Finally, I felt like Justin and I were on even footing, our time together had truly come. The indecision, the angst, and the drama which had prevented us from taking these amazing steps forward together were all gone. We had both survived personal trials of our own making to get to where we were now. I thought maybe it had all been necessary though much of it regrettable and most of it my fault. Maybe I hadn’t been ready for—no, hadn’t deserved — his love. Before I lost Vance, I’d flitted my way through life, never being inspired enough to commit to any one person and taking every day very casually. Vance had been this wonderful, incredible surprise who crashed into my life, a gift I never questioned whether I deserved or not. I simply took what he offered me, giving myself in return, but never fully able to appreciate what we were sharing. I loved Vance, there was no question. A good part of my heart would always belong to him. In the end, I was able to measure all I’d lost when he died, but before that? I was ignorant of the depth of my blessings. I never had to work for something, to fight for it, in order to have it. The fact I’d abandoned Vance when he needed me most was a testament to it.
I turned my face to the spray as I reached for the shampoo bottle. While lathering my hair, I heard the click of the bathroom door. I smiled softly to myself, knowing Justin was doing his best to launch a sneak attack on me. I turned my back against the water once again and began to rinse. I wanted the first thing he saw to be me with my head back and spine arched, my chest thrust out proudly and ready for his greedy hands. I closed my eyes and counted. One… two… three. The shower door inched open quietly. Had I not been expecting it, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed until the colder air rushed into the stall.
I heard his soft gasp before his strong hands slid over my chest and cupped my breasts. My nipples were already peaked by the cool air and water rushing over them, but they instantly hardened to tight points when his fingertips made contact. I smiled at him as I opened my eyes. What I saw in his face stole my breath. His deep brown eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them and possessed with a fierce intensity. My hands went to wrap around his head as he leaned down and sucked a taut bud into his mouth. He supported the weight of my tit by cupping it in one of his massive hands as he sucked me in deeper. I felt a deep clench in my sex with every pull of his lips. I had every belief if he kept it up, he’d have me screaming my orgasm without ever once laying a hand on any other part of my body. As miraculous as that would be, I had greater desires in mind.
I wrapped one of my legs around his hip, opening myself up to him to take as he pleased, in whatever way he liked. He needed no further encouragement, reaching down and hiking my leg up higher, his strong hand sliding sensually along the wet flesh from hip to knee. His cock was thick and hard as it jutted up between my thighs. He began to move his hips against me slowly and deliberately, lightly stroking himself back and forth against my lips. Since both his hands were occupied, it was a light brushing of his velvety skin against mine. It was the most tantalizing of teases. While I normally would be eager to hurry the process along in favor of some greater stimulation, I was perfectly content to soak in every single second. Justin lifted his mouth from my breast and buried his face in the crook of my neck before biting down on the smooth skin above my pulse. It fractured the peaceful feeling I’d been enjoying up until then. As he scraped his teeth down my neck, making goosebumps rise over every part of my body, something in me went feral. I raked my fingernails down from his scalp to his shoulders as I tried to grind myself against him. He growled hungrily as his hands roamed down to my ass and gripped the soft cheeks tightly. He pulled my hips tight to his and crushed his cock against my throbbing pussy. He churned his hips hard in a circle, rotating against my softness until I could hardly contain myself. Just as I was about to beg him to fuck me, he quickly spun me around and pushed me right up against the wall.
My cheek and chest were pressed tight to the tile as he gripped my hips and jerked them back toward him. He stroked my back with determined hands, pressing down heavily as he moved from my hips to my shoulders and back down again. He slapped my ass once, the wetness magnifying the sting before he leaned down and soothed it with his tongue. He slapped the other cheek harder and again laved that one lovingly. I felt him move up closer behind me as he pulled my wet hair to the side and draped it over my shoulder. He leaned in, his breath hot and fiery on my ear as he snarled deeply.
