by Snow, Nicole
“And I wouldn’t have been on that mountain if it wasn’t for you!” she fires back, veering her face away before I can kiss her again.
“Wear the damn shoes, and we’ll order you a custom pair before we go boating again. Deal? It’s just us on the yacht today and a tiny crew. I don’t waste time staring at your feet. I promise you that when you’ve got plenty of other assets demanding my attention.”
She flashes me a devilish wink.
Hands tangled, we finally make it to the boat and set sail toward the sunshine over Lake Michigan. Before I know it, I’m lounging on a chaise with Brina in my arms, kissing her hair.
“Welcome to perfection,” I mutter.
“The boat? It’s pretty cool.”
“I’m glad you agree.” I run my fingers through her hair. “But I meant the calm waves and the girl in my arms.”
She kisses my shoulders, burying her face against me.
“I love you, but you already know it.”
The fact that I’ll never get tired of saying those words makes me hold her tighter still.
“Are you okay? You seemed kinda tense earlier and a little more—umm—urgent than usual.”
“Urgent?” I snort out a laugh.
She chews on her lip. “You’ve told me you love me more today than any other day I can remember.”
“It’s the nerves.”
“Whaaat?” She grins, her eyes going wide. “I didn’t know you got nervous. What for?”
I gaze into those russet-brown eyes, so vivid, so bright, so entirely my world.
“I don’t, usually, but I need to close a deal soon with someone who plays hardball, and there’s a lot to lose if it goes sour.”
“What? Is this that new gaming company you told me about?” she whispers, blissfully clueless. “You’ll kill it, Mag. And you won’t even have to threaten to eat cat food!”
We both fall together laughing, remembering that infamy.
How can it be so long ago? It feels like only yesterday when she was at my side at that meeting, testing my ability not to get hard every time I saw her.
“No worries. My counterpart on the other side isn’t impressed by those stunts,” I say.
“Still no luck on finding a new EA? I think that would help more than anything. As long as he’s a dude or an old granny. You get one sexy assistant for this lifetime, and lucky for you she’s still yours.”
“Don’t I know it, you little hellion,” I growl, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Trouble is, my last EA is impossible to replace, and for once I’m talking about her business skills. No one’s ever going to be as good as you.”
“Tell Ruby to expand her pool. You found me by casting a wider net, and I bet you’ll find plenty of other awesome candidates the same way,” she says.
I kiss her forehead. “Not a bad idea. Frankly, I only need half the EA you were to clean out my emails and follow me to meetings. You’re still around to make me my best.”
Her eyes look like molten amber, brown-gold in the light, and it makes my fucking heart pound.
“Yeah...kinda goes both ways. I can’t function without you, Mag.” Her lashes flutter.
This girl.
Wiggling my arm out from under her, I stand and come around the chaise to kneel in front of her.
She pulls herself up into a sitting position. “What are you doing?”
“Finishing this conversation,” I say, taking her hand.
It’s now or never.
We’ll see if I can close the biggest deal of my life when it truly counts.
“Listen, I can deal with finding a new assistant. I’m more interested in focusing on my new partner, and I want you to be mine in more ways than one, Brina.”
She doesn’t say anything. Not as the shock sets in.
Her eyes widen and her mouth hangs open.
I pull the velvet box from my pocket and flip it open.
“I propose a merger,” I tell her.
Her tongue curls under her teeth as she inhales sharply, hashing my words.
“Just kidding. I didn’t expect it to be that simple,” I say softly. “Here’s the real question. Miss Sabrina Bristol, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
She nods emphatically, too stunned to speak. But she’s laughing and crying at the same time, and I hope that means yes.
I move beside her and pull her into my lap, closing my arms around her. “I never expected to see my girl laugh and cry simultaneously when I proposed. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Yes, yes, Magnus, yes! I love you so much, and I...I’ve been waiting for this. I didn’t think it’d be so soon and, and—”
“Brina. I bought the ring the day I won you back, over a month ago. I knew you were mine, my forever, ever since you wouldn’t get off my bench.”
“Your bench?” She shifts in my arms so she’s facing me, her face mere inches from mine. Our lips mingle. Our tongues brush. The kiss is long and sweet, and when it finally ends, the absence of her pressure hurts.
Minutes pass as I cradle her so close. I can hear her heartbeat in the loud, heavy silence.
“I should call my parents,” she whispers, rubbing her face.
I hold her hand, drawing circles over it with my thumb. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just trying to figure out how to break the news.” Her smile reaches from ear to ear. “Emily Bristol will be devastated if her only daughter received a marriage proposal without telling her first. Of course, if she gets the details, it’s likely to end up in a book.”
“I’m sure Mrs. Bristol already knows her daughter had a proposal coming. She might think you shot me down, though.”
Sabrina laughs, cocking her head. “How does she know that? And why on earth would I shoot you down?”
Given how feisty the tigress in my arms gets, I’m not sure how this will go over. “You’re close to your parents. I wanted to make sure we started off on the right track with them—”
“So?” She raises an eyebrow.
