Then she thought back to her earlier visit here with Aidan. If Will came on Wednesdays, the roses in the vase should have been brown and dead. She came here with Aidan on a Monday, and the roses had been fresh, meaning…
Meaning another regular visitor besides Will.
She closed her eyes and sent out her thoughts. No, Will was still at home. She sensed it. She didn’t want to call to him, didn’t want to call his attention to her exact location. He thought she was at the office and going shopping. Well, she did both, just left out this errand and knew he wouldn’t pry about how she spent the rest of her time. He had relaxed about that, knowing that Ryan swore to keep tabs on her, too.
Kal dropped to her knees and stared at the roses. Closing her eyes, she sniffed the air as the trace of a familiar cologne wafted to her.
Well, what do you know about that?
She took one of the white roses she’d brought and added it to the ones already there. After she spent time contemplating not only what she’d come to do, but her near encounter and new suspicions, she stood, brushed herself off, and looked at the gravestone.
“I hope Will still comes to see you, Abby. I really do. I want him to. Wherever you are now, know that if it wasn’t for what Ryan did to all of us, Will would still be ready to be with you. I’m sorry I’ve taken him from you, but I do love him, I swear. I promise I’ll take good care of him.”
She departed the clearing. On her way out she stopped by a random grave, that of a child, and left the rest of the roses she’d brought there.
* * * *
Before driving home, Kal stopped by the mall and went to the fragrance counter at one of the upscale department stores. The clerk was helpful and Kal spent twenty minutes there before she found what she wanted.
They gift wrapped it for her and she had it shipped. She wondered what he’d think when he got it.
Or if it would bring her any answers.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Will took her request for normalcy to heart. They dated.
They spent every night together, but they dated. She learned he loved thoughtful movies of any genre and the sight of her in pair of tight jeans could drive him to literal distraction. He learned how to make the perfect cup of coffee for her, and that just the feel of his breath on the nape of her neck melted her faster than a snowball in Ryan’s oven.
He taught her things about her own body she never dreamed, pleasure and passion she didn’t think people could experience and survive. And she learned how much he enjoyed it when she did something as simple as give him a back rub.
She hadn’t spoken to her father since their visit. She talked to her mother every few days. Her mom’s implied tone behind every conversation was, “Please give me a date to plan your wedding!”
It was welcomed relief.
They spent most nights at Will’s house, returning to her apartment in the morning to eat breakfast and shower. She’d grown to love the archdemons’ special mode of transportation and sometimes resented having to drive, especially in rush-hour traffic.
“You’ll get used to it,” Will joked. “It’s still new to you.”
She still had lunch with Aidan, sometimes alone, sometimes with Will or the other men joining them. Now that her life had settled into some semblance of normalcy with Will, part of her longed to bring some happiness to Aidan’s soul. She wished she knew someone she could fix him up with. He gently brushed off her suggestions that he needed to get out more and meet people.
“You’ve got to understand,” Aidan said one day at lunch after shooting down yet another of Kal’s ideas, “I grew up in a totally different time. Yeah, I’ve seen a lot, and yes, I’ve had some…relationships. Back then I had to literally hide not just what I was, but what I felt. I got used to wrapping myself up in my work. One day I’ll meet someone and it’ll be fine. Until then, I’m okay with it.”
“You’re alone. I feel bad for you.”
“Quit the pity shit, sweet cheeks. I’m not alone. I’ve got you and Will and the guys. We’re busy. Life is good. I’m not doing what he did and hiding from it. When I meet someone, I’ll meet them. It’ll happen when it happens.” He reached across the table and patted her hands, giving them a quick squeeze. “I appreciate it, honey. I really do. Don’t worry about me. Enjoy what you’ve got.”
When they walked back to the office, Kal found an envelope propped against her laptop. Will wasn’t there but he’d known about her lunch with Aidan.
She opened it and found a small card in Will’s neat script.
Would you like to go out to dinner with me tonight? Someplace special? If so, just text yes to me. Wear something nice and I’ll pick you up at your apartment at seven.
A thrill ran through her. He hadn’t mentioned anything about this. What did he have up his sleeve?
Whatever it was, she loved it. She felt anxious, like it was hard to breathe, and her hands trembled as she texted him.
Yes.
A moment later, his reply.
;)
Was this how people felt when dating?
She hoped it was. She really liked it.
* * * *
Kal nervously paced. When Will rang her doorbell, she practically levitated to open it.
Her heart nearly stopped. He looked good. Real good. He’d dressed up for her, a suit and tie and his handsome smile melted her heart.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
She nodded, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
Forget dinner, she wanted to drag him inside and—
“Kal,” he whispered, his hands on her hips. “Dinner. Our date.”
She sighed. “I did want normal, didn’t I?”
His lips curled in the half smile that made her want to spend her life on her knees in front of him. “Yes, you did.”
“Okay,” she squeaked.
She found her purse and keys, and he held the car door for her. He drove across the Howard Frankland Bridge to Clearwater Beach and they ate at a place on the Gulf. She couldn’t remember what they talked about at dinner. He wouldn’t reply to her mental comments, pretended not to hear her, kept it all normal.
