by Kaety Porter
While the two weeks were a special variety of torture, it also gave us both time to decide what we wanted our future to be. We agreed that a relationship as trauma filled as ours has been needed to be taken slowly, to be sure that it wasn’t the trauma alone that was the basis for the relationship.
But tonight is the night, the night when she decides whether or not we are a “we”. As is our way, we’ve been teasing and picking on each other about tonight and what her decision will be; like when she found out that I think that Speed 2 is complete garbage and she thinks it was better than the first. She responded with, “See, now I don’t know if I can spend forever with someone who thinks that . . .” She’s been able to keep me in the dark as to what she’s thinking. I don’t honestly think she could walk away and I can’t imagine my life without her. She is the girl of my dreams. When we spend time together I never want it to end; it goes by too fast. We have the kind of chemistry some couples only dream about whether it be when my arms are wrapped around her while cuddling on the couch or between the sheets, even though we’ve never actually had sex laying down, never mind on a bed covered with sheets.
I can see her across the room; she can’t see me, since I’m hidden behind the curtains again. Since this is a “carnival” we are dressed casual this time, no suits with ties or cocktail dresses. Just like any other time we’re in the same room, I can’t take my eyes off of her. The sparkly red sweater that is longer in the back then in the front, hiding her sexy ass that is covered in leather pants so tight, they look painted on and the naughtiest high-heeled, knee high leather boots that are making it almost impossible not to go to her, throw her over my shoulder caveman style and go find my bed. She is so damn hot.
As I watch from across the room as she mingles with everyone, I can’t help but feel like it’s all going to be alright.
***
Ophelia
“Girl, if you don’t stop pacing you’re going to wear a path in the carpet”, Charlie remarks.
I can’t stop moving. From shaking out my arms, my fingers wiggling all the way to flexing my toes, I can’t stop moving. Why do Tristan and I have to go last? I know someone has to go last, but why us?
Finally, I hear the MC call Tristan up on stage. God, he’s so damn sexy in a bright red button down shirt and black jeans. It’s hard to believe that he only wants me. There is no question in my mind; no doubt about how he feels about me. I can’t imagine my life without him. I don’t know why I dragged this out and made him squirm.
The MC calls me up on stage, in my hand is my paddle from the auction, on the back is written my answer to the question, “Did you make a love connection?” Answering “yes” makes him mine; answering “no” sends him to the kissing booth.
The MC begins,
Ok, ladies and gentleman with me now is our final couple tonight. You may recall our bachelor #12, but most of you know him as Officer Tristan Gallagher. He recently transferred to a smaller precinct from the 12th downtown. Back in the fall he listed his interests as spending his free time at the shooting range, riding his 2006 FXSTS Springer Softail and watching the game while hanging out with his cat, Ziggy. A few moments ago he asked me to change that list to now include running in the park, working on the Habitat House, and spending time with the greatest girl in the world.
The winning bidder of Officer Gallagher was one of our own; we all know her and love her, the Sweetheart of our Club, Ms. Ollie Jensen.
Soooo, how did our Bachelor and our Sweetheart get along? Well, our Sweetheart decided to tell us by writing our Bachelor a letter.
The MC hands me the mic and I begin.
Dear Bachelor #12,
It’s hard to believe that this day is finally here. The last few months have been a whirlwind of emotion, filled with the most incredible of highs and some of the lowest of lows.
Since the beginning, all those years ago, we have been fire and ice, oil and water, competitors and finally enemies to lovers. You saved my life and made my recovery tolerable. I knew after our trip to the mountain prison that this would be a journey and it’s been an amazing one so far.
Through my entire speech our eyes were locked on one another and never waiver. The MC takes the mic away, and clears his throat and we both snap back to reality.
The MC starts,
So I think I already know the answer to the question, but just in case, Ms. Jensen did you and Officer Gallagher find a love connection?
Peripherally I hear a drum roll begin. I feel a smile take over my face and watch as one takes over Tristan’s as I lift my auction paddle up and flip around to reveal the word “YES” written in big letters. Immediately the crowd erupts in cheers and Tristan has me in his arms, lifting me off the ground. When his lips meet mine the cheering crowd fades away.
After a few moments our kiss ends, and with the biggest shit eatin’ grin the world has ever seen, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder, caveman style and walks off the stage and out the door without stopping.
At the curb he sets me down next to a waiting limo. Pulling me to him once again he places a hand on each side of my face and kisses me; a long, beautiful, cherishing kiss. When he pulls away, he opens the door to the limo and gestures for me to climb in. The whole ride home we make out like teenagers after prom night.
We barely make it inside the house, picking me up again, only this time he cradles me and begins to kiss me and continues to do so all the way into his bedroom.
***
Tristan sets me on my feet alongside the bed and begins to kiss down my neck to my collar bone. Switching to the other side and beginning to kiss his way back up, while his hands start running down my sides and then grabbing my ass with both hands and whispers in my ears, “You and your sexy ass had me hard as steel as soon as I saw you across the room tonight and itching to get my hands on you; I could hardly hold it together. This sweater and these pants hugging your perfect ass and showing off every one of your delicious curves – it was making me crazy that I had to wait so long before the world and every guy in that room knew that they all belong to me.”