“So I asked your dad before I asked you. From what I gathered, he’s an old-fashioned guy.”
“...you did?” She blinks back tears.
I nod and this carefree smile cuts across my face.
“But why?”
“You love them, and they’ve been in your life longer than me.” I shrug. “I thought it was the right thing to do. If we have a daughter someday, it’s what I’d expect from the man who marries her. If he told me no, of course, I would’ve proposed anyway.”
She kisses me again.
Madly. Frantically. Beautifully.
“I got off easy and all the stars aligned,” I whisper, my eyes dancing, reflected back in hers. “I was worried you’d be pissed. You’re very independent and I love you for it.”
“No way. It was sweet, and if I didn’t want to marry you, you already know I’d tell both you and Dad where to go.”
“I couldn’t handle it if you didn’t,” I admit, sincerity in my throat so hot it scorches.
Her eyes narrow in bliss and her lips find mine again.
And just like that, my Brina is destined to be mine, forever.
* * *
We dock the boat after the longest, hottest make-out session of my life.
I help her off the yacht with every bit of me throbbing.
Back at the car, I toss the backpack in the trunk and open her door before getting in. “You’re staying with me tonight. Don’t even try to get out of it.”
“What if I wanted you to stay with me? Paige is off at some big artsy design conference with her dad.”
“My bed’s bigger.” I pull the car out and start heading home.
“So? Why do we always stay at your place?” She pouts.
“Because it’s about to be yours, too. I’ve already scheduled a meeting to add your name to the title.”
“You have?”
I nod. “Plus, I can fuck you in front of the entire city, pressed against the glass. Do
n’t even pretend you don’t like it.”
Trying to hide a smile—and failing miserably—she turns her flushed face down.
“What if I’d said no, Crankyface?”
“I guess you’d still co-own my penthouse,” I tell her, smirking.
“C’mon, you knew I wouldn’t say no.” She giggles, her eyes shining so bright under the rising moon.
“I hoped you wouldn’t, Brina.”
“Then why were you so nervous?”
I take a deep breath. “I’m more open with you than anyone. You’ve never been intimidated by my shit. You’re also not always impressed with me.”
She grins. “It’s hard not to be impressed with you, Mag. You just have a tendency to be annoyingly driven.” She’s quiet for a minute. “But the way I feel about you is so intense. I knew you were the one.”
Right. She just summed up my feelings.
In no time, I park the car and we pass the doorman and go into the building. Once we get to the elevator, I sweep her up in my arms.
She’s laughing so hard she’s clutching her sides.
“This is so unnecessary. We’re not even married yet—it’s kinda early to carry me over the threshold!”
I kiss her. “We will be, and I’ll do it again then.”
Her lips lock around mine. Her kiss is so intense that I have a hard time opening the door. She starts peeling my shirt off before the door even swings shut.
“Damn. I’ve corrupted you so much, and I love it,” I snarl.
The only response is my shirt hitting the floor.
We leave a trail of clothes from the front door to the bed.
Brina’s knee brushes my bare hip as she straddles me. Her eyes are closed, mouth slightly open. This beautiful angel of mine fully intends to lower herself down over me and wring my balls empty.
Not yet.
I need her fucking under me.
Drawing in a rough breath, I hook a thumb under her arms, and flip us over so her back is flat against the mattress and I’m poised over her. I find her lips and drink in a languid kiss, pulling a moan from her lungs.
“Not our first time engaged, sweetheart.”
She giggles and both her hands come to my face.
“We do this so often. I’m not sure how it could ever be mistaken for a first.”
I take her left hand in mine, bring it to my lips, and kiss the new ring.
“You’re wearing my ring, sweetheart. I’d call that a first.”
She smiles. “It’s important to you, isn’t it?”
“You have no damn idea,” I whisper, thunder in my throat.
She leans up to find my lips. I take her mouth again, kissing her until she trembles with hunger. When I pull away, it’s only so I can trace my tongue down her neck to the top of her cleavage.
“Oh—oh!” she gasps.
That’s all the encouragement I need.
I kiss along the slope of her breast, coming to her nipple, lavishing my tongue over it in worship.
She sucks in a harsh breath so hot I almost lose it on the spot.
“Mag-nus!”
The sound of her voice, the way she says my name like two words—the hard ridge of my body strains, but I’m holding the fuck out.
I’ll make this last or die trying.
We’re going to remember this night, mark my words.
I pull her nipple deeper into my mouth, rolling my tongue across the tip, stirring her to pieces.
Eager fingernails dance through my hair and drag down my back, a call to pure fuckery.
My lips are savage explorers, kissing under her breast, down her belly, inhaling her scent and relishing the fever it brings.
“What are you doing?” She giggles.
“Nothing—” I plant a kiss on her hip bone. “You won’t—” I trace my tongue across the seam where her pelvis meets her torso. “Like,” I finish.
“I need you so bad,” she whimpers.
I spread her lips open and find the pearl of her clit. She arches into my kiss, so I add pressure as I flick my tongue over it.
She’s suddenly too breathless for words.
I go to town, lashing her nub with my tongue, sucking and flicking her straight into paradise.
