Aloha

by Laurie Roma

  “Tell me what you want, Elle.”

  “You. I just want you,” she said a little desperately. “Please don’t make me wait anymore.”

  “You’re all I’ve ever wanted. I just don’t want to rush or scare you.” His grip on her tightened, not allowing her to move an inch.

  “Rush me?” She playfully slapped at his chest. “You’ve made me wait years, you tease!”

  He choked on a laugh. “I’ve been waiting just as long. I’m tired of jerking myself off in the shower after I see you.”

  “Really?” She knew he could hear the hopeful tone of her voice and wanted to groan for sounding so needy. “You…every time you saw me?”

  “Seems like it,” he growled, need deepening his tone. He gave her an intense look that made it seem like he could see inside her head. “I haven’t touched another woman since I realized what you are to me.”

  “And what am I?” she whispered breathlessly.

  “Everything,” he swore. “You are everything to me. I love you, Elle.”

  She wasn’t prepared for the sob that escaped before she could stop it. “I…I thought I’d never hear you say that.”

  “Don’t cry, baby. I’ve been telling you for years.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I told you how much I loved you each and every time I said aloha. You are my light, my life, my love. I love you, Elle. Mao loa ka'u aloha. Na'u `oe, ku’uipo.” He kissed away her tears. “Forever, my love.”

  “I love you, Kade. I love your kindness and compassion. Your strength and your gentle heart. You’ve shown me what it means to love. You’ve given me a safe place to grow, to become who I’m meant to be. And who I am is the woman who will love you forever.”

  Her tongue dueled with his, stroking and tasting as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Kade…”

  “I need you so fucking much, Elle. Let me make you mine.”

  His deep voice sent pleasurable tingles down her spine, almost like a seductive phantom touch.

  “I’ve always been yours. Always have, always will be.”

  Kade pressed his lips against the frantic pulse beating at the base of her throat, then he moved lower. He pulled her dress down, exposing her beautiful breasts, and her hands sunk into his hair as he captured her nipple in his mouth. His tongue swirled around the tight bud, then he sucked with more pressure until she was writhing beneath him. He moved to her other breast and gave it the same treatment, sucking hard enough to make her back arch off of the bed.

  Knowing he was close to losing control, he quickly stripped her dress, lace panties, and shoes off, leaving her gloriously bare to his gaze. He ripped off his own clothing, then lowered himself between her parted thighs.

  “Spread your legs for me. I want to taste you first.”

  His hands shook as he pushed her thighs open before she could comply. He wanted to groan at the sight of her sweet pussy. She’d left a tiny strip of hair on her mound, almost like an arrow pointed down to the pretty pink flesh he was dying to taste. He heard her gasp as his tongue swiped over her slit, then he pushed a finger into her tight, hot hole.

  “Kade, please. Make love to me. I can’t wait.”

  “You’re too tight. First, we have to get you ready for me.” He shoved his finger deeper, then used another to stretch her open even more. “Have you let anyone else touch this pretty little pussy?”

  “Just me,” she admitted. “Me and my toys.”

  He paused. On one hand, thinking about her using toys on herself made his cock throb with interest, while another part of him wanted to make her promise that all her pleasure belonged to him.

  “Kade…” she pleaded.

  “Come for me, Elle.”

  He moved his fingers faster, sliding them through her liquid heat. He used the tip of his tongue to circle her clit, then he sucked hard. She screamed his name as she came, and her muscles tightened and pulsed around his fingers. When she relaxed, he pulled his fingers out of her and sucked them into his mouth, savoring the taste of her on his tongue.

  Elle felt like she was floating.

  He’d driven her to a hard climax, but it wasn’t enough. She was desperate to feel his weight on her, to feel his hard, hot length inside of her. When he shifted over her, she ran her hands over his smooth, golden skin. Reaching between them, she took hold of his thick erection, stroking the solid length of him until he growled in warning.

  “Tell me if you’re not ready. I need to know if you want me to get a condom.”

  In answer, she helped position the head of his cock against her opening. She saw the heat flare in his dark gaze, then he was pushing inside her slick heat. Keeping her eyes on his, she stroked her fingertips over the scar on his face that was hidden beneath his dark stubble. Her muscles strained to accept him, and she forced herself to relax.

  Wrapping her legs around him, she tried to pull him deeper. He pushed his cock into her pussy, then retreated before thrusting in again. She strained against him as he continued to torment her with slow strokes, but he easily held her in place. When she let out a little whimper, he leaned down and claimed her mouth in a brutal kiss right before he thrust all the way inside of her, filling her with every inch of his thick, hard shaft.

  Pleasure surged through her in waves as he began to move inside her in a steady rhythm. She felt the pressure building again, indicating her impending release, but she didn’t want to go over the edge alone. Determined to take him with her, she lifted her hips and squeezed her muscles around his cock.

  He kissed her as he continued pounding into her. She screamed into his mouth as she came again, and her entire body shook with her release. He thrust hard and fast, drawing out her orgasm until the sensations bombarding her system completely overwhelmed her.

