Page 64 of Secrets That Bind Us

I grab her little hand in mine, quickly making sure the ring is still in my pocket.

Tonight is the night so many dreams come true.

But first– we walk out onto the patio, now lit with a hundred little tea lights, the chairs and tables moved out of the way.

The Way You Look Tonight-- the song that played above us on our first date in this very building- - plays softly in the background.

Everyone stands around with a candle and a glass of wine in their hand.

Savannah and Noah at the forefront, holding a flute of grape juice.

I spin Verity and crash her to me, keeping one hand on the small of her back, then putting her hand in mine.

“Dean!” she says, with a grin. “What is this?”

I sniff, happy the heaters we installed work, because there is a definite chill in the air from all the rainy days.

But I’ve learned to love them, because it’s when she’s so lovely and cuddly.

Every rainy day we’ve shared, all she wants to do is be in my arms, and it has been nothing short of paradise.

I stop dancing and get down on one knee, but I turn to Savannah and Noah and hold out my hand to them.

Savannah, cerulean eyes wide, comes to me tentatively.

Noah follows. My heart lurches to my throat, beating erratically, and when her tears fall– God help me, so does one of mine.

I clear my throat. “Savannah Huntington, when I said I wanted the opportunity to be your dad, I meant it. I know this may seem fast for you, but I promise, I promise every day of my life, I will make up for every day I wasn’t there.

I want to be your dad forever. And I really hope you’ll allow forever to start today.

" I dig out a small necklace from my pocket, one with a sunflower pendant. “Your mama once told me sunflowers turn towards each other when there’s no sun for warmth. They’re infinite.

While I want to be in your life infinitely, as your father, I also want you to remember that you can always turn to me. Will you let me be that for you?”

Savannah nods with a turn and lets me clasp the necklace onto her.

I face my son, reaching into my pocket, I pull out another necklace– this time, the pendant is a compass.

He immediately turns and lets me clasp it around his neck.

The crowd laughs at his eagerness, and it warms my heart.

“Noah, the time I’ve spent with you makes me never want to waste any more time without you.

I love being your buddy, but I’d love to be your dad more. Will you let forever start today?”

“I wish it started yesterday,” he replies, with tears in his eyes. They both throw their arms around me. I hug my children close and have to clear my throat once more to swallow down my emotions.

When they let go, I turn to their mother. “Verity,” I breathe, doing my best to contain the emotions rushing.

“Oh my God.” she whispers.

“You said you wanted us.” She nods, small tears streaming down her face. I reach up and wipe them away. “You can say no.” I whisper. “It’ll hurt. But you can say no. We can wait.”

“I’ve already waited too long.” she replies, voice breaking. “This is perfect. It’s us.”

Fuck yeah.

Not taking my eyes away from the love of my life, I start with, “I fell in love with you at eight years old. At fifteen. At sixteen and seventeen. I fell in love with you at eighteen. And I’ve been so lucky to fall in love with you again at thirty-two.

I can’t wait to fall for you at thirty-three.

And thirty-four. I can’t wait to love you my whole life.

I am destined to fall for you over and over again, just as I was made to love you.

I feel like sometimes that’s the only thing I’ve ever done right.

You and I are eternal.” I pull my Nan’s ring from my pocket.

“I promise to make you as happy as I can every day. To be your muse. To be the honest man you’ve always asked of me, I promise to choose you– choose us– every day.

No matter what comes our way. Will you please make me the happiest man alive and be my wife? ”

With a choked sob, she screams out “YES!”

Our friends once again erupt in a frenzy behind us.

After securing the ring on her finger, I get to my feet, then haul her to me. Pressing my lips to hers, I’m unable to stop the smile that breaks out on my face. “I’m so getting you pregnant when we get home, baby.” I whisper when I pull away.

“Trying to trap me already, Mr. Carson?”

Christ, why is that so hot? “Like you wouldn’t fucking believe.” I rasp.

“Lucky for you, I’m willing.”

“Kids are staying with me tonight, babe.” We hear from beside us and part to see Jake grinning at us, while holding out a glass of wine. “Congratulations. It’s about damn time.”

Our friends crowd us, then we all simply enjoy the little sandwiches and drinks Iris and Trish put out for us.

