by Mia Carson
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re fine. Just don’t forget any more, all right?”
“You’re probably right. It took Mom years to get pregnant with me,” she said, more to reassure herself than Jesse, though it didn’t work. “Can we go back to shopping? I like shopping and not worrying about the future.”
“The future nine months out you mean?”
“Jesse!”
“Right, you’re right, sorry. Too soon.” She latched arms with Blair and guided her towards a dress shop across the way. “He said special occasion?”
“To celebrate me moving in, but it’s more than that.”
“Then we need to find you something fitting for celebrating plus some.”
They laughed as they entered the shop and browsed the racks of long dresses and short dresses, ranging in colors all across the spectrum. She leaned towards something blue to bring out her eyes and because it was her preferred color. Blues had so many shades and depths that sometimes, it seemed never ending.
“This one,” Jesse said and handed her a dress on a hanger. “Go.”
“All right, pushy,” she teased and walked into the dressing room.
The dress was a deep shade of sapphire that ended at her knees. The skirt was flowing, but the bodice was corseted, lacing up the back and showing plenty of skin. Two off-the-shoulder sleeves along with a plunging neckline completed the look. If she was looking for a dress to knock Hugh off his feet, this was it. After a few curses and finally pleading for Jesse to stop laughing and help her into the laces, she stepped out to view herself in the three-way mirror.
“Where’s your camera now?” Jesse mused beside her. “You look perfect.”
Blair spun around, giggling when the dress spun out around her legs. “You don’t think this is too much?”
“Hell no. Hold that thought,” she said and hurried back into the shop. She returned with a pair of matching, strappy blue heels, earrings that dangled low to her shoulders, and a bracelet resting loose on her wrist. “Now, you’re perfect.”
“Did you ever consider going into fashion?” Blair asked as she admired her reflection, smoothing her hands down the soft fabric hugging her body. Her hands lingered on her belly, but Jesse grabbed them and stared sternly at her.
“What do we say? We don’t worry until there’s reason to worry.” She kissed Blair on the cheek. “It’ll all work out for the best. I feel it.”
“You said that about you and Mark twenty times, you know that, right?”
“And look what happened? Mark and I are back together and this time it’s official.”
“Official as in...” She trailed off and picked up her friend’s left hand. “Oh, my God. I didn’t even see it. Congratulations.” She hugged Jesse as they bounced in the dressing room. Blair moved Jesse’s left ring finger so the heart-shaped diamond glittered in the light. “Wow, you’ll have me as your photographer, right?”
“Who else could catch my good side?” She stared at her ring and sighed. “I can’t believe our luck. I’m getting what I want out of life and you have Hugh back in yours. It’s been a good week for once.”
“That means it can only get better, right?”
“Right. Now change out of that outfit so we can grab some lunch. I’m starving.”
Blair hopped off the small platform and closed the curtain on her dressing room. Her happiness at being with Hugh was amplified by her joy over her friend’s engagement, finally, to a man so devoted to her he never gave up. Hugh and Mark had quite a few things in common. As Blair slipped out of the dress, she remembered the mischievous look in Hugh’s eyes that morning and her fingers stilled. Slowly, her gaze slipped to her empty left ring finger and her toes curled. Was he buying a ring today? What if he proposed tomorrow?
Excitement bubbled over and she covered her mouth to stop herself from squealing in bliss. They already knew they were getting married, but he was a romantic at heart and so was she.
After her outfit was purchased, Blair let her mind wander over the days to come as she caught up with her friend. They talked about Jesse’s wedding and when she thought they would have it. She told Blair about them wanting to finish grad school first, but the more her friend talked, the more Jesse seemed to want to get married sooner rather than later. By the time Blair dropped her off at campus, Jesse was ready to set a summer date so she could get started on her life.
