The Proposal

by R. R. Banks

  Epilogue

  Cherry

  "You have got to be flipping kidding me."

  "Well, that's exactly what a girl wants to hear from her best friend when she announces that she's getting married."

  "You are already married," Jess said.

  "I know."

  "I just need you to understand what you've been putting me through. First, he was your childhood crush. Then he was your boss and we rolled around in the soap bubbles with him. Then you were having a freaking baby for him. Then you were engaged, and we thought it was real. Then we found out it was fake. Then you were unsure if you wanted to marry him. Then you did want to marry him. Then you were married. Then you were kind of married. Then you were almost not married. Then you were married again. And now here you are, trying to be extra married. It's just a roller coaster of emotions for me."

  "I'm sorry that you had to go through all that," I said. Jess seemed undeterred. "But I'm not going to do any of that to you again. We have an entire year this time and I want you to be there with me every step of the way."

  "So, this is for real, right? Like really? No contracts. No arrangements. No weird clauses. No Great Uncle Henry willing his spooky Southern mansion to Gabriel if he agrees to host a wedding there and all the guests survive. Nothing all funky about this?"

  "No," I reassured her. "No contracts. No arrangements. No weird clauses. Just Gabriel and me."

  One year later...

  Everything was different this time. I breathed easily as I stood at the end of the aisle preparing to walk down it toward Gabriel. It wasn't a seemingly endless white river across a ballroom. It wasn't flanked by hundreds of unfamiliar faces with expectations in their eyes. The sound of a string quartet wasn't drilling into my ears and I didn't feel like I was going to melt into a puddle of anxiety before I made it to the altar.

  This time it was just about us.

  My body was free from the heavy layers, constricting bodice, and exorbitant train of my first wedding gown. The dress I wore now was a delicate shade of blush and made of airy layers that cascaded down from the strapless neckline and swept around me in the soft breeze. I wore no jewelry except for the engagement ring that I had worn on my right hand since his proposal. My only accessory was a silver tiara encrusted with crystals. It was my treasure given to me on my sixteenth birthday by the only prince who ever made me feel like a princess.

  Around me, the ceremony itself stood in stark contrast to our lavish first wedding.

  A collection of fewer than fifty chairs were curved around a lawn strewn with flowers. A refreshing spring breeze filled the air with the fragrance of freshly cut grass and roses. It felt absolutely perfect, so fitting for the day that stretched before us. The flowers were the ultimate metaphor for renewal. They were always there, even when you couldn't see them. Their bulbs remain hidden under the surface during the dark, cold times, but emerge again with the warmth of spring.

  This wasn't about anyone else. We designed the wedding around our expectations, our dreams, not anyone else’s. This day was all about our love and dedicating the rest of our lives to one another in a way that was open and free from any entanglements that might, even in a small way, detract from the joy of being married.

  Jess walked down the aisle in front of me, holding Georgia in her arms. Our little girl was sleeping peacefully, but her tiny hand was wrapped around a single bloom. She was the perfect flower girl. When Jess got to the end, she handed Georgia to Monroe. He grinned down at her with a light in his eyes that nearly brought me to tears. He had softened so much since she was born. That tiny baby had cracked through that hard wall he had built around himself and discovered the sweet, loving man inside. He and my mother had been spending a considerable amount of time together as they bonded over the only grandchild that either of them had. While there was certainly nothing romantic about the two of them, it was a beautiful friendship forged over the love of our baby girl and the shared experience and pain of losing their spouses. They made each other stronger and helped each other see more to a stage of their life that had seemed to sneak up on both of them.

  It made my heart soar to see how much better my mother looked. The color had come back into her cheeks and she gained enough weight to fill her out, so she looked strong and healthy. For the first time in years, she had energy and spark, and I was hopeful that we had put that horror behind us. Now all she had to think about was making up for lost time and living as much as she could every single day.

  The two of them would be taking care of Georgia while Gabriel and I went on a quick honeymoon. I knew that not only would she be in the best hands possible, but that they would both treasure the time they had with their grandchild without us being there to interfere.

  Soft music rose around me and it was time for me to make my way toward Gabriel. I knew that we were already married. I knew that nothing had ever really parted us. Yet I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I got closer to him. I felt strangely nervous, exactly as I would have expected to feel during my wedding. As I got to the head of the aisle, I glanced to the side and saw the empty chairs that we had left in the front row to honor my father, Brent, and Gabriel's mother. We hadn't wanted to bring any heaviness to this day, but we also knew there was no way we could renew our vows and fully commit to each other without including them in some small way. They had played such important roles in our lives and would carry them in our hearts always.

  Gabriel reached for my hands as I got to the custom altar that we had designed. It looked and sounded totally different than the wedding we had, what felt like a lifetime ago. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

  I knew that this was exactly as Gabriel had said – this was real.

  Two days later...

