Falling in Love Again: A Valentine's Day Proposal

by Mia Ford

  “We’re going to be together,” I giggle. “Although it’ll be hard to tell everyone at work…”

  “I’m pretty sure they already know,” Carter replies wryly. “I don’t think we need to worry about that.”

  “When did they figure it out?” Oh shit, I hope they didn’t see us. We were never one hundred percent careful. I guess any of them could have still been around late at night. That will be so embarrassing if I have to face that…

  “I don’t know exactly, but I wouldn’t worry too much. It doesn’t seem to be too much trouble. So, we can just be together. We can just be happy, if that’s what you want, that’s what you will have.”

  I lean in to him as much as I can and embrace the sizzling chemistry rolling between us. I will savor every second of this in the future, I will never take Carter for granted again.

  I part my lips, about to express everything that I feel inside. About to tell him what I want for our future, for everything I thought about while I was locked away in that room, but I don’t get a chance to. The door pushes open and in walks Abbi with my mother not far behind her. This is going to get crazy…

  “Oh my God, Raelyn, what the hell happened to you?” Abbi is already crying. “You were kidnapped. How did that even happen? And how did I not know anything about it? I hate this…”

  Mom looks emotional too. I can see her over Abbi’s shoulder, but she’s been quieter about it. It’s easy to get pushed to one side with my over excitably friend around. I smile at her and she grins weakly back.

  “Are you okay?” she mouths at me. I nod back. “Good. I was worried.”

  Abbi hugs me tightly and I watch Mom shake Carter’s hand. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. She is giving him a slightly suspicious look but I don’t think she really hates him. I know I didn’t necessarily give her the most glowing review of him the last time I saw her, but I’m sure Abbi has filled her in.

  Eventually she will see how important he is to me as well. He loves me as well. How wonderful is that? He actually loves me. And for a man who has been so hurt in the past, it’s even more important.

  “You need to tell us exactly what happened,” Abbi insists. “I want to hear all of it. Carter told me some, but he doesn’t know the full details. He doesn’t know what you went through.”

  “He knows some of it…” I try to defend Carter, but Abbi shakes her head hard.

  “But not the bits when you were locked away. That must have been awful.”

  “It wasn’t the best,” I admit. “It got very scary lots of times.”

  “Did you think that you were going to die?” she asks, without thinking about Mom. I glance at her but she looks okay. Well, not okay, but more like she wants to know what’s going on. I suppose the worry is over now.

  “Yes. He had a knife and he kept threatening me. But it was worse when the police came in. The gun shots were terrifying. I thought that I was going to be in trouble.”

  “Start from the beginning,” Abbi insists. “Tell us everything. I want to know it all.”

  I take in a deep breath before I start talking. It isn’t the easiest story to recount, especially since I don’t remember all of it, but I do my best to get it all out. It does sound crazy when I say it aloud, it sounds like something that wouldn’t happen in real life, but it’s all the truth. The terrifying truth.

  I can see them getting increasingly shocked as the words spill out of my mouth. Even Abbi doesn’t know what to say and I don’t think I have ever seen her silenced before.

  But now that I’m here with the most important people in my life and I feel amazing. I do have some wonderful things to look forward to. Whatever comes next will be great. So much better. It can’t exactly get worse…

  37

  Carter

  “You’re coming home?” I ask with shock in my tone. “They are sending you home already?”

  No way. The doctors here are supposed to be taking care of her, not sending her away just to look after herself. That isn’t right, she’s been through such trauma, she needs professionals taking care of her.

  “You say that like it’s quick,” Raelyn laughs. “But it doesn’t feel that way to me. I’ve been in for two days and it feels like forever. I cannot wait to leave this hospital behind. I hope I don’t have to come back.”

  I rest my hands on my hips and narrow my eyes at her. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m excited to get back. I’m not worried at all… unless you think I should be?”

