I set the tray down on the nightstand and sat down beside him. I ran my nails over his back, delighted when he shivered and moaned.
“Hey, beautiful,” he muttered, shifting closer to me.
“Good morning,” I said, letting my hand and nails slip down the sheets over his ass.
“Only if your hand was somewhere else,” he said, eyes still closed. I snaked my hand under him and cupped his penis. “That’s it right there.”
“Turn around, then, so I can give you a full service.”
He cracked one eye open, but instead of turning around, he wound his arm around my waist and pulled me under him.
“I like it when you wear my shirts.” He pressed his lips to my neck. “But I like it better when you’re not.” He raised his chest a little, pulling his shirt over my head. His eyes grew hungry as his gaze raked over my naked body. “So much better.” He lowered himself over me, his erection brushing against my pelvis.
I gasped. “We have to get ready,” I whispered, not really sure I wanted to get ready anymore. “You have to be at the auditorium in an hour.”
“But the graduation ceremony starts in two hours.” He ground himself against me, drawing a moan from me. “I think we have time to turn this good morning into a great morning.” He nipped at my ear, his hot breath driving me crazy. “Don’t you think?”
I didn’t think anything anymore. All I wanted was right here with me.
I wrapped my legs around him, digging my heels on his fine ass. “I think so.”
“Good answer.” He smiled before dipping his mouth to mine and slowly entering me.
***
Ryan
I stood and clinked a fork on my Coke-filled goblet. “May I have your attention, please?”
The little crowd gathered around the tables set in my parents’ backyard quieted down and looked at me. Everyone was here. My parents, my brother, my sister, Jessica’s family, Ethan, Gabe, John, Sophie, Rachel, and Faith. Even Jessica’s grandma and her friend, Kristin, had come down for this day. I loved the radiant surprise on Jessica’s face when she saw those two in the auditorium for my graduation ceremony.
“What are you two doing here?” she asked, embracing them both at the same time.
“Ryan invited us for his graduation,” her grandma said. When Jessica was hugging Kristin one more time, her grandma winked at me and I had to press my lips together not to burst out laughing.
“Thank you, everyone, for being here with me. Who knew this day would come, huh?” I said, trying to joke a little. Of course, Jason, Luke, Ethan, and Gabe hollered, making me chuckle. “I want to thank my parents for the support; my good friends—” I nodded at the guys. “—for putting up with me; John for believing in me and getting me back into racing; my future boss, William DeBouir—” I raised my glass to the man seated beside John. He was big investor in bike racing in North America, and he had seen me race many times. I would now race for him, and while not racing, work at one of his customized bike shops here in Columbia. “—for the great opportunity he’s offering me; but my most special thanks goes to the woman seated beside me.”
I turned to my side and stared into Jessica’s beautiful blue eyes. She smiled at me, her cheeks reddening.
“Without a doubt, she’s the reason I finally got my head out of my ass.” My mother gasped while the guys shouted. “I’m serious. She was the only one able to get through my walls. She believed in me when I didn’t. If I learned to control my temper, if I made peace with the past, if I went back to racing, if I went to college and graduated, it’s all because of her. She’s the reason we’re all here today, celebrating my freaking college graduation.”
Pride filled me. Not because I was proud of my accomplishments, but because I could see it in her glassy eyes. The pride and the love she felt for me. It almost undid me.
“Jess, you’re the love of my life. I’ve known that for the last eight years.” I took a long breath, preparing myself for the rest of my speech. I fished the small black velvet box from my suit pocket, sank to one knee in front of her, and opened the box, revealing the ring I had bought for her. Jessica’s hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes filled a little more. “Because I’ve known that for so long, I can’t go another day without making sure the world knows how happy, how complete you make me. I love you so much, Jess. Will you marry me?”
A tear rolled down her eyes and she nodded. “Yes,” she whispered, before throwing her arms around me, almost knocking us both to the ground. I gained my balance and stood, holding her tight against me. “Yes,” she said again, her voice louder.
The crowd cheered, but I wasn’t really paying attention to them. I had my woman, my fiancée, my future wife in my arms, and that was all that mattered.
I cupped her face and brought her lips to mine. I kissed her, slow and tender, but deep and firm, showing her how much she meant to me. Finally, I broke the kiss and pulled back a little.
She gasped again when I placed the box between us. “It’s beautiful,” she said through a sob. A happy sob. That put a smile on my face.
I took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. I knew it would fit, because I had measured one of her rings before going to the jewelry store.
She stared at her hand, a huge smile on her face. Damn, I loved making her happy like that. I hoped she smiled like that when we got to our apartment tonight and I showed her my next gift: the savings account I had created four years ago for one specific reason. It didn’t have a lot of money in it, because I was still studying and having to pay for tuition, but it would be enough for a down payment on a house on the outskirts of Columbia. Our house. Our home.
“I love it,” she said, turning her big eyes to me. “I love you.”
I exhaled a content breath. “I love you too.”
Other published books by Juliana Haygert:
Free
Into the Darkest Fire
Limited Edition
Midnight Kiss
The Everlast Trilogy
Destiny Gift (Book 1)
Soul Oath (Book 2)
Cup of Life (Book 2.5)
The Everlasting Circle (Book 3) - coming soon
The Breaking Series
Breaking the Reins (Book 1)
Breaking Fences (Book 2)
Standalones
Playing Pretend
Novellas
Her Heart’s Secret Wish
His Allure, Her Passion
About the Author:
While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life as a wife, a mother, and an author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.
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