  I laughed as I ran through our lavish hotel suite, tossing strands of beads behind me. Gabriel and I had timed our honeymoon to take place during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but after a short time at one of the parades, we were much more interested in having a private celebration of our own. I reached the luxuriously furnished bedroom just in time for Gabriel to reach out and wrap his arms around my waist, twirling me around to face him. My husband brought his lips to the side of my neck and kissed his way down into the cleavage that spilled out of the top of my purple silk dress. He continued to kiss his way down as he lowered onto his knees in front of me. He placed his hand on my lower belly and pressed me down so that I was sitting on the cushioned bench at the foot of the four-poster king-size bed.

  I smiled as he took the hem of my skirt and lifted it up, revealing my legs. He took his other hand and slipped it between my thighs, easing them apart. He brought his mouth to the tender skin of one thigh and kissed his way along the inside. His hot breath tickled my skin and sent a thrill through my body that ignited the heat between my legs. I reached down and pulled him up to his feet, then watched as he unbuttoned his shirt and peeled it away from his chiseled body. I grabbed the shirt as it slid down his arms and impatiently tossed it out of the way. He reached out and combed his fingers through my hair as I took a moment to admire my husband. No matter how many times I saw this man naked, I never got tired of this body. Every inch of him was gorgeous. I will never get enough of him or his touch. I could spend all day running my fingers along his muscles and tasting his skin and I would be more than happy.

  I indulged in that desire now, running my fingertips down the center of his stomach until reaching his belt buckle. He stepped out of his shoes as I worked his belt and unfastened his pants. As soon as his pants were loose, he stepped out of them and kicked them away from us. I grabbed the waistband of his boxers and pushed them down over his hips, revealing his long, thick erection that had been running through my mind since waking up that morning. It was so intoxicating that I couldn't resist bending down and sliding my tongue along the tip and relishing the deliciously salty fluid that had gathered at the slit. Gabriel drew in a sharp breath and I smiled, feeling the velvety flesh brush
against my lips. I repeated the lick, tasting more of his precum that seemed to slip from him faster in response to my touch. His hand grasped the back of my head as I parted my lips and took the tip of his head between them. He wasn't demanding, but encouraging, steadying my head and offering me stability as I swirled my tongue around the engorged head of his cock. I focused the tip of my tongue on the sensitive bundle of nerves, and Gabriel moaned in response.

  He had gathered the bead necklaces that I had taken off and dropped in my wake as I ran through the suite and piled them on the bed. I took one of the necklaces off the bed, placing it in my hand. I wrapped one hand around the base of his erection and took the strand of beads in the other. Moving slowly, I wound the beads carefully around the length of his shaft. I settled my hand around the beads and stroked him in long, deliberate glides. The beads rolled and pressed into him, and he groaned as the pleasure of the sensation overwhelmed him. After a few minutes I unwrapped the beads and set them beside me before tightening my grip on the base of his erection and taking him fully into my waiting mouth. I moaned at the feeling of him sliding in across my tongue, a familiar and delicious sensation. He guided me into a faster rhythm and I hungrily complied. My eyes closed as I felt him start to rock his hips and gently thrust into my mouth. I focused on feeling every vein and ridge, tilting my head so that his cock could dip down my throat.

  I heard Gabriel groan and I opened my eyes. His face was tight with pleasure and I watched him savor it for a few seconds before slowly withdrawing from my mouth. I pressed the fronts of his thighs so that he would step back enough to allow me to stand. Getting to my feet, I reached behind me to release the tie on the back of my dress. It opened, revealing a matching purple silk and lace lingerie underneath. It glided down my legs as it fluttered to the ground, the feeling only heightening my arousal. I focused my gaze on him, biting into my bottom lip as his hand came to wrap around his cock and stroke it. His hand ran along his length with focus as he watched me slowly take off my bra. It seemed that the more deliberately I moved, the more determined his strokes became and I slowed my pace even more, hesitating before I let the fabric fall from my breasts.

  My breasts finally bare, I ran my hands down them. My nipples were already taut with desire from sucking on Gabriel’s cock. I continued down and tucked my fingers into the waistband of my panties. His hand was moving rapidly, and I turned around, sliding the panties just slightly down. He groaned, and I turned a little, easing them down slightly to reveal more of my body. When I felt that I had teased him enough, I bent over, pulling my panties down to my ankles. Gabriels hand dipped between my thighs and slid over my hot core as I stepped out of my panties. I paused and parted my legs further, inviting more of his touch.

  I was already wet and hot, waiting for his touch, and his hand moved easily through my folds and over my tight clit. I cried out and started to stand, but I felt his hand press down on the small of my back and realized that he had come up behind me and was now standing only a few inches away.

  "No," he said. "Stay just like that."

  I rested on my elbows on the cushioned bench and presented myself to Gabriel. He could do anything he wanted to me. An instant later, his mouth touched my core and I felt my legs begin to shake. There was nothing slow and gradual about his attention. His tongue laved me with unrelenting speed and pressure. I clutched at the cushions, struggling to maintain control. It took only seconds for him to prove that I was truly no match for how well he knew my body and the incredibly masterful way that he could manipulate it and take it fully under his own control. I screamed as an earth-shattering orgasm crashed over me, threatening to bring me to my knees.

  Gabriel wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me up against him. He took a few steps forward, tossing me onto the bed. I gasped when I landed and flipped over, wanting to look at him. He had a mischievous glint in his eyes as he took another strand of beads and came towards me.

