The Proposal

by Katie Ashley

  His mouth ran dry. “What are you doing?”

  “Well, since I’ve been so tired lately and haven’t been in the mood, I felt bad about denying you a quickie. You really have been kind and understanding, and a horndog like you does have his breaking point.”

  Aidan chuckled. “Thanks…I think.”

  “So, I thought I’d make it up to you by giving you the going away present wanted,” she replied with a coy smile. She patted the bed beside her. “So giddy-up, Cowboy. I’m finally ready for a ride.”

  Aidan cocked his head and grinned. “Well, yippee ki-yay, mother fucker!”

  She giggled as he closed the gap between them. “I can’t believe you just made a Die Hard reference.”

  “Yeah, well, I can’t believe you told me to giddy-up like I’m some horse.”

  “You were my stud horse once upon a time, remember?”

  “Were. I’m your husband now, so the whole giddy-up thing is a little ridiculous.”

  “Roll-playing, babe.” Sweeping her hat off her head, she placed it on his. When he started to take it off, she said, “Uh-huh. I like it.”

  “You can’t be serious?”

  She bit her lip before reaching over to snap the towel from his waist. She drank in his appearance and then grinned up at him. “Mmm, yes, I like the sight of you naked in a cowboy hat very, very much.”

  “Em, you naughty girl,” he murmured, as he leaned over to kiss her. He made quick work of whisking the negligee over her head. The sight of her voluptuous, naked form sent his erection bobbing against his stomach. He cupped her full breasts as his tongue plunged into her mouth. He worked the nipples until they were erect buds, causing Emma to moan and nibble his bottom lip between her teeth.

  She then brought her hands around his neck and stroked and tugged the hair at the base of his neck. He groaned into her mouth as his fingers trailed from her breast down to the apex of her thighs. “No underwear? You were pretty confident your little stunt would ensure I was a sure thing, huh?”

  She laughed. “And when are you not a sure thing?”

  “Never. Because I never get enough of you.”

  Emma’s amused expression faded. “Aw, baby, that’s so sweet,” she said, her eyes shining with love for him. She brought her lips to his and kissed him passionately, letting her emotions flow out through her kisses. “I love you, Aidan,” she murmured against his lips.

  “I love you, too.” Easing her on her back, he gripped her hips and slid her bottom to the edge of the bed. Opening her legs wide, he positioned himself between them as he stayed on his feet. “You okay with not taking me for a ride?”

  “You can take me anyway you want, Cowboy.”

  He gave her a wicked grin as his fingers found her center, which was already dripping with need. “You really were ready for me, huh?”

  “It’s the hat,” she panted as he worked his fingers in and out of her.

  He rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”

  She scowled at him. “You fantasize about me in green lingerie—I wanted you in a cowboy hat.”

  “Then I’m glad I can make your fantasies come true.” He found her sweet spot, and she gripped the sides of the bed.

  “Oh yes, yes, right there, Aidan. Oh God! Please!” she cried, bucking her hips into his hand. When he sent her over the edge, her head writhed back and forth as she came.

  He slid his fingers out of her and then positioned himself at her entrance. With one thrust, he filled her, causing them both to moan. “Mmm, wrap your legs around me tight, babe. I want those delicious cowboy boots digging in my ass.”

  She obliged him, and he gasped with pleasure. Gripping the sides of the mattress, he began thrusting in and out of her. Emma’s legs remained tight around him, and when he slowed his pace, she dug her boot heels into his flesh, indicating she wanted him to speed up.

  Staring down at her, he cocked his brows. “Are you sure?”

  She licked her lips. “Mmm, hmm,” she murmured.

  Obeying her command, Aidan pounded into her. The more frantic his movements became the more sweat began to trickle down his body. He would almost need another shower when he was finished with her. He knew they didn’t have long so when her walls clenched around him, signifying she had gone over the edge, he gripped her hips and thrust faster and harder until he cried out her name as he came inside her.

  Panting, he leaned over to plant a kiss on her lips. “Thank you, babe. That was a helluva send off.”

