The Billionaire's Final Stand

by Melody Anne

  George opened his hand, palm side up and looked down. As he did, a single tear fell, landing right in the middle of the circle of platinum.

  “Your mother wore this ring for thirty years. Our last night together, when she knew it was time to go home, we were lying together, speaking about our family. She made me promise to take her ring and pass it to one of you. She said whoever wore it was guaranteed an eternity of happiness with their true love. She said I’d know when the moment was right because she’d be by my side, whispering in my ear, watching over our children,” George stopped as he coughed, emotions clogging his throat.

  Austin looked over to find every woman in the room had tears cascading down their cheeks, sympathy in their eyes. Heck, even the men were clearing their throats, trying like crazy to keep it together.

  He turned back to his father, who smiled, with both joy and sorrow in his face.

  “It’s you, Austin. Take your mother’s ring. You treat your future wife like the queen she is, hold her, comfort her, and tell her every single day that she’s the light of your world. You cherish her always.”

  George placed the ring in Austin’s palm, then gently pushed his fingers shut around it. He placed his own hand over his son’s, patted it once, then let go. He smiled at Austin and his other children, then looked in the corner of the room, his gaze clouding over for a moment before his eyes shut briefly. Then, without saying another word, he walked from the room.

  Austin opened his fingers to gaze at the antique diamond set in a stunning platinum band, and his heart flooded with warmth. He shut his eyes, and for one moment, one glorious moment, his mom was right there with her arms wrapped around him.

  When he opened his eyes, he looked at his family and slowly his mouth turned up at the corners as he smiled.

  “This is a wedding day. A beautiful, sunny, amazing day, so all of you quit weeping. I’m going to beg for forgiveness now, and hopefully win the girl,” he said before finally managing to make it out the door, all sorrow gone as he raced toward his future.

  Austin made it to Kinsey’s house in one piece – barely. He must have broken every speed limit in the Seattle area, urgency pushing him on.

  His heart raced as he climbed the outside stairs to her apartment, then listened at her door. He couldn’t hear a sound on the other side, so he slowly inserted the key into the lock and turned the knob.

  He felt like a burglar as he looked inside her private space. Shadows danced in the darkened room, little light managing to get through the closed blinds.

  He stepped inside and locked the door behind him, cautiously moving through the small room. It didn’t take him long to locate the opened door at the end of the short hallway. He looked inside and found her sleeping on top of the blankets, her face relaxed, her hair cascading over the pillow.

  His groin tightened at the sight of her laying there in nothing but a T-shirt, which was riding high, showing him the delectable curve of her round behind.

  “Priorities,” he reminded himself, the sound of his voice causing her to stir, but not wake.

  He sat on the edge of the bed and reached his hand out, stroking her hair.

  “Kinsey, wake up. I need to talk to you,” he whispered as she began to stir. His stomach knotted as she turned on her back, showing him her barely covered body. Only her breasts were shielded from his view. He tried being good – tried not to look as her leg shifted, her body seeking his in her sleep.

  He laid next to her, his endurance being pushed to the limits.

  “Kinsey, please wake-up. I need to tell you something,” he said, his voice a little louder.

  “Austin?” she murmured, her eyes still closed.

  “Yes, Kinsey. It’s me. I need to talk to you.”

  “Kiss me,” she muttered.

  “We really need to talk first, Kinsey,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “Mmm, need you. Please,” she uttered as her body shifted closer.

  Austin was lost. How could he refuse her when she was arching into him, her beautiful core bared, her lips red and inviting. Just a little kiss, then he’d stop. Just one kiss…

  ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

  Kinsey woke up to the feel of Austin’s mouth devouring hers. She knew it was him without opening her eyes. She knew his smell, his taste, his very essence. She knew him.

  She opened her eyes, shock consuming her as his tongue slipped into her mouth. What shocked her more was the fact that her arms were wrapped around him, pulling him toward her as her hips pushed up against his hard body.