Brina’s legs dangle over my shoulders, and I adore how they shake.
It’s all the encouragement I need. Running my tongue from that sensitive ball of nerves downward, I find her opening.
Her legs tremble as I press my tongue inside her.
God. She’s always so sweet.
My body aches with every taste.
I want her—need her.
But she’s arching into my caresses with a heat like the sun. Begging for more.
My need will wait.
Her body tightens, thighs locking my head in place.
Her legs shake against my back.
“Oh—oh—oh.” Her voice is a bit quieter on each staccato sound.
I can’t take it anymore. Burying my face between her legs, I bring her off in a screaming mess, loving how she grinds against my face.
The instant her breath settles and her pussy stops convulsing, I reposition us so her legs pinch my waist.
Then her mouth is mine again as I sink into her wetness, a rough groan ripping out of my throat.
I’m buried to the hilt in my fiancée and my tongue holds her hostage.
Not enough. I still need more.
When my hips go to work, pummeling her into the mattress and I taste her first scream, that’s when we’re in the zone, right where we’ll always belong.
We drive on, fused together, her matching my pace for a good, long while.
My body tightens like a spring with every stroke, a whipcord of muscle pistoning against her, rocketing us higher, upward, into cloud fucking nine.
I batter her as long as she can take, but the second I feel her tighten on my cock again, it’s over.
She screams my name, digging her nails into my skin as she finds her release.
I roar mine, tugging at her hair.
Everything fragments into white-hot fury, and I’m coming so hard there’s nothing left but stars.
Nothing but fire pouring out of me, deep into her.
Nothing but her flesh and mine, and this feral urge to mark her hard and deep, to plant the first seed of our family soon.
Fuck me senseless. An entire lifetime with this woman and ten babies won’t be enough.
In the morning, when I open my eyes, still stiff from fucking half the night, she’s staring up at me.
I press my lips to her forehead.
“How long have you been awake?”
“Awhile. You were right.”
“Always. But about what?”
She snickers and kisses my chin.
“That was a lot like the first time, but better.”
I draw her in, folding my arms around her.
“I love you,” I whisper. “A little more with every breath.”
“I love you too,” she says. “As much as I’d like to stay here all day...I have to see my parents. Mom will be crazy to get started on the wedding plans.”
“Let her have at it. Should I tag along? I’m eager to get started on being the best—and only—son-in-law she’ll ever have.”
Brina grins like a sunbeam. “Please? The more distractions from Mom-zilla, the better.”
“Already done, sweetheart,” I tell her, kissing her so deeply I know what’ll always be the hardest part of our days together.
Letting go.
29
Sea Queen (Sabrina)
Weeks Later
“Hold your breath!” Mom pulls the zipper of the trumpet dress up.
“This is so over the top,” I huff out.
“Brina, baby, I’m a writer. You have to indulge me. Plus, you have a way better body than I did when I got married.”
“For real, no one looks good in a trumpet dress,” I whine, hiding my face behind my hands.
“You do.�
�� Paige sits on the bed of the cabin, holding my sea-foam bouquet and her pale-blue flowers.
“Really? I feel like a little girl playing dress up. Not the woman who’s about to marry the most eligible bachelor in Chicago.”
Paige giggles. “All because Emily helped me pick your bomb-ass dress. You’re welcome. I think if you were left to your own devices, you would’ve picked pajamas.” She drops the bouquets on the bed, comes over, and leads me to a mirror.
I stare into it. My brown hair curls into ringlets, piled on my head in a bun with tiny pearls nestled in. The dress is floor length with a poof of cascading train that starts a couple of inches above my ankles. It’s shimmering white on top, then fades into a pale pastel blue around the waist that becomes a sea green at the knees, twirling into a cascade of bright whites, blues, and sea greens where the poofy train starts.
“See? You look like a mermaid ready for her prince,” Paige says.
The effort paid off, I’ll give her that. I look hot.
“My baby is a mermaid!” Mom beams and clasps her hands together, then she hugs me from behind.
I study Paige’s dress. It’s a high-low sea foam. The ring of flowers in her hair are even accented with the occasional shell or sea star. Mom’s is deeper blue with a sheer neckline plunging into blue sequins and longish sleeves. A green bow around the waist completes the look.
“If I’m a mermaid princess, you’re the sea queen,” I say.
“But of course.” She smiles and lifts her head a little higher.
“Do I even want to know what you’ve done to the deck?”
“Maybe, maybe not.” She looks at Paige and winks. “You got this, Paige? I’m going to go make sure everything’s ready out there.”
Paige smiles. “Yeah, we’ll come out when the music starts.”
“The head piece is in that drawer.” Mom points to a nightstand beside the bed. “I figure she’ll give you less hell about it than me.”
Mom walks out of the cabin, and Paige pulls a crown from the nightstand.
“Ta-da! Are you ready for this, duchess?” she asks, a grin that’s pure mischief on her face.
It’s legit beautiful, even if it’s also totally over-the-top, covered in seashells and pearls and two silvery chains that edge across my forehead on each side.