  She giggled. “And thank you for indulging my cowboy fantasy.”

  “You’re welcome, ma’am.” Aidan replied, while tipping his hat back. “Now after you unwrap your delicious legs from me, might you oblige me with a ride to the airport?”

  “I’d be happy, too.”

  “Just give me a second to drown myself in some cologne to mask this heady sex smell. Don’t want to make my business associates jealous that I got some.”

  “Aidan!” Emma squealed, shoving him off of her.

  He chuckled. “There’s nothing I love more than teasing you, Em. Especially when you react like that.”

  She grinned. “And I love that you have to tease me so mercilessly.”

  His thumb came to caress her cheek. “And I love you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  After dropping Aidan off at the airport, Emma hurried back home. She had just enough time to get ready before the doorbell rang, announcing Casey’s arrival.

  Beau trailed down the hallway behind her as she went to answer the door. On the second ring, Emma cried, “Would you give me a break? I’m moving slow.”

  She heard Casey’s laughter out on the porch before the doorbell began to go on and off at lighting speed. “Don’t be a twatwaffle, Case!” Emma said, as she threw open the door.

  Casey wiped her eyes from her amusement. “I had to tease you.” She then took in Emma’s appearance. “Aw, Em, you look beautiful,” she squealed, kissing her cheek.

  “Thanks. I feel like I threw myself together.”

  “What do you mean? You had all afternoon to get ready before you took Aidan to the airport, didn’t you?”

  Emma ducked her head, a flush creeping across her cheeks. “Well, I might’ve given Aidan a going away present.”

  Casey once again roared with laughter. “Em, you naughty girl.”

  “I can’t help it. Even though I’m exhausted, stupid pregnancy hormones have me horny all the time!”

  “Hmm, I’m horny all the time, and I don’t even have the benefit of being pregnant,” Casey mused.

  “Then you’ll kill poor Nate when you’re pregnant. It’s insane. Trust me.”

  Wrinkling her nose, Casey said, “Well, that’s something I’ll have to worry about in the far distant future. It sure as hell ain’t happening now.”

  Emma grabbed her purse. “Ready to go?”

  “Yep. Let’s go get Connor.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Casey swung into Connor’s driveway. He was insistent on driving them in his brand new Lexus 350 SUV. “Sweet ride, buddy,” Emma said as she climbed into the backseat.

  “Thanks. Jeff and I really like it.”

  “Everything still going well with you two?” she asked.

  Connor glanced back at her and grinned. “Yep. In fact, we’re talking about getting married.”

  “Really? That’s wonderful.”

  “Yeah, obviously we won’t be able to do it around here, but we’re all about making the commitment.

  “That’s awesome,” Casey said, buckling her seatbelt.

  “I’m going to expect you two to be my bridesmaids…or groomsmen…hell, something in the bridal party.”

  Emma and Casey laughed. “It would be our pleasure,” Casey replied.

  “As long as it’s after I’ve had enough time to get some baby weight off,” Emma teased.

  Connor eased up to the red-light. “Oh please. Like you’ll have that much to lose.”

  Emma groaned. “Trust me. It’s more than you
think.” Leaning forward in the seat, she waved her swollen fingers at Connor. “See some of the lovely fluid retention.”

  “Ew, that’s disgusting.”

  “You should see my feet.”

  Casey shook her head. “Oh please, Em. You’re weight gain is basically only tits and belly.”

  Emma wrinkled her nose as Connor snickered. “And you’ve had a bodacious set of ta-ta’s since 7th grade.”

  “Connor!” she cried before smacking his arm.

  “Please, you know that from the time you turned twelve, every guy was talking to your boobs and not your face.”

  Emma rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay. That’s enough talk about my breasts for one evening. I think it’s time for a conversation change!”

  “Fine,” Casey and Connor murmured in unison.

  “So where are we off to eat?” Casey asked.

  “There’s two new restaurant openings downtown tonight. Might be some celebrity sightings, too,” Connor said. He glanced back at Emma to gage her response.