Soon, they start to leave one by one, with Eli and Jake staying behind with our kids.

Noah is already asleep in Jake’s arms. I give my son a kiss on the forehead and lean down to kiss Savvy on hers before they go. Verity does the same.

”Are you ready to go?” I ask her, taking her small hand that’s now rocking my ring. It looks so fucking good on her finger. A solitaire, three-karat, emerald-cut diamond on a gold band with three smaller diamonds on either side.

“I am so ready.” She flirts.

We practically race to my house since it’s closer.

The second the door closes behind me, and I lean my back on it, she turns around and just faces me.

She doesn’t comment on anything, but her eyes flare with desire.

In that dress, those heels, the way her hair looks, the light hits her just right– making her look ethereal.

I pull out my phone and snap a quick picture which makes her giggle. “What was that for?”

“Just wanted to snap a picture before I tear you apart.”

She kicks off her heels but stays on her tiptoes, so I kick off my boots.

“Oh yeah?” She reaches behind her, and I hear the zipper slowly chase down the teeth.

The dress drops to her feet, and my heart falls with it.

She steps out of it and next, she reaches into her hair and unclips it, letting the clip fall to the ground atop the dress, and my woman is standing before me in nothing but a black, high waisted thong and a black, strapless bra barely holding her tits up.

Nothing but sweet temptation wrapped in silky sin.

“Yeah.” I rasp.

She smirks and lifts a brow. “You’re gonna have to catch me first.” And then she dashes away.

Game fucking on. She doesn’t know this house like I do.

I hear a door slam and rush to it, opening the door only to find the guest room empty.

But I still check the closet just in case.

I hear another door slam shut. Okay, sneaky little thing.

I race throughout the house only to hear her little feet going up the stairs when I’m in the kitchen, and I race the back way up-- finding her in the hallway just before she gets to my bedroom. “Well, look at what I found…”

“Hmmm…” she purrs. “Or did I want you to find me?”

“Why, baby? Tired of running? You ready to get fucked within an inch of your life?”

She whimpers but glances at the door to my left.

She stands up straight but then darts into my room, and I chase her inside, feeling like a kid again.

She jumps onto my bed and turns around, and I can’t help but laugh.

“You’re in for it now, Verity. If you like being chased, just wait till the Spring.

You think I won’t fuck you out in the woods like a madman, you have another thing coming. ”

She arches her brow. “Ohhhh…”

Fuck, now I’m hard as a rock. I unfasten the button on my shirt and tear it off my body, only to do the same to my pants and drop them just as fast. I reach for her, but she bounces away. “Verity…”

“Dean…” She mocks.

“Come on baby,” I reach for her again but she bounces and everything on her dangerous body jiggles with her. “I just want to eat your pretty pussy… get down and I’ll treat her real nice . I’ll be so… fucking… kind .”

She stops bouncing. “What if I don't want you to treat me real nice, huh?” She takes a step forward, her head almost hitting the ceiling fan, and puts her hand on my head, looking down at me.

My hands go to the backs of her thighs, just below that crease where they meet her ass, and I inhale her soft scent, only to lick up from the waistband of her panties to her bellybutton.

“What if I want you to worship my pussy on your knees?”

I shiver at her use of the word pussy . Such a filthy word coming from the lips of a fucking angel.

“You think I won't?” I let my fingers trail up her soft skin, hook into the waistband of her thong, and I tug them down, kissing just above her sex when she steps out of them. “You think just because I’ll worship every millimeter of your body that I won’t fucking wreck you when I’m done?

” I reach up and unclasp her bra, loving the way her tits spill out of it, nipples hard and ready for my tongue.

I kiss her stomach, each of her hips, then nuzzle my nose into the soft patch of trimmed curls, inhaling when I catch a whiff of her arousal.

“Whatcha think, baby? Huh?” I lick between her thighs, groaning when her tang hits my taste buds.

“I think you’d look better on your knees for me, like you did when you were proposing.”

Well goddamn. “Yes, ma’am.” I groan, then sink to my knees and she sinks to hers– only to lean back onto her elbows.

She scoots down to the edge of the bed and spreads her thighs wide fucking open for me.

I hiss when I can see how she glistens. I lean forward and kiss the inside of her knee. “Is all that for me?”