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Biting her lip to keep from screaming his name, she came on his face as he continued to draw out every last drop of pleasure leaving her a trembling but satisfied mess.

When she could form a thought, she looked up to find Eli watching her with that smug, cocky smile she’d come to know so well.

“Feeling pleased with yourself?” she asked.

“Oh, yeah.”

Scooping her into his arms, he carried her over to the couch and laid her down on it. Then after giving her a reverent look that had her both feeling attractive and tingling with anticipation, he shed his jeans and stretched out above her.

He entered her with one smooth thrust, and she moaned in pleasure as he filled her so completely it was like they were made for each other. Eli thrust slowly in and out, and her hips began to move, meeting him thrust for thrust.

Pleasure built low in her stomach, spreading throughout her body until it consumed her, and this time she couldn’t help screaming his name as he sent her spiraling into another orgasm.

Eli came a second after she did and the fact that they were both experiencing such pure ecstasy at the same time made it all the better.

“I'm not ever going to get enough of that,” she said as her fingers trailed lazy circles on his back as she held him close.

“I'd say me either, but I think that’s a given,” he teased. “Come on, let’s get out of here. We’ll go to the penthouse, the furniture isn’t delivered yet, but there’s still some ice cream left.”

“You know I'm also not ever going to get enough ice cream,” she added on a giggle.

“Sex and ice cream, can't say that’s not a great day.”

She giggled again because Eli lowered all her inhibitions and allowed her to just be free, not so serious and logical all the time.

They put their clothes on, and Eli’s driver took them back to the penthouse where they proceeded to christen every single room of the place, and eat enough ice cream to put a couple of sugar addicted preschoolers to shame.

By the time they were done it was dark out, and Florence was ready to curl up in Eli’s arms and get some sleep, but it seemed he had other ideas.

“Put your shoes on,” he said, holding them out to her.

“We going somewhere?”

“Yep.” He wouldn’t tell her anything else, so her curiosity grew as she put her shoes on and followed him out of the penthouse.

They bypassed the elevator and instead headed for a flight of stairs.

“What are we doing?” she asked, unable to figure out what Eli was up to.

“You’ll see.” He took her hand and led her up to the roof.

“You’re bringing me to the roof?”

“Yep.”

“Why?” She looked around, seeking a clue as to what he had planned, but all that was up here was a little rooftop garden. “What’s going on? What are you up to?”

“Come sit with me,” was all he said as he led her over to the edge of the roof and tilted his head up to look at the sky.

“When I was a little boy, I used to be scared to go to sleep, I was afraid of nightmares.

I used to get upset as soon as it got dark because I knew bedtime was coming.

My mom tried everything to get me over this fear, she took me to doctors, and tried to get me to explain exactly what it was that was scary to me.

In the end, she took me outside one night after it got dark, she put a picnic blanket on the grass, and we lay on our backs and stared up at the sky.

She taught me all about the constellations and how they got their names, we did that every night for two weeks and then suddenly I realized that I wasn't afraid anymore.”

“That’s a sweet story.” She rested her head against his shoulder, and his arm came around her shoulders, holding her close.

Sometimes she wished she had lovely stories about special moments like that with her family.

Although she didn't, she was determined that her children would have enough memories to make up for the ones she didn't have.

“After that, anytime I felt scared I would open my curtains and look out at the stars. Over time I outgrew my fear of the dark like most kids do, but I never stopped loving the stars. There’s something so special about them, they’re beautiful and interesting, and one day I want to lie on a picnic blanket in my backyard with my kids and teach them everything their grandmother never got to share with them.

” Taking her hand again, he led her off to the side where there was a picnic blanket spread out.

She gasped, and tears pricked her eyes. “This is the blanket isn’t it? You kept it.”

“I did.” Guiding her on to the blanket, they sat down and then stretched out, staring up at the wide, velvety blue expanse dotted with thousands of sparkling diamonds.

“I brought you up here for a reason,” he explained as he stroked his hand up and down her arm.

“I owe you one romantic gesture when I ask you to move in with me.

So, Florence, I would love it if you would move in with me here as soon as the furniture arrives.

Until then we can stay at the hotel, or your place, or move between the two.

You up for living with me? I know I drive you crazy sometimes, and I can't promise you that I won't be cocky most days, but I really want to watch the stars with you before we go to bed at night, and wake up with you in my arms.”

“I would love to move in with you. And you didn't really have to make a big gesture like this, I already said yes.”

“I wanted to make a gesture, you deserve a gesture.” He turned his face and caught her lips, kissing her sweetly and tenderly, and somehow that was better than the hotter, passionate kisses of earlier when they’d been making love.

“Just for the record, I love all your sides. I love that you’re confident and cocky because if you weren't we wouldn’t be here together tonight. And I love even more that you’re this big, sweet, cuddly softie underneath because it makes me feel special.”

“You are special, princess, and I don’t want you to ever forget it.”

“I never felt special before you came along,” she admitted.

“I know, honey, but it was their loss not yours.

Your mom and dad are the ones who missed out on having this amazing, sweet, compassionate, strong woman in their lives.

But their loss is my gain, because I'm the one who got to be by your side when you finally figured out just how special you are, and that makes me feel special.”

“Are you trying to make me cry?” she sniffed.

“No, sweetheart, I just want you to know how much you mean to me and how proud I am of you for realizing that you deserve the world. And that’s what I'm going to give you, the world.”

“I don’t need the world, Eli. I just need you.” She lifted a hand to cup his cheek, his scruff tickling her palm as her fingers stroked his soft skin.

“You have me, Florence. You have me.”

Those were the most wonderful words anyone had ever said to her.