God, I love hearing my name come out of her like that when I’m inside her. I look down to watch her, to watch us and see her red tattoo, and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t make me even hotter.
“Come for me, my love,” I whisper to her and watch in awe as she bites her bottom lip, clenches her eyes shut, and grips onto my hair as she explodes around me, grinding down so hard on me that it almost hurts, and I feel my own climax take me as I still, pushed all the way inside her heat, and spill myself inside of her.
She collapses onto me, her arms wrapped around my shoulders and face buried in my neck, breathing hard.
“Happy birthday,” she murmurs and I laugh.
“God, honey, you’re amazing.”
She’s so fucking amazing.
“I take it you like the pictures?” She leans back and grins down at me.
“I love them. Natalie?”
“Yeah, Nat took them.”
“Remind me to thank her too.”
“I hope you just send her a thank you card or something, rather than thank her this way.”
“Um, yeah, that sounds like a good plan.” I brush her hair off her cheek and pull her down for another kiss. “I have something else for you,” I whisper against her lips.
“You do?”
“Yes, come on.” I lift her off me and tuck my dick back in my pants while she shimmies her shirt back down and open the back door.
“I’m not wearing any shoes.”
“Here,” I lift her easily and she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
When we get down to the gazebo, I nod my head in satisfaction. It’s decorated exactly the way it was the first time I brought her here, when I gave her Mom’s necklace.
“Oh, Nate, this is beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.” I pour her another glass of champagne from the bottle the catering company left down here, and we settle on the plush couch.
“Julianne,” I take her hand in mine, and the nerves are back. Fuck. I take a long pull off the champagne. She’s looking at me curiously, her head cocked to the side.
“Nate, it’s okay.”
My eyes dart to hers, and my stomach immediately settles. That song she loves, I Won’t Give Up starts to play through the speakers, and I know. This is my moment.
I clear my throat and look down at our linked hands, and then back up into her perfectly blue eyes, searching for the words I’d practiced every day in my head for the past two months.
“I love you, Julianne. I’ve loved you for a long time. You and I are a team, in every way. You amaze me with your strength, with your kindness, and the love you show everyone around you, including me.” Tears leak out the side of her eyes and I reach over to catch them with my fingertips.
“Don’t cry, baby,” I whisper. I can’t stand it when she cries. “Jules, we were meant to be. I knew it the minute I first saw you.” I kneel before her and pull the red Cartier box out of my pocket and open it so she can see the vintage-style diamond engagement ring I picked out for her a month ago. More tears fall out of her wide eyes as she stares down at it and then back up at me in awe and surprise and love, and I don’t need to search for the words anymore.
“Marry me, Julianne. Share my life with me. Be mine for the rest of my life.” Her lips tremble before they spread into a wide smile and she launches herself into my arms, holding me tightly around the neck, her face buried against me. “Honey, I need to hear the words,” I murmur with a chuckle.
“Yes.” She pulls back and holds my face in her hands, looking deeply into my eyes. “Yes, Nate, I’ll marry you.”
I rest my forehead on hers and breathe a long sigh of relief.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “Can I put this on you now?”
“Hell yes, ace.” She laughs and wipes her tears away as I slide the ring on her tiny finger. She holds it up and admires it. “You did good, babe.”
“I’m so glad you approve,” I reply dryly.
“I do.” She smiles sweetly at me and my gut clenches in love and lust and she hugs me tightly again. “I love you Nate.”
“I love you too, Julianne.”
“Did you say something about chocolate cheesecake?”
The With Me In Seattle Series continues with Will and Meg’s story in the third book, PLAY WITH ME. It is scheduled for release in March, 2013.
Acknowledgements:
To Alvin: Thank you for being patient while I chase this dream of mine. I love