The Proposal

by Katie Ashley

  Aidan’s hand went to the zipper on her back. He slid it down agonizingly slow. Emma wiggled, trying to hurry out of the dress. “Why are you taking so long?”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t realize you wanted to be naked so much.”

  Her green eyes blazed up at him. “I want to be as close to you as I can. I need to feel your skin on mine. Then I’ll know this is all real…we’ll be full circle to where we started from.”

  With a groan, Aidan jerked the straps of her dress off, letting it puddle to the floor. He unhooked her bra and whisked it away. As his hungry gaze took in her breasts, he licked his lips in anticipation. “Is it just me or—”

  She rolled her eyes. “Way to ruin a moment.”

  Aidan chuckled. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help noticing that they’re…bigger.”

  “Yes, and they’ll probably grow even more. Don’t you remember I told you they would?”

  “It must’ve slipped my mind.” With a smirk, he said, “Trust me, I’m not complaining.”

  She grinned. “I didn’t think you would.”

  He kissed along her cheek and nibbled her neck as his hands cupped and kneaded her ample breasts. His lips came back to hers as he caressed her flesh until her heaving breaths came harsh against his lips. He broke their kiss to suckle one of her nipples. She tugged the strands of his hair as he swirled his tongue over the sensitive bud. When he grazed it with his teeth, she cried out, arching into his mouth.

  Once he had worked one nipple into a hardened peak, he kissed his way over to the other. All the while, Emma began to grind herself against his erection. “I want you now, Aidan. Please,” she panted.

  “It’s been too long, hasn’t it?” he murmured against her breast.

  “Oh, yes,” she cried, thrusting her hips against his hand as it dipped below her waist.

  His thumbs slid inside the waistband of her panties and then pulled them down her thighs. When they dangled at her knees, she kicked them off. Her fingers then went to his boxer shorts to slide them off his hips.

  Standing naked together, they gazed into each other’s eyes. “I think we can skip most of the foreplay, don’t you?”

  “Mmm, hmm,” Emma murmured sliding her hands up Aidan’s bare chest.

  He eased himself down on the side of the bed. Taking Emma’s hand, he tugged her to him. She kept her eyes locked on his as she rose up to straddle him. When the warmth between her legs covered his cock, he moaned. “Wrap your legs around me tight, Babe.”

  Emma quickly obliged, and then Aidan pushed them back to the center of the bed. Then his hand delved between her legs, causing her to whimper. As he thrust a finger into her core, he felt her walls clench around him. “I just wanted to make sure you were ready for me.”

  “I’m always ready for you, my love,” she whispered.

  He brought both of his hands to her waist and gently raised her up. He then guided his erection between her wet folds. As Emma slowly slid down on him, Aidan feathered tender kisses along her collarbone. After he was all the way in, he shuddered with pleasure. “Oh God, I’ve missed the feel of you.”

  When he lifted his head, she smiled down at him. “I’ve missed every glorious inch of you, too.”

  He laughed. “There you go stroking my ego.”

  “I think we fit together perfectly.” She gazed down to her expanding belly. “Well, except for that getting in the way.”

  Aidan pushed the long strands of auburn hair out of her face. “Don’t ever think Noah’s in the way. He will always be the string that ties us together. He’s our love growing inside you. He may not be the reason why I fell in love with you, but he’s the reason why I got another chance at life.” He gave her a deep, lingering kiss. “You saved me, Emma.”

  Tears sparkled in her green eyes, and her chest rose and fell in harsh breaths like she was trying to keep her emotions from spiraling out-of-control. “Oh Aidan.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I love you so much,” she murmured against his lips.

  Pressed chest to chest, Emma began to lift her hips as Aidan raised his. She panted in his ear as the slow, languid strokes took him deeper and deeper. Wrapped together, they kept their eyes on each other. They were a tangle of arms and legs—but they were one.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Two Weeks Later

  The shrill ringing of her cell phone roused Emma from a deep sleep. Fumbling her hand along the nightstand, she finally gripped it in her hand. Almost robotically she slid her thumb across the answer key and brought it to her ear. “Hello?” she croaked.

