After a few seconds, I moved toward him and he pushed himself off the doorframe. As he walked toward me, he leaned down and pressed a couple buttons on the small CD player-radio on the coffee table. I started to hear Bless the Broken Road, and my eyes began to sparkle. Steve leaned down with both hands on my armrests and kissed me. As our lips parted, he leaned his forehead against mine.
“Dance with me,” he whispered.
I nodded.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, as my arms went around his neck, and he picked me up out of my chair. As my left leg went around his waist, my right leg was still dangling so he took his left hand off my back and put it under my thigh. As he lifted my leg, my foot slowly rose out of my shoe, and he wrapped my leg around his waist. When he put his arm back around me, I laid my head on his left shoulder and just listened to the music.
When the song started into the chorus, I felt Steve's hands slowly go up my back and a tingle shot up my spine and I shivered. I lifted my head off his shoulder and replaced it with my mouth. I started by leaving kisses along his shoulder. As I moved to the crook of his neck and higher, a low moan escaped him, and I couldn’t help but grin into his neck. Without taking my lips away from his neck I felt for the opened edge of his shirt. Once I had it, I continued my assault on his neck and shoulder slowly, removing his shirt along the way.
I concentrated so hard on his neck and shoulder that I didn’t realize that Steve had unzipped the back of my dress, so when he put his hand on my bare skin I couldn’t control the moan that escaped my lips. Satisfied with my reaction, he continued to rub my back while leaving opened-mouth kisses along my shoulder. As he reached the end and headed back toward my neck, he said something, but it sounded like gibberish because he couldn’t concentrate long enough to form a coherent sentence, and I smirked inwardly knowing I was doing my job right.
By the time I started kissing his upper jaw line, he was able to concentrate long enough to try to halt me, but it didn’t work. As I reached his upper neck just below his chin, he lifted his head despite himself.
“Elle,” he said, his voice strained.
“Hmm?” I murmured, not looking up, and continuing to kiss him.
“Elle,” he tried again, but a little more forcefully and I stopped, but didn’t look at him. “Look at me.”
I lifted my head and looked him in the eye.
“We need to stop—” he began to say, but I put my finger over his lips to cut him off. “But,” he mumbled into my finger to continue.
I slowly shook my head, leaned down, and kissed him.
The kisses were slow and sweet at first, as I threaded my fingers through his hair and he slowly pulled the pins out of mine and it fell, surrounding him, but they soon became more intense. The more intense they became the more my lungs began to burn for air. I reluctantly let go of his lips, and we both inhaled deeply. Leaning back down, I only said two words before I kissed him again.
“Bedroom. Now.”
I was thankful we didn’t have to go very far and that we had a clear path way because Steve couldn’t see where he was walking. Once in the bedroom, he walked into the bed and I landed on it with an ‘umph’ and he fell on top of me. I couldn’t help but laugh through our kisses. He began to move his kisses to my neck and I tilted my head to give him better access and just closed my eyes. The feel of his lips going down my neck and arms felt like the most wonderful dream I’d ever had. It was such an intense and amazing feeling that when it disappeared, my eyes flew open like I just woke up from a nightmare. I just laid there for a second before I started looking around and stopped in front of me. When Steve saw the look on my face, he just laughed.
“I had to take it off,” he explained, slipping the dress shirt off his arms and putting it over the desk chair. “I was getting hot.”
No longer dazed, I gave him a satisfied and devious smile as I moved further up on the bed. He climbed back onto the bed and laid beside me.
“Besides,” he added, stroking my hair with his right hand, and wrapping his left around my waist, “it was getting in my way.”
“That's not the only thing getting in the way,” I told him, before pulling him down for a kiss.
After a kiss that left me breathless, Steve moved slowly down my body, leaving opened-mouth kisses in his wake that made me shiver. When he reached my waist, I gently lifted my bottom and he slowly pulled my dress past my hips and down my legs before tossing it on the floor. Before moving back up, he just stared at me in my bra and underwear, and I started to get nervous. I wasn’t nervous because I was in my bra and underwear because we had been this far. I was nervous because of the look on his face. It was a look of shock, amazement, excitement, confusion, and desire all rolled into one.
After what seemed like forever, but was only a few seconds, Steve blinked a few times and looked up at me. Seeing the look on my face, his lips twisted up and started back to me. Settling between my legs, he put one arm on either side of my head and kissed me gently and sweetly.
“Are you okay?” he asked, when our lips parted.
“Yeah, I'm okay. I was just a little nervous.”
“Why were you nervous?”
“The look on your face worried me.”
“The look on my face? Why?”
“Because I couldn't tell what you thought, and I worried that you didn't like it and that I made the wrong choice.”
“You thought I didn't like it? Oh, babe, believe me, I like it!”
“Really?”
Instead of answering me, he leaned down and kissed me again. As the kiss deepened, his left hand went to my leg and moved up my thigh, while my hands roamed over his chest. When I reached his belt and started to undo it, he pulled back and I froze. He looked into my eyes for a moment, and I grinned at him and he did the same.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
“Yes, I'm sure.”