  His hand lifted to her hip, pushing up her shirt, and she felt desire flare through her, cutting all thoughts from her mind. She groaned as his tongue stroked her mouth and his hand climbed higher beneath her shirt. He delved deeper in her mouth, possessing her, claiming her in a way that had her wanting to shout yes.

  He surrounded her, his scent, taste, hands and body. He was invading all her senses, overpowering her with his sheer magnetism. She moved against him, needing him to set her free, to relieve the ache he’d so quickly built.

  “Kinsey, I came to talk. I need to talk, but…” he uttered as he lifted his head and looked into her eyes.

  Talk? She didn’t want to talk. She didn’t want to think. She didn’t want to give herself time to feel guilty. She only wanted to feel the explosion she felt building inside. She grabbed him and brought his lips back to hers.

  With a groan, he complied, nipping her bottom lip as his hand slid the rest of the way up her shirt and cupped her straining breasts. He squeezed her nipple, making her gasp into his mouth.

  He shifted, pulling away from her and she protested. He grabbed something from his pants pocket, then shed his clothes in record time. Before she could even blink, he ripped her shirt over her head, then laid on top of her, his full weight crushing her into the mattress.

  “Yes,” she begged. She pushed her hips against him, wanting him to sink inside her. She ached, pain throbbing in her core. She needed him buried deep, needed it beyond reason.

  “Not yet,” he warned.

  He moved down her neck, quickly reaching her breasts. He ran his tongue along her swollen nipples, tasting and teasing them, then pulling one at a time into his mouth, tugging on the buds with his teeth.

  He continued down her body, his hands moving along her thighs, then up to cup her flesh, before coming around and spreading her open for him to explore.

  He pushed his finger inside, making her cry out as his mouth descended and his tongue licked her flesh. Finally, he sucked her sensitive bud into his mouth, running his tongue against it, sending her flying over the edge.

  He stroked her softly as pleasure washed through her, and she fell into an endless black hole, where ecstasy was her only feeling.

  Slowly, he climbed up her body, moving sensuously, kissing and nipping at her skin as he made the journey. He reached her face, his eyes dark, filled with lust as he gazed at her.

  He moved to the side, slipped on a condom, then started sliding inside her still quivering body.

  He gripped her hair, pulling her lips up to meet his as he greedily took her mouth while his hips drove into her, his thick erection pushing harder, faster and deeper.

  “Oh, Kinsey, yes, yes,” he cried as his movements quickened to a frenzy. His body pressed into her, slapping against her flesh. She reached behind him, gripping his firm butt in her hands, feeling the muscles flex beneath her fingers each time he thrust.

  Higher and higher. She was reaching, reaching…

  She cried out as the storm broke and she fell into a sea of tranquility and pleasure. She gripped him tight, exploding around him, squeezing him, pulling him under with her.

  “Kinsey!” Austin cried her name as his body tensed, his pleasure pouring into her. His hips continued to thrust, drawing the pleasure out for endless moments.

  Finally he slowed, then stopped, as he relaxed against her. Her legs wrapped around his hips, holding him close. H
er hands were still clinging to his hair while his lips rested on her neck.

  “I can do that all day, Kinsey. The feel of your body, the taste of your skin. What you do to me is more than I deserve. You’re so beautiful, so sensual. I think of you and my body readies for your welcoming heat. I want you so much, every day, all the time,” he said as he kissed her neck, his tongue sliding out, sending shivers down her sated body.

  He moved them to their sides, her leg trapped beneath him, his still hard staff buried in her pulsing heat. She couldn’t take any more. Her body wouldn’t survive it.

  “You make me feel like I can fly, Kinsey. I feel like I can do anything when I’m in your arms, like I’m invincible. I didn’t mean to do this until we talked, but you were lying there, so beautiful. The sight of your body makes me lose my mind,” he continued, melting her with his words, while the slightest movement of his hips had her straining for more.