  She wrinkled her nose. “Can’t we do something more familiar with less of a crowd?”

  “Jesus, you already sound like an old-fart married woman,” Connor moaned.

  “I can’t help that being pregnant makes me tired.”

  “Oh no. Don’t be blaming it on the pregnancy. It’s your fault for giving Aidan a sexy send-off complete with cowboy boots,” Casey said with a wicked grin.

  Emma flushed as Connor groaned. “Oh God, I could have lived a life-time without that one.” He shook his head like he was trying to shake himself of the thought. “Okay, so no high-end, glitzy places for Miss Banging Boots back there.”

  “Ugh, I can’t believe you two sometimes,” Emma grumbled as Casey snickered.

  “Well, it’s your night, love, so you can pick,” Casey said.

  “How about the Cheesecake Factory?” Emma suggested.

  “Fine, we’ll go to the uber not happening Perimeter location,” Connor joked.

  “Good. I’m excited,” Emma said with a grin.

  When they got to the restaurant, they had to fight their way through the teeming crowd. “Doesn’t look so uber not happening to me!” Emma shouted over the noise.

  “It’s Friday night. It’s going to be crazy anywhere.”

  Thirty minutes later when they finally got a table, Emma’s feet were screaming in agony. As she flopped down in the booth, pain shot up her lower back. “Ow!” she yelped.

  “Are you okay?”

  She giggled. “Yeah, I was expecting a little more cushioning—not that I don’t have enough padding back there.” When Connor started to open his mouth, she wagged a finger at him. “I don’t need any comments about how I’ve always had junk in my trunk either, thank you very much.”

  “You’re such a prude,” he replied with a wink.

  By the time they finished their meal and Emma had gorged herself on her favorite Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake, she was exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to go home, get into her pajamas, and curl up on the couch. She just hoped that Casey and Connor didn’t have anymore big plans for the evening.

  As they got up, Emma winced as her hand flew to rub her back. What had been a dull throbbing during dinner was now pulsing. She hobbled out of the restaurant and tried desperately to keep up with Connor and Casey.

  “Guys, we’re not running the Peachtree Road Race. Would you slow down!” she called.

  “God, Em, just when I thought you couldn’t be any slower,” Casey remarked, walking back to her.

  “My back is killing me.”

  Casey snorted. “Do you have a sex sprain?”

  Emma narrowed her eyes. “It isn’t a sex sprain. It started back in the booth.”

  Thankfully, they made it to the car. When she got up into the SUV, a strange feeling rippled through her back and belly before a deluge of water swept down her thighs. At first, mortification filled her that she was experiencing pregnancy incontinence. But then the revelation hit her. She had gone to the bathroom before their meal arrived…and before dessert. “Oh God,” she murmured.

  “What’s wrong?” Casey asked, checking her reflection in the mirror and applying more lip stick.

  Emma drew in a ragged breath. “Um, I think my water just broke.”

  Both Casey and Connor whirled around in their seats, shock and horror etched across their faces. “What?” Casey demanded.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure. It’s all over me.”

  “Oh shit, Em, don’t tell me you just ruined my new leather seats?” Connor moaned.

  Casey smacked his arm hard. “It’s not like she can help it.”

  Embarrassment warmed Emma’s cheeks. “I’m so, so sorry, Connor. I promise I’ll pay to have it professionally cleaned.” The moment the words left her lips raging pain crisscrossed its way through her abdomen, causing her to cry out. She pinched her eyes shut and breathed in deep, trying to ride it out.

  “Em?” Casey questioned.

  Once the pain passed, she opened her eyes. Both Casey and Connor stared expectantly at her. “Yeah, um, I think we’re going to have to cancel our sleepover. I need to get to the hospital. Now.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “Goodnight!” Aidan called as he left his business dinner. Rolling his shoulders, he fought the fatigue that filled him. He wanted nothing more than to get back to the hotel and call it a night. When Emma’s familiar ring tone came on, he dug his phone out of his pocket. “Miss me already, sweetheart?” he joked.

  “You have no idea,” she replied, her voice strained.

