by A. K. Evans
“Charley?”
I looked back at him. The tears spilled down my cheeks.
“I love it, Wes.”
He let out a breath.
“One more thing, gorgeous. I want to dedicate this line in memory of Taj. I did some research after you told me about him. He was a phenomenal surfer. Everyone knew who he was and they loved him; he had quite a following. I think we should give his fans a little piece of him if you are good with it.”
“Wes,” I said, my voice barely a whisper as I set the papers down and stood to wrap my arms around him. He held me for a while before I could speak again. “Thank you, honey. This means everything to me. You could give me nothing else for the rest of my life but this and you will have given me the world.”
“Fuck, baby. Couldn’t be certain, but I was pretty sure and really hoping you’d be happy about it. Didn’t think you’d feel this deeply about it. Love that it means so much to you.”
“Wait. What’s the Earth line idea?” I asked, suddenly realizing that I didn’t get past the surfboards and the Water line.
I turned back to the papers on the table as Wes sat in the chair across from the couch.
“Honestly, it doesn’t even matter at this point since I’m more than happy with your reaction to the Water line, but I think we’re going to branch out into skateboards for the Earth line. Basically, the idea is to make Blackman Boards the leader in board production for some of the best extreme sports in the world.”
I picked up the papers and flipped through until I reached the Earth line. I quickly scanned the page and then looked back at Wes, “You are a genius, Mr. Blackman. And I find that to be incredibly sexy. In fact, I’m extremely turned on right now thinking about this brilliant mind of yours.”
“Well I would never want you to be turned on and me not do anything about it. Come give me that mouth.”
I walked over and straddled Wes on the chair. Then, I gave him my mouth and he did something about me being turned on.
A couple hours later as we were leaving work I was still riding the high of the news Wes had delivered to me in his office that afternoon. I could not wait to start the designs for the Water line. Without a doubt, these designs would all be inspired by Taj. I was so caught up in feeling giddy and excited that I almost forgot to acknowledge my third blessing.
“Know we did some celebrating in my office this afternoon, Charley. Not quite ready for it to end. Stay with me at my place tonight?” Wes said as he turned on the truck and pulled out of the lot.
“Yeah, I think I’d like to do that. Let me just call Em quick and let her know I won’t be home. I want to make sure she’ll be ok.”
He nodded at me.
I pulled out my phone, brought up Emme’s contact card, and put the phone to my ear. After two rings, she answered.
“Hey, sweets. What’s going on?”
“Hey, Em. Wes and I are celebrating a great end of the week at Blackman Boards today. I just wanted to let you know that I was thinking of spending the night at Wes’ place tonight.”
“Happy to hear that. Awesome.”
“You working tonight?” I asked, not sure if she had a shoot.
“No, nothing for a few days,” she answered.
“Oh,” I bit my lip and turned toward Wes. “Well, Wes and I could come there tonight if you are going to be alone.”
“Charley. Stop. Go and celebrate with your man. I’ll be fine. I have a bit of news, though. Zane is going to be coming over tonight to take me on our first official date.’’
“OH MY GOD. ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” I screeched.
“What the fuck is wrong, Charley?” Wes asked, worry laced through his voice.
I held my palm over the speaker of the phone and whispered, “Sorry, honey. Zane’s taking Emme out tonight on their first official date.”
He shook his head and mumbled, “Fucking women.”
Emme answered me and said, “Yeah. I just found out a little bit ago. He called me up and asked me out on an official date. I promised you that I would try find my happy for Taj, so I’m making sure not to break my promise.”
“Oh, Em. I’m so happy for you. Are you good with outfit, hair, and make up? I can stop by quickly and we can video chat with Nikki and Monroe to make sure you’ve got it all covered.”
“Charley, relax. I already called Nikki and Monroe. In fact, I was on the phone with Nikki when Zane called me. I told her I’d call her back. When I did, I told her about it and she went crazy. She got Monroe in on the whole thing and they decided on the perfect outfit for me. I’ve already taken care of my hair. Go celebrate and enjoy your night with your man.”
My eyes filled with tears. “Have a great time tonight, honey. Send me pictures before you go!”
“I will. Love you, Charley.”
“Love you, too, Em.”
I disconnected the call and tossed my phone back in my purse. I stared out the front window and tried to let it all sink in. Blessing number four.
“Wasn’t this good news?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Well, why the fuck does it look like you are going to cry?”
“I’m a woman. Sometimes, we get emotional.”
“Really?” he asked in disbelief.
“Emme is going to get her happy, Wes. The happy that she deserves. I can feel it in my bones and it’s slightly overwhelming. You should know, though, that if Zane hurts her I will personally kick his ass.”
“Trust me, baby, you don’t need to worry about that.”
“How can you be so sure?” I asked.
Wes pulled the truck up the driveway to his house and said, “Sunday afternoon you were in talking to Emme while Zane and I waited in the kitchen. He told me about what he went through with her Saturday night into Sunday morning. His reaction to what he learned told me everything I need to know. He’s got it bad for that girl.”
“Did he actually say that?” I asked as he turned off the truck and hopped out.