She didn’t know if she loved him for it or if it aggravated her. He was doing what she asked, though. She gave him credit for that.
After dinner she kicked off her heels and they walked the beach toward the fishing pier. With her arm looped through his, she looked up at the nearly full moon and felt a peace she’d never known.
Like she finally felt complete.
“What?” he asked.
She stopped and stared out over the water, the waves glowing a soft white under the moon. “I don’t want to ever forget this night. It’s perfect. We won’t get many of these kinds of nights, will we? Once Ryan starts using you again?”
He gathered her into his arms. “We’ll get enough. Some better than others, some not so much.” His eyes lingered over her face. “You’re beautiful, Kal. Truly beautiful. I do love you.”
“Not just because you’re stuck with me?”
“No. Not because I’m stuck with you. Because you’re a beautiful, loving, kind woman who’s opened your heart and soul to me.” He released her and dropped to one knee before slipping something on her left hand. “Marry me, Kalyani Martin. Please?”
It took a moment for his words to register in her brain. “What?”
“Will you please marry me? Be my wife?”
She knew he didn’t have to do this. They’d be together anyway. She dang sure wasn’t going anywhere, but he was trying to be normal for her.
She nodded, blinking away happy tears. “Yes!”
He stood and pulled her to him again, the force of his kiss making her want to go home and…
Sand beneath their feet was replaced by a carpeted floor, the moonlit beach by flickering candlelight. She looked around. They were in a hotel room, an expensive suite.
“You know how to make an impression, mister.”
“I
want you to be happy. I want to make you happy. I want to try to make it up to you for being dragged into all of this.”
She rested her head against his chest, closed her eyes, and breathed in his scent. “You do make me happy, Will Hellenboek. I’ll settle for being able to make you smile.”
He gently touched her chin and tipped her face to his. His eyes searched hers, and a smile transformed his face into a sweet, sultry sight.
She laid her palm against his cheek. “You have a very handsome smile,” she whispered, kissing him.
“You’re the first person to make me smile in over twenty-five years.”
“Then I guess Ryan was right about one thing.”
“What?”
“Apparently I’ve got a lot of power of my own.”
Will chuckled, scooped her into his arms, and carried her to the bed where he gently laid her on it. “You own me,” he said. “Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”
“I just want you.”
His strong hands scorched her flesh as they gently removed her clothes. His lips sent liquid, molten need coursing through her from her heart to her clit, melding her to him. She kissed every inch of his flesh as she helped him undress, and when he was as naked as she was she knelt over him.
She trailed kisses from the base of his throat down his chest, her tongue lightly tracing every scar in her path. His stiff erection brushed against her, and she fought the urge to rush. There’d been too much rushing in their relationship. She wanted to take her time and spend all night loving him.
She sighed when she reached his abdomen, where a fine line of hair grew from his navel to the short curly nest between his legs. Even the very scent of him stoked fires deep within her. Who cared why, whether it was love or lust or manufactured need, he was hers and she wanted him.
Forever.
He moaned, his fingers gently fisting in her hair, nudging her south.
She chuckled and teased his cock with her tongue. “Are you in a hurry, sir?”
“Yes,” he gasped.
Kal grinned. “You’ll have to be patient.” She gently blew hot breath along his sac, and he moaned again, his fingers firm against her scalp.
“Please.”
“Please, what? You’ll have to tell me what you want, sir.”
He laughed, lifting his head to look at her. His gray eyes looked dark and smoky, almost black. “Please make me come, sweetheart. Please wrap those sweet lips of yours around my cock and suck it into that delicious, hot mouth of yours. I want to feel your tongue stroking me.”
She gasped, an explosion ripping through her. “Okay,” she squeaked, diving to the task. Obviously she would have to get a lot better at this game. His husky, passionate voice never failed to unhinge her reserve to vamp it up for him.
He groaned as she did, the deep, rumbling sound vibrating through her body. She could do this all night, tasting him, keeping his cock hard and pulsating against her tongue, his smooth flesh slipping between her lips.
Always a quick study, she’d learned to read his body, how to tell when he was close, how to back off and slow down to keep him simmering and not bring him over. After many long, steamy minutes of this, he begged.
“Please, babe.”
“Please what?”
“I want you to swallow me.”
“That’s more like it.” She firmly stroked him with her hand, her lips still around the head. When she felt his body tense, she prepared, his cries mixing with her happy giggles as he climaxed. After suckling every drop from him, she gently kissed his softening member and rested her cheek against his hip. He stroked her hair.
“That’s so good,” he whispered. “You’re so good.”
“Just imagine how good I’ll be in a few thousand years with a lot more practice.”
He laughed, grabbed her wrists, and pulled her up to him. He kissed her and rolled over on top of her. “My turn,” he growled, a playful smile on his face. He licked and kissed his way down her body, spending long minutes nibbling on her breasts, his hands hot against her flesh as he teased and taunted her into nearly mindless need.