Punctuating “me” he pulls the long sweater up and off my body, leaving me in the blazing red lace bra. Running his hands back down and cupping my breasts, he begins to kiss and caress them with his tongue, while his thumb rubs light circles around my nipples, bringing them to stiff peaks. After a few moments he starts to descend once again, kissing his way down my belly, while his hand wonders down my legs and makes quick work of removing my boots and pants. Still lavishing my middle with kisses and nips, his hands glide back up my thighs to my waist. My hands begin to run through his hair, while I am totally lost to all the sensations.
A guttural moan leaves his lips when he finds a pair of lacey red panties, a pair that he gave me inside the tool belt for my birthday, underneath. As though he can no longer hold back, he picks me up and lays me on the bed, spreading my legs so that he’s standing between them. Looking up at him, seeing the fire in his eyes, he begins to undo the buttons of his shirt then discarding it, followed by his pants, leaving only his boxer briefs and my lacey panties separating us. Moving myself back on the bed, while he crawls up my body, he begins to lower his face to my center. Stopping his progress, I bring his face up so that our eyes meet. Reaching for him and cupping his cheek, he leans into my hand and then kisses my palm. He looks into my eyes while I run my tongue along my lip, smile and say, “Get those underwear off, I want your dick in my mouth.”
Somewhat surprised by the dirty talk, he shucks them off, throwing them to the ground. Looking down at me, I crook my finger signaling for him to come up to me. Moments later he’s straddling my face, his cock at my lips. Looking up at him I smile and say, “If you come in my mouth, this big cock won’t be licked again for a very long time.” Smiling a cocky smile, he replies, “So noted”.
Licking my lips I take him to the back of my throat and begin to suck and move up and down his length. Throwing his head back, he moans and hi
s hips begin to thrust in time with my mouth. Without warning I let him drop from my mouth and then lick him up and down before taking him back into my mouth. Groaning he says, “God Baby that mouth of yours, it’s like heaven; I wanted us to seal this deal with a kiss, but I will totally take your lips sealed around my cock. I don’t ever want to leave your mouth but if you don’t stop I’m gonna come down your throat.” Pulling back he leaves my mouth and he begins to move down my body and then leans down to kiss me. We part and he just stares at me, taking me all in, like a lion eyes a gazelle before making its move, but also with awe and wonder.
Kneeling between my legs he hooks his thumbs into the top of my panties and pulls them down. Picking up one of my legs, he removes the panties and sets my foot on his shoulder. Pulling me down closer to him, he repeats the process and pushes into me to the hilt and begins to move in and out of me, with steady unhurried movements. We make love and eventually collapse into a heap of arms and legs, completely sated.
Laying together, with Tristan’s fingers lightly running up and down my arm, he whispers, “Baby, guess what?” Mindlessly, I reply, “What?” Feeling him shift I open my eyes and find him staring down at me wearing his beautiful smile, he answers “We finally made it to a bed!”
We both bust out laughing and it feels so good. We are finally together and there are no obstacles in our way; no crazy ex-girlfriends, no pain-in-the-ass brothers. It’s just Tristan and me.
Tristan’s hand comes up to the side of my face and he begins to run his finger up and down my jaw, reverently. Looking at me, he says, “You are the most beautiful women in the world, and I can’t believe how lucky I am that I get a second chance at Lovin’ you.
Epilogue
Tristan
Memorial Day
“Thank you for all that you did in building the house, it’s really a dream come true.” Standing next to Lia while the veteran whose house was just revealed to him thanks her for all her and the club’s work, is one the many great moments she and I have shared since what I will always remember as the best Valentine’s Day ever.
The ribbon cutting and the big reveal to the veteran happened a few hours ago, and the picnic and block party following are in full swing. Most of the Club and the volunteers who worked on the house are here with their families and it’s been a great day.
After working the desk for a week or two, Lia returned to her regular duties at the prison. A few days later she ended up cornered and 3 inmates attempted to assault her, getting away with inflicting a few cuts and bruises. A few days after the assault, the seriousness of the event sunk in and she went into shock. Finding her basically catatonic and curled up in a ball on her bathroom floor scared the everlovin’ shit out of me. Once Royan and I got her functioning again, Lia took a leave of absence from the prison and does only per diem shifts at the juvenile detention center that is located next door to the prison. She likes working there and has met some great people. She told me that day that we drove to the abandoned prison that she was a glorified babysitter for those that made it through the system. Working at the juvey she working with kids to try to make it so they stay out of the system once they leave.