When he came around my side of the truck and opened the door, he said, “Didn’t need to. I heard him say enough other stuff that was eerily familiar to things I was feeling and would have said about you if the roles were reversed.”
My eyes rounded and my mouth parted slightly.
“You understand now? He’s got it bad for her. She’s in really good hands, Charley.”
I nodded my agreement.
“What are we going to do for dinner tonight?” I asked as we walked through the house.
“Bought some steaks earlier this week. Was going to cook for you tonight. Going to take a quick shower and then I’ll get started. You ok to wait a little to eat?”
“Yeah, that’s good. I’m going to check in with Nikki and Monroe. Haven’t talked to them since earlier this week and we now have big news to discuss,” I said with a big smile adorning my face.
Wes walked into the bedroom and through to the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on as I sat down on the bed and I pulled out my phone to call my friends. I chatted with my girls for a bit and ten minutes later, Wes came out of the bathroom in his towel. He walked into the closet to put some clothes on. He came out of the closet in a pair of jeans that sat low on his hips as he pulled a crisp white t-shirt over his head. Wes winked at me as I continued talking and then gestured that he was going out to the kitchen to cook. I nodded back to him. He kissed me on the top of my head and left the room. I finished up my call with Monroe and hopped in the shower.
After I was done in the shower, I put on some lotion, and threw on a pair of panties, shorts, and a camisole. I ran the hair dryer through my hair for a few minutes before walking out into the kitchen. I entered the kitchen quietly and looked at Wes standing over the island pouring two glasses of wine. He hadn’t noticed me yet, so I drank in the sight of him for a bit. I definitely considered myself to be one lucky woman because amongst all of his other qualities Wes was breathtaking. Easily blessing number five.
I scanned his body from head to t
oe. When my eyes made it back to his face, I realized I’d been caught. Wes was smiling at me and said, “Like what you see, gorgeous?”
I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I mean, it’s alright.”
“Liar. I’m surprised you didn’t draw blood.”
“What?” I asked.
“You bit that lip any harder you’d be sucking on some ice right now.”
Shit. I looked away.
Wes walked toward me. He put his finger under my chin and tipped my head back so my eyes could no longer avoid his. Damn, and he smelled so good.
“Don’t be embarrassed, baby. You can look all you want. It’s all yours anyway.”
“I know.”
He took my hand and walked me the rest of the way into the kitchen. He grabbed the glasses of wine off the island and handed them to me.
“Take these over to the table. I’ll grab the food.”
I took the wine glasses into the dining room and waited while Wes followed behind me with the food. He made steak, roasted red potatoes, and brussels sprouts. I cut a piece of steak, which was cooked to perfection, put it in my mouth, closed my eyes, dropped my head back, and moaned.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Wes’ eyes were intense.
“I’m sorry, honey. This is delicious.”
“It’s ok, Charley. Just going to be difficult to get through dinner if you do that after every bite.”
“I’ll try to control myself,” I said with a teasing tone.
“Appreciate it.”
We took our time with dinner, enjoying conversation, and each other’s company. I quickly realized I could get used to this every single day. We finished up dinner and cleaned up together.
After putting the last of the dishes into the dishwasher Wes went to the fridge and said, “Dessert is on the couch tonight.”
When he turned around I saw he had a bowl of strawberries cut up. He held them up and asked, “You prefer them with whipped cream or chocolate?”
I tilted my head and gave him a look that told him I was in shock.
“Is that even a real question, Wes? Chocolate, of course. You ever give me the choice between chocolate and anything else in the world, I’ll always choose chocolate.”
He laughed at me, “Good to know.”
“It’ll serve you well to never forget that fun fact,” I said.
Wes pulled out the chocolate hazelnut spread and put some in a bowl. He grabbed the strawberries and the chocolate spread while I grabbed the wine and we went to the couch. After I cuddled up next to him, Wes took a strawberry, dipped it into the chocolate, and brought the dessert to my mouth. The scent of chocolate hit my nose and my lips parted. He gently rested the fruit on my bottom lip. Opening my mouth a little wider I took a bite of the strawberry. I moaned again. Then, I slowly finished chewing, savoring it, and swallowed. Wes’ gaze grew heated.
I took a strawberry out of the bowl, dipped it into the chocolate, and fed it to Wes. He took it in one bite. Then, he brought the strawberry I hadn’t finished back to my mouth. I decided it would be fun to tease him a little, so I opened my mouth just enough to take the remainder of the fruit and the tips of his fingers into my mouth. I licked his fingers as I pulled the berry into my mouth. He groaned and his eyes never left my mouth.
When he refocused his attention back to my eyes, I grabbed another strawberry to feed him. As soon as he had it between his teeth I said, “I think we should do this more often.”
He swallowed and said, “You’ll need to be here more often if we’re going to make that happen.”
I took the bowls and set them on the coffee table. Then, I climbed onto his lap and kissed him. He tasted so yummy.
“Well, maybe you’ll have to convince me to be here more often,” I teased. “Got any ideas on how you can accomplish that?”
With his hands framing my face and an intensity in his eyes I’d never seen before he said, “Marry me.”
