He nods profusely. “Okay, I accept your terms. Can I kiss you now?”
I grin. “Yeah, that’d be okay.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to finish before he presses his lips to mine. I’ve missed his kisses almost as much as I’ve missed him.
I pull him as close as he can get, not wanting any distance between us. We stay outside, making out, until Daniela whistles from the doorway.
“Sorry to interrupt, but dessert is being served and I know you wanted a cupcake before they ran out.”
I laugh against Cameron’s lips. “We’ll be in in a second.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“My car is right out front,” Cameron says, kissing my neck. “We could ditch this party and go to your place. Or my place. Or a dark alley.”
“Tempting,” I say. “But I really do want a cupcake.”
Cameron sighs. “Fine, we’ll get you a cupcake as long as we get to do more of that later.”
I give him my best seductive look. “We have all night to do that.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” he says.
And he did.
Epilogue
Cameron
I pace in front of the stairs, waiting for Melody to come down.
We moved in together six months ago, when the lease was up on my apartment. It wasn’t exactly planned. We were taking a walk in Daniela’s neighborhood one night when we saw this house for sale. It happens to have the huge backyard that I’ve always wanted and the bay windows that Melody has always wanted. Fate stepped in, and we became homeowners.
“Hurry up! You can’t be late to your own launch party.”
“I’m coming!” she calls down. A few seconds later, she appears at the top of the stairs. Her red dress falls just below her knees. If we weren’t in such a hurry, I’d bring her back to the bedroom and take it off.
Tonight is a big night, though. And not just because it launches Bubbles, Melody’s all-natural soda line.
“Are you ready?”
Melody nods and makes her way down the stairs. I pull her in for a quick kiss before we head for the door. It’s early November and chilly outside. I’m wearing a jacket over my suit and Melody has on her favorite coat.
Over the last year that we’ve been together, Melody has gotten used to my money. There was one thing she couldn’t handle, though: the car. Since I wasn’t horribly attached to it, I traded it in for something more practical. Melody loves the bright yellow Mustang. It’s still fun, but not as flashy as the Mercedes.
We get in the Mustang and head for the venue hosting the launch. Melody got her products into a few restaurants here in Boston, and one agreed to having her and our friends and family to celebrate.
Even my brother is coming. Jack and I still have a strained relationship, but we’ve been working on it. His current girlfriend, who he started dating about a month after being fired from Snax, made him go to therapy. Apparently, it’s working, because she hasn’t left him yet. He’s never been in a relationship for this long. I’m hoping it lasts.
When we get to the restaurant, Melody hesitates. “I’m nervous.”
I take her hand in mind. “You’re going to do great. Everyone is going to love the drinks. I’ve tasted them, and they’re delicious.”
I hope she doesn’t notice my shaking hands. I’m nervous, too, for an entirely different reason.
People are milling about when we arrive. I walk in first and get everyone’s attention so Melody can have her grand entrance.
She’s smiling so brightly when she hears the applause. Thankfully, I hired photographers to capture everything this evening. I’m sure they got that smile on camera.
“Speech!” someone yells from the crowd. It sounded like Jack’s voice, but I can’t be sure.
Melody blushes. “I’m not great at speeches,” she says. “But I do want to thank everyone for coming out. This venture started when I was thirteen, and I can’t believe that now, thirteen years later, it’s a real, tangible product. I can’t wait for everyone to taste the sodas. Please let me know your favorite flavors. And if you hate all of them, lie to me and tell me you love them.”
The crowd laughs. My girl may hate public speaking, but she’s great at it.
“Anyway, enjoy the food, it’s delicious. Have fun and thank you again for coming!”
Everyone cheers. Her parents beat me to Melody and give her hugs. Her dad looks over his shoulder and winks at me. My hand reaches into my pocket on instinct. The velvet box is still there, waiting for the perfect moment.
Melody has to greet her guests, so I head for the bar. Emma is there with her boyfriend, sitting next to Daniela and her fiancé. They got engaged over Christmas and are planning a spring wedding next year.
“Are you having a good time?” I ask the group.
Emma takes a sip of her drink. “I am. This soda is amazing! I can’t wait to tell Melody.”
“What flavor are you drinking?”
“Blueberry guava.”
My mouth waters. “That’s my favorite.”
Melody tried to find a new job after Snax, but nothing seemed to fit. One day, when we were laying in bed, she told me she was thinking about moving forward with Bubbles, finally. She was tired of learning and wanted to put it into practice. The next day, I went over her business plan. It was totally solid. Within a few weeks of her search, Melody had investors. It wasn’t an easy road, but she made it. Tomorrow, her sodas will be sold in grocery stores, markets, restaurants, and other places all over the country. I think by next year, she’ll be national. There has already been some interest from Canada and a few places in Europe.
I chat with Emma and Daniela for a while, keeping one eye on Melody the entire time. The longer I wait, the more nervous I get.
“Excuse me, sir,” a waiter says. “We’re going to start the first course, if that’s okay.”
