by Sheila Kell
He withdrew and surged forward again. She thrust her hips to drive him deeper and deeper until she gave up all hopes of controlling their sweet lovemaking.
“I want you hard and fast. Show me how much you want me,” she whispered.
He groaned. “I wanted to go slow and love every inch of you.”
“You can do that later tonight. Show me how much you really want me right now.”
He appeared to war with himself before he drove into her with a force to be reckoned with.
She smiled and held on as he pounded into her, touching her very soul with need until she began that climb. Not wanting to be alone, she whispered, “I’m close. Are you close?”
“I’ve been ready to explode for a while now. I want you to come first.”
“Together,” she said in a silent demand and plea all in one.
He clenched his jaw. “Together.”
Keeping his strokes firm, he drove her up that cliff until she splintered, starbursts forming before her eyes, and she fell into a pillow of pleasure so soft and warm she didn’t want to let it go to come back to reality.
So lost in her orgasm, she barely registered when Blake spilled himself in her with a grunt of satisfaction.
Lifting himself off her body, and sliding beside her, he sighed heavily. “God, you’re going to kill me.”
A smile split her face. “But it’s the good kind, isn’t it?”
“I’ll never give you up.”
That meant he definitely saw a future for them. Her heart soared to new heights.
They were quiet for a few minutes before she spoke, hesitantly. “Does that mean we can go public with our relationship?”
Fretful that she’d pushed too far when he didn’t answer right away, she glanced over at him, only to find him sound asleep, with a smile on his face.
BLAKE WOKE REFRESHED and ready to do all he had to accomplish today. First, he had something important to do, and he wouldn’t put it off any longer. Sure he’d promised Camilla he’d wait, but he’d been breaking a lot of promises he’d made that he thought wrong for the people involved. He’d told Trent, and while that hadn’t turned out as he’d expected—hell, he hadn’t known what to expect—he was glad it was out in the open. It was time to announce it to the world.
As for this, there was absolutely no reason to wait. It was just a controlling thing his late wife put in place. He was done with her bonds. He would set this right.
In the living room, most of his children were lounging around the couch and many chairs, staring at a cartoon on the television with cups of coffee in their hands. He shook his head. Children had a way of changing what you watched.
Continuing in the room, he bypassed his grandchildren sprawled on the floor, eyes glued to the television and walked to Emily who was seated on one of the couches. “Hold out your hand.”
With furrowed brows, she hesitantly followed his dictate.
Opening his hand over hers, he dropped the folded documents in his hand to hers.
For a moment she just stared at him, then she reached over and unfolded them—slowly as if they were antiquated and could fall apart at her touch. When she read them, she gasped so loudly, Jake, who’d been sitting next to her, surged forward to check on her.
Blake smiled when she looked up at him with bewilderment. “Your mother wanted you to have the house. She said on your twenty-fifth birthday, but I think it’s okay to do it now.” Two years early wouldn’t kill anything. Emily was mature enough to handle the responsibility.
“Are you sure, Dad?” Her hands trembled around the documents, and her eyes glistened with tears. He hoped happy tears.
“All I ask is that this remains a place for the family. There’s a trust set up for the maintenance of the house and to keep Mary and Henry on board and then retire them when they’re ready.” He wouldn’t add that since the employees had come later, there’d been no stipulation for them in the initial trust. He’d added that part because he never wanted Emily to have to make that difficult financial choice.
His daughter had always been bright and processed things quickly, which was probably why she’d picked up numbers so fast and had become a highly skilled forensic accountant. “But if we change this from the dummy corporation you have set up”—one he’d created to protect his and his family’s privacy—“then we can’t use this as a safe house any longer. People will be able to find it.”
Before he could speak, Jesse was standing beside him. “Em, we won’t use this as a safe house any longer. We have one we don’t use often enough. It needs to start earning its keep. Change the ownership. I remember mom talking about this house and how she wanted to pass it to her daughter before you were even born.”
“But what about the rest of you?” Guilt lanced her expression. “It should be for everyone, not just me.”
Blake shook his head. “No,” he said adamantly. “This house has been passed down to first born daughters of the family. You need to pass it down to Amber if you want to keep with a very long tradition. I think a long lost relative of yours wanted to ensure the women of the family didn’t have to have a man.”
Emily smiled at that, as brightly as the sun. She stood and flung her arms around him. “Thank you, Dad.” Wet drops hit his chest as she wept with happiness. He imagined having something from her mother meant the world to her, which was another reason he wanted to do it now. She deserved to know that her mother loved her since she’d lost her when she was two years old and didn’t have the memories of motherly hugs and loving acts like kissing wounds.
It’d been a long time since he’d really held his daughter. Visions of her as a child crying over an injury or what she felt was a slight from her brothers flooded him, and his emotions choked him up. Love welled inside him enough that it made his eyes watery. He would not cry at this moment. He would be strong for his daughter who deserved the world handed to her.
Emily pulled back and wiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Jake, who’d stood beside her when she’d jumped to her feet, shook his hand. “Thank you,” he echoed.
