"A ring on your finger to start," I said, retrieving the small box from my pocket, the one holding the sapphire and diamond ring I'd picked up in Phoenix last week. "I imagine the other pieces will fall into place after that."
Her lips parted and if I'd allowed it, this would've devolved into a precious, lovey mess of cuddles and tears on the kitchen floor. That wasn't happening. Not yet.
I set the box beside me and gestured for her to shift back into position, saying, "As you were. You'll get this when I'm through with you."
My hands filled with the globes of her ass, I leaned in and traced her seam until I found that hard pearl, all pink and eager for my attention. I gave her a long, hard suck as her hips rolled and her hands slapped against the countertop. Her legs shook as I flicked my tongue over her one last time and I knew from the throb I felt there she was primed to explode. In the end, it took only one, two thorough laps for those muscles to shiver and spasm, and all her unbelievable heat to rush over me, and then a violent pinch to her clit to make her scream.
I had my belt off, shorts unzipped, and cock out before she'd stopped twitching and somehow—somefuckinghow—managed to yank her down to my lap and slide inside her without anyone taking an elbow to the eye or tumbling over from the precariousness of it all. I'd mastered many things in my life but fucking my girlfriend—fiancée—with nothing but my arm around her waist to keep her from faceplanting on the kitchen floor wasn't one of them.
That I lasted all of two minutes was a blessing.
With Zelda still panting in my lap, I shifted back against the refrigerator. "I should tell you I'd planned to do this a bit less"—I motioned around the kitchen—"savagely."
"Why start now?" she asked.
"Fair point, Miss Besh." I kissed her temple and dropped the box into her hands. "This is for you."
She pried it open with care, as if she was concerned about the contents getting away. Then, "Wow. Just…wow."
"Does that mean you like it? I can take it back. I can have them make something different."
Zelda shook her head, saying, "This is quite perfect."
Since she was still clutching the box like it had the capacity to shapeshift, I plucked the ring out and slipped it on her finger. The large center sapphire gazed up at us like a bottomless lake while twin diamonds sparkled on either side. Smaller diamonds climbed down the band, twisting over and around the platinum. "I believe I deserve some acknowledgment for waiting more than a year to make it official."
Angling her hand to study the ring, she said, "Marital customs aren't my area of expertise but I thought the suitor was expected to get down ononeknee."
"Am I being penalized for making it both knees and my face between your legs? Because I seem to recall you taking some gratification from that change."
She patted my arm. "No penalties," she said with a laugh. "It's just fun to push your buttons, Ashville."
There was a knock at the door and we frowned at each other but the sound of my sister's voice quickly answered all questions. "Ash? Zelda? I'm knocking and I need you to answer the door. I'll use my key. I swear, I will. I need to come in. Answer, answer, answer."
"Oh my god," I muttered. "What does she need at"—I shot a glimpse at my watch—"twelve thirty on a Saturday? Does she always have to barge in like this?"
Zelda scrambled off my lap and straightened her skirt, saying, "Does it matter? She's six months pregnantwith twins. She's allowed to barge in."
My mother, for her part, had been cured of her tendency to invite herself into our apartment back in October when an eyeful of my bare ass and Zelda bent over the sofa greeted her one morning. Now, she called before she visited and called again before boarding the elevator. Just to be cautious. She was more interested with Magnolia and Rob these days anyway, always visiting to help with the nursery or something like that.
I tucked myself back into my shorts and hefted to my feet. "I don't have to like it."
Zelda paused near the door as I zipped up. "Will you like it whenI'msix months pregnant with twins?"
"Ignoring for the moment that your question doesn't make sense, yes. When you're pregnant, I'll—"Fuck.I shoved my fingers through my hair because that notion was a tidal wave. It was a loud, desperate drowning in thoughts and images and emotions andFuuuuuuck. "Yes, my love. You know I will."
She pressed her palm to her chest and that ring glinted back at me like a beacon. "You're right, I do know."
"I can hear you in there," Magnolia yelled. "Could you have this conversation after I pee? Because that's the only thing that has to be resolved right this instant."
"Let her in. I'll never hear the end of it from my mother otherwise," I said.
Zelda held the door open for my sister, who bustled past us for the bathroom down the hall, calling, "Open a window. The sex hormones wafting off you two are making me woozy."
"We'll need to move." I gave the apartment an ambiguous shrug. "We'll need more space. For the twins," I added.
"And the ones we have after the twins," she offered.
"Bedrooms and…backyards," I said. "We'll need—"