  “Em!” Casey shrieked before dissolving in sobs.

  Emma jolted awake like she had downed several cups of coffee. “Case, what’s wrong?”

  In between hiccupping sobs, Emma could decipher only a few words. “Jason. Groomsman. Alcohol poisoning after the Bachelor’s Party. Hospitalized. Short one of the bridal party. Wedding ruined.”

  Emma pulled herself into a sitting position. “Casey, take a few deep breaths and calm down, okay? The wedding is not ruined just because some asshat groomsman drank himself into the hospital.”

  “But we rehearsed everything with seven groomsmen. The pictures will be all screwed up!”

  “Isn’t there another one of Nate’s friends or relatives that could fill in and wear Jason’s tux?”

  “I don’t know! Besides who the hell is going to fit into a 6’4 bodybuilder’s tux anyway?!!?”

  Emma glanced over her shoulder at Aidan sleeping soundly, and an idea popped into her head. “Um, well, Aidan has a tux.” There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “Are you still there?”

  “Why am I not surprised James Bond has his own tux?” came Casey’s biting reply.

  “It was for work purposes, Case.” Emma sighed. “Look, I get that he’s still not one of your favorite people, but—”

  “No, no, you’re right. We don’t have many options, and Nate actually likes him.”

  “Well, I’m glad at least one of you likes the father of my child.”

  Casey groaned. “You know I like him…I’m just not back in love with him like you are.”

  “So you want me to tell him to be suited up and ready to roll at noon with the rest of the bridal party?”

  “Yes, I would be thrilled and honored if he would be there.”

  Emma laughed. “Yeah, you sounded really convinced on that one.”

  Casey snickered. “I’ll work on it by the time I see him, okay?”

  “Okay then. I’ll see you later.”

  “Bye.”

  After Emma hung up the phone, she slid back under the covers. Snuggling up to Aidan’s warm body she leaned over and kissed his lips. “Wake up, baby.”

  He grimaced while his eyes remained closed. She kissed him again. “Em?” he murmured against her lips.

  She nuzzled her forehead against his neck, her thigh draping over his. Mistaking it for an invitation, Aidan snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her up to straddle him. Emma shook her head. “Whoa, cowboy, just what do you think you’re doing?”

  He grinned lazily up at her. “I’d think you were more the cowgirl in that position.”

  Emma laughed. “Yeah, well, this cowgirl isn’t ready to ride today.” When Aidan made a face, she added, “Well, at least not right now. I need to ask you something.”

  Aidan cocked his eyebrows at her. “What is it?”

  Emma then related everything she had talked to Casey about. When she finished, Aidan exhaled noisily. “You mean she actually wants me in the wedding?”

  “Sure, she does.”

  Aidan gave her a skeptical look. “Seriously?” When she bobbed her head enthusiastically, Aidan smirked at her. “Emma Katherine Harrison, you are the worst liar in the world.”

  “Look, Nate really likes you, and Casey always did. She’s just having a hard time forgiving you.” Her response elicited a grunt from Aidan. “So does that mean you’ll do it?”

  “Of course I will.”

 
; “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she replied, kissing his cheeks and then his lips. “You’re really going to make Casey so happy doing this. She thought her perfect day was ruined. No woman wants the slightest thing to go wrong on her wedding day. I mean, it’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life, right?”

  A far-away look clouded Aidan’s eyes. “Maybe I should call and tell her I’ll do it. You know, really try to smooth things over.”

  “That would be awesome.”

  He brought his lips to hers, kissing her tenderly, while running his hands up her back. “You go on and get in the shower. I’ll come join you in a minute.”

  “Why do I have the feeling the cowboy is going to expect to ride off into the sunset during our shower?”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Go on and let me talk to Casey.”

  “Fine, fine,” she muttered as she climbed off of him.

  Whatever Aidan had to say, it took him awhile to do it. Emma was getting out of the shower when he came in the bathroom. “Everything go okay?” she asked, sweeping her hair back in a towel. When he didn’t respond, she caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He was brushing his teeth, but his lips were fixed in a wide, almost goofy grin.