  “I… I can’t think when you touch me,” she admitted.

  His lips turned up at the corners, male pride radiating from his pores as his hands slid down her back, her hip, then up her side and across to her breasts where he gently squeezed the soft flesh, making her moan.

  “Good, then don’t think. Just listen,” he whispered.

  “What? I… How… Wait…” she gasped.

  She wanted to know how he’d gotten into her apartment. What was he doing there? Those were just a couple questions she needed answers to, but she was losing her train of thought as he quickly fueled her body’s flames again.

  “I convinced Cassie to loan me her key. I had to talk to you, and I had a feeling you wouldn’t let me in,” he told her as if he knew her question.

  “I wouldn’t have,” she confirmed, managing to get the words past her trembling lips.

  He smiled before he brought his head down and sucked her nipple into his mouth. While loving on her, he shifted them again so he was on top once more, his growing erection still filling her, his mouth pulling on her nipple, before moving to the other side and giving it ample attention.

  “I love you, Kinsey. I love you so much that the thought of not being with you rips me up inside. I need you. Yes, I need your body. I need to feel your taut heat gripping me. I need to pleasure you in a thousand different ways. But, more than that, I need you sitting next to me every night. I need to see you grow old. I want to have my children with you, watch them grow, as we sit back and love each other. I want it all. I love you… I love you,” he finished in a raw whisper before his lips descended again and kissed her gaping mouth.

  She looked at him, knowing her eyes were wide, knowing her lips were moving but no sound was coming out. She was trying to process his words, trying to allow them to sink past the muddle her brain had become.

  “I love you,” he said again as his lips caressed her neck, his words whispering along her ear.

  “I need you,” he continued, sending shivers down her body. His hips slowly moving again, gently, intoxicatingly. He pushed up on his forearms and looked deep in her eyes.

  “I love you, Kinsey.”

  Suddenly her heart exploded as unbelievable joy washed through her. He loved her. He wasn’t just saying the words. He was showing her the best way he knew how. He was loving her with his words, his body, his soul. He loved her.

  “I love you, too,” she finally whispered.

  Unbelievable elation consumed her as she gripped Austin tighter and arched her back, pressing into him, meeting his downward thrusts. They moved together as one, both of them lost in each other.

  They moved together for minutes, hours, days, she didn’t know. Time stopped having any meaning.

  Kinsey exploded again, pleasure washing through her, her body exhausted, her mind fuzzy. She closed her eyes and fell asleep with his body still cradling her tightly.

  “Kinsey, wake up.”

  “No…”

  “Come on, Kinsey. We need to get to the wedding.”

  “Nooo…” she moaned as she snuggled closer.

  “Mmm, you’re going to make me miss my father’s wedding. He’ll never forgive me,” Austin said with a chuckle as his hand started moving down her body.

  “Too sore,” she murmured, though she flexed her hips toward him.

  “Oh, you’re slaying me, Kinsey. Really, I think I’m going to die of sexual exhaustion,” he said with a groaning laugh as he kissed her on the neck.

  She finally opened her eyes and blinked. He really was there, holding her close, their naked body’s touching intimately.

  “That’s a nice way to die,” she said.

  “I can’t believe you’re mine, really mine,” he said, awe in his eyes.

  “I can say the same thing,” she murmured, hoping she wouldn’t wake up to find it all just a dream.

  “I can’t believe I didn’t do this right,” he exclaimed, quickly jumping up.

  Kinsey felt an immediate loss as he pulled from her. Muscles she didn’t even know existed were crying out from the exertion of their love-making, and she could feel a slight whisker burn on her neck, but still, she wanted more.

  She couldn’t seem to get enough of his touch. Her eyes greedily soaked up the sight of his sculpted rear end as he leaned down to get something from his pocket. When he turned around, displaying his impressive manhood, her thighs tightened with desire.

