And Melissa truly felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.
He dropped his jeans to the floor, and as she lay against plush pillows, she allowed herself to fully appreciate the gorgeous man who had just offered her his heart.
And then he was moving to her, nearly naked in blue boxer shorts, and she reached for him, pulling all 230 pounds of gorgeous male down onto the bed, loving the moment when the hard planes of his body covered her, his heat penetrating her clothes, his erection pressing into her thigh. His lips found hers and he was so gentle, so tender, until he wasn't anymore. Before she knew it, her clothes were beside his on the floor, and her arms were wrapped around his broad shoulders, her legs around his waist, and he was moving inside her. They stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other, Dominic's heartbeat throbbing against Melissa's.
"I love you," she whispered against his lips, knowing she'd never tire of telling him with words, and with her body, how much she loved every part of him.
It had taken her a long time to understand that love was complicated, and that that was okay. She loved her father, even though he'd always had the power to hurt her deeply, and she knew he loved her, too, in his own complex way. She loved her job, even though it was often difficult and frustrating. She'd even learned to love herself, to look past her faults and insecurities to the strong, intelligent woman she'd always been on the inside.
Most of all, she loved Dominic, both for the good deeds he'd done and for everything he was ashamed of. His strong conscience was just one of the things she loved about him. He believed in justice, even if he was on the losing end. Together they'd find other ways to keep kids out of trouble through sports.
Fortunately, Melissa knew exactly how to keep Dominic out of trouble ... by keeping him in bed. With her. For as long as possible.
"I can't get enough of you," he said, and she remembered his saying those same words to her the first time they'd made love. Only now, after he took her to the peaks of ecstasy, after he'd exploded and cried out her name, he added, "I love you, Melissa. 1 always will."
After they caught their breath, he smiled into her eyes."We need to talk about one more thing." Gloriously naked, he got out of bed and scooped her up in his arms.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked. "To where it all began."
He carried her into the living room and released her so that she slid down his body. He knelt before her, just as he had that first night.
But this time he held out a black velvet box. Every last one of her dreams was coming true.
"Melissa, will you marry me?"
Dropping to her knees, she put her hands on his cheeks and pulled him on top of her. "Much better," she said.
Smiling eyes looked down at her, even as his c**k rose against her belly. "Now are you ready to answer me?"
She smiled back. "Yes, Dominic, I'll marry you." Rolling over so that she was on top, she slid onto him one delicious inch at a time. "And I can't think of any better way to seal the deal."
The following Saturday, the guests at Dominic's annual summer party at Lake Tahoe agreed that it was his best yet. Any surprise at his relationship with Melissa McKnight quickly gave way to the obvious love between them.
Dominic and Melissa stood in the center of the yard and asked for everyone's attention.
"I'd like to thank everyone for making the drive up Highway Fifty another year," Dominic said. "Since everyone's here, I figure this is the perfect time to announce that this will be my final season with the Outlaws."
Shock rippled through the crowd and Melissa reached for Dominic's hand in support.
"Fortunately, I won't be leaving the game I love so much. Instead I'll be sharing an office with Melissa McKnight. She's going to take care of the deals, while I work with the players to take their skills to the highest level possible." He grinned. "If you know any great players who are under the radar, let us know. We'll whip them into shape."
Three months later in the very same spot, four dozen Outlaws cheered and whistled, and everyone agreed that their wedding was the good-luck charm the team needed to make it to the Super Bowl one more time.
When the Outlaws did win again, Melissa often left her wedding rings at home in favor of her Super Bowl ring.