“Of course I was going to say yes.” I laughed, then kissed him again, hoping this was all real and not part of the Christmas dream I had fought not to leave this morning.
“Wait. Wait. The ring. Don’t you want to try on the ring?” Grey sat forward, urging me upright.
I nodded eagerly. I had forgotten all about the ring as soon as I heard the word ‘marry.’
I held my left hand forward and watched in bewilderment as Grey slipped a platinum ring on my finger with a sparkling diamond center stone. I held it up in the Christmas tree lights, watching it shimmer on my hand.
“You like it?” Grey searched my eyes for affirmation.
“It’s gorgeous.” I couldn’t believe a piece of jewelry like this was on my hand and that Grey had given it to me.
“Marin helped me pick it out.” He smiled slyly. “I wanted to make sure it was exactly what you wanted.”
“Marin? She’s good at keeping secrets, isn’t she?” My eyes met his. “Did anyone else know?”
“Your parents.”
“What? They know?” I turned to the main house even though I couldn’t see it. No wonder my parents had done so much to include Grey. I knew they would be welcoming, but all week they had been treating him like a son-in-law, not a boyfriend. And today, they had both been happy, but unusually jittery. I guess they had been waiting for the proposal all Christmas.
Grey chuckled. “Yeah, I asked your dad as soon as I got here. It wasn’t an easy conversation, but he gave me his blessing right away.”
“Oh, Grey. I don’t know what to say.” I stared into his eyes. This man who I had wanted to be with more than anything in my life had accepted my family.
“I don’t need to hear anything else.” He smiled, reaching for my waist. “You said yes.”
I climbed into his lap, kissing him tenderly. My lips brushing against his, drinking in his lips with every breath.
“I said yes.”
I raised my arms as he shimmied my sweater over my head and unclasped my bra. I worked the buttons on his shirt until his chest was bare. I ran my fingertips over his skin. Silently, we stood, unbuckled our jeans, and stepped out of them, leaving nothing between us. I kneeled in front of him, kissing every inch of his body I could touch. Grey crawled to the floor, taking me under him. His tongue lashing at my breasts, my neck, and my throat. My head rolled to the side, letting go, giving in. He asked and I said yes.
The ring felt heavy and foreign on my finger. I couldn’t help but look at it again, even with fiery kisses shooting sparks across my nerves.
“You want to take it off?” He wiggled it back and forth below my knuckle. “It’s ok if you do.”
“No. This is what I want. Nothing but you, me, and this ring on my body. Nothing else.” I smiled again. “I said yes.” I couldn’t believe this was happening.
He growled against my neck. “I think that’s the sexiest thing you’ve ever said.” He nipped against my throat.
I moaned as his tongue swirled against my nipple. I leaned back on my palms, giving him my breasts.
“Tell me, Eden.”
My eyes flashed open. “Tell you what?” I smiled. “I already said yes,” I teased. I saw the look in his eyes. I knew what he wanted to hear.
“I want to give you everything you want. What do you want right now?” His lips burned into mine, and I gasped when I felt his fingers between my legs, spreading me wider. I whimpered as he slowed the pace, leaving me empty and desperate for more.
“I want you, Grey. I’ve always wanted you.” My hands slid along his sides, taking in the ridges of his muscles.
He chuckled. “Tell me, pretty girl. Right now, what do you want?”
I knew exactly what I wanted. I knew how I wanted to feel with him. I knew how my body craved him like oxygen. I knew how we could be connected emotionally and physically like no other way, as if we were actually melting our bodies together. That was what I wanted.
I slid from his lap and turned away from him, then pressed my back into his chest, my head rocking back on his shoulder. His hands wrapped around my hips and slid between my legs, urging my knees to spread. My breath quickened as the need coiling in my core started to tighten. I rocked into his hands, sending them deeper, until I was almost in a white oblivion.
“Feel good?” He moaned, pressing into my thighs until I had almost forgotten my mission. “Tell me, baby. You want me like this?”
“No.” I shook my head against his shoulder, barely able to form the words. “Like this.” My hands walked forward on the floor, and I lowered myself under the tree, my stomach against the carpet. “Like this, Grey.” I sighed as his chest pressed against my back, following my wishes.