Blair texted Hugh when she returned to the apartment to find him still gone. He said he would be back in an hour and to make herself at home. Blair hung up her dress in the guest room closet to hide it from Hugh and decided a bath was in order. She filled the tub with steaming hot water and bubbles made out of Hugh’s body wash, and sank into the tub. Her eyes were closed and she drifted between sleep and simply being content when she heard the apartment door open and Hugh called her name.
“Bathroom!” she responded.
His steps sounded in the living room and kitchen and she wondered what he was up to before he finally appeared in the doorway. His shoulder rested on the doorframe and he crossed his arms, his muscles tense as he gave her an appreciative smile.
“How was your day?” he asked. “Find something to wear tomorrow night?”
“I did. And you? Did you find whatever you needed?” she pushed. His smile widened, telling her she wasn’t about to get anything out of him.
“I did. How’s Jesse?”
“Engaged, finally. I think we should do a double date with her and Mark one night.”
“Sounds like fun.” He kicked out of his shoes and socks, and padded barefoot to sit on the edge of the tub. “You hungry for dinner? I bought takeout so we could enjoy the rest of our carefree weekend.”
“I need to do homework at some point,” she groused.
“That’s what Sunday night cram nights are for, remember?”
His cell dinged and he reached for it, but whoever it was made his hand clench. He set the phone on the counter without replying.
“Everything all right?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said, but his nostrils flared, and Blair bit the inside of her cheek. You can’t call him out on it when you haven’t told him you missed two days of birth control. “Blair?”
“Sorry, just thinking about this week.”
“All good thoughts, I hope.”
“You tell me.” She reached out of the water, grabbed him by his shirt, and pulled him into the tub with her. He sputtered as water splashed into his face and she laughed hysterically as he shoved his wet hair out of his face. “Sorry, you looked dirty,” she gasped between bouts of laughter.
Hugh laughed with her, pulled her into his lap, and kissed her hotly. He showed her all through the night just how dirty he could be.
Chapter 7
The food was prepared and sitting on the breakfast bar, ready to be carried out to the coffee table where two candles were lit, making the beer bottles standing in front of them glow. Hugh reached down and felt the small box waiting to be revealed. He’d been on edge all day yesterday after his argument with Justin, but his friend had texted him this morning with an apology. He was worried and wanted to be sure Hugh made the right decision. He forgave him, but his trust in Justin had waned.
Blair was finishing getting ready in the bathroom as he carried two plates filled with chicken parmesan over before returning to the kitchen for their salads. He turned the plates and picked up his phone to select their background music for the night. He smirked, thinking of putting on anther dubstep mix, but they had to get through dinner before they tackled each other. He had a very important question to ask and hearing one word from her would be more than enough to send him over the edge. Tomorrow, they would meet their parents and tell them the good news—leaving out the messy bits about their past week, of course. And how they hadn’t spoken for three years.
He chose a relaxing acoustic station and set his phone down as the bedroom door opened. He held his breath as heels clicked down the hall and Blair stopped at the end.
His chest swelled and words failed him.
“Too much?” she asked, swaying so the dress twirled around her legs.
“God no,” he breathed and coughed. “I mean, you look amazing. Blue is your color.”
She stepped into the living room, tucking her curls behind her ear and her toes curling in her heels. “I’m glad you like it.”
He stared at the bare skin at her shoulders, the plunging neckline giving him clear view of her full breasts, and how it hugged her curves like a second skin until it hit her hips. He almost wished he had put the dubstep music on instead. Dinner wouldn’t last long with her looking like that.
“Dinner?” he offered when he couldn’t think of anything else to say.
She walked to the couch and sat down. “Smells delicious. Did you make this?”
“Funny, telling jokes already.” He lifted his beer and she did the same. “A toast to picking up where we left off?”
“And to better futures.”
“And…and to one more thing,” he said, unable to wait any longer. The ring burned a hole in his pocket. “Blair, I know this has been arranged and we’ve already agreed to it, but it wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t officially ask you.” The box was in his palm.
