by Tina Martin
“Hey, where’s Haven, by the way?” she asked.
Titus glanced around. “She’s here,” he said but he had yet to see her. He was sure she wouldn’t miss Adina’s wedding. She had a good relationship with his sister. Her love for him alone was enough to make her come to the wedding, even if they weren’t in a good place at the moment.
As the family cheered and applauded while Vance and Adina walked down the aisle, Titus looked for Haven again. This time, his eyes caught sight of her. She was walking back toward the reception hall. He jogged to catch up to her and while the wedding party was busy being photographed, he wandered the reception hall, looking for her.
He caught her coming out of the bathroom, taking in the full beauty of her. She wore a strapless lilac dress that flowed down to her ankles. Her brown skin glowed beautifully. Her lips looked full and plump like she’d just applied gloss to them.
“Hi,” he said once he found his voice. He had to clear his throat just to find that.
“Hi, Titus.”
He smiled. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too. It was a beautiful ceremony. Adina is gorgeous.”
Titus nodded. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“Just okay? I haven’t spoken to you in a week, so I was hoping to get a better answer than that. I want to know how you are. What you’ve been doing. How you really feel and if you’ve had enough time to determine whether you want to be with me.”
Haven stared into those brown eyes she loved, remembering.
She remembered the smile he flashed to her when they first met. Remembered how they’d shared hot chocolate and life conversations. Remembered his visits from Greensboro to see her. Had he not already proven he was a good man who would support her decisions? Who would help her with her career choice? Who would allow her to blossom into the woman she wanted to be? All she had to do was let him be that man. Her man.
“Haven?”
She blinked, refocusing her eyes on him. “Yes?”
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes. You want to know how I am?”
He took a step closer. “Yes, so tell me how you are.”
“I—I’m—I miss you.”
“I miss you, too,” he told her.
“And I do want to be with you, Titus, but—”
“No,” he said. “If you want to be with me, be with me.” He placed his hands on the soft skin of her face watching tears come to her eyes.
“How’s that so easy for you to say, Titus, when it’s painfully obvious I’m holding you back?”
“Sweetheart, you’re not holding me back from anything.”
“I am. I’m practically homeless.”
He chuckled a bit and said, “You’re not homeless—”
“And I’m in limbo, determining what I want to do, where I want to live—I have all this to contend with while making these rules for you. Restricting you from living the life you want to live.”
“How are you restricting me?”
“Well, first, there’s the no sex before marriage rule and—”
“Wait. That bothers you?” he asked.
“It bothers me that it bothers you.”
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” he said brushing the small streak of salty water threatening to damage her makeup.
“But I know you want me. I feel it when we’re together.”
“Of course, I want you. I love you, girl. Why wouldn’t I want to make love to you?”
Titus captured those lips he missed. Then he said, “I’m not missing out on anything by waiting and—look at me,” he said nudging her chin gently before placing his hands on her face again.
She locked eyes with him, glancing at his mouth as he spoke.
“I want to be with you, Haven, and I’ll wait as long as I have to for you. Do you understand that?”
“Yes.”
“You do?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
She smiled. “Yes.”
“Good. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
* * *
After Adina and Vance’s first dance, Titus took Haven by the hand and joined them on the floor along with other couples – his parents included. With her arms around his neck, their bodies swaying together, Haven looked him in his eyes and said, “We have a lot to talk about.”
“Isn’t it crazy how not talking to somebody for a week seems like an eternity? Now, we have to play catch up.”
“Yes, but there’s not much to catch up on,” she said.
“What do you want to talk about first?”
“You. I want you to know I appreciate how you try so hard to get me to do things I otherwise wouldn’t.”
“You like that because I couldn’t tell on our most recent date?”
“I know. The zip-lining thing…believe it or not, I’ve always wanted to try it.”
“I don’t think so. You were adamantly against it.”
“I was, but it was only because I wasn’t feeling it that day. Plus, I had all those other emotions and fears running through my mind that I couldn’t do it then.”
“Oh, so you’re game now?”
“I think so.”
“Because you know I’ll make it happen.”
She smiled. “I know you will.”
“But I also want to make sure you’re comfortable. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“I know. I appreciate that.”
They danced more as she rested her head against his chest.
“Titus?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Do you think we’re compatible enough for this to work?”
“We are. Compatibility doesn’t mean we’re supposed to always like the exact same things, sweetheart. That’s the beauty of relationships. We balance each other out. You’re more reserved and I’m the outgoing one. That’s perfectly fine with me.”
When the music stopped, they walked back to their table and sipped champagne.
Haven looked over at Adina and Vance. “They look so happy.”
“They do. That’ll be us one day.”
Haven was all smiles at the possibility.
“Have you given any further thought about where you’re going to live?” he asked.
“I have.”
“Okay. Let’s hear it.”
“At this stage in our relationship, I feel like the distance can be a hindrance in building on what we already have.”
“What does that mean, Ms. Baker?” he asked, taking her hand.
“That means, I’m moving to Greensboro.”
“Are you playing with me?” he asked, smiling.
“No.”
Beyond elated, he asked, “You’re moving to Greensboro?” He wanted to make sure he heard her correctly.
“Yes,” she said happily. “I’m moving to your city.”
Titus leaned close until he captured her lips and kissed her with all the happiness he felt in his heart. “Come on. We gotta go.”
“Where are we going?” Haven asked amused.
“To your place. We have some making up to do.”
Chapter 13
Titus trailed Haven back to the Bed & Breakfast where he got even more kisses as soon as they stepped into her apartment.
