“Wow,” Brett said. He ran over to Thomas and threw his arms around his father’s waist. “Dad, you’re seriously the best!”
“I’m glad you’re happy,” Thomas said. He squeezed my hand. In a lower voice, he asked: “Would you like to come into the kitchen with me?”
I nodded and followed Thomas into the kitchen. The meat sauce was bubbling on the stove and a heavenly, rich aroma filled the air.
“Is he going to be okay?” I asked quietly.
Thomas nodded. “Oh, yeah, he’ll be fine,” he said. “What about Angela? How did she take the news?”
I blushed and giggled. “A little better when I told her you were covering the rest of my rent for the year,” I said. “But she’s happy for me. She told me it was for the best, that she couldn’t wait to get to know you better.”
Thomas nodded. “Good,” he said. He cleared his throat and coughed. Suddenly, I realized that he looked almost nervous.
“Thomas, what’s wrong?”
Thomas licked his lips. “Nothing,” he said. He smiled. I gasped as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red leather jewelry box. My heart began to race in my chest and my palms started to sweat and itch. I wiped them on my thighs in a desperate attempt to seem like I wasn’t freaking out.
“June,” Thomas said in a husky voice. “Getting to know you has been the best experience I’ve ever had in my life.”
I blushed hotly. “I know exactly what you mean,” I said softly.
Thomas opened the box and I gasped. Inside was a huge, sparkly diamond ring. The stone was round cut, and I guessed it was at least four carats. It was mounted on an elegant band of white gold, covered with smaller diamonds that twinkled in the bright kitchen light.
“Marry me, June,” Thomas said huskily. He dropped to one knee in front of me and held out the ring. “Marry me and make me the happiest man on earth.”
/> I flushed. “You can’t be serious,” I said quickly, covering my mouth with both hands. My eyes filled with unexpected tears and I tilted my head back, blinking my tears away before Thomas could see that I was crying.
“I am,” Thomas said firmly. “You’re the love of my life, and I can’t wait to be your husband.” He winked at me. “That is, if you’ll have me.”
“Yes,” I said quickly. “Oh, my god, yes! Yes!”
Thomas grinned. He slipped the ring on my finger. I gasped – it was heavy and cold, but it glittered beautifully on my finger. Hot tears dripped down my cheeks and I wrapped my arms around Thomas’s neck, covering his face in tiny kisses.
“I love you,” Thomas said. “I love you so much, June.”
“I love you, too,” I cried. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
As we kissed, I knew that no matter what the future brought, Thomas and I would face it together. And everything would be wonderful.
Epilogue
June – Five Years Later
“C’mere, you,” Thomas growled. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back into bed.
I squeaked loudly and cried out, tripping over my feet and falling back into the soft bedsheets.
“Mmmn,” Thomas purred. He put both hands on the sides of my face and pulled me close. I closed my eyes and licked my lips as Thomas kissed me passionately. His tongue slipped between my lips and I moaned, arching my back. Thomas tangled a hand in my black hair and pulled, just hard enough for a little pain to mingle with the intense lust building in my body. As he nipped at my neck with sharp teeth, arousal exploded in my pussy and I pushed Thomas down, crawling on top of him and nuzzling his sandy chest.
“God, June, I love you like this,” Thomas growled. I straddled his still-firm torso and leaned down to plant a row of delicate kisses all over his face and neck. Thomas slid his hands down my body, squeezing the cheeks of my ass and sending delicious sensations racing through my veins.
“I love you,” I said softly into his ear before nipping at the earlobe. Thomas’s stubbly cheek brushed against mine and I sighed happily.
Thomas ran his hands up my back and down my chest, cupping my sensitive breasts and brushing his thumbs over my stiff nipples. I buried my face in Thomas’s neck to muffle my scream of pleasure.
“So sensitive,” Thomas purred.
I blushed hotly. After five years of being together, Thomas knew my body inside and out. I’d thought that after a while, sex would become routine.