  He froze on the sidewalk. “Em, is there something wrong?”

  “Um, well, don’t freak out—”

  “Too late.”

  “My water broke, and I just got admitted to the hospital.”

  Aidan’s eyes closed in agony. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Trust me, I wish I was joking.”

  “But you’re not due for three more weeks. I would have never, ever left.”

  “Listen, it’s okay. You just need to get to the airport.”

  “Em, there’s not a single flight out of Charlotte back to Atlanta tonight.”

  “I know. That’s why I have Plan B.”

  “And just what does that entail?”

  “Pesh is on his way up to get you in his plane.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.” When she didn’t respond for a minute, he said, “Em, are you there?”

  He heard her draw in a ragged breath. “Having.a.really.bad.pain.”

  He winced. “Oh shit. I’m sorry. I want to be there so bad to hold your hand...to help you.”

  It took her a few seconds to respond. “Good. Then you’ll meet Pesh at the airport—”

  “Em, you know I have a thing about small planes.”

  “Aidan,” she growled before huffing and puffing.

  When she groaned in agony, he knew he was in trouble. “Let me guess, at the moment, you don’t give a shit about my fears or what I want or don’t want to do, right?”

  “Exactly!” she snapped.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll get to the airport, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “Good.”

  “I love you, Em.”

  “I love you, too.”

  With fear and trepidation rocketing through him, Aidan raised a shaky hand to flag down a cab. Screw his bags back at the hotel. Noah was on the way, and he desperately needed to get to Emma. He had just slid across the cab’s leather seat when his cell phone rang again. Even though it was an unknown number, he had an idea who it was.

  “Hello, this is Pesh Nadeen,” the familiar voice echoed on the other line.

  “Um, hey.”

  “Listen. When you get to the airport, have them bring you to the small planes hanger, rather than the main gates. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  “Okay. And uh, thanks again for doing this for Emma…I mean, for me. For us.”

  “No problem. It’s my plea
sure.”

  Aidan rolled his eyes as he hung up the phone. Of course, it was his pleasure. Pesh was just the kind of standup guy that even when nothing could be gained romantically with Emma, he would still do the right thing. Pesh’s kindness shouldn’t have irritated Aidan so much, but for some reason, he just couldn’t let go of what had almost happened between Emma and Pesh.

  Aidan wrung his hands the entire trip to the airport. When he got out, he glanced around the hanger. His eyes widened and a shudder ran over him at the sight of what he imagined was Pesh’s plane already on the small runway.

  He stuck his head in the door, eyeing all the other death traps contained within. “Um, hello?”

  Pesh came out of a side door with a clipboard. “Hey, Aidan. I was just logging our flight plan with the tower. But we’re good to go now.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  As they started out of the hanger and onto the tarmac, Aidan skidded to a stop. When Pesh realized he was no longer walking beside him, he turned around. “What’s wrong?”

  “Emma didn’t mention what I thought about small planes?”

  “No, but she seemed to be a little preoccupied with getting you to Atlanta when I talked to her.”

  Aidan winced. “It’s just I sorta have this aversion…or fear about anything smaller than a 747.”

  Pesh’s dark brows furrowed. “But this is a Cessna 270—one of the safest small planes around.”

  Gesturing at the aircraft, Aidan asked, “That isn’t the kind that JFK Jr. crashed, is it?”

  Pesh shook his head. “That was a Piper Saratoga.” He opened the side door for Aidan. “Go on, hop in. We need to get on our way.” At Aidan’s continued hesitation, the corners of Pesh’s lips quirked up. “You’re really afraid, aren’t you?”

  Aidan narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, I am. Call me a pussy or whatever you want to, but these things are death traps!”

  Without another word, Pesh dug into the bag at his side. He took out a bottle of pills and tossed it at Aidan. “What the hell is this?” Aidan demanded.

  “Valium. It’ll help you relax during the flight.”

  Aidan smirked at Pesh. “Isn’t that kinda illegal for doctors to just have drugs lying around to push off on people?”