  “I’m not suggesting that there’s anyone out there to get you. That’s all over now. I just don’t want you to struggle by yourself. I don’t know if you’re well enough to be by yourself.”

  “I’m fine! They don’t think there’s anything wrong with me at all.”

  “I know, but I would rather take care of you. What I want is for you to stay with me.”

  “You want me to come back to yours?” She looks shocked by the suggestion.

  “Yes, so I can look after you. I want to rub your feet and make you dinner until you feel better.”

  “Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?” she giggles. “That sounds like a dream to me.”

  She laughs, a lovely musical sound that makes me really smile. After meeting Raelyn’s mom and best friend and learning even more about her, I like her even more. She really is a wonderful, incredible person. Perfect for me. I never would have thought it possible, but she’s the one who has taken my walls down.

  “So, you’ll come back with me? For real? Don’t tease me here.” I cock an eyebrow at her.

  “I’ve said yes.” She rolls her eyes. “Don’t make me change my mind. I’m already considering it…”

  I lean down and softly kiss her lips, my heart racing with joy as I do. Things really are progressing with Raelyn and me now. She’s almost moving in with me! We’ve said that we love one another… it’s amazing. I avoided women for a reason, because I didn’t want any of this, but now that I have it, I’m over the moon.

  “I’m going to speak to the doctor then, see what time you’re getting out of here. See what I can organize.”

  “I don’t want any fuss,” she calls out behind me, but it’s too late, I’m out of the room and really planning things when we escape the hospital. I cannot wait to have her where I can make sure that her days are amazing, after all the shit that she had to deal with. This is the woman that I love, the woman I admire more than anyone else in the world. She needs to be loved, to be happy, to be treated like the queen she is.

  “You really did cook for me!” Raelyn smiles widely. “I know you said that you were going to, but I didn’t really think that you would. Is this the sort of treatment that I can expect while I’m here?”

  “You can expect it forever if you don’t go…”

  She looks at me curiously. “That sounds like you’re asking me to stay forever.”

  I hand her a plate of food and she inhales deeply, enjoying the smell. “Maybe I am!”

  She grins and pushes a fork full into her mouth. She doesn’t tell me that she’s going to stay forever, but she doesn’t tell me that she’s leaving either. She doesn’t look freaked out by my suggestion.

  Instead, we eat in a comfortable silence. It’s funny to think that our silences used to be really awkward. Now it’s like we have such a deep bond it doesn’t matter if we use words or not.

  “I am going to have to tell Mom that she was right about you,” I comment idly.

  “What do you mean?” Raelyn immediately demands. “What did she say about me?”

  “That you’re lovely and also perfect for me. But I wouldn’t hear it at the time.”

  She blushes adorably. “I didn’t realize that she liked me so much. I mean, we got on well…”

  “She will be over the moon when I tell her about this. The only reason that I haven’t said anything so far is because I don’t want to open that can of worms until I’m ready for it.”
r />   “You think she will become really involved?” Raelyn laughs. “Maybe you should wait a little while longer. That way we can have a little more time to ourselves. I think we need that after everything, don’t you?”

  I shiver, getting what she means by that. The cheeky minx. She wants to spark everything up, but I don’t know if that’s the best idea. After all, she’s only just got home after being in the hospital. She might need some more time to recover. And I need to remember that even if she’s looking at me with those sexy as all hell eyes of hers.

  “So, what do you want to do today?” I ask her quietly, trying to change the subject. “Now that you’re free.”

  “I am tired.” She stretches her arms high in a mock yawn. “We should go to bed.”

  “Bed?” I gulp. I won’t be able to resist her there. “Do you want the bed to yourself if you’re tired?”

  “Of course I don’t want the bed to myself, you fool. What do you think this is?” She rises from her seat and wraps her hand around my shirt collar to drag me with her. “I want you in the bed with me because it has been forever since I’ve managed to have you to myself. So, will you come on already?”

