Page 43 of Reluctant to Love

“I am,” I tell her as I brush a kiss against her heated skin.

“No,” she moans. “Touch me.”

It’s not hard to figure out what she means as she rocks against me harder. One of my hands dips between our bodies and my thumb brushes against her clit. She hisses her approval and begs for more.

My only job right now is to make her feel good; I’ll do whatever she asks. I tease her clit, circling my thumb over it slowly until she growls with frustration.

With her hands firmly on my chest, she pushes me back and tumbles right with me.

“What do you want,” I ask her.

“Fuck me,” she begs.

With my hands firmly on her thighs, I sit up and look her square in the eye. “No. I will never fuck you, Eleanor. I’ll only ever make love to you because that’s what you deserve.”

“You know what I mean,” she murmurs.

I shake my head. “I don’t think you do.” As much as I hate to, I slide out of her and shift myself over to the edge of the bed. “There’s something else I’ve been meaning to give you.”

I reach into the drawer of the bedside table and pull out the dark teal ring box. I turn to face Eleanor; whose blue eyes are wide with confusion.

“I only want to make love to you, Eleanor. Forever. I want to marry you, but only if you’ll have me.”

Her hand is shaky as she reaches for the box. She holds it tightly in her hand and says, “Yes.”

I crack the lid open on the box and pluck out the ring. It was a spontaneous purchase after my meeting with Larry; I spotted it in the window of a jeweler and knew this was the perfect ring for Eleanor. Two rose-cut salt-and-pepper diamonds with a row of three smaller brilliant white diamonds sandwiched between them.

I slide it along her finger and look up to see her both smiling and crying.

“I hope I didn’t ruin the mood,” I tease.

“Just the opposite,” she sniffles, her eyes fixed on the ring. When she flicks her gaze back up at me, I can see her happiness sparkling in her eyes. “I’ve never wanted you more.”

I laugh and lean forward to kiss her. She slings an arm around my neck and drags me down on top of her.

The way we fit together and pick up where we left off is effortless. We go slow, making each moment last, letting our kisses and touches linger. I hold her tightly against me as we move together in perfect unison. This second act is less about chasing our passions and desires and more about strengthening our connection to one another.

I clasp my hands with hers and drag them over her head, holding them there as I plunge deep inside of her over and over. I can feel her body stiffen and begin to tremble; both tell-tale signs Eleanor is teetering right on the edge.

I pull back and demand she open her eyes. When her blue gaze meets mine, I smile. “You can let go, sweets. I’ll be here to catch you.”