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“Yes,” I breathed, hips lifting. “Deeper this time.”
His smile was pure sin. He reached for the black bag on the floor, pulling out the silk blindfold. “Still trust me?”
“Completely.”
He tied the blindfold gently, plunging me into darkness, every sense heightened. The rustle of sheets, the heat of his breath, the rough drag of his fingers along my inner thighs—it was intoxicating. I heard the soft clink of metal, then felt the cuffs, this time on my wrists and ankles, spreading me open, vulnerable and aching. The restraint sent a thrill through me, my pulse racing as I waited, anticipation coiling tight.
His touch came first—light, teasing, grazing where I needed him most. I whimpered, tugging against the cuffs, the inability to move intensifying every sensation. Then his mouth, hot and relentless, found me, his tongue tracing slow, torturous patterns that drew gasps I couldn’t contain. He pushed me to the edge, relentless, until I was trembling, begging.
“Not yet,” he murmured, leaving me panting as he settled between my thighs. “You’re mine, Hallie Mae. Say it.”
“I’m yours,” I gasped, voice breaking as he thrust into me, deep and hard, filling me completely. The blindfold made it sharper—the stretch, the heat, the wayhis hands gripped my hips, anchoring me as he set a rhythm that was both punishing and perfect. Pleasure built like a storm, my moans turning to cries as he drove me higher.
He leaned close, lips at my ear, voice raw. “Let go for me, sweetheart.”
I crumbled, pleasure crashing through me in waves, my body clenching around him as I cried his name. He followed, a low groan against my throat, his thrusts slowing but lingering, drawing out every tremor until I was spent, limp, and wholly his.
He removed the blindfold and cuffs with care, kissing the marks on my wrists and ankles, pulling me against his chest. I nestled there, his heartbeat steady under my cheek. “I love you,” I whispered, the words spilling out, raw and true.
“I love you, too,” he said, arms tightening. “Always.”
EPILOGUE
HALLIE MAE
Weeks had passed since Noah’s proposal, the promise of our future settling into my bones like the Lowcountry sun. We’d been hammering away at the Isle of Palms lot, the frame of our house rising against the horizon, each nail a step toward the life we were building. But today, Noah had something else in mind.
He’d slipped out early that morning, muttering about an errand downtown. I hadn’t thought much of it—maybe a supply run for the build—but the way his eyes lingered on me, warm and secretive, sparked a flutter in my chest. By noon, he was back, telling me only to wear something comfortable and be ready. I chose a sundress, soft blue and flowing, my blonde hair loose, a nervous excitement thrumming through me—not just for whatever he’d planned, but for the secret I’d been carrying for days, waiting for the right moment to share.
He drove us out of Charleston, the Lowcountry unfolding—marshes glinting under the sun, palmettosswaying in the breeze. We ended up at a secluded beach on Isle of Palms, the lot for our future home just visible in the distance, its skeleton of beams glowing in the afternoon light.
Noah spread a blanket on the sand, a picnic basket at its center—fresh fruit, sandwiches, a bottle of sparkling cider he’d swapped for wine, though I hadn’t told him why yet. We ate slowly, laughing as he fed me strawberries, his fingers brushing my lips, sparking heat despite the ocean breeze. His touch still set me ablaze, every glance a reminder of the nights we’d spent together, exploring each other with a hunger that never faded.
After, he took my hand, leading me to the water’s edge, the waves lapping at our bare feet. “I’ve got something for you,” he said, stopping to face me, his voice low and serious. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. My breath caught as he opened it, revealing a ring—rose gold, a single diamond catching the sunlight, delicate but strong, like us.
“Hallie Mae,” he said, his eyes locked on mine, “you said yes, but I want you to feel it, every day, until we’re standing at an altar. You’re my home, my fight, my everything. This is my promise—we’re building a life, and I’m all in.”
Tears pricked my eyes as he slid the ring onto my finger, a perfect fit. I laughed through the lump in my throat, throwing my arms around him, kissing him fiercely. “I love it,” I whispered against his lips. “I love you.”
He lifted me, spinning me in the sand, the ocean roaring approval. We sank onto the blanket, kissing slow and deep, the ring glinting as I tangled my fingers in hishair. But as we settled, his arms around me, the weight of my secret pressed harder. I couldn’t wait any longer.
“Noah,” I said, pulling back, my voice trembling but sure. “I have something for you, too.”
His brow arched, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Better than a ring?”
“Maybe.” I took a deep breath, my hand resting on my stomach. “I’m pregnant.”
His eyes widened, his smirk vanishing, replaced by a look of pure, unguarded shock. For a moment, he just stared, like he was trying to process the words. Then a grin broke across his face, bright and unstoppable, and he pulled me into his arms, laughing, a sound so full of joy it made my heart ache.
“Pregnant?” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re serious?”
I nodded, tears spilling now. “Found out a few days ago. I wanted to be sure before I told you.”
He kissed me, hard and fast, then pulled back, his hands cupping my face. “Hallie Mae, you’re gonna be a mom. We’re gonna be parents.” His grin faltered slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “I gotta admit, I thought you were on something—you know, birth control.”
I laughed, a little sheepish, my cheeks flushing. “I probably should’ve been. I was so naive about all this—sex, everything. Growing up, it was all ‘wait for marriage’ and ‘don’t ask questions.’ I didn’t even think about it until … well, until it was too late.”
He chuckled, shaking his head, his thumb brushing my cheek. “You’re telling me we made a baby because you were too busy blushing to read the fine print?”