  I do as she commands, my resistance completely melting away. I stagger up the stairs my cock springing to attention as we go. I should have known that I wouldn’t be able to keep away from her too long. This woman is everything to me. And now we’re fully committed and in love with one another.

  We head into the bedroom, and as soon as we are inside, Raelyn spins around and wraps her arms tightly around my neck. The kiss that she gives me is so passionate and intense that I melt between her lips. If I hadn’t already caved to this sensation, then I sure as hell would now. It’s phenomenal.

  “Oh, Raelyn.” I gently guide her back towards the bed and she tumbles on the sheets willingly. Her hands fly above her head and she giggles. The beautiful sight of her all free and happy is adorable. Utterly stunning. I pause for a second, just to be glad that she’s here, safe, not stuck in a room with an asshole.

  Connor Blair, that dead mother fucker. He was the worst of the worst. But thankfully, he’s no more.

  I grin at this wonderful woman before I crawl across her. I’m like a predator heading for his prey. I need to devour this woman whole, and she’s willingly allowing this to happen. She wants to be eaten.

  I peel her clothes away rapidly, loving the look of her gorgeous milky skin in the look of the moon light. As the material vanishes in to nothingness, I’m vaguely aware of her tugging the clothing off of me as well. The cool air is washing over me, but I’m burning hot for her. On fire, needy, desperate.

  I kiss her gently, then slide my lips down to her exposed throat. The moans she’s letting out vibrate against my lips, shooting all the way down to my cock. I move down further and further, her rock hard nipple just popping between my lips as I reach her breasts. As my tongue works all over her, it’s my turn to do the groaning. This woman’s body is hot as all hell, I love everything about her.

  “Oh, Carter.” As Raelyn cries out, she grabs my hand and guides it between her thighs, towards her soaking wet slit. “Oh fuck, Carter, I need you to feel me everywhere.”

  I plunge my fingers into her, heat racing through me as I do. Her walls clamp around my fingers, she arches her back in heaven, the bliss evident in her face. I love seeing her like this, more than anything else.

  “I love you, Raelyn,” I murmur, my thumb flicking over her clit. “I love you so much.”

  “I… I fucking love you too,” she cries out, her hips rolling in to me. “I love you so much.”

  I inch further down, needing more. I need to taste her. I can smell her, her soaking wet desire, and she smells phenomenal. My cock stiffens beyond belief as my nose nudges against her wetness. My tongue darts out once. Just the tiniest bit, but that small taste is enough to send me wild. I absolutely lose my mind. I become like a mad man on a mission and I shove my tongue deep in to her. I lick her everywhere, tasting every inch of her, and it’s incredible. She shudders and rocks violently, occasionally trying to shove me off before it gets too much, but she always tugs me back again, needing more. I love this hungry side of her, it’s so sexy.

  “I need you to fuck me,” she calls out, her voice thick with lust. “I need you, Carter.”

  I’m not one who needs to be asked twice, so I slide up her body and slip inside of her. We’re both so hot, it feels like it’s been such a long time, that for a second, neither of us even thinks about protection. I thrust a few times before she grabs her hands around my hips and pushes me away.

  “Condom,” she gasps out. “Give me a condom.”

  I nod hard, trying to get my ragged breaths to something like normal, and I reach into the night stand to grab one. My hand is shaking too hard for me to do anything about it, so thankfully, Raelyn takes the condom from me and she tears it open with a coy smile playing on her lips. As she rolls it down over my rock hard erection, I almost completely lose it. Just the sensation of her fingers on my cock is enough.

  “Fuck, Raelyn, you are too much,” I chuckle, my voice shaking. “I love you so much.”

  She runs her finger down my cheek, emotion crossing her face as she does. “I love you too, so much.”