Carefully, she placed her beer on the table. “Hugh?”
“You’ve been my best friend since we were kids,” he started, moving around the table so he could kneel beside her. “And though we got derailed along the way, we found each other again.” He opened the box and she gasped at the ring. The white gold band held a small but perfect sapphire surrounded by diamonds running through the band. “Will you be my best friend for life? Love me as I love you?”
She nodded, laughing as she held out her hand. “Yes. Yes, of course yes.” He let out a shaky breath of relief as he removed the ring. “Did you doubt I would say yes?” she asked as he slipped the ring on her finger with trembling hands.
“You never know. Weirder things have happened.”
She held his face and kissed him. He leaned closer, pushing her back into the couch as she pulled him up to sit beside her then climbed onto his lap. He explored her thighs as the kiss deepened and their tongues danced in a lustful tango. The room was hot, and they wore too many clothes for his taste. Hugh reached higher and paused when he cupped her bare ass. She pulled back long enough to wink at him, and he growled as he captured her mouth fiercely. She was naked beneath the fabric, naked and open for him.
He wanted it to be romantic, but their touches were frantic as if they were afraid their happiness wouldn’t last. She undid his belt and found his erected length begging for her touch. She held him in her hands, pumping up and down as his tongue followed her rhythm, leaving them breathless. When she left his lap and moved to his side, he frowned, but her mouth covered his cock and he groaned with pleasure. She licked up his length and sucked him into her mouth, hard and fast. He soothed his palm over her ass, shoving her dress out of the way so he could palm her sex as his other hand buried in her curls.
With each bob of her head, she caused another jolt of pleasure to shoot from his groin to the rest of his nerves. His head fell back and his jaw slackened as she swirled her tongue around him, taking him in deep before pulling back again. His fingers spread her swollen lips and he penetrated her the next time he filled her mouth.
She moaned and spread her legs as wide as she could without her knee slipping off the couch. The movement aroused him impossibly more, and his hips bucked as he twisted his fingers within her depths. His thumb massaged her clit, and she rode his hand as her mouth rode his cock. Filling her two ways was too much and he needed release. Her moaning around his shaft didn’t help. She fumbled, losing her pace as he ravished her sex. His shaft popped free of her mouth as he gripped the nape of her neck, kissing her as he sensed her orgasm grow closer, but there was no release, not yet.
When she begged him, he picked her up and, after some minor adjustments, filled her in one hard thrust. She held the back of the couch at either side of his head and he buried his face in her breasts. She rode him hard and fast. Her subtle cries turned into a scream of pure pleasure as she clenched around him. When she faltered, he grabbed her hips and pounded into her until his cock swelled and he spilled his release into her. She sagged against his body, twitching from the aftermath of the intense orgasm rocking their bodies. He kissed her cheek, still inside her, and lifted her left hand with the ring.
“Do you like it?” he asked, out of breath.
“I love it—and you and all of this.” She lifted her body carefully, and he slipped free with a grunt. A wicked glint filled her eyes as she winked and stood. “I love it all so much I’m ready for more.” She undid the strings at her back as she walked away from him, and Hugh was on his feet to give chase.
In his room, she stood near the bed, the strings partially undone and waiting for his help. He undid them quickly, trying to be gentle, but his arousal was growing again and he craved to have her every way he could tonight. The end of their secret week together was coming to a close. His body knew it as much as he did, and unless she moved in with him, they would not be able to spend this much time wrapped in each other’s arms.
Blair closed her eyes when Hugh finished undoing the corseted back and shoved the dress down her arms. Her heels remained on as she stepped out of the fabric pooled at her feet, but he lowered himself to help her not trip. He stayed there and kissed his way back up her calf and the back of her knee as she gasped. His cheek rubbed over her thigh and he kissed her hip, nibbling and sucking as his hands—oh, his hands—massaged closer to her already dripping sex.
