“Oh.” I just assumed, given our current position, he was going to say something dirty.
“I love that you always believe in me.”
“I always will.” I pull on his neck and lift my head to kiss him again.
Soon, I’m panting and moaning and begging him not to stop. He continues, pumping his hips until my eyes roll back in my head and my legs tighten around his hips. I’m overcome by the intensity of my orgasm and I can barely breathe, let alone move. It’s not long before he collapses on top of me. His heavy breaths warm my neck.
“Now we can eat,” he says out of breath.
First we shower, then we eat.
After dinner, we take a walk. We stroll through the Gas Lamp with our arms around each other until he stops.
“You ready?” he asks.
I’m confused until I turn my head to the window of the building he stopped in front of. “Now?”
“Yes.” He smiles. “I want to put a ring on your finger right now.”
We enter the jewelers and the sales lady clearly recognizes him. She hurries over, calling him by name. Aidan introduces me before we sit in front of the case containing engagement rings.
“Why is it that you know which case houses engagement rings?”
One eyebrow rises as he smiles at me. “I’m not as slow as the kid thinks I am.” That shut me up. “I came in here last week, but I couldn’t decide.”
I may not be any help. I’d be happy with a simple band. “Did you like any of them?”
He points to one. The round center stone, set in platinum is much like the other rings in the case, but the band is uniquely different. It braches out in small, cut out circles that veer in opposing directions and never seal together. Each one encased with diamonds.
“Why this one?” I ask.
“The band feels like my life before you, never ending chaos. The center stone is after you, grounded and peaceful.” I don’t even know what to say. Moments ago it was just a ring, and now it’s so much more.
“That’s beautiful.”
“It is, isn’t it? Do you want to try it on?”
I nod, but I wasn’t referring to the ring. Although gorgeous, it’s what he said I find priceless. I’ll wear the significance on my ring finger forever.
Who knew how fast three months could pass by when you’re trying to work, raise a family and plan a wedding. Aidan pretty much said tell him where and when and the rest is up to me, which works out great since he doesn’t care if we elope, and my parents prefer a traditional ceremony.
Telling them I was getting married to Aidan was hard enough. After all, he’s the guy that prevented me from moving home and he has a kid. That smoothed over relatively quickly compared to their reaction after they did a little reading up on the Hunter family. They spent an hour on the phone tag teaming me to talk me into calling things off. Thankfully they’ve always been parents I could talk openly with and they’ve embraced the upcoming nuptials, which are only a week away.
We drop Javier off at Liv’s apartment before we leave to the airport to pick up my parents. Tug takes a call for work in her bedroom and we sit in her living room chatting.
“Are you nervous?”
“A little,” I admit.
“Don’t be, Tug has a way with people. I’m sure your parents will love him.”
I mash my lips together, thinking for a moment. The tension in my shoulders refuses to go away. “Yeah, it’s more the location of the wedding that I’m nervous about sharing with them.”
“Why’s that?”
“My parents are traditional people.” She looks at me questioningly. “And since we aren’t getting married in a church, I’m not sure how they’ll react.”
“Ah, well, don’t worry. I’m sure Tug will charm the pants off them. By the time he’s done, they won’t care if you recite your nuptials next to a dumpster in an alley downtown with hobo Bob as your minister.” I squish my face up, vi