Just Like That

Chapter 18

MEL

I was never going to be hitting up any graduation parties. My landlord was very clear. I’m on a student housing deal. I have to be out the day after graduation. No exceptions. No extensions. I think maybe he has another tenant lined up who will pay more than I could afford.

I’ve been packing in all my spare time around brainstorming business ideas and doing sketches for my first day at Holt Constructions next Monday. Pete has organized movers to come tomorrow, but all I will have to do is pack up my bedding and bath things.

It’s late by the time we get back to the apartment, and Pete laughs, kissing me and dragging me into the elevator. The rooftop pool area is deserted by the time we get there. I’m not surprised. It’s almost midnight and completely dark.

Pete turns on the lights on the barbecue area, which gives us a little bit of light at the pool, but we’re still mainly bathed in darkness. He doesn’t bother turning any of the pool deck lights on.

“My bikini is packed downstairs,” I giggle.

“I know,” Pete smirks, slowly removing his clothes and dropping them onto the sun lounger. It looks like he’s holding something in his hand, but it’s too dark to see what. He’s completely naked, and I lick my lips, my eyes roving over his form in the darkness before he laughs and jumps into the pool with a splash.

“Are you coming in, Tinker Bell? It’s lovely and warm.”

“I don’t know,” I flash him a grin, “the last time I swam naked here, I seem to remember being punished.”

“If you get your deliciously naked ass into this water, it will be more of a reward this time.”

Okay, I’m not turning down that offer. I kick off my heels, stripping out of my pretty graduation dress and underwear, leaving them on the sun lounger next to Pete’s clothes and giggling as I jump into the pool.

As soon as I surface, Pete’s hands find me, roaming over my bare skin, tugging me against him. I can feel his erection pressing against my stomach as I wrap my legs around his waist. I’m totally taking advantage of that when we’re out of the pool.

Something hard digs into my back. “What’s that?”

“This?” Pete holds his hand between our faces. It’s a small black box.

“Yeah. What’s that?”

“The other part of your graduation present.”

Holy shit. There’s more. I reach for it, Pete releasing it to me and moving to hold me against him again. Slowly, I flip the lid of the box, my breath catching. It’s a diamond ring. Like…a big one. The huge diamond is oval-shaped, ringed by smaller diamonds and more smaller diamonds trailing down the platinum band.

Sucking in a breath, I stare at it. “Pete?” my voice is small.

“Do you like it, Tinker Bell?”

“Yes. It’s pretty.”

“Just like you.”

A nervous giggle escapes me. “I’m not this pretty.”

“Yes, you are. Will you marry me, Tinker Bell?”

Oh my god. Wait. Wait! My eyes snap up to his, narrowing suspiciously.

“Aren’t you supposed to say you love me before you ask me to marry you?”

“No,” Pete grins back cockily. “I figured showing you the ring and asking first increased my chances of you saying it back. Did you want to hear it?”

Smartass. “Yes.”

“I love you, Tinker Bell. I loved you before I was stupid enough to walk away from you, and I sure as shit love you now.”

I sniff, a tear escaping from my eye. Brushing it away, I pluck the ring out of the box, letting the box float away from us as I slide the ring on my left-hand fourth finger.

“That’s a yes, then?” Pete guesses.

“I love you too,” I sniff. He laughs, cupping the back of my head and kissing me deeply.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Of course it’s a yes. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kiss him hungrily, moving my hips, so his erection is being rubbed between our stomachs.

Pete growls, breaking the kiss. “I need to be inside you, Tinker Bell.” His voice is husky and pleading.

“Yes, please,” I breathe back.

We swim to the edge of the pool, climbing out, and Pete cups my jaw, kissing me again as he walks me over to the sun lounger. Sitting on it, he draws me down, so I’m straddling him, his erection between my thighs. A groan rips out of his lips, and he breaks the kiss.

“My grand plan seems to have missed one important detail,” he mutters.

“What’s that?”

“A fucking condom.”

Ah. Well, I mean…we’re getting married after all. “I’m on birth control.”

Growling, Pete tugs my face back down to his, kissing me deeply as his other hand parts my folds, his fingers pinching my clit. I gasp against his mouth, kissing him again with renewed vigor as he strokes and pinches my clit until I can’t take it anymore.

“Pete, please.”

“I aim to please, Tinker Bell.”

Lifting my ass, he sets me down on his dick, holding my hip and pressing me down until he’s fully sheathed.

“God, you’re so fucking gorgeous, and you’re all mine. Forever.”

I like the sound of that, eagerly kissing him again as I start to roll my hips.

“And you’re mine forever,” I whisper, my breath catching as I find my rhythm, bracing my hands against his shoulders.

“Fucking A, I am, Tinker Bell. All yours,” he growls.

Gasping, I grind down on him, lost in my orgasm. Pete captures my mouth again, his tongue licking in and fencing with mine as he starts manipulating my hips, doing all the work for me as I revel in his kisses and the afterglow of my orgasm.

Holy shit. I’m getting married. I need to call Bee.