  When he whispered her name as he came, she held him close. She swore she could feel his hard, hot release shooting into her body, and the carnal knowledge that he had taken her with nothing between them made her shiver.

  Elle closed her eyes and drifted in blissful wonder for several heartbeats. Making love with him had been amazing. She thought she had known what to expect, but nothing could have prepared her for the pleasure he gave her. She hummed with contentment when he leaned down and kissed her, soft and sweet.

  Opening her eyes, she smiled up at him. “That was totally worth waiting for.”

  Laughing softly, he brushed his lips over hers. “It’s a good thing we didn’t have sex in my truck the other day. You’re a screamer.”

  She could feel the blush heating her cheeks. “Hey! That was totally your fault.” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she grinned. “Now you owe me sex in the truck so I can prove I can be quiet.”

  “Challenge accepted.”

  She gasped as he got to his feet and pulled her into his arms. “What are you doing?”

  “My truck isn’t parked here right now, but we can test your theory in the shower,” he said, carrying her toward the bathroom. “Want to bet I can make you scream my name?”

  Giggling, she rolled her eyes. “Like I would ever want to risk losing that bet.”

  “I love you, Elle,” he said softly.

  Brushing her lips against his, she whispered, “Aloha.”

  EPILOGUE

  On a bright, sunny morning, Elle sat on an uncomfortable chair surrounded by her fellow university graduates in the center of the large football stadium. Puffy, white clouds lazily floated in a sky of bold blue over the large venue that had been commandeered to host the graduation ceremony.

  She zoned out as the commencement speaker continued to drone on at the podium up on the stage. Unfortunately, the school had chosen someone who seemed more interested in reminiscing about his own underwhelming achievements instead of saying something inspiring about the future or their potential to change the world. Adding insult to injury, his monotone voice made it impossible to pay attention anyway.

  A cool breeze drifted through the open field. Elle was happy that the we
ather was cooperating, even if it didn’t save her from the stale scent of alcohol emanating off of the guy sitting to her left. Since he smelled like a brewery, she figured he had been celebrating all night. She just hoped he would make it across the stage to collect his diploma when the time came.

  She would have been even more uncomfortable in her black cap and gown if it were warmer out. In a bid to keep herself awake, she glanced around at her fellow graduates. She only recognized a few faces in the crowd. Half of the students were busy on their phones, while another portion looked like they were falling asleep. There were a handful of individuals who seemed to be paying attention, though they were probably wishing they were somewhere else.

  Once the ceremony was over, they would celebrate her graduation with a party at The Bower. Nia had closed down the restaurant for the night, and her parents and the rest of the staff were preparing a spectacular meal for Elle’s friends and family.

  When she felt her phone vibrate, she gave up and pulled it out. She was aware that it was rude to check her phone during someone’s speech, but really, it was the speaker’s fault for being so damn boring.

  Kade: Are you still awake?

  Elle: Barely. I can’t take much more of this. Would anyone notice if I got up and walked out?

  Kade: Don’t joke. I think your mom sensed you thinking that, and now she is giving me the eye.

  Elle: We should have never gotten out of bed this morning.

  Kade: I plan on keeping you in bed for most of our vacation.

  His promise made her shiver in anticipation. Tomorrow, she and Kade were leaving for Hawaii, where they would spend three blissful weeks on the beautiful island of Oahu. They had decided to rent a villa on the beach through one of the hotels. That way, they had the best of both worlds…the option for maid service and privacy.

  And they definitely needed privacy since she was a screamer.

  When Kade touched her, it was impossible for her to hold back. She tended to forget about everything around them. She also blamed him, since he took great pleasure in trying to make her lose control.

  They’d made love countless times, and each time just kept getting better and made her insatiable for more. They’d always had an emotional bond, but their physical relationship was new and exciting. In a way, it was like learning about each other all over again, and every moment they spent together made her fall even deeper in love with him.

  Over the last few weeks, they had been inseparable. They’d officially moved in together and were planning for their future. Sure, they had some awkward moments now and again, but that was to be expected.

  She’d always wondered what being loved by Kade would feel like, but the reality of it was so much more than she could have ever imagined. Each night she fell asleep wrapped in his arms, and she usually woke sprawled out on top of him. She was fascinated by his big, beautiful body, and she couldn’t stop touching him, even in sleep.

  He didn’t seem to mind her fondness for cuddling, and she didn’t mind his need to protect her. He had an almost irrational fear that something would happen to her, so she tried to do whatever she could to help make him feel more at ease. That included keeping her bodyguard detail and learning how to work the insanely high-tech security system he’d had installed in their house.

  She’d never known she could be so happy. Everything she’d ever wanted was suddenly hers. Not only did she have the perfect boyfriend, she also had the perfect career to focus on. While Kade still spent time working on construction projects with Brennan’s crew, he had also been a huge help in getting the Five Leaf Clover Foundation up and running.

