Not Yet
Page 24
I watched the bubbles in my champagne flute as I rested my head on his still cut, still chiseled, still sinfully delicious chest.
“You never wished anything went differently, Em? I know we started out young, and it hasn’t always been easy, but you don’t regret it, do you?” Landon looked so vulnerable I was transported right back to that night five years ago. We didn’t know then that we would make it, stick together, and never turn our backs on each other. Not for one day. Once we could be with one another, fully, we never, ever let go. Back then it was still a dream—a wish—and now we knew we had done it.
“Not for one minute. You’re my best friend. You’re my lover. You are… my one.” I used the words he had told me once. The words that had solidified everything I felt in my heart. That we belonged fully to one another. I kissed him on the corner of his mouth as he groaned in response.
“Fuck, yes. And you’re mine.” Landon traced his tongue along the edge of my bottom lip and I slowly opened to him. It truly amazed me that after all this time I could desire him like I did at this moment. Landon’s kiss was my addiction.
He sat up, pulling me up with him. I curled up on his lap, nuzzling my face against his neck.
“Emma, I can’t think of a better place or a better time to ask you this.” He pulled me away to face him. “Will you stay by my side for the rest of our lives? Will you be my one forever? Will you marry me?” Landon looked nervous and joyous at the same time. His eyes moved back and forth, frantically trying to read my reaction.
I squealed and began kissing his lips over and over again. “Yes, yes, and yes! I love you, Land! Of course I will marry you.”
He moved me gently next to him and got down on one knee on the floor. He brought the small, black velvet box out of his shorts pocket and opened it slowly. “I almost forgot the most important part.” He smiled beautifully at me as tears rolled down my face.
Landon had chosen a gorgeous platinum ring with three round stones in a row. “This first one celebrates our past, the middle signifies our incredible present, and the last represents the future ahead of us. I can’t imagine anyone in the world I would rather share this life with.” Landon spoke gently as he slid the ring on my finger.
I stood up and walked around the room with my left hand extended. “Emma Washington. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?”
Landon watched me with amusement until I turned toward him with a different expression. I watched the change cross over his face as I slowly unwrapped the tie on my robe and let the robe fall to the ground.
“It just occurred to me that you are now a fully certified teacher.” I walked slowly over to the bed where Landon’s eyes moved carefully over the length of my now very naked body.
“I’m really in need of some tutoring. I’ve fallen pretty far behind. Can you help me?”
Landon watched as I knelt down and slid off his shorts and boxers, before climbing onto his lap.
“Oh, I can teach you a few things, Ms. Harris—soon to be Mrs.—well, really Dr.—Washington.”
“Is that so?” I sucked gently on Landon’s lower lip, before biting it and pulling it toward me. I opened my mouth, my tongue hungrily seeking his. He reached between my legs, touching, stroking me until I was ready to come apart. Then, when he was sure I was ready for him, he placed his hands on my hips and guided me down onto him as we moved together.
We didn’t break our kiss as Landon lifted me up and pressed me down hard over and over until I felt the orgasm wash over me.
We stared into one another’s eyes, watching the look of pleasure on each other’s face. He gripped me tightly, releasing into me with a strong shudder, and we stayed entwined until our breathing became steady again.
Lying in bed, just like we had after the first night we made love, Landon and I remained quiet. We kissed softly, touched gently, and enjoyed the feeling that comes after making love with the right person. Completion.
Landon taught me so many things over the past five years. He taught me to be patient, to wait for what is really important, to trust that he never would leave me, and to believe in love.
And I did. I believed in love. I saw it in others around me and I felt it in my heart each day. More importantly, I believed in us. Landon told people how much he learned from me, but I don’t think I taught him anything, really. I may have been the teacher, but I was the one who got the real education.
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Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Not Yet.
If you enjoyed Emma and Landon’s story, please leave a review!
Reviews mean so much to a new author.
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WRITING THE FIRST, very rough copy, of a story that has developed in your imagination is just the very first baby step on the long journey to publication.
The biggest thanks go to my amazing husband, Joe, who is my first editor and beta reader. His insight and comments made this book so much stronger.
Thank you to my mom, my second beta reader, and supporter of my stories from the time they began in elementary school. She has always loved everything I’ve written- even the steamy scenes.
My girlfriends and beta readers- Bekky, Kelly, Jen, Pam, Payton, Tara and Teri- how can I say thank you enough? Some of you asked me tough questions and some just gave support, but you all listened and encouraged me and lifted me up when I needed it. Thank you!
And to my writing group, Tina, Danielle, and Christine- thanks for answering questions, reading drafts, and encouraging me through the ups and downs that go along with writing a book. A special thank you to Christine Manzari- the best beta reader ever! The time and care you put into the feedback of my book still amazes me. You are a truly unselfish artist- you are in it for the love of books, and I’ll never forget your help. Everyone needs to read her books- DEVIATION and CONVICTION- you will love them!
Thanks to Tara from Manuscript Critique Service for my line edit, Regina Wamba of MaeIDesign.com for the gorgeous book cover, and Julie from JT Formatting for getting me all ready to publish. I appreciate all of your work so very much. Also, I’d like to thank Autumn and Andrea from Wordsmith Publicity for agreeing to take me on and plan my cover reveal and book tour.
Finally, to anyone reading this right now- you have made my life-long dream come true. I am a writer, thanks to you.
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LAURA WARD LIVES in Maryland with her loud and very loving three children and husband. She married her college sweetheart and is endlessly grateful for the support he has given her through all their years together, and especially toward her goal of writing books. When not changing diapers, driving to lacrosse practice, or checking spelling homework, Laura is writing or reading romance novels.
Contact Laura at:
www.facebook.com/LauraWardAuthor
Twitter — @laurarosnerward
Instagram — _Laura_Ward
Email — laurawardauthor@yahoo.com
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