the world to have my brother and your mom back, I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to see you grow into the incredible woman you are today.”
His voice cracks at the mention of his late brother and I squeeze Juliette’s knee as I see tears begin to form in the corner of her eye.
“And there is nothing I want more than to see you be happy,” he continues. “And to eventually see you with someone who takes care of you and puts a smile on your face every day.”
He pauses and leans back in his chair, directing his attention now to me.
“And I see that day has come. When Carol and Damien first moved in, I saw how you two connected. How you would always find yourselves laughing and going for long walks outside. I saw Juliette, how you would light up whenever you saw Damien walk into the room. And I got scared. I didn’t want you to get hurt. It was my job to protect you. But I made a terrible mistake. Instead of protecting you, I took away the light in your eyes. And I’m so, so sorry.”
He wipes a stray tear from his cheek and my mom does the same.
Juliette reaches over the table to grab her uncle’s hands and cradle them in hers.
“I don’t understand, Uncle Robbie. You don’t have anything to apologize for, you —”
“No, I do,” he interrupts. He looks at me. “When I saw how quickly you and Damien became close, I became scared. I warned Damien that you had experienced enough hurt in your life and that if he continued to pursue you, I would kick him out of the house and never allow him back. It was terrible of me to do. And I felt so guilty when I saw how it hurt you. But I kept telling myself I was protecting you. But now I know I was just keeping you from the happiness you truly deserve.”
Juliette gasps and whips her head to look at me.
“That’s why you were so cold to me?”
I hesitate before answering and look at Robert. He nods and offers me a reassuring smile. I turn back to Juliette.
“Yes. I respect your uncle and I was afraid I would hurt you. But it was too late. I had already fallen in love with you. I know I could never hurt you. Ever. I love you so much.”
Juliette begins to cry, a stream of tears streaking her perfect pink cheeks. I can’t stop myself. She’s in my arms in seconds as I kiss the crown of her head.
“It’s okay, I’m here now. I promise I will love you every day and earn your forgiveness.”
She lets out a quiet sob and pulls away. She cups my face in her hands and shakes her head. “You don’t need any forgiveness. I understand. I love you, too.”
And then she kisses me. Hard, fierce and passionate. A thousand words could never capture all the emotions expressed in her kiss. Her kiss held not only love, but promises of a future. One of a life together. With white picket fences and my baby in Juliette’s belly.
But first, I want a ring on her finger. I want the whole world to know that this incredible woman is mine.
And when her lips leave mine, I hold her hands and tell her exactly that.
Epilogue
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Poppy Drake writes steamy, sweet and short romances featuring strong Alpha heroes and the women they love!
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