  He walked over, love shining in his eyes as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up. She forgot to breathe when he dropped on one knee and looked adoringly up into her eyes.

  “Kinsey Shelton, you are my world now. I thought I knew what love was before I met you. I love my family. I love my friends, but I knew nothing of what true love was until I thought I’d lost you. You make my heart beat. You make my day begin. You make...” he choked, as his eyes glassed over.

  “Austin-” she tried to help him, but he shook his head, obviously needing to finish. She didn’t even try to stop her own tears from falling as she gazed down at him, this man who wouldn’t take less than her love.

  “You make me whole. This ring was my mother’s. You would’ve loved her. I know she loves you. I know she’s beaming with happiness right now. Please, marry me. Let me love you for the rest of our lives,” he finished.

  She couldn’t speak through the lump in her throat, though she was trying to get the words out, it was impossible. She opened her mouth, but still no sound slipped through.

  “I can get you another ring if you want a new-”

  “Yes.” She interrupted him, then cleared her throat. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Austin, I’d be honored to wear this ring. I’m so touched you’re offering me something so precious. Yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll mess up sometimes. I’ll cry for no reason, burn food because I’m lost in another world while reading, snap at you because I’m having a bad day, and be completely irrational at times, but I’ll love you, always. You make me so happy, so needed…” She lost her words again as emotion choked her.

  Austin slipped the ring on her hand, and she couldn’t pull her eyes away as he leaned down and kissed her knuckle, sealing his promise to always love, honor and cherish her.

  He stood and pulled her into his arms, spinning her in circles as his lips descended.

  They ended up being very, very late to the wedding.

  ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

  “I’d like to propose a toast. Congratulations George and Esther. There aren’t two finer people to have found each other. I know you’ll have many years of happiness together, and I’m thrilled you’ve found one another. Never forget that we don’t often get a second chance at extreme bliss in our lifetime. May you always appreciate one another, love each other through the good and the bad, and always turn to each other in everything you do,” Joseph said.

  The room erupted in applause as friends and family approved the couple’s union. As guests made their way to give hugs and good-will to the couple, they never let the other out of their sight.

  When the music began playing, George
swept Esther onto the wood floor and showed the kids what real dancing was. As the music began, the newlyweds floated across the floor as if their feet weren’t even touching the ground. They looked like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire – dancing together effortlessly.

  Applause thundered when they finished, not that they noticed, as the two of them were locked tightly in a loving embrace.

  “Come on, Joseph. These boys need to learn how to properly treat a lady,” George called when he finally lifted his head. Esther’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling, and a smile overtaking her lips. She looked delighted, content, and in love.

  “You don’t have to talk me into it.” He turned to his wife, “Katherine,” he called as he held out his hand. She readily followed.

  The music began, at first nothing more than violins caressing the early evening air. Joseph pulled Katherine close, and slowly began spinning her in a slow circle as they began the French Waltz.

  George smiled at his brother as Joseph got lost in his wife’s eyes, their bodies moving in sync as the other instruments slowly joined the violins, music drifting over the guests, as they watched in awe.

  “Dance with me,” George said as he pulled Esther back into his arms, then easily followed Joseph and Katherine across the floor.

  “I’ve never seen dad dance before,” Lucas said as he watched his parents in awe.

  “They’re stunning,” Amy sighed, her eyes glued to the couples who were so lost in each other.

  “Yes. Yes they are,” Alex said as he pulled Jessica closer to him. “Shall we?”

  When she nodded, he led her out to the floor and quickly joined the dance. It didn’t take long for the rest to follow.

  ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

  “Ah, I see you’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence, Austin,” Joseph’s voice boomed out over the crowd.

  Austin never thought he’d be so happy to hear that wonderful sound. He took a moment to say a silent thank you for his prayer being answered. He’d even received so much more than he’d asked for. His father finding happiness, his uncle back to full health, and the love of his life agreeing to be his forever.