Page 11

One Year Later - New York

Erika

All of them say great things about my art, and their comments move me. Fletcher walks up to me holding two champagne glasses. He hands me one and stands there with a smug grin on his face.

"Let's toast to a successful evening."

"We should go to see what's going on with your work."

His work is showing on the other side of the gallery. We're both being featured tonight, but for some reason, Fletcher thinks I'm the star of the show. He clinks his glass with mine and takes a sip of the bubbly liquid.

"We're right where we need to be, sweetheart."

The gallery owner, Elena, comes to update us on the sales being made. She looks so happy she might burst any minute now.

"Erika! We've just sold the last of the paintings. You're a total success. This is amazing."

I can't believe that all fifty paintings sold so quickly and at a premium price point. Fletcher puts his hand on my back just in time to anchor me as I sway on my feet. Every single one of my paintings has been sold.

"That is amazing. Thank you so much, Elena. I couldn't have done it without you."

"Stop doing that, Erika. Your art is gorgeous. You did all this by yourself."

"Thanks."

I press myself against Fletcher, and he puts an arm around me. This is unreal. More patrons approach me and give me their congratulations. Fletcher doesn't move from my side, knowing that I need him now more than ever.

When the night starts to wind down, he turns to me and holds my hands in his.

"You are a very talented artist, and the sales tonight have confirmed that. How does that make you feel?"

"I don't think it's real."

"It absolutely is. Ready to celebrate?"

"I don't know that I want to go anywhere but back to the hotel."

"That's exactly where we're going to celebrate."

He waggles his eyebrows at me, and I let out a laugh because I just realized what kind of celebration he wants to have. I love those, and now I look forward to getting back there.

"Thank you for encouraging me to do this."

"It's what we've been working on for the past year. I love how well your work has been received."

"Let's get out of here."

"We'll say goodbye to Elena and then leave."

I nod in agreement and let him guide me through the few patrons still enjoying the food and drink that is being offered. Elena has a car for us, and the driver ushers us inside.

I just sold a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of paintings. I am not ready for that or for what comes after.

My mind starts fretting about how people will expect more from me and the work I'll have to produce. My body tenses up next to Fletcher, and he puts a hand on top of mine and gently squeezes.

"It's going to be okay. Stop overthinking things."

"How do you know that's what I'm doing?"

"I know you, Erika. That wonderful brain of yours can be a gift or a curse."

Before I know it, we're at the hotel. I still feel like I'm walking on a cloud, or even better, rolling over a bunch of money. When he opens the door to the suite, I see roses, food, and champagne all laid out for us. Fletcher went all out tonight.

These constant actions show his devotion to me and our relationship. It's part of why I love him so much. I walk up to the table and gently touch one of the long-stemmed roses. It's beautiful in its perfection, and I get a sudden flash of what my next collection will be about.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts when I feel Fletcher next to me, but he's kneeling. And he has a velvet box with a ring in it!

"Fletcher, what…"

"Erika. The first time I saw you at your gallery, I was completely smitten. My feelings grew every time I saw you until I couldn't stand to be in front of you without kissing you. That's when I hid away in my mountain, but you went after me and found me.

"The past years, by your side, have been the best years of my life. Watching you grow and battle your demons has been an honor, and it's made me admire you and love you even more than I already did.

"There is no one that I would rather have at my side for the rest of my life than you. So today, after you've shown the world how utterly talented you are, I want to ask you, will you be my wife?"

Tears are flowing down my face, and I'm shaking with all the feelings his words have stirred up inside me. It has been a long battle for me to get to this point, and Fletcher's been by my side every step of the way.

"I'll be honored to be your wife, Fletcher Connors."

I offer him my hand, and he slides the ring on my finger. I see the beautiful diamond in an old-fashioned setting, and I love it. I know Fletcher has had it custom-made for me, and there's only one like it in the world.

"It's beautiful, baby."

He stands up and takes me into his arms. This is the place where I feel safe and whole—in his arms. He lowers his lips to mine and kisses the crap out of me. There's hunger and passion in that kiss. Our tongues battle with each other for dominance, and I'm not afraid to let him win.

We stand like that for what seems like forever until we're both out of breath. I smile up at him when he stops kissing me and notice that the hunger from the kiss is reflected in his gaze.

"I need to be inside you so badly, sweetheart."

His voice is husky and makes me shiver all over. I turn around and let him lower the zipper of my dress. He does it slowly, using the opportunity to kiss every inch of skin he discovers. He pulls my dress off me, and I step away from it.

I chose some sexy underwear to wear tonight, and I can practically see him drooling with how turned on he is right now.

"You did this for me?"

"I wanted to look special for you tonight."

"You always look special, but right now you look good enough to eat."

He reaches for the clasp of my bra and tosses it down on the floor, on top of the dress, once he's gotten it off me.