  "Give me your hands," he instructed.

  I held them out to him and he wrapped the beads around my wrists, knotting them in the center so that I was barely able to move them apart. I didn't know what was going through his mind, but I felt a thrill of arousal and anticipation. He crawled up on the bed beside me, close enough that his enormous erection teased close to me. I lifted my head and tried to lick him, but he pulled his hips back and shook his head.

  "Not yet," he said.

  He pulled on another necklace, breaking it, and wrapped one end around the center of the beads binding my wrist. He pulled them up so that he could tie the beads to one of the bedposts. This caused me to turn so that I was sprawled diagonally across the mattress. This show of dominance by Gabriel was causing my body to respond intensely and dramatically. I felt exposed and vulnerable on the bed in front of him, and yet I wasn't afraid. I wanted to offer myself to him. I wanted to give him whatever he desired. I felt so incredibly safe in his hands, so treasured and loved. The renewal of our vows had cemented that and seemed to open me even further so that I was ready for any possibility.

  He picked up the tie that he had been wearing earlier and slipped it over my eyes. Not being able to see immediately heightened my other senses. My body tingled as everything around me seem to become more distinct. I bit my bottom lip and waited. There was a long, silent pause when nothing happened. I laid there on the bed, listening to the distance sounds of revelry still happening beyond the walls of the hotel. I could smell Gabriel. But he wasn’t touching me. The emptiness only increased my desire until I was wriggling against the comforter. Not being touched was making me want him even more and I parted my legs, opening my thighs so that I felt a rush of cool air against my wet folds. The final tremors of my orgasm had ended, and I was ready for more.

  Finally, I felt Gabriel's fingertips touch the side of my neck. They started in the soft dip beneath my ear and trailed slowly down the curve of my shoulder. From there he traced my arm, outlining each of my fingers and pressing lightly into the center of my palm before making their way back up. I had never realized how sensitive the skin on the inside of my arm was until his feathery touch brushed across it. I felt a shiver travel along my spine in response to his ministrations. Gabriel continued his slow, tantalizing conquest of my body. He traced my legs, my waist, my hips, my breasts. My body shook as he ran his fingertips along my inner thighs and my back arched toward him. He seemed to be memorizing me, ensuring that every bit of my body was touched and appreciated.

  There was nothing rushed about his delicate touch, but it made me more aware of every inch of myself. My skin burned beneath his fingertips and I became sharply focused on every inch he had touched. He pressed his hand to my breast, cupping gently, as if to monitor the rise and fall of my breaths. I was completely immobilized by his presence. I wanted to touch him more than I ever had. It was blissful, decadent torture.

  My body was growing hotter and wetter with every passing second, even though I thought such slow, deliberate touching would have allowed me to remain cool and calm. I finally felt like I couldn’t take it anymore. I strained against the beads. I needed him inside me. Gabriel sensed my desperation and reached up to release my hands. I was relieved to finally be able to touch him, but he didn't remove the tie from my eyes, allowing me to fully savor the intensifying effect of losing my vision. Gabriel eased my thighs apart and his fingertips found my most sensitive parts. He felt every fold, every dip, and finally the pad of his finger stroked my taut clit and I screamed at the explosive feeling.

  All the extraordinarily patient caresses and touches had deepened my arousal to an almost frantic state. My clit throbbed in anticipation of his touch. I felt honored, worshipped by Gabriel. He swept his finger around it a few times before I felt the bed shift and could sense that he was crawling up to straddle my upper body on his knees. I felt his hand tucked beneath my head and lift it up. The smooth, velvety head of his erection brushed my lips and I reached forward, desperate to take hold of it. I parted my lips and he
slowly began to thrust in and out of my mouth. A moment later, his hand moved back down my body and he began to touch my aching slit in the same rhythm. The delirious darkness of the blindfold allowed me to feel surrounded by the scent of his body and the sensation of him moving within my mouth.

  I licked my lips when he withdrew, still desiring his taste.

  His hand tucked beneath my head again and the pressure of the tie around my eyes was lifted. I felt the silk slip away and I could finally look at him. Gabriel took me by my hands and pulled me up so that we were both on our knees in the middle of the mattress. He wrapped his arms around me and brought me forward so that our bodies crushed together.

  Our mouths tangled passionately, and he lowered himself to sit back on his heels, pulling me forward. I parted my thighs so that I could get closer to him until I was straddling his thighs. He took hold of his cock and guided it so that his head nudged my entrance. I rested my hands on Gabriel's shoulders and held myself steady as he entered me, allowing him to lower me all the way down until I sat in his lap, cradling him tightly inside of me. He guided me to rock my hips so that I grinded on his lap, creating tight, hard strokes, pressing the pad of his thumb to my clit. I cried out at the intense combination of sensations, pulling my mouth away for a moment so that I could take a deep breath. I reached forward again, and our mouths captured each other. Gabriel used his free hand to cup my breast, squeezing into my soft flesh as he kissed me deeply. He lifted me up so that he could thrust harder into me, causing my breast to bounce in his hand.