“I’m just asking because every time we get close, we’re interrupted.”
“Well, that’s because you never lock the door,” I teased, lightly.
“Well, it’s your fault my brain shuts off,” he replied, chuckling.
“Did you lock it this time?”
“Definitely,” he answered, without hesitation.
I laughed. “Then we should be fine. Just promise me one thing,” I said, turning serious.
“Anything.”
“Promise me you'll go slow.”
“I promise.” He smiled, kissing my forehead, before moving down to place a kiss on my lips.
Steve's right hand went under me and unfastened my bra. It slowly fell and revealed my breasts. He kissed them and I closed my eyes in pleasure. As he made his way past my breasts to my stomach, I threaded my fingers through his hair. Once he reached my underwear, he stopped and looked at me.
“Last chance to bail.” He laughed lightly.
“Not a chance,” I replied, with a huge smile.
“Okay, just checking,” he said, returning it.
Regaining his focus, he hooked his index fingers into the sides of my underwear and slowly pulled them down, making sure he kissed every part of my left leg in the process. He tossed them with my bra onto the floor, before slipping out of his pants and boxers.
Making his way back up, Steve gave my right leg the same treatment he gave to the left. He stopped at my pelvic bone to place a kiss on my tattoo, and I had to bite my bottom lip to hold back a moan that threatened to escape. I managed to keep my emotions in check until he was staring down at me. When I saw the love, caring, and desire in his eyes, I couldn’t hold back any longer and I pulled him into a fierce and passionate kiss.
Pulling back, he began running his left hand up my right thigh and looked at me. My eyes widened and my breath caught in my throat as he slowly entered me. The sensation was nothing I’d ever felt before. It was difficult to describe because it was both painful and pleasurable at the same time.
&
nbsp; Seeing my reaction, as he sank deeper, Steve leaned down to whisper in my ear, “Are you okay?”
I didn’t answer so he tried again.
“Do you want me to stop?”
Hearing the love and care in his voice, I managed enough conscious thought to slowly shake my head. With that, he began to move and for the next several hours he showed me how it truly felt to be loved by a man.
The sound of traffic filled my senses, and I let out a sigh as I reluctantly opened my eyes. I realized it was morning because I could see the sun peek through the curtain, and I looked at the clock. I sighed again when I realized it was only seven. All I wanted to do was go back to sleep because I was still tired from last night. Just the thought of it made my lips twist up. As the memories washed over me, I found myself falling into my own world.
I was pulled out of my reverie by a hand pulling on my waist and I grinned. I looked over my shoulder and realized that Steve was still sleeping. I turned gently and slowly to my other side so not to wake him and just watched him sleep. As I laid there watching him, I couldn’t help but notice how peaceful he seemed. I just laid there until the need to use the bathroom became too much. Leaning over, I placed a feather-light kiss on his cheek before slowly sliding out of bed and into my manual chair.
Heading to the bathroom, I stopped and grabbed his shirt off the chair and put it on. While washing my hands, I looked in the mirror. After seeing my appearance, I decided it needed a little work. I didn’t look bad by any means. On the contrary, I looked pretty good for someone who’d just got out of bed and only got a few hours’ sleep, but I could look much better.
Making up my mind, I grabbed a hair tie and loosely pulled my hair away from my face. After brushing my teeth and washing and drying my face, I took my hair down. Instead of brushing it, I ran my fingers through it. Luckily, most of the curls were still there giving it just the right amount of volume. Looking at myself one more time, I headed back to the bedroom.
Deciding to leave his shirt on, I quietly climbed back into bed. Wrapping the blankets around myself, I snuggled close to Steve and closed my eyes. A few seconds later, I felt him kiss my cheek before getting out of bed. When I heard the bathroom door shut, I smiled, wistfully, and rolled to my back, sighing contently.
“God, you're beautiful,” he said, leaning against the doorway.
I turned and looked at him, with the smile still on my lips.
Climbing back into bed, he pulled the blankets around himself and I turned to face him. Before I could say or do anything, he leaned in and kissed me, passionately.
“Well, good morning to you, too,” I breathed, when he pulled back.
“Yes, it is.” He grinned, broadly, before kissing me again.
As his kisses moved to my neck and collarbone, I just closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling.
“Were you cold?” he asked, suddenly, still kissing my neck.
“Huh?” I asked, a little confused.
“Were you cold?” he asked again, now looking down at me.
“What?”
He looked at his shirt and tugged on it for emphasis.
“Oh, that. Yeah, I was a little.”
Steve let go of his shirt and put one arm under my waist and the other under my neck, his eyes full of desire and mischief.
“I think I know a better way to warm you up,” he said, before kissing me and rolling us over, making me squeal.
We laid there kissing, passionately, for several minutes until he pulled back.
“Hold on a minute,” he breathed.
“What? Why?” I asked, kissing his jawline.
“Because I have to get something,” he replied, rubbing my arms and back.