“Mmm,” he said, her lips lost in his mouth. He pulled his mouth away from hers and said in a drunken spell, “Don’t ever take these lips away from me again, girl.”
“I won’t,” she replied, feeling her heart swell for him. She embraced him, confirming her resolve, and then she hoisted up the tower of a man until her weak legs wrapped around his waist and honed in on his lips. A burst of desire erupted in him, causing him to deepen the kiss – to take control of it, sucking her tongue into his mouth and gulping it shamelessly. To say he missed her was an understatement. This woman was his future. The woman who would be his wife. He knew that in his mind. He felt it in his heart. Felt it as he stretched her out on the bed, his mouth hovering ov
er hers while they exchanged oxygen.
Naughtily, she chewed on her lip. “Yes?”
“You’re so beautiful.”
She strummed his jaw with her fingertips. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
He smiled before sinking his tongue into her mouth, listening as she moaned while he went deep with it.
She closed her eyes and allowed her body to shiver – allowed the sensations to take over. Allowed goosebumps to run across her skin. Her palms clung to his neck as she held on and pulled his mouth in tighter to deepen and electrify the kiss.
He moaned his pleasure, absorbed the feeling of being with her. He couldn’t wait to make it permanent. He took his mouth away from hers, pulling her lips in the process. Their eyes met once more.
He smiled. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
“Us being apart for weeks is becoming a problem.”
“I know, babe. You heard me when I said I’m moving to Greensboro, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Is that not enough to ease your frustration about the distance between us?”
“It is,” he said then took a kiss from her lips. “But I want more.”
“More?”
“Yes. A lot more.”
Haven giggled. “What are you talking about, Titus?”
“I want an eternity with you. I want to build with you. Dream with you. I want us to be together, always. And happy. I want us to be happy as we share our lives. I want to know that every day, for the rest of my life, I’ll be coming home to you. Loving you. Eating dinner with you. Spending my weekends with you. Laughing with you. Crying with you. I want to spend my life with you, til’ death do us part.”
She frowned, her lips trembling as he spoke his heart to her. “Titus—”
“I know in my heart you’re the one for me, and I want to make you mine. Haven Baker, will you marry me?”
Through blurred vision, she saw the intensity in his eyes when he asked her the question. Saw the love. Felt the heat of his body pressed to hers. Excitement didn’t prevent the weight of the initial shock and anxiety she felt in her chest upon hearing his request. The safe, extra-careful side of her wanted to wait. The other side – the one that knew how much this man loved her gave her visions of their future. Of them walking down the aisle. Starting a life together. Then a house. And children. An eternity.
She smiled. Her hands trembled harder than her lips when she replied, “Yes! Yes, I will marry you, Titus.”
And with that answer, he kissed her lips sealing their engagement. Their love. Their beginning of forever.
Discover other books by Tina Martin:
St. Claire Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Royal
Ramsey
Romulus
Regal
Magnus
Seasons of Love Novelettes
Hot Chocolate: A Winter Novelette
Spring Break: A Spring Novelette
The Boardwalk Bakery Romance
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Baked With Love
Baked With Love 2
Baked With Love 3
The Marriage Chronicles
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Life’s A Beach
Falling Out
War, Then Love
The Blackstone Family Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Evenings With Bryson
Leaving Barringer
Forever Us: Barringer and Calista Blackstone (A short story follow-up to Leaving Barringer. You must read Leaving Barringer before reading this short story)
The Things Everson Lost
Candy’s Corporate Crush
A Lennox in Love Series
*All books in this series are standalone novellas and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Claiming You
Making You My Business
Wishing That I Was Yours
Caught in the Storm with a Lennox (A Short Story Prequel to Claiming You)
Before You Say I Do
Mine By Default Mini-Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Been In Love With You, Book 1
When Hearts Cry, Book 2
You Belong To Me, Book 3
When I Call You Mine, Book 4
Who Do You Love?, Book 5
Forever Mine, Book 6
The Champion Brothers Series:
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
His Paradise Wife
When A Champion Wants You
The Best Thing He Never Knew He Needed
Wives And Champions
The Way Champions Love
His By Spring
The Accidental Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Accidental Deception, Book 1
Accidental Heartbreak, Book 2
Accidental Lovers, Book 3
What Donovan Wants, Book 4
Dying To Love Her Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Dying To Love Her
Dying To Love Her 2
Dying To Love Her 3
The Alexander Series:
*Books 1-4 must be read in order. Books 5, 6,7 and can be read in any order as a standalone books.
The Millionaire’s Arranged Marriage, Book 1
Watch Me Take Your Girl, Book 2
Her Premarital Ex, Book 3
The Object of His Obsession, Book 4
Dilvan’s Redemption, Book 5
His Charity Challenge, Book 6 (Heshan Alexander and Charity Eason)
Different Tastes, Book 7 (An Alexander Spin-off novel. Tamera Alexander’s Story)
As Long As We Got Love, Book 8 (Family Novel)
Non-Series Titles:
*Individual standalone books that are not part of a series.
Secrets On Lake Drive
Can’t Just Be His Friend
The Baby Daddy Interviews
Just Like New to the Next Man
Falling Again
Vacation Interrupted
The Crush
Wasn’t Supposed To Love Her
What Wifey Wants
Man of Her Dreams
Bae Watch
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TINA MARTIN is the author of over 60 romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction titles and has been writing full-time since 2013. Readers praise Tina for her strong heroes, sweet heroines and beautifully crafted stories. She currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
You can reach Tina by email at [email protected], Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tinamartinauthor/ or visit her website for more information at www.tinamartin.net.