He carefully unhooks the garters and slides the stockings down each leg.

His touch is heated like a brand on my skin, which has me trembling all over and feeling my juices start to drip between my legs.

When he lowers my panties, I swear I'm ready to beg him to take me, but Fletcher likes getting his way during our sexy times. His hands start to roam my body from head to toe. He lifts my foot and kisses the tip of my toes, then lets it down.

He slowly places kisses up my inner thigh, getting closer and closer to where I need him to be right now. When he gets to my pussy he inhales deeply as if it’s the best scent in the world, and perhaps it is for him. I start to open my legs for him, but he stands up.

"Lie on your back on the bed and open your legs as wide as you can."

I love how the tone of his voice changes when he's being bossy, and I hurry to do his bidding.

"Reach down and touch yourself."

I slide two fingers up and down my slit feeling how slick my pussy is with my arousal.

"Open yourself up to me. Show me where you want me."

Right now I need to be filled, but I know he won't be hurried. So, I open my folds so that he can see me all pink and glistening for him.

"Do you want my cock? Do you think you're ready for it, or do I need to prepare you?"

"I can take you."

"That's not what I asked."

I feel the bed give when he starts crawling toward me. He gets awfully close to my core and my pussy pulses with need. He does nothing, though. Just looks at me like I'm the most delicious dish he has ever been tempted by.

And I want him to eat this dish so badly, but I know better.

"Use your fingers to fuck yourself. Show me how well you're going to take me."

I reach down and slide two fingers inside me. It's comfortable, and I know he's going to protest, but that's part of the fun of our little game.

"More, sweetheart. Two fingers are not enough. I'm much thicker than that, and you know it."

I decide to brave it and insert two more fingers inside. It hurts a bit, but experience says that his cock will definitely slide in better if I do this. I start thrusting in and out, and I hear moans and whimpers echoing in the room.

"That's it, Erika. You're going to be mine. I'll fuck you often and I'll fuck you well."

"I need you, Fletcher."

"How much?"

I'm fucking myself roughly and feel that little tingling starting to come closer, but I need his big fat cock to be deep inside me now.

"Fletcher!"

The look on his face tells me everything. It's happening now. He opens his trousers and lets himself out. Fuck he's still in his suit and looks so goddamn hot I can't take it. I love how vulnerable I am when I’m naked like this, and he is fully clothed.

Our gazes meet, and I see the satisfaction in his eyes once he slides deep inside me. It's like we're connected now. Exactly how I like it. His thrusts are slow and measured because, of course, he likes to torture me.

The tingling increases, and it's like an invitation to the promised land. He pulls my legs up to his shoulders and starts moving faster and faster inside me.

"You are the most precious thing I have, Erika."

I grab onto his jacket to pull him closer, but he stays still, hovering above me.

"Your pussy was made for me. It feels so perfectly tight around me, and it's driving me crazy. I could blow any second now."

"Do it. Fill me with your cum."

"When I'm ready, sweetheart," he drawls.

I roll my eyes at him, and he laughs out loud. He keeps pumping in and out of me, and now I can almost reach it—it's so close.

"Damn it, Fletcher, I'm almost there."

"Oh yeah? Let's do something about that."

He reaches down to my clit and starts circling it with his thumb. The intense sensation helps me start to unravel and I feel myself begin to clench around his hard cock. It's like I'm strangling his delicious cock, but I can't help myself. Not that he's going to complain about it.

I scream a bunch of obscenities when the orgasm hits me, and I both hear and feel when Fletcher finally lets go and floods my womb with his thick cream. At last, he collapses on top of me, not caring that he's suffocating me. He knows I can take it.

A few moments later, he moves to lie beside me and pulls me into his arms. The fabric of his suit is scratchy against my sensitive skin, and I pinch his side.

"What's that for?"

"You're wearing too many clothes."

His laugh does something to me deep down, and I just grab him tighter so he can't move.

"Do you think we made a baby?" I ask.

"Maybe. Why are you so eager to cut our alone time? You know our lives will change completely after we start having children."

I start to panic and try to pull out of his embrace, but he won't let me.

"Slow down. I want them as much as you do. I just really enjoy our time together. I'm in no hurry to be a father."

"You scared me."

"I just asked you to marry me. I'm in this for the long haul, sweetheart."

His hand goes up and down my arm in a soothing motion, and I start to relax back into his embrace. We fall asleep like that, and it's not until the middle of the night that I feel him shift in bed, now fully naked and with naughty intentions.

I'm all for continuing our celebration and realize that he's right. Our future children can wait. This is our time, and I wouldn't have it any other way. After another round of hot sex, we say soft words to one another.

"I love you, Fletcher."

"I love you, too. Erika."

It's exactly as it should be.