A chorus of congratulations came from his other children. The men had all known before that Emily would get the house. Blake had explained the tradition. None had balked at it or called it an injustice. He figured they were glad she’d have something so that she’d always be taken care of, because no matter the grief they gave her growing up, they loved and adored their baby sister.
After everything had settled down, he looked back up the stairs, made sure they were empty, then cleared his throat. “It’s time for me to do what I told you that I was doing. Tonight, I’m asking Elizabeth to marry me. I want your help.”
“Sure, Dad. Anything you need. We like Elizabeth,” Matt said.
Agreement echoed through the group.
He released a heavily burdened sigh and relief flowed through him. He’d needed to know that they really cared for her, and this strong show of support—before they even knew what he asked—overwhelmed him. If that was even possible.
“Here’s what I’d like,” he started.
THE WIND HAD picked up making the evening chilly. Elizabeth pulled the wrap closer around her shoulders, enjoying the company of the Hamilton family during a cookout. Blake could grill a good steak, that was for sure. Whenever she didn’t feel like cooking, she’d set him to the grill. Of course, she wasn’t sure how his housekeeper slash cook would feel about Elizabeth taking over the kitchen.
First thing’s first. One of them had to propose. As much as she wanted to, she wasn’t brave enough to do it with all of his children present. That was too much pressure. Maybe he wasn’t truly ready for them to come out in the open. He was so hard to read.
Of course, their story would leak and it’d be known he was involved—somehow—in her rescue. No way could he keep that quiet. How would he handle it?
She was ready for them to come out of the closet—so to speak. She deserv
ed to have a regular romantic relationship with a man. And that man was Blake Hamilton. Now, how to get him to move to that next level….
Either once the kids left, or she and Blake did, if he hadn’t asked her to marry him, she would propose. But when they were alone, just in case she was humiliated. But he loved her, so it should be good. That was what she kept telling herself—he loved her. It’d work out.
Startled by movement, she looked up, and Emily stepped forward and offered her a rose. Elizabeth held her shawl with one hand and accepted the peach rose with the other. “You’re an incredible woman,” Blake’s daughter told her. She turned and walked away.
Next, Jake approached. Before he could reach out, she dropped the shawl so she could have both hands. He also handed her a rose. Thank goodness they’d removed the thorns. Before he could speak, she peeked around him and noticed all Blake’s children had lined up with a rose in their hands. Tears welled in her eyes at the loving gesture. So overwhelmed, she missed what Jake said to her. She was too embarrassed to ask him to repeat it. He didn’t seem to expect a reply as he walked away and Matt walked to her.
Handing her a rose, Matt flashed a brilliant smile. “It’s an honor to know you.” Knowing he’d been a Navy SEAL, that expanded her heart, and the tears brimmed her eyelids, trying to break free.
He departed and his twin approached. He offered her his rose and added his somewhat cocky smile. “We hope you choose us,” Brad said, confusing her with his statement.
Devon with his little smirk took his turn. “Just in the little time we’ve know you, I can see why Dad loves you.”
She fought the tears from leaking down her face, but it was so damn hard. These men, and woman, touched her heart, and she still had one more to go. When Devon leaned over and kissed her cheek, she lost the battle, a tear slipped down, gliding slowly until it dropped off in her lap.
By the time Jesse stepped up, she was freely crying, albeit silently. Her heart had warmed so much by this little act of acceptance.
Jesse handed her his rose. “Dad has something to ask you, and we hope you say yes.”
Her breath caught and her heart did a pitter-patter. Did he mean what she thought? Was Blake really going to propose to her?
When Jesse departed with a sly grin on his face, Blake took his place.
“I want to do this right, but you may have to help me up.” He grinned cheekily.
She gasped even though she’d already guessed what he was doing. Him telling her just made it real. And he was doing it in front of his children. The children who had just told her—in their own way—they wanted her to be part of their family. She swiped at the tears with her fingers and wiped them on the discarded shawl in her lap.
Down on one knee, Blake opened a blue jewelers box with a gorgeous princess-cut diamond in it. One that was way too big in her mind. Then again, could a diamond ring ever be too big? She only needed something small, but she’d take whatever he gave her because he gave it to her.
“Elizabeth Page, you are pure sunshine on my rainy days. You are the brightest stars on my darkest days. With you, my life is full of love, compassion, and joy. I need you in my life. Please say you’ll marry me and be my wife. My partner for the rest of our lives.”
Her heart was near exploding from the love infused in it. Ignoring the tears, she scooted off the chair, down on her knees in front of him.
He looked at her surprised and with a bit of fear in his gaze. Had he thought she’d say anything but yes?
“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you,” she breathed as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Fire exploded in her body, but she ignored it and pulled back. “I love you, Blake Hamilton.”
“I love you.” His shaking hand removed the ring from the box.
She shoved the roses in her right hand and held out her left one for him. Hers shook also but not nearly as bad as his.
The man had truly been nervous about proposing to her.
Blake had done well. The ring was only about a half-size too big. She could fix that when they were home. She wanted to squeal like a schoolgirl. Soon, home would be with him.