This is my chance.
“Can you give me a couple minutes?”
The waiter nods, and I find Melody still near the entrance.
“Hi,” I say. “You’re a hit.”
She smiles and gives me a light kiss. “I’m having so much fun.”
“They’re ready to serve the food, but I want to make a quick announcement first.”
Melody’s face twists in confusion, but she nods.
“Excuse me, everyone,” I call out. It takes a couple repetitions for everyone to pay attention to me. My palms are sweating. “Thank you for coming to celebrate Melody’s launch. I am so incredibly proud of her and all the work she put in to make this possible.”
I pause to give everyone a chance to cheer.
“Most of you know me, but for those who don’t, I’m Cameron Colter, Melody’s boyfriend. We met when Melody was an assistant at my company and though we had our ups and downs, we made our way back to each other.”
A few “awes’” ring out through the crowd. I turn to Melody and speak only to her.
“I can’t imagine my life without you. Waking up next to you every morning is exactly where I’m supposed to be. We’re not always perfect, but that’s okay. There will never be anyone in the world who fits me the way you do, Melody. I love you, forever and always.” I take Melody’s hand in mine and kneel down. The crowd gasps, and Melody’s jaw drops. “Melody, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she cries out with no hesitation. She pulls me up on my feet before I have a chance to slip the ring on her finger.
“Jesus, woman, let me make it official!”
Melody laughs. “Sorry, I got excited.”
I slide the simple engagement ring on her ring finger. I was tempted to get her something big and flashy, but that’s not Melody’s style. Instead, I opted for three stones on a silver band. A little birdie named Daniela told me that was her dream ring.
“It’s perfect,” she says, pulling me in for another kiss. “I love it. I love you!”
The crowd surrounds us and everyone offers their congratulations.
Most of the people here knew I was planning on proposing. Once I decided, I couldn’t keep it a secret. It’s a miracle Melody didn’t find out.
As the excitement settles, the restaurant serves the food, so everyone finds their seats. Melody and I are next to each other at the head of the table.
“Are you happy?” I ask her.
She takes in the room, then her ring, then me. “Today is the happiest day of my life.”
I kiss her lips lightly.
“Good,” I say. “Because it’s the happiest of mine, too.”
Melody
I can’t believe so many people showed up to my launch party. I was expecting maybe my family and Daniela. There were at least a hundred people there to celebrate me.
I drop my shoes by the front door of the house I share with Cameron. My purse is flung somewhere in the vicinity of a hook.
“Tired, future Mrs. Colter?” Cameron asks.
I stare down at my newest piece of jewelry, a beautiful engagement ring.
“Exhausted.”
Cameron kisses my neck. “Does that mean you’re too tired to celebrate our engagement?”
I turn around to meet his eyes. “Absolutely not.”
Cameron kisses my lips hard, his tongue finding its way into my mouth. I groan against his lips. Even after a year, I’m still not used to how good it feels to kiss him.
“Shall we go upstairs?”
I offer him a devious grin. “I think it’s time we christen the living room.”
Cameron picks me up bride-style. “I think you’re right, future Mrs. Colter.”
He walks us to the living room and tosses me onto our sectional. I giggle as he climbs above me and kisses my neck.
Cameron lifts up the skirt of my dress and pulls my panties down my legs. His head disappears between my thighs.
“You taste so good, baby,” Cameron says, his tongue darting into my wet pussy. He inserts a finger, and then a second, plunging in and out.
I wriggle around on the couch, changing his angle.
“I love your fingers and your tongue, babe, but I want something else.”
I grab the back of his shirt and pull him towards me. I can taste myself on his lips as I kiss him. Our tongues dance together as he undoes his pants and slides them down enough to release his throbbing cock.
“Are you ready for me, Melody?”
I spread my legs wide. “Always, babe.”
Cameron’s hard cock sinks into my waiting pussy. It doesn’t matter how many times we do this, it always feels like magic the first time he enters me.
“More,” I beg. “Harder.”
He obeys my command, plunging in and out quickly. Our lovemaking changes each time. Sometimes we’re frenzied and quick, like teens trying to fit it all in before their parents get home. Others, we’re slow and gentle.
Tonight is quick. We’re both so turned on that neither of us will last long.
Cameron rubs my clit as his cock penetrates deep inside me. He bends his head down to capture my nipple in his mouth, sucking hard.
“Fuck,” I cry out, arching my back. “I’m so close. Don’t stop!”
He doesn’t. His thrusts become even more frenzied. My nails scratch up and down his back until I can’t take it anymore.
“I’m cumming!” Cameron yells out as the same time I find my release. We finish together, both panting as his cum fills me to the brim.
Both spent, we cuddle together on the couch, not bothering to put our pants or panties back on.
“I’m glad you said yes,” he says quietly.
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“I hoped you would.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down for a kiss. “I’m yours, Cameron. Now and forever. I love you.”
He smiles and curls up against me. “I love you, too.”
Cocky S.O.B. Page 15
