“I love you, too, Austin.” I rested my cheek against his chest, listening to the thudding of his heart that hadn’t quite slowed.
“Wish I could fuck you right now.”
I laughed softly, the sound and movement vibrating off his rib cage. “Such a romantic.”
“I’m a truthful romantic.”
“Whatever you say, Romeo.”
Austin pulled back slightly, and I tipped my face up to look at him. His head dipped, and his lips met mine, a soft caress that slowly built in intensity. A fire began to spark in my lower belly. I moaned when he sucked my tongue into his mouth. Austin groaned as he tore his mouth from mine. “Shit, we can’t be doing that. Your doctor said three weeks.”
“You started it,” I huffed.
He chuckled, “Your mouth is too damn tempting. Tell you what, why don’t we go outside? You can lay on one of the pool loungers, and we can get some fresh air.”
I sighed. “Sounds good.” If I couldn’t have Austin, at least I could have sunshine.
THREE WEEKS LATER
I set my purse down on the counter and turned to face Austin. “You heard what the doctor said, I’m cleared to resume all of my normal activities.”
Austin scowled in response, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I think it’s too soon. Take it easy for another month. There’s no reason for you to jump back into work.” We had been going round and round on this topic since leaving my doctor’s appointment almost an hour ago.
The good news was, I was all healed up. The stitches along my ribs had come out two weeks before, my lungs sounded great, and all the bruises had faded. However, Austin would only be happy if I stayed in bed for another month, moving only when absolutely necessary. While he had gone back to work, I knew it was still a battle for him to leave me alone.
“You know, if I start working again, it’s going to be at the youth program, so you’ll be able to keep an eye on me…” I let the words hang, and Austin shifted slightly as if weighing his options.
“Part-time for the first month.”
I adjusted my own stance, squaring my shoulders. “Part-time for the first week.”
“Two weeks,” he shot back.
“Deal.” I let a grin spread across my face and slowly started towards Austin. “You know the doctor cleared me for something else.” I watched as Austin’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. I laid a hand on his chest as his arms came around my waist. Reaching up on my tiptoes, I brushed my lips against his. “Take me to bed.”
Austin groaned as I deepened the kiss, and I felt him hardening against my belly. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
I pulled back, looking intently into his eyes. “You won’t. We’ll go slow, and I promise to tell you if I even feel a twinge in my ribs.”
He studied my face, and when his decision was made, he lifted me up. With a giggle, I wrapped my legs around his waist and locked my lips to his. Austin wound his way through the house we both now called home, one arm circling my waist, and the other outstretched to keep us from knocking into any walls.
When we reached the bedroom, he gently laid me down on the bed. Stepping back, Austin tore his t-shirt over his head. I soaked in the view of his muscles rippling in the afternoon light. This beautiful man was mine. Leaning over me, Austin brought his fingers to my shirt, carefully unbuttoning each button and planting kisses as he went. My heart began to pick up its pace, and as he reached the button on my jeans, my breath hitched.
Austin paused, his eyes meeting mine as he ran his thumb over the seam in my jeans. The action sent delicious sparks through my core. Before I knew it, my pants were gone, and so were his. I rose up off the bed, letting my shirt fall from my shoulders and unhooked my bra, tossing it to the floor.
Austin stared down at me, eyes full of reverence. “So damn beautiful. It almost hurts to look at you.” He cupped my cheek, then trailed his hand down my neck, palm flattening across my collarbone, continuing on to cup my breast. When his thumb swiped along my nipple and then circled it, I felt a rush of heat.
Austin’s hands skimmed down my sides, continuing their perusal until they found purchase on the sides of my panties. Slowly, he slipped them down my legs and came to rest on his knees in front of me. Just a bit self-conscious, I tried to close my legs. Austin stilled my movement. “Don’t hide yourself from me. Let me look at you.”
I bit the corner of my lip but nodded. Austin pushed my legs open, eyes fixed on my center. His love of every detail of my body had my heart clenching. I’d never felt more beautiful. My head tilted down, watching him study me. While I was unsure at first, I was now fully on board, the sight was hot as heck.