He kissed her again, and she heard clapping from their audience, whom she’d forgotten.
They rose and accepted the congratulations of the Hamilton children and spouses.
“When are you going to get married?” someone asked.
Blake looked at her. “As soon as she’ll agree.”
“Is tomorrow soon enough,” she joked.
A wicked smile crossed his face. “I’d hoped you would say that. I have someone all lined up.”
She didn’t know whether to be upset or overjoyed so she went with the happier emotion. She didn’t need fancy. She just needed Blake in her life. Forever.
“DAD, YOU SEEM awfully nervous. Are you sure you want to do this?” AJ asked.
Blake turned from his spot adjusting his tie in the mirror and glanced at his sons with a critical eye. He’d been blessed to have them and for them to grow up as they had. They’d become true gentlemen, and he couldn’t be prouder of them or the lives they’d chosen. But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to chuck something at his son’s head for saying that.
They’d gone through this when he’d spoken with them before he’d asked Elizabeth to marry him. No way in hell would he back out. He loved the woman with everything inside him. As corny as the saying was, he hadn’t felt complete before her. Oh, his children completed him in the paternal aspect, but in sharing a life with someone….
He narrowed his eyes at AJ. “I remember someone who paced the room at about ninety miles an hour while he was waiting to get married.”
The room erupted in laughter and his apparent nerves were forgotten. Or so he’d thought.
“You know, Dad, you can still call it off if you’re not sure,” Matt said.
“I’ll remember you said that when it is your turn.” Shit. He immediately felt contrite when Matt’s face fell. Matt had been engaged to Caitlyn in college until the unthinkable happened and she’d left without a word. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s no big deal.”
Being the father he was, he decided to allow that lie to slide because it had been one hell of a big deal to Matt at the time, and he was sure it still was because he remained single. Then again, so was his twin.
“Boys,” he said over a lump in his throat. “I know I’ve already said it, but thank you for your help in rescuing Elizabeth. Your mother was special to me”—they didn’t need to know the specifics—“but Elizabeth is my world now. My heart would’ve stopped without her.”
Jesse leaned off the door and strode to him. He reached up and straightened Blake’s tie. “We’re happy for you. You’ve been alone too long.”
Around his son, he saw nods throughout the group sprawled on the bed or leaning against the walls, all dressed in the best they’d brought for the trip. All seven of them—Jake and Trent included—would stand up for him today, and he didn’t care that they didn’t match or that they all weren’t wearing sports coats. They were his sons, and they were here with him at one of the most monumental times of his life—their births being first.
A knock sounded at the door. “Pastor Gary is here.”
True nerves skittered along his spine. While there was nothing to be nervous about, it didn’t stop the feeling. Maybe he’d misinterpreted and it was anxiety. He liked that better, because he couldn’t marry her fast enough.
Thank goodness the church had agreed to marry them without the prolonged counseling they generally required. Elizabeth wanted to be married by the church and he wanted to be married as quickly as possible, so they’d passed the test and were able to expedite their wedding.
The flower garden on the grounds of the Oxford home had been their choice. Elizabeth had made sure to ask Emily’s permission to use it. She’d also offered to move them out of the master bedroom, but his daughter had stated that bedroom belonged to her father and his wife.
How had he
gotten so lucky with her too? Especially when his boys were such hellions growing up and she’d tried to follow them everywhere. Thank goodness for Trent as he’d kept her out of trouble.
Outside, he ran his finger between his collar and neck, feeling constricted. He’d brought and worn his favorite gray suit—the one he’d worn when he met her—and a gray and burgundy tie to wear in case she’d said yes and they could marry right away. In preparing for the trip, he’d told her to bring a dressy outfit or he’d feared she’d have had to have a shopping trip before they tied the knot.
It’d been bad enough he’d had to wait for her best friend, Crystal, to fly in as her maid of honor. It’d touched his heart when she’d asked his daughter and daughters-in-law to also stand up with her. After a brief discussion about the children, Amber and Reagan were selected as flower girls. Megan and Kelly thanked Elizabeth for the offer but volunteered to sit and take care of Ashley, Alexander, and the girls during the ceremony because, at this point, their only attendees were Jason, Mary, and Henry. Everyone else was in the ceremony.
He shook his head at the absurdity of it. Yet he wouldn’t have picked one of his sons over the other for the honor of being best man. They did play rock-paper-scissors—several times actually—to see who would sign the marriage license as a witness though. AJ won, which wasn’t a surprise since he always won when they boys competed against each other. Had they rigged this too? Not that it mattered.
The pastor motioned to Megan who doubled as their music coordinator. She pressed a button and music played through two speakers they’d set up near the arbor the men and the pastor awaited Elizabeth.
First Kate walked toward him, smiling brightly, although he wasn’t sure if the smile was for him or Jesse who stood right beside him. Next Rylee strode toward him, her hands wrapped around the stems of fresh picks from the flower garden. When his little girl started her trek toward him, his gaze misted at her happiness for him. Yeah, she looked straight at him, not her husband.