“I’d tell you to hold on, Peaches, but it seems there’s nothing for you to grab onto. You’re going to have to do your best to stay steady on your feet in all this water because I’m in no mood to be slow or gentle. Tell me now if you’re still too sore or too tired because, in a few seconds, I won’t be able to stop.”
I felt a moment of panic as I imagined myself slipping and sliding around, finally bringing us both down in a tangle of broken limbs to the shower floor. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for what was to come because if nothing else, I was no quitter. At least not when it came to having Justin any way I could get him. I pressed myself even tighter to the wall, the tips of my fingers pressed into the miniscule indentations between the tiles and thrust my ass out further toward him. I heard him chuckle wickedly before giving it one more slap, making me jump in my spot.
Before I knew it, he grabbed my hips firmly and thrust all the way in with one long stroke. He reached up and caressed the length of my wet hair before winding it around his fist. Rather than pulling my head back like I expected, he steadied me against the wall by pressing down at the base of my neck and immediately began to work himself slowly in and out of my wet sheath. Each long thrust was punctuated with a kick of hips against my backside which made the head of his cock punch my cervix and me to gasp in response. He didn’t seem to be in any hurry, despite the urgent tone of his prior statement. Where I had expected a fast and furious fuck, I found myself captive to every movement of his body. I was completely immobile, pinned between his hand, his hips, and the wall.
He worked himself within me, again and again, his strokes always measured and precise. I felt the familiar tightening in my belly, the tingles beginning to creep over my skin and concentrate in my throbbing clit, but before I reached that pinnacle and could go screaming over the edge, the pleasure leveled off. With no variation in his strokes or rhythm, with the steadfast pressure of his hands, I was held limbo. I tried to squirm around him, to push him deeper into me, to grind against him, something to help me break through the maddening edging of my orgasm, but he gave no quarter. I whimpered in frustration. I didn’t know how to get him to bring me over. Normally, I’d take control of the situation in my own way and chase down the O with a fierce determination. The position I was in rendered me ineffective. My pleasure was entirely in Justin’s hands. I wasn’t sure how much I liked it. Still, he moved, his strokes felt maybe a tiny bit deeper, but that might have also been an illusion of my desperate mind.
“Justin….,” I whined. The pleading sound in my tone surprised me. It was my weak supplication for relief, for an end to the sublime torture he was wreaking on my body. I was startled to realize how easily pleasure could turn maddening when not fulfilled.
He continued his constant, precise stroking. He leaned in and breathed into my ear. “What do you want, Peaches?” he purred.
“Please. You know what I want.”
He clucked his tongue as his hand released my hair and dragged down my spine. “I do, but remember? You need to ask for it. What do you want, Peaches?”
“Justin, just do it.” I moaned.
“No,” he replied as he tangled his hand back into my hair once again. “Say it, Mimi.”
I was near to sobbing when I finally choked out, “Please, Justin. Make me come. I need to come.”
No sooner had the words dripped from my lips than he tugged hard on my hair and thrust all the way in, hard and deep. He started to fuck me rapidly, his hand dragging my head back so forcefully I thought I’d see stars. Suddenly, I did. Bright light exploded behind my closed eye
s as my orgasm ignited within me. My body convulsed mightily in his grip as my veins were blistered by the white-hot fire which replaced the blood running through them. The deep, hard contractions in my womb made my knees buckle, and I felt myself sliding. Rather than prop me up, Justin followed me down to the shower floor, guiding me to sit on my knees as he remained buried inside me, pouring his own essence into me. Great, big, shuddering gasps rocked my body as Justin stroked my back lovingly. He murmured softly, formless words designed to soothe rather than speak.
Before long, the water turned cold. Justin and I scraped ourselves off the tile floor and dried each other with the big, fluffy towels provided by the hotel. We pretty much dragged ourselves into bed, even Justin was tired, for once. I curled into his arms, my eyes fluttering closed almost as soon as our bodies touched.
