“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You haven’t knocked me up yet.”
Her head bobs as my chest shakes with a silent laugh. “It’s a good thing I haven’t. We need to get married first.”
She lifts her head and faces me. “Is that a proposal?”
“No.” My smile widens. “You’ll know when I propose.” I roll her onto her back and kiss her lips.
Her fingers glide through my hair, holding me close as her tongue swirls around mine. I lap up the lingering taste of strawberries and champagne. She always tastes exquisite.
I grind my pelvis into her as her legs part for me, giving her a small appetiser of what’s to come when I get her home. Either my rental or her camper. Either way, I’m gonna be balls deep inside my woman.
“What’s that digging into me?” Her brow furrows as she stares, wide-eyed.
A chuckle leaves my lips. “What do you think it is, turtle girl?”
“I’m not sure. It’s rather hard.”
“It’s what you do to me. You make me hard as a rock.” I kiss her lips again. “A rock that glitters in the sun. A rock that reminds me of your emerald eyes.”
Her brow furrows as she looks up at me. “What are you talking about?”
“I love you, turtle girl. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Here in this very spot until we’re old. Until death do us part.”
“I love you too. And that’s a nice dream. It’s such a shame this will turn into luxury apartments if we don’t win the court case.”
“The only apartment to be built here is ours.”
Confusion mars her face. She scrunches her brow. “I wish I had your confidence.”
I gaze down at my girl with a huge grin on my face. Keeping this secret for the last few days has been torture. “I’ve done a deal with my father.”
“What?”
“I bought the land. He let me have it at a discount. Said it was our wedding gift.” I can’t contain my smile as she gazes at me, full of hope, questions, and love.
“But we’re not getting married?”
I hold myself above her with one elbow resting on the beach blanket while my other hand reaches into my pocket for the rock.
My heart hammers in my chest, but I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I’m one hundred percent sure Shelly will say yes. I think I’m just hoping she likes the ring and I’vedone the right thing by proposing here, which I’m ninety-nine percent certain of.
Shelly likes the simple things in life. She wouldn’t thank me for a fancy dinner and grand gesture in front of everyone. This spot means more to her than anything, and I want to remember this moment every time we’re sitting on our porch swing, looking out at the sunset.
Feeling the velvet box in my hand, I slide it from my pocket and flip open the lid. Her green eyes widen as she gasps. The twinkling of the emerald stone set in a silver band with small diamonds set for the turtle's head and legs reflect in her eyes.
“Now, this is the proposal.” I take the ring from the velvet cushion and slide it on to her finger, hoping it fits. Once it’s past the knuckle and snug on her skin, I release the breath I was holding. “Marry me, turtle girl. Be my wife.”
Unable to speak, she nods. A tear gathers in the corner of her eye, but I kiss it away before she pulls my head down to her lips and kisses me. Her hands tug on my hair, then they’re on my t-shirt, fisting the fabric as she kisses me with such need, as if we haven’t spent the last month wrapped up in each other like this every day.
I kiss her back eagerly, needing more than my tongue inside this girl. The truth is, I need her by my side every day. She sparks my creativity and loves me for it. With her, I’m more myself than I’ve ever been, and I love the man I am when I’m with her.
My mouth breaks away from hers, needing to kiss her neck and more. My tongue licks at her salty skin before moving south over her t-shirt, and I bite down over the globe in my palm, seeking her nipple under the cotton fabric.
She sucks in a breath. Her hips lift, seeking frictionagainst my throbbing dick. This woman has me stiffening at every given opportunity. It’s a wonder she isn’t already pregnant with the amount of times I’ve had her. She’s not on the pill and I don’t always use a condom, opting to pull out instead. It’s a risk, but the need to be inside her with nothing between us is sometimes overwhelming. Like now.
“Wait,” she says with panting breaths.
I lift onto my elbows. “What?”