Austin’s fingers kneaded the flesh on my thighs, gradually working their way closer to my core. My breathing picked up, and as his fingertips traced my opening, a feather-light touch, my head fell back onto the bed. So very slowly, Austin inserted a single finger. He lazily stroked my walls. He was an expert in exquisite torture.
“More.” My voice came out in a whisper. When he didn’t give me more, I clamped down around his finger, trying to get the friction I needed.
Austin tweaked my nipple, the contact sending a jolt to my clit, but it wasn’t quite enough. “Not yet,” he soothed. “Soon.” His thumb edged along the side of my clit, ramping up the tightening of my muscles.
“Need you inside me, Austin.” My hands trailed over his broad shoulders, the pads of my fingers relishing the feel of his soft skin over hard muscle.
Austin rose, and I shuddered when I felt his tip at my entrance. He leaned over me, one hand on the bed, the other holding the side of my neck. “Tell me if you feel any pain.” I nodded, hooking my legs around him, feet digging into his muscular butt. He didn’t let my actions speed his movements. Inch by inch, he entered me. The stretch, the pressure, it was heaven.
I reached up, touching Austin’s cheek. “Missed feeling you inside me, baby.”
His face went soft, and then his jaw hardened as he bottomed out. My eyes closed as he reached that sweet spot, I was incapable of keeping them open no matter how hard I tried. Gradually, Austin picked up speed. That cord within me twisting and tightening.
“I’m not going to last, Firecracker. You feel too good.” He reached between us and circled that tight bundle of nerves, the second pass sending me flying. Austin arched back, and I felt his release deep inside me.
Relaxing back over me, Austin rolled us so that I was lying on top of him. Still connected, I let the feeling of being skin-to-skin and so very sated seep into my pores. He kissed my forehead. “Love you, Carter.”
“Love you more,” I said as I pressed my lips to his chest.
“Impossible,” he responded.
My lips stretched into a smile against his skin. “It’s nice to have that kind of competition.”
Austin traced the ridges of my spine. “That it is. You feel okay? Not hurting?”
“I feel boneless.”
He snickered, and the vibrations caused me to clench in response. Austin groaned. “Fuck, you’re going to make me hard again, and I haven’t even pulled out.”
I lifted my head up and rested my chin against his sternum. “I don’t have a problem with that.”
Austin shook his head. “I’ve turned you into a sex fiend.”
I grinned. “You should be thanking your lucky stars for that.”
“Trust me, I am. But right now, we have to get up and get into the shower because I’m taking you out tonight to celebrate your clean bill of health.”
“Really?”
“Yep.” He squeezed my side and then gently lifted me off of him. “Come on, let’s go.”
After showering and applying simple makeup, I slipped into a pink sundress with capped sleeves and gold sandals. “You almost ready?” Austin bellowed from down the hall.
“If you told me where we were going, I could’ve gotten dressed quicker,” I called back.
Austin entered the bedroom as I was reaching around
to fasten my simple diamond necklace. “Here, let me get that.” Sweeping my hair off my back, he snapped the clasp into place, then kissed the base of my neck. His eyes met mine in the mirror. “You look beautiful.”
My lips tipped in a small smile. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” Austin was wearing dark jeans and a button-down shirt that brought out the blue of his eyes. I twisted, and his arms came around me. “Actually, you look freaking hot.”
He smirked and dipped his head to brush his lips against mine. Soft, sweet, and already so familiar, it felt like coming home. “Let’s get going.”
“Okay.” He intertwined our fingers and led me out of the room and down the hall.
When we got in the Range Rover, he handed me a satin sleep mask. “Put this on.”
I ran the smooth material through my fingers and asked, “Um, why?”
Austin started the engine and hit the garage door opener. “Because I want to keep where I’m taking you a surprise.”