* * * *
Will lowered his head to her mound and slowly traced every curve and line with his tongue. Only after he had her gasping and bucking her hips did he slip two fingers inside her and gently stroke, his tongue flicking her swollen nub in time with his movements.
Eternity. Making her feel this good for eternity. This was his heaven.
Perhaps he would thank Ryan one of these days.
He kept her on the edge for several long minutes, pausing only to lift his head and look at her passion-filled face, her eyes closed, hands tightly gripping the sheets. “You’re going to scream for me, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
She nodded. He smiled, resuming his slow, languid strokes with his tongue before bringing her close again. “Scream for me,” he murmured, then carried her over into her climax.
Her whole body tensed as a long, low cry erupted from her. “Yesss, Will! Don’t stop!”
He sucked her clit and she cried out, her muscles clamping down on his fingers, every inch of her flesh vibrating under his touch. When he eased up, she gasped, trembling. His cock had already hardened again. He kissed his way to her lips and slipped inside her, rolling to his side, holding her against him as he slowly rocked his hips against hers.
“I love you, Kal,” he whispered against her damp forehead, kissing her, holding her tightly as he closed his eyes, his orgasm close.
She wrapped one leg around him, pressed against him, still barely able to move. “Love me, Will. Do it.”
It felt like his heart would explode for her, what he felt, what she did to him. He came, holding her, then fell asleep with her tucked safely in his arms.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Only Ryan, Aidan, and the boys knew of their engagement. Kal and Will didn’t want word getting out too soon and causing her problems with her parents. She loved Will for going the extra mile and proposing the way he had.
Wishing and hoping wasn’t going to get her parents told, however. Kal refused to let anyone do that dirty work for her. When Ryan and the network set up some location shoots in Ohio, she made arrangements for her and Will to have dinner at her parents’ house.
Hopefully her father’s rage had cooled down to nothing more than seething hatred.
Even if she had a choice in the matter, she would never give up Will Hellenboek. Their time together only proved to her that she was the luckiest woman in the world. In their spare time he doted on her, focused on her, made her feel secure and loved in a way she’d never known.
She suspected no other man could have ever made her feel that way.
* * * *
There was too much equipment to risk shipping it to Ohio from Florida. Will was more than happy to drive, caravanning with the crew and investigators—including a few women—in several vans. They stopped for the night in Tennessee. The next morning, Aidan politely knocked on Will and Kal’s door at eight when the two hadn’t come to the hotel restaurant for breakfast and a preproduction meeting.
“What?” Will yelled from inside.
“Are you two joining us, or should we just go ahead?”
He heard Kal’s amused giggle, then a playful squeal.
“We’ll be down shortly,” Will called through the door.
Aidan smiled. All was well. “Alrighty, then, dude.”
Will and Kal appeared thirty minutes later, freshly showered, both smiling while holding hands.
Aidan sipped his second cup of coffee and tried to hide his amused smirk. “You two need to start getting up earlier.”
Kal caught the barb and laughed. Will groaned and slid into the booth beside her. Purs and Gery shook their heads.
“He’s gonna be insufferable now, you realize that, Ger?” Purson said.
“Yeah. I’d forgotten how disgusting he was like this.”
“Like what?” Kal asked.
Aidan waited until s
he started sipping her coffee. He made moonie eyes across the table at her. “Will’s in luuuurrrvv with Kaaaalllll.”
Kal laughed and choked, spraying her coffee across the table.
* * * *
Her mother fixed a huge spread and welcomed Kal and Will for dinner two nights later. At the last minute Kal almost begged Aidan to come, and even considered asking Ryan to attend but finally decided against it. She’d have to grow a spine at some point and face her father head-on again, like it or not. She couldn’t ask the men to fight these particular battles for her.
Her father’s chilly, sullen manner went ignored by the other three. At the end of dinner, Kal looked at Will, who nodded.
Focused on her mother, AKA the coalition forces, Kal took a deep, steadying breath.
“Mom, Dad, we have an announcement to make.” She held up her hand, and her father’s eyes widened. Kal had shelved the purity ring when her parents left Tampa after their visit. Since the proposal she’d worn the beautiful engagement ring Will gave her. Before they arrived at her parents’ home, Will fetched the purity ring for Kal, stalling her father’s outrage for a few hours. Will switched the rings out for her and replaced the purity ring with the engagement ring while she held her hand under the table.
“Will’s asked me to marry him.”
Her mother squealed. “Congratulations! I didn’t even notice the ring, let me see!” Her mother grabbed her hand and practically dragged Kal across the table to her while she examined it.
The Reverend glared at Will. “Don’t you think it would have been respectful to come to us first and ask our permission to marry her?”
“Daddy!” Well, Kal had expected something like this out of him. Frankly, she’d expected him to start in sooner.
Will spoke up. “Reverend Martin, I love Kal very much. While I’m sorry I didn’t ask your opinion first, from our last encounter I assumed your answer would be a resounding no. I’m marrying your daughter, not you. I would like to have your blessing, but the only opinion I truly give weight to is Kal’s.”
Good Will Ghost Hunting: Demon Seed [Good Will Ghost Hunting 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 26