The next morning, I woke much later than I was accustomed to, but Justin was still asleep. I lay there admiring the shape of his eyes, his own thick, black lashes, and the high curve of his cheekbones. I scanned his face further, appreciating his firm, square jaw before letting my eyes linger on those sensual, full lips. I tried to imagine him as an old man, but I couldn’t. To me, whenever I looked at him, I’d see a handsome man in his thirties who made me feel like the most special woman on Earth every time he looked back at me.
I sighed softly as Justin began to stir. Slowly, he blinked his eyes open and looked around before resting them on my face. His lips curved into a small smile before he leaned over and kissed me gently.
“Hey Peaches,” he whispered.
“Hey, you,” I whispered back.
He reached up and stroked my cheek softly, continuing to whisper, “I will never grow tired of waking to the sight of you next to me. It’s the best start to every morning. I want it for the rest of my life.”
I gasped. It wasn’t exactly a proposal, but I think he even surprised himself by saying those words aloud. He recovered quickly, the smile once again gracing his face as he brought a fingertip up to trace my mouth. He started to chuckle.
“That was a revelation, wasn’t it?” he murmured.
I nodded my head slowly, at a loss for words. After a few beats, I found my voice. “You know, I have been spending most nights at your house again.”
It was his turn to nod, his face showing he knew exactly where I was going with my thoughts, but he didn’t say anything.
“Well, what would you say to the idea of me moving back in with you and Sammy?”
Justin angled his head and cast his gaze toward the ceiling, taking a thoughtful look. “It would make more sense,” he replied, being maddening practical.
I tickled his side. “If you think it will cramp your style too much, just say so,” I teased. “You’ve had some time to be the wild bachelor again. Maybe you like being on your own.”
He laughed out loud at that. “Yeah, the crazy, sexy, single guy with the one-year-old throws wild orgies whenever he can.”
I pinched him that time. “No, really. I would like to come back.”
“Peaches,” he grinned, “I want you to move back in with me, but there’s one condition,” he said as he rolled out of bed. I was a little miffed by how pragmatic he was being. I wanted an enthusiastic reply, one where he happily scooped me up and kissed me senseless, relieved knowing we’d never be apart again.
“Alright, big man. What’s your condition?” I asked as I watched him walk over to his suitcase and retrieve something from inside. He returned to bed with whatever it was curled tightly in his fist. His face softened dramatically as he looked deep into my eyes. He cleared his throat once, then twice.
“This might seem sudden, but after everything we’ve been through, to me, it’s a long time coming.” He opened his palm, displaying a small, square, jewelry box in the center of it.
My eyes nearly popped from their sockets. “Justin, are you really…”
He nodded slowly as he opened the box. In it was a stunning oval solitaire diamond in a platinum setting. “Peaches, you can move back in with me and Sammy only if you agree to marry me.”
I was struck stupid. His proposal was so unexpected and so close on the heels of his relationship with Marina. I knew he hadn’t felt much for her, but… Could this really be happening?
“My God, Justin. Are you sure? We’ve only been together for a few weeks. Don’t you think it’s too soon?”
“Peaches, it’s only been a few weeks since we became sexually involved. As far as I’m concerned, this proposal has been eight years in the making. We’ve shared our lives in so many ways since we met. We’ve made mistakes, we’ve suffered, we’ve laughed, we’ve lived, and we have loved each other all the way through, whether we were conscious of it or not. There is no one else in this world who could fit me the way you do, who understands me, and makes me as happy as you do. Even when you’re driving me crazy, I’m crazy in love. Please, marry me.”
To say I was blown away was the understatement of the century. Of course, I had imagined spending the rest of my life with Justin and Sammy, but I’d never let my fantasies run that wild. Sitting there staring at that beautiful ring, I could only gape in surprise. Finally, I raised my eyes to Justin’s, still not quite believing the moment was real. Finally, I broke free of my stupor and launched myself at him, knocking him to his back on the bed and unfortunately, the ring box right out of his hand. It bounced to the floor, but I paid it no mind as I kissed him passionately. He kissed me back deeply for a moment, before pulling back, laughing.