When she isn’t working at the juvey she is focusing on the Club and the next Habitat house coming up. The Director of the program that the Club works with on the houses has approached her and offered her a job with the organization. She’s considering her options. I think the position is perfect; of course anything that keeps her out of harm’s way and safe sounds great to me. She’s mine to protect and hopefully by day’s end, I’ll be one step closer to making her mine forever; I want to marry her, love her and protect forever. I want to make babies with her and have a whole lot of fun practicing and trying. If working with veterans and Habitat Houses helps me in my new lifelong mission, then I am completely on board.
While Lia talks to the veteran, I look around at all the people. I spot Royan across the yard and watch him from afar. He brought home a silver medal from the Wounded Warrior games for his event. It was one of those great moments that Lia and I shared, cheering him on and being there to see him triumph in spite of the adversity that he has faced.
Watching him now, he’s behaving strangely, as he has for several weeks now. Shortly after the warrior games were over Royan and I talked and he gave his blessing for me to marry Lia. He and I discussed getting him a service dog, since eventually Lia would be moving out. He expects to hear soon when the dog and the trainer will arrive. But for some reason I get the sense that his strange behavior isn’t because of the changes in his life that are ahead of him. Despite what Lia thinks, Royan isn’t the ladies’ man he seems to be. Obviously, I can’t dispute the ones that Lia has heard and seen, but Royan and I have talked. Despite his bravado on the outside, he has some insecurities that he still struggles with because of his accident, especially when it comes to his “abilities” in the bedroom. Despite assurances from his doctors, therapists, me and the fact that his bed has been warmed a few times since the accident, he feels he destine to be alone because no woman will want him and his “limited abilities” for the long term.
Following his gaze, I see him watching a beautiful dark haired girl that’s playing with Chase’s boy Luca, a yellow dog and two other kids, a boy and a girl, who I think belong to Chase’s friends. I can’t be certain but I think I remember Chase mentioning that a college roommate of Meg Monroe’s was moving to the area, so I’m guessing that dark haired girl that has caught Royan’s eye might be her. I happen to know Meg through Chase and his sister, Charlie. Between the two of them, they know everyone. Chase worked with Meg, whose name at the time was Meg McDowell, when she was the victim of a stalker. Paige was her college roommate at the time and ended up helping with the case. The case is long since resolved and Meg married an awesome guy, Jupiter and they have a cute little boy, named Jameson together, who if I’m not mistaken is the little boy playing with Luca. Chase is connected to Meg and her chosen family a couple of different ways, but it hurts my brain to try to connect all the dots.
I make a mental note to talk to Lia later about Royan to see what she’s noticed a change in him lately.
It’s just before sunset and the block party has dissipated in anticipation of the fireworks that will be going off shortly. Lia and I are standing along a fence at the water’s edge, waiting for the show to begin. I’ve been waiting for this moment all day. Reaching into my pocket I pull out a small handcuff key chain; hanging from one cuff is a key, hanging from the other is a ring.
Wrapping my arms around from behind, hugging her and resting my chin on her shoulder and nuzzling my nose into her neck, she snuggles into me and I have to close my eyes and smile at how unbelievable right it feels to have her in my arms.
Not moving from my hold, I whisper in her ear, “My Lia”.
She replies in a whisper, “Yeah?”
“Move in with me?” as I reveal the half of the cuff with the key and I hear her gasp.
Looking back at me she smiles cautiously and asks, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure and when you move in I hope you will be wearing this.” As I open my hand reveling the other half of the cuff and the ring. “What do you say, will you move in and marry me?”
I hear her sniffle and feel her begin to tremble as her head comes to rest on my cheek and then she begins to nod. On another sniffle she says, “Yes, I will.”
Spinning her around to face me I kiss her like it is both the last time and the first time. Eventually, we part and I ask, “You will what? Move in? Marry me or both?”
She smiles up at me with tears running down her cheeks and says, “Both”.
The smile that takes over my face is unstoppable. Removing the ring from the small cuff, I slide it on her finger. Taking a hold of her face with both hands I lean down and kiss her just as the first rocket is shot into the air, illuminating the sky behind us in bright pink shimmers.
The End
Acknowledgments
> I always find it difficult to put into words how grateful I am to those that contribute to me being able to take what is in my brain and put it on paper.
As always, first and foremost I want to thank my husband. From humoring me and answering random strange questions like, “Hunny, what some stalker-like behaviors that are scary but not physically harmful?” to being the first to read and edit the drafts that I give him; I love you to the moon and back!
To my two beta reader ladies! As always I am beyond grateful that you take the time to read and give it me straight.
With this book I added a third beta reader, my extremely awesome baby sis! She is part of every character I write and amazes me every day by her drive and tenacity.
To my readers, thank you for taking the time and reading. I am forever grateful. If you like my stories, please feel free to tell your reader friends about them. Also, I need your super power gifted to only the reader. I need your review. Do you know how much super power you have? Great reviews, for an indie author, can make or break a career. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. It helps other readers find me. It motivates me and it really really helps! (And thank you to fellow indie author Odette Stone for letting me borrow this paragraph!)
Until next time . . . yes there is going to be a next time . . . Thank you again for reading!
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