Butterflies started fluttering their wings deep in my belly. “All right.” I slipped the mask over my face and leaned back in my seat. The drive was quiet, other than rock music playing softly over the stereo. Austin seemed to be lost in thought while I was trying to figure out where we could possibly be headed by attempting to keep up with the turns he made.
Finally, after what seemed like about twenty minutes, the car came to a stop, and Austin cut the engine. “Keep the blindfold on.”
“All right.” I twisted my fingers in my lap. The passenger door opened, and the warm air of a late Southern California afternoon dusted over my skin.
Austin spun me around in my seat and took both my hands. “Okay, step down, nice and easy.” Of course, I almost tripped over my own feet. Austin caught me around the waist. “Easy there, Firecracker.”
“It was your bright idea to blindfold me, you know how clumsy I am!” I huffed.
He chuckled, taking my hand and leading me forward at a snail’s pace. “Just put one foot in front of the other, there’s nothing in your path.”
After a few steps, blades of grass tickled my toes. I had no idea where we were. In fact, I couldn’t hear any people, a rarity in LA. The only thing I could hear was the sound of far-off traffic. Austin tugged on my hand, bringing me to a stop. Carefully, he raised the sleep mask. I blinked, temporarily blinded by the sun. As my vision cleared, I saw that we were at Griffith Observatory. Looking around, I realized there were no other people here. Then my vision snagged on a picnic laid in the exact same spot we had sat on our first date.
I tilted my face up to Austin’s. “How?”
He brushed a lock of hair away from my face, tucking in behind my ear. “I called in a few favors, got this place to ourselves for a couple hours.”
I beamed up at him. “You are a romantic.”
Austin gave my lips a swift kiss. “Just don’t tell anyone.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” I assured.
Leading me forward, I noticed that the blanket was kitted out with overstuffed pillows and the same ginormous picnic basket he’d used before. My stomach grumbled, and Austin gave a good-hearted snicker. “Don’t worry, I brought your favorites from Joan’s again.”
“You are truly the man of my dreams.” I squeezed his hand and then let it go to make myself comfortable amongst the plethora of pillows. Austin reached into the picnic basket, removing a bottle and popping the cork with a satisfying sound. “Oooooh, champagne! Fancy.”
He poured the bubbly liquid into two glasses. “Well, this is a celebration.”
“That it is.” We spent the next hour sipping champagne, nibbling on some of my favorite foods, and laughing ourselves silly. The pall of last month’s attack was finally lifting, both for Austin and me. It felt so good to have nothing to worry about, having nothing to do but soak up this time together.
As the sun began to set, I climbed into Austin’s lap, leaning against his chest, eyes fixed on the horizon. I felt Austin turn his head, and then he let out a loud whistle. Jarred, I twisted around to see a small, reddish-brown puppy flying towards us, ears flopping in the wind, and pink leash trailing behind her. When she got a foot away, she launched herself at us. I immediately cuddled her to my chest, cooing, “Well, aren’t you the cutest. Where is your owner?” I looked up, searching the grounds, seeing someone standing far off.
Austin squeezed my side. “You’re her owner, baby. She’s for you.”
Tears begin to gather in my eyes. “You got us a sister for Blue?”
“Yep, I figure you’ve both earned it. She’s a red nosed pit, just rescued from a puppy mill.”
I cuddled her even closer, relishing the smell of her puppy breath. “Oh, you poor baby. Don’t you worry, we’re going to take great care of you. I think we’ll call you Ruby. Ruby and Blue is cute, right?” I asked Austin.
“I don’t know, she might already have a name. Why don’t you check her collar.” I fumbled with the collar as the puppy I already knew I was going to call Ruby squirmed in my lap. I finally felt metal and spun the collar around. All air rushed from my lungs when I saw what my fingers had a hold of. Tied to the metal loop in Ruby’s collar with a cream ribbon was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. The large stone caught the last rays of the setting sun as Austin whispered into my ear two words. “Marry me.”
The tears in my eyes spilled over then as I whispered back, “Yes.”
Austin’s arms reached around me and rested the ribbon from my shaking hands. He swiftly untied it and slipped the ring onto my finger. “Build a home with me,” he continued.