My eyes rounded and I gasped. “What?”
Wes’ thumbs brushed back and forth across my cheeks.
“You’re it, Charley. I’ve said it many times before, but you are it for me. I love you. I want you here with me every day and every night from now until the day I die. You are all that I want. And for the rest of my life I’ll spend every day doing whatever is necessary to make sure you always feel loved. Please tell me you feel the same and will be my bride.”
I stared back at Wes, shocked by his unexpected grand gesture. “Oh my God,” I barely whispered.
His eyes searched my face for any indication of what I was thinking. I’m not sure if he found it because I, myself, had no idea what I was thinking at that moment. Well, except for one thing.
I began nodding and said, “Yes, Wes, I will marry you.”
“Fuck, gorgeous,” he said, letting out a breath as he pulled me closer to him.
His mouth was on mine in an instant as he wrapped his arms around me and stood, taking me with him. I crossed my ankles behind him while he supported my weight keeping one hand under my ass and the other on my bare thigh. Wes walked effortlessly into the bedroom, kissing me the entire way.
He made his way to the bed, planted his knee into the mattress, and gently put me down on my back. He kissed the skin under my lips, on my chin, down my throat, and kept going down until his lips pressed against the skin on top of my beating heart. I’m certain he could feel it was about to beat out of my chest. My emotions were running wild and I felt the tears fall from my eyes.
“I love you, Wes.”
He pulled back to look in my eyes. Then, he stood and walked away from the bed. He went into the closet and came back seconds later carrying a tiny box. I sat up in the bed.
“Want you wearing only this tonight,” he said as he sat back on the bed opening the box in front of me.
Staring back at me was a rather large round cut diamond, surrounded by a halo of diamonds, on a thin band that I assumed was platinum. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Wes pulled the ring out of the box, took my left hand in his, and gently slid the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly. I looked down at it sitting on my hand for a moment before I looked back up into his eyes.
“Wes,” I rasped out.
Before I could say anything else his mouth was on me again. He started at my hand and worked his way up to my shoulder. Wes peppered kisses along my neck as he reached for the hem of my camisole. He tore his mouth from me only briefly so that he could pull the material over my head. Then, he planted a kiss right over my heart, down between my breasts, and down my abdomen. When he reached the waistband of my shorts he dug his fingers into the sides of them and my panties and pulled both down my legs. He divested himself of his clothes and stood there.
My left hand had come to settle on my abdomen. Wes looked down at my hand and back up into my eyes.
“Most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen and you’re all mine,” he said, his voice hoarse.
“Honey?” I called. “I think I’ve finally found something I’d choose over chocolate.”
He laughed, brought his body to rest over mine with his mouth inches from mine, and said, “I fucking love you, Charley.”
“That’s good, Wes, especially considering you’re going to be my husband.”
He smiled at that, but said nothing, so I continued.
“I love you, too. Now, I’m feeling the need to celebrate all the goodness that has just happened.”
“Whatever you need, gorgeous. Always, whatever you need.”
With that, Wes gave me the goods and we celebrated blessing number six for most of the night.
Chapter 41
Wes
A couple weeks ago, Stone said something twice that was now ringing true in my head. I was a lucky bastard. I pretty much agreed with him then, but now it was undeniable.
It was early Saturday morning and I’d only gotten a few hours of sleep. I spent most of the night last night making love to my future wife. Charley was currently cuddled up agai
nst me, her front to mine, while her face was pressed to within inches of my chest. I could just barely feel her warm breath as it hit my skin.
I had myself propped up on one elbow, my head resting in my hand. My other arm was draped across her body while my fingertips traced along the skin at her hip. I fucking loved doing that to her and she loved when I did it. I sat there looking down at her and knew I’d be content to spend the rest of my life waking up and doing this every single morning.
She started to stir. It usually took a few minutes of touching her, but she always woke in a great mood when she woke like this. Her eyes fluttered open and I watched as she mentally inventoried last night and realization hit her. I knew the instant she became aware of what had happened because she closed her eyes again, bit her lip, and cuddled closer to me.
“Good morning, gorgeous.”
She tipped her head back to look up at me
“Good morning, Wes.”
Fuck, if I didn’t love the sound of her raspy voice first thing in the morning, especially when she said my name. And now, I’d get a lifetime of that goodness.
“How are you feeling this morning?” I asked.
She pulled her lip between her teeth before she answered, “Like a well-loved fiancée.”
“Happy to hear it.”
She pulled her hand up to look at her ring. She smiled and I couldn’t help but feel a huge sense of pride at seeing my ring on her finger.
“I can’t believe we’re engaged, honey. Do you think everyone will think we are crazy because this is so fast?”
“Don’t really give a fuck what anyone thinks about it other than you. There’s not a single doubt in my mind that you were made for me, Charley.”
She was about to ask something, but stopped herself.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Nothing, Wes. It was stupid. Never mind.”
“It’s not stupid. Obviously, it’s something. Just tell me.”
She hesitated a moment, then looked me in the eyes, and said, “I was just going to ask if you felt that way before. You know, with Dana?”