“While your enthusiastic response is promising, the fact you sent the ring flying to parts unknown is not.” He smiled at me warmly as he smoothed my hair back from my face. “So, what’s it gonna be, Peaches? Will you be my Mrs. Sever?”
“I can’t think of anything in the world that would make me happier. Yes, Justin. I will marry you.”
“Good,” he chuckled. “Now let’s find that ring, so we can officialize this decision.”
Chapter Twelve
After securing the ring and placing it squarely on my finger, we packed up our stuff for home. Originally, we had planned to spend the first part of the day renting the surrey we’d skipped the day before, but I was too excited to get home to share the good news. Vance and I had gotten engaged and married in the space of a few hours, so our families never had the opportunity to celebrate with us before all was said and done. I couldn’t wait to tell my mom. She was going to be over the moon, and I suspected Justin’s parents would be just as pleased.
As we turned into the driveway of Justin’s house, we noticed three men standing on the front porch, one of whom was hammering on the front door with his fist and hollering something I couldn’t quite make out with my window rolled up. The men turned as one as Justin parked the car. I instantly recognized Armando Ortega as one of them.
All three were of similar coloring, height, and build, so it wasn’t a stretch to assume the other two men were more of Delia’s brothers. Knowing how hostile Armando was, I didn’t hold much hope the other two would be any more pleasant. If anything, the three of them en masse posed a threat to us. Hopefully, they came in numbers to intimidate and not because they intended to force whatever agenda they had.
Justin turned to me as he pulled the emergency brake. “Stay here, Peaches. I don’t know what they want, but it can’t be good. I don’t want you involved in whatever they have in mind.”
“I’ll stay put, but I have my phone in my hand in case we need to call for help,” I replied.
“You know what you should do?” Justin said as he reached into the console and pulled out his own phone and handed it to me. “Call Alan and let him know they’re here. Ask him to start preparing a temporary restraining order. I don’t want these people anywhere near us now that the custody case is resolved. Thank God, my mom wanted to keep Sammy for a few more hours.” We had originally planned to pick him up on our way home, but when we called to tell Audrey we were en route, she informed us they were at the zoo and Sammy was enthralled
by the polar bears. Knowing how Sammy could be when he fixated on something, we all guessed it would be at least a few hours before they got back to her house. Justin and I had grinned conspiratorially at each other, thinking we’d make use of some bonus sexy time, but with our unwanted visitors, that plan was surely off the table.
Justin stepped out of the car, making sure to push the door lock before closing it. I watched with one eye as he walked over to the trio, the other eye on the phone as I scrolled through Justin’s contacts looking for his lawyer’s number. As the call began to ring, I watched all three men puff up their chests and not-so-subtly, flex their muscles as Justin reached them. If the situation didn’t hold potentially dangerous consequences, I would have laughed. Justin was at least four inches taller than the tallest one in the group, and one of his biceps would rival the size of any one of their heads. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but as bad-ass as these guys were trying to appear, Justin was considerably the toughest-looking of them all. I may have come to know what a giving, soft-hearted man he was over the years we’d been friends, but through it all, he always looked like one of the most dangerous men I’d ever laid eyes upon.
“Sumner and Quinn.” The voice on the other end of the line jarred my attention away from my untimely admiration of Justin’s masculinity. It looked like Armando was shouting at Justin, and the other two were nodding along in agreement. Justin had his hands up in a placating gesture.
“Hi, this is Mimi Ashcroft calling on behalf of Justin Sever. Is Mr. Sumner in? It’s regarding a rather urgent matter.”
The receptionist asked me to hold while she connected my call. I expected to have to listen to some terrible hold music, but almost instantly, Alan was on the line.
“Hey, Mimi!” he greeted cheerfully. “What’s going on? Stephanie said your call was urgent.”
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