  Then I’m inside of her. I plunge in deep and feel her everywhere. I lost my head before, but now it’s completely gone. I’m spinning, off in space somewhere, surrounded by space dust, shivering and crumbling, falling apart more and more with every thrust. Her legs wrap around my waist, I feel deeper inside of her, and it’s everything. The heat builds up until the point where I explode like a volcano, just as she shatters and loses it too. We cling to one another, kissing to swallow up each other’s screams, and it’s honestly the happiest that I’ve ever been.

  I didn’t know it was possible for it to be like this.

  I don’t know what’s going to happen next. If I have learnt anything from this, it’s that life will always throw a curve ball my way, just when I think that I have everything worked out, but I’m sure that we can make it together. Love will be enough this time around, there isn’t anything to hold us back. We can go the whole way and finally find that highly sought after happy ever after.

  This time, I’m going to get it right.

  38

  Raelyn

  Six Months Later…

  “Six months,” I tell Mom. “Can you believe it’s been six months? It feels like yesterday… but also it feels like a life time ago. It’s wild, but I’m so glad that my life is back to normal.”

  It’s a weird anniversary to think about, but it’s also a massive mile stone for me. Surviving that kidnapping and also being able to move on and build something of a life for myself afterwards is something that I’m really proud of. I didn’t ever think that I would be able to get there, but I’m still here. Standing tall.

  “Well, not totally normal.” Mom cocks an eyebrow at me. “Your life isn’t exactly like it was before the kidnapping, is it? Now, you have this incredible man in your life, who you now live with, and a business that’s thriving even more than it was before. You’re on top of the world now, aren’t you?”

  I can’t stop myself from smiling. “I know; it really is great. And now we have this event tonight for the business. I know I should be excited about the fact that we might win an award tonight, but I’m more just nervous about the whole red carpet thing. I know this isn’t exactly Hollywood and the Oscars. People aren’t going to be that interested, but we’ll still be in the public eye, our pictures will be online…”

  “Who are you worried about seeing it?” Mom asks with her eyes narrowed. “No one can find you, all of that crime stuff is long gone, and there hasn’t been any sign of his ex in a long time, has there?”

  “No, I know. It’s just nerve wracking. I’m scared to be seen with him, that’s all. Scared to be seen with him online and have people judge our relationship. I don’t want to be judged, you know? It’s scary.”

  Mom t
akes my hand and smiles softly at me. “You don’t need to worry about that. You’ll be fine. You are in a great place, you and Carter, just focus on that. Just focus on how much you love him.”

  I glance down at the black dress which clings tightly to my body. My red hair is a little longer now, and hangs down my face in curls. My makeup is also done the best it can ever be by my incredible friend Abbi, who right now is on the phone to her boyfriend, Randall, who she is still very happy with.

  “Do I look okay? Do I look like I’m ready for this sort of a posh event?”

  Mom beams. “You have never looked better. And I bet you win this award as well, proving that you are beautiful and smart. A kick ass strong business woman who needs to be recognized.”

  I smile at her, loving her words. “Thank you, Mom. That means so much to me.”

  “Did you speak to Carter? How is he getting on today?”

  I check my phone but there are still no messages. “He’s in meetings. I don’t know if he’ll be out until we get there, but that’s fine. I know that he has his suit all ready, anyway. He’s prepared for tonight.”

  He looks hot as hell in it too. When he tried it on for me last night, I couldn’t help jumping his bones. I nearly tore it from his body… if he didn’t have to wear it today, it might have no buttons left. Not that Mom needs to know that part! I’m sure that she can see the chemistry between us anyway, without me explaining it.

  “Right, guys!” Abbi re-enters the room with the biggest smile on her face. Randall always makes her like this even now. It’s so freaking adorable. I love it. And I love him a lot too. I finally met him four months ago and he was amazing. He really adores my best friend as well. He treats her really well. “It’s time for us to go.”

  “I wish you were coming with me into the award ceremony.” I pout out my bottom lip. “It feels weird doing this without you. I’m still sorry that we were only given so many seats.”