  “Aidan, did you hear me?”

  He spat out a mouth-full of toothpaste. “Huh?”

  “I asked you how the call went.”

  Once again, a wide grin curved on his lips. “It went really, really well.”

  She eyed him suspiciously as she dried off. “Well, good. I’m glad to hear it. Having you and Casey back on friendly terms would be the answer to a prayer.”

  Aidan turned off the water. “Em, I’m not the one who hasn’t been accepting. I mean, I got nailed in the balls for Christ’s sake!”

  “I know you haven’t.” She kissed his bare shoulder. “That’s why I’m so proud of you for being the bigger person by trying to make things right.”

  He cocked his brows at her. “You’re proud of me?”

  “Mmm, hmm.” At his grin, she smacked his ass. “Now get a move on, mister. Casey’s emotions today are like treading on thin ice. Being late is the last thing we need.”

  “I thought you had to go get beautified with her?”

  “I do.” Emma eyed her phone on the counter. “Shit. I better throw something on. I’m supposed to be at the spa in thirty minutes. Will you be a real sweetheart and bring my dress to the church?”

  “Of course I will.” When he leaned over to kiss her, his mouth tasted of mint.

  “Thanks,” she murmured against his lips.

  “I love you,” Aidan said as he pulled away.

  “I love you more,” she argued with a grin.

  ***

  After a luxurious morning at the spa having facials and massages, the entire bridal party’s hair and makeup were done. Emma couldn’t help giggling at how comical Casey looked in a tracksuit coupled with her full make-up and intricate veil and sparkling tiara.

  Casey stared down at herself. “What? You don’t think there’s something wrong with this look, do you? I bet I could walk in Wal-Mart like this, and no one would say anything.”

  Emma grabbed her purse. “Hmm, high praise indeed from the Wal-Mart shoppers.”

  Casey laughed. “Come on. We gotta haul ass to the church.”

  Rolling her eyes, Emma said, “Only you would say ass and church in the same sentence.”

  “You know you love my potty mouth.”

  “I love everything about you, bestie.”

  Casey held up her hand. “No more emotional landmine comments like that, Em. I can’t risk my make-up.”

  Emma laughed. “Fine. I’ll be a total hard ass the rest of the morning. Happy?”

  “Thrilled. Now come on.”

  Emma and Casey, along with the rest of the bridal party, headed to Christ the King Cathedral. It had been Nate’s church since childhood, and Emma thought it made a beautiful venue for a wedding.

  Once locked into a preparation room, they got busy getting Casey into her mammoth dress. Emma stood back, gazing at Casey. Her earlier promise was forgotten when tears filled her eyes. “You look amazing!”

  Casey pointed a finger. “Em, you promised!”

  “I can’t help it. It’s the hormones making me even more emotionally crazy!”

  “Ugh, you seriously have to quit the waterworks or you’ll have me crying, and this waterproof stuff only works so much.”

  “Fine, I’ll go put on my dress.”

  “Good. And while you’re at it, think of disgusting things, people who piss you off—anything not to be crying.”

  Emma swept a hand to her hip. “Don’t you think people will wonder why you’re very pregnant bridesmaid has such a ‘screw you’ look on her face?”

  Casey laughed. “As long as you’re not crying, we’re good.”

  “You’re impossible,” Emma grumbled as she slipped into the dressing room. The maroon dress hung in its bag on the hook where Aidan had delivered it. She slipped into it, and then after trying to wrestle with the zipper, she headed back into the main room for help. Carlee, Casey’s sixteen year old sister, happily obliged.

  Emma eyed her reflection in the mirror as a knock came at the door. “It’s Aidan,” a voice called. Carlee giggled as she ran to open the door.

  When Aidan stepped inside, his gaze flickered over the room for her. The moment he saw her, he beamed. “You look beautiful!”

  Emma grinned. “Thank you.” Staring down at her dress, she shook her head. “Frankly, I feel like an Oompa Loompa at the moment!”