  So far, the Foundation had helped a local food bank and renovated the community center that specialized in after school programs. She had planned for the renovation project to take a whole weekend, but with the number of volunteers that had shown up to help, they had finished everything in a single day. While they had several other projects in the works, most of them would have to wait until she got back from her vacation with Kade.

  In the interim, she was leaving everything in Heath’s capable hands.

  When the crowd started to applaud, she let out a sigh of relief that the speeches were finally over. The noise woke the guy sitting next to her, and he almost fell out of his chair. When they started calling the graduates to the stage, she typed in another message on her phone.

  Elle: I’m so glad I didn’t wear heels today. The last thing I need is to embarrass myself by falling in front of everyone.

  Kade: You’ll do fine, baby. Just take your time. Now, pay attention. Love you, graduate.

  Elle: Love you more.

  She’d just put her phone away when they called her row. As she made her way up the steps, she did as Kade had suggested and took her time. When they called her name, she started walking across the stage. She smiled when she heard the loud cheers coming from her family and friends. They were rowdy as hell, but she expected that.

  Then, she jumped in surprise when an air horn blasted.

  Glancing over to where her family was sitting in the stadium seating, she tried to figure out which one of her brothers was making that obnoxious noise. She almost tripped over her own feet when she realized her mother was the one holding the damn air horn.

  After shaking hands and retrieving her diploma, she hurried off of the stage and returned to her seat. She was proud to see her name printed on the thick paper, and she couldn’t wait to see the diploma in the frame she’d gotten to hang on the wall.

  The rest of the commencement ceremony flew by. When she was finally free, Dan and Libby appeared and silently led her through the crowd. Once she saw her family and friends, she ran to them. Not caring who was around, she jumped into Kade’s arms, kissing him passionately.

  “Congratulations, ku’uipo. I can’t wait to get you out of that robe,” he murmured before kissing her again.

  “Hey, hand her over,” Brennan complained. “You two live together. Do that later, away from us.”

  Siobhan laughed. “You can have her back once we all get to congratulate her.”

  Kade briefly hesitated before releasing Elle. As he watched her friends and family hugging her and taking pictures, he felt an overwhelming surge of love for her. Shoving his hand into his pocket, he touched the small ring box hidden there.

  He had wanted to propose for weeks, but he had decided to wait until Aria had finished the ring she had made for Elle. The large sapphire was surrounded by smaller diamonds, and the subtle detailing of the platinum band had a tribal flare. He couldn’t wait to see the ring on her finger, and suddenly, the box felt like it was burning a damn hole in his pocket.

  When Elle walked back over to him, he said, “That’s it. I can’t do it. I was going to do this when we were alone tonight, but I don’t want to wait another minute.”

  Her brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  Kade had been agonizing about how to make the proposal special for her. Wanting to be eloquent and romantic, he’d tried to plan out his speech. He’d even written out drafts, but now he couldn’t remember a damn thing he’d prepared.

  But none of that mattered.

  All he had to do was be honest and tell her what was in his heart.

  “I love you, Elle. Sometimes I feel as if I was born loving you. It just took me a while to find you, then a few more years to wait for you to catch up. But I’m done waiting.”

  Her eyes went wide as he went down on one knee before her. Pulling out the small jewelry box, he opened the lid.

  “I don’t just want to be your fiancé. I want to be your husband. Marry me. Marry me in Hawaii next week.”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes as she nodded. “Yes!” She bounced up and down, then flung herself into his arms. “Oh, my god! Yes!”

  Grinning at her enthusiastic answer, he got to his feet and swung her around. He took her mouth in a heated kiss as shouts of approval and applause rang out around them.

  “It’s a goo
d thing I made the wedding bands already,” Aria said.

  “And she already picked out her dress,” Vivienne added. “Bliss, can you finish the alterations by next weekend?”

  “Sure, the dress didn’t need much.”

  “I’m going to call the hotel right now and get started on the plans,” Siobhan announced. “My baby is getting married!”

  “We don’t have to do any work if it’s a destination wedding, right?” Zane wanted to know, sounding concerned.

  “Seriously? That is what you’re worried about?” Griffin asked.

  Ignoring them, Kade gently lowered Elle back to her feet. He slid the ring on her shaking finger, then just rested his forehead against hers. “I love you, ku’uipo.”

  “I love you, Kade,” she whispered, cupping his face in her hands. “No more waiting. All we need is your family and mine on a beach at sunset.”

  “A wedding at sunset,” he said with a nod. “That sounds absolutely perfect.”

  She was his light, his life, his entire world. And on the island of his birth, he would vow to love her until his last breath.

  The End

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Laurie Roma mainly writes contemporary, romantic suspense, and sci-fi romance. She can usually be found tapping away on her keyboard, creating worlds for her characters while she listens to music. Of course, her playlist depends on her mood…but then again, so does her writing. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at laurieromabooks@gmail.com.

  For more information about all Laurie Roma titles,

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