Back on his feet, he guided her to the edge of the bed and sat her down. A damp towel from her shower was close by, and he wiped her and himself gently. Throwing it in the hamper across the room, he sank between her legs.
He didn’t have to ask. She spread her legs as wide as they could go and watched his Adam’s apple move with every hard swallow as he stared in awe at her open body, all for him. His fingers ran through her soft curls and teased her sensitive skin, not touching where she desperately wanted him to but so very close. She bit her lip as her head fell back. Her body throbbed with her heightened arousal, but he didn’t give in. As if they had a mind of their own, her hands clutched her heavy breasts, and she tugged hard on her nipples.
“Keep doing that,” he whispered as heat pooled low in her belly.
He liked it when she touched herself. Blair caressed her sides and lower, reaching down to barely touch her clit and lower still. He muttered something inaudible, his voice thick with want, and pushed her hand aside.
The next second, his fingers parted her folds. She moaned as he twisted and turned. Her hips bucked and her back arched and she sucked in sharp breaths with every drag of his fingers. Desire filled her until there was room for nothing else. She wanted him—needed him—but he pushed her right to the edge and drew back just in time. When he did it a fourth time and she growled in annoyance, he chuckled, a deep husky sound brushing across her skin as if he was touching her everywhere at once.
“What do you want, Blair?” he whispered, his fingers hovering inches from where she wanted them to plunge into her body. “Tell me.”
“I want you to take me,” she replied as their gazes locked. “Now.”
His hazel eyes flooded with a predatory glint as he stood and relieved himself of the rest of his clothes. He rolled her over on the bed and laid her out flat, covering her with his body a moment later. His fingers were close to her mouth, so she licked them, sucking his finger hard after pulling it into her mouth. His want rumbled through him and into her as his knee spread her legs and his hard rod pressed against her folds. He rubbed along them as she sucked his finger.
They had their romantic nights, but right now, in that moment, Blair wanted him to fuck her. She wanted the raw, pure form of Hugh and his lust. She wanted all of it. Lifting her hips, she pushed back against him and bit his hand hard enough to relay the message.
>
He got it loud and clear. He didn’t even have to guide himself in as he thrust forward. Blair gasped with delight when he didn’t hold back. She spread her legs wider, lowering her upper body as he wrapped his hand in her hair and gave it a tug. The sensations ripped down her spine, and her clit ached to be touched. She lowered her body a bit more to rub it against the sheets, but it was as if they were one mind. Hugh’s fingers found her bead and tugged and teased as his other kept a firm hold on her hip.
She met his thrusts and they lost all control. Their vision blurring from passion, Blair didn’t even realize she was crying out as her body exploded as Hugh consumed her, body and soul. She fell to the bed as he thrust one final time and his warmth jutted into her.
“Did…did I hurt you?” he gasped as he collapsed beside her on the bed a few moments later.
“Hell no,” she assured him and stretched like a cat basking in the sun. “I’ve never felt so good in my life.”
“Good, that’s good.” He laughed breathlessly as he said, “I’ve never been so worn out in my life.”
She smacked his chest playfully, and he caught her hand to kiss her palm. “On the bright side, I’m famished now.”
“Right, dinner.” He hugged her to his side and kissed her nose. “Dinner would be good.”
After a few more minutes relaxing, they climbed out of bed and decided dinner in bed while watching a movie was a much better way to pass the evening. Blair snuggled with him as the movie drew to an end a couple hours later and sleep threatened to take hold. She wanted to stay awake, but tomorrow was the last day of spring break and they would have to make their announcement. She dreaded it, not because she lied about wanting to be with Hugh, but because the second they said they were getting married, Bridget Gordie would swarm Blair. Any hopes she had of planning the wedding she and Hugh wanted would disappear.
Chapter 8
“Stop fidgeting with your sweater,” Hugh whispered as they walked up the long drive to his family’s mansion. “They should be happy at this news. It’s exactly what they wanted, remember?”