  “Trust me, babe, you don’t look like one.” When she gave him a skeptical look, Aidan winked at her. “Then I must have a Willy Wonka fetish because I’d like to devour you right this instant.”

  Emma smacked his arm playfully as Casey asked, “And what about me? No compliments for the bride?”

  Without missing a beat, Aidan said, “You’re an exquisite vision of perfection in white who will take Nate’s breath away the moment he sees you.”

  Casey grinned. “Smooth Big Papa, very smooth.”

  He leaned in and pecked her check. “It’s the truth.”

  “I’ll take it then,” she replied.

  “I’m so glad to get to be a part of your happy day.”

  “So am I,” Casey replied, with a wink.

  Emma’s mouth gaped at their exchange, especially when Casey kissed Aidan’s cheek as well. What happened to her hating him? Was the very fact he had been willing to stand in and save the day enough to make Casey forgive Aidan for all he had done wrong?

  “Did you need something?” she asked.

  “I just wanted to check on you, see how you’re feeling, but most of all, I wanted to bask in your rapturous beauty.”

  “OMG, that’s so sweet!” Carlee exclaimed while one of the other bridesmaids bobbed her head.

  Aidan’s lips curled into a cocky grin at their appreciation of his sentiments while

  Emma rolled her eyes. “Seriously?”

  He laughed. “Actually, it’s time to take the bridal party photographs.”

  “I thought as much.”

  Aidan placed his hand on her shoulders, his expression waxing concern. “I may have been joking, but I did want to check on you.”

  Her heart warmed at the seriousness his tone had taken. “I’m fine.”

  His lips tightened into a hard line. “Try to stay off your feet as much as you can today.”

  “Aidan,” she protested.

  “I’m serious.”

  “I was cleared to return to work and all normal activity two weeks ago, remember?”

  “That still doesn’t mean you should be going full throttle all the time. It was one thing going back to work, but between the rehearsal dinner and bachelorette party this week, you’ve been pushing yourself.”

  As much as she hated to admit it, she was exhausted. “Okay, okay, Mr. Bossy. When we finish with the pictures, I’ll sit down and put my feet up until th
e ceremony.”

  A pleased smile filled his lips. “Good.” He brushed one of the curly tendrils out of her face. “But save me at least one dance at the reception.”

  Her stomach clenched at the very mention of the reception. Not only was she singing at the ceremony, but Casey had asked her to sing during hers and Nate’s first dance. Aidan must’ve noticed her apprehension because he drew her to him. “Getting stage fright?”

  She gulped down the rising bile in her throat. “A little.”

  “You’ll sound amazing. You always do.”

  “I hope so,” she croaked.

  He pulled away to cup her face in his hands. “Well, I know so.” He brought his lips to hers. Both a calming and pleasing tingle spread from the top of her head down to her toes.

  “No, no, no! Don’t you two start! You’ll ruin Emma’s make-up before the pictures!” Casey protested.

  Aidan groaned against her lips before Emma broke apart from him. “You are such a bridezilla,” he kidded.

  Casey laughed. “Watch it, Big Papa. I might find another purse to nail you with.”

  With a shake of his head, Aidan only chuckled at her jibe. “Don’t think I haven’t warned Nate to steer clear of you when you’re pissed and wielding a purse. It’s a dangerous weapon!”

  Emma continued to be so shocked by their friendly banter that she merely followed dumbly behind them as they walked into the sanctuary. After taking a million pictures, first with Casey, and then after she disappeared, with Nate, Emma began to feel her face was frozen in a smile, and she might be blinded from all the flashbulbs.

  All too soon it was time for the ceremony to start. Emma took her place in front of Carlee and gazed out at the massive crowd in attendance. Glancing over her shoulder, she watched as Casey took her father’s arm. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’ll always be my little girl,” he said.

  A pang of sadness washed over Emma that her own father would never walk her down the aisle. At the same time, she knew that if she and Aidan ever married, Granddaddy would be more than happy to do the honors. She turned away from her feelings of sadness and regret. Instead she embraced the ones of pure and complete happiness at the future ahead for both herself and Casey.