Without moving my head or lips from his neck, I wrapped my arms around his neck to make it easier for him to sit us up. As we scooted up, my legs fell to either side and I straddled him. Once he was all the way against the headboard, he tried to reach out for the bedside table.
“You know, it's kinda hard to open a drawer when you can't see what you're doing.”
“What's so important that you need in there, anyway?” I asked, my hair flopping, as I switched to the other side of his neck.
“Well, you'd find out if you'd let me get it,” he answered, in mock annoyance.
I stopped. Leaning back, I watched very closely as he pulled a black square box from the drawer then sat up and looked right at me.
“I was going to give you this last night, but you wouldn't let me,” he teased.
My lips twitched as I looked down, unable to meet his eyes.
Steve immediately hooked his finger under my chin and forced me to look at him. Staring into his eyes, I bit my lip as he gave me a lopsided grin.
“Like I said, I wanted to give it to you last night,” he said, turning his eyes back to the box and handing it to me.
I immediately opened it and tilted it to see what was inside, and what fell out into my hand left me stunned and completely speechless. It was another small black, velvet box. I just stared at it, unable to do anything else, because I knew it wasn’t another pair of earrings.
“You gonna open it?” Steve asked, the corners of his mouth twitching, looking at me.
I blinked. “Yeah,” I replied, quietly, my voice shaky.
I tried to will my hand to stop shaking as I opened it, but it didn’t work. My eyes widened and filled with tears when I saw what was inside. An engagement ring. Not only was it an engagement ring, it was the exact engagement ring I wanted. How on earth did he know?
When I managed to think again, I looked at Steve and the tears that had built up threatened to fall. He was smiling, but I could tell he was also having difficulty controlling his emotions. He tried to speak, but couldn’t. So, without saying a word, I leaned in, kissed him, and my tears broke free. As the kiss deepened, I put my arms around his neck; the ring still in my hand, and he wrapped both arms around my waist. We sat there just kissing until our lungs burned for air and we were forced to pull apart. Breathing heavily, I laid my forehead against his.
“Yes.”
“I haven’t even asked a question,” he said, with a touch of humor, still trying to catch his breath.
I leaned back and looked him straight in the eye, my eyes sparkling. “It doesn't matter; my answer is yes!”
Steve just leaned forward and kissed me again.
“Since I didn't get to ask, can I at least put the ring on your finger?” he asked, laughing, as our lips parted.
“Oh! Yeah, here.” I handed him the box.
I wiped my eyes and face while he got the ring out of it. I held out my hand and bit my lip again as he slipped the ring on my finger. After he let my hand go, I just stared at it.
“You like it?” he asked, with a knowing grin.
Instead of answering, I leaned forward and kissed him. His left hand moved up under my hair and cradled my neck as his right moved to the opening of his shirt. As his kisses moved to my neck and shoulder, Steve slowly removed his shirt and everything around me faded away.
Epilogue
Present
Thinking back on that morning, it seems like just yesterday, and yet it’s been almost three years. The memory brings a smile to my face. I was so happy. We were so happy. Life was perfect. Little did I know how much that would change and just how stormy life was about to become...
To Be Continued in Love Through the Storms…
Acknowledgments
Tracy I hope you like your gift. I love you.
The family and friends that I’ve lost; I love and miss you.
Carmen thank you for reading every single chapter as I wrote them. It means so much.
Elizabeth thank you for helping me through this process and for being so patient with me no matter how many questions I asked.
Amelia, Fee, and Sherrice thank you for all the advice and loving me despite myself sometimes. lol
Becky thank you for
listening when I needed it the most.
Mandi thank you for being a good friend.
My PAs past and present, thank you for helping me and being there.
The person who was my rock and inspired me when I needed it the most. Thank you.
My readers, thank you. I hope you enjoyed it.
About Sarah Matthews
Sarah Matthews began writing short stories as a child, but it wasn't until 2007 that her journey as an author truly began. She lives in Central Indiana and when she's not writing down ideas for characters, Sarah is watching and catching up on her favorite shows from Bones to Grey's Anatomy and Arrow or listening to a good book. While she has a soft spot for Romance, she will give almost any book a read. Her favorite book is The Giver. She is also a movie enthusiast and watches almost anything, with the exception of Horror. Her favorite genres are Romance and Action Adventure, especially the Avengers franchise. She loves spending time with her family and friends. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
www.sarahmatthewsbooks.com/
www.facebook.com/SarahMatthewsBooks/
@SarahMBooks
Read on for a sneak peek of Love Through the Storms...
“You sure you’re ready for this?” I asked, as I drove.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Steve replied. “Your family can’t be that bad.”
I snorted and kept my eyes on the road. “You think that now, but that’ll change, guaranteed.”
“Oh, come on.”
“I’m serious,” I said, with a little laugh, looking at him, “especially when it comes to Michael and Uncle Dane.”
“Why? What do they do?”
“Oh, nothing serious, just tease me and pick on me.”
“That’s normal.” He chuckled.
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