“Yes,” I echoed, bobbing my head up and down.
“Make a family with me.”
My heart stuttered. Skipping a beat at that mental picture of little dark-haired boys with my green eyes, and tow-headed girls with Austin’s sparkling blue irises. I spun around, tears falling down my cheeks. “Yes.” I set the puppy down and launched myself at Austin, knocking him to the ground. “I love you so freaking much,” I said between kisses. Ruby yipped in agreement, running circles around us.
Austin rolled me to my back, careful to keep most of his weight off of me. “I love you, too, Firecracker. We’re going to have a good life.”
My heart, full to bursting, cracked open with his final words and all I felt was warmth.
Epilogue
Carter
ONE YEAR LATER
Taylor adjusted the veil that sat atop my head and flowed over my shoulders as I grinned at my mom in the mirror. She darted a hand up to her face, wiping away a tear. “Mom, don’t start that, because if you cry, then I will. And then the makeup Taylor spent hours on will be ruined.”
Taylor squeezed my mom’s shoulder. “Don’t make Carter wreck my masterpiece, Mrs. M.”
My mom waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Okay, okay. You just look so beautiful. I’m so very happy for you, baby.”
I wrapped her in a hug. “Thank you, Mom, for everything. I love you.”
“More than words,” she echoed back.
“Gah! Now y’all are going to make me cry,” Taylor huffed.
I pulled back from my mom. “Sorry, sorry. No more sappy stuff. Promise.”
Taylor reached for a gift bag on the vanity. “You still planning on sneaking in to see the groom before the wedding?”
I hadn’t seen Austin since the rehearsal dinner the night before. Taylor and I had taken over one of the hotel’s suites for a slumber party, staying up way too late, laughing ourselves sick while looking through old pictures from our time together as roommates. Taylor had ended up deciding to stay in Texas to be closer to her mom, so neither of us had ever lived in the Los Feliz house after my attack. While I knew Taylor’s move was for the best, I missed her like crazy.
I extended a hand to Taylor, and she gave me the bag. My stomach flip-flopped as I pictured the contents. I hoped Austin liked it. “I’m heading over to his room right now.”
Taylor smiled huge. “I’ll text Liam and tell him t
o make an excuse for him and Ford to leave.”
“Perfect.” I paused. “I’m nervous,” I admitted.
She took my free hand in hers. “He’s going to love it.” Her eyes held mine, reassuring me further.
“Okay,” I breathed. “I’m off.”
Taylor held open the door for me. I hitched up my strapless lace and tulle gown with one hand and slipped past her, making my way down the hall to the elevator. I drummed my fingers against my collarbone as I waited for the elevator to take me the two floors down to Austin’s room. When the doors slid open, I let out a slow breath and moved forward.
I came to a stop outside Room 731. Slipping the bag behind my back, I reached my hand up to knock, pausing for just a second to soak in the magnitude of the moment. I rapped my knuckles on the wood.
Thirty seconds later, the door swung open, and there stood the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on. He wore a navy blue suit, tailored to fit his muscular form perfectly. The top button of his shirt was undone, and he wore no tie. He looked fancy, but he still looked like my Austin.
While I was taking him in, Austin was doing the same to me. Our eyes locked, and we both grinned. He reached out and brushed a hand across my cheek. “Just when I think you can’t get prettier.” I felt that familiar color hit my cheeks. “I hope fifty years from now, I can still make you blush.”
“I’m sure you’ll have no trouble doing that.”
His grin turned devilish. “I’m certainly willing to work at it. Now, come in and tell me why you’re sneaking a peek at the groom before the ceremony.”
I shuffled forward and brought the bag out from behind my back. “I have something for you.” Austin cocked his head to the side, a puzzled look on his face. We’d already exchanged our official wedding gifts, so his confusion made sense. I smiled encouragingly, and he took the bag from my hand. Tissue paper rustled as his hand searched, and then he removed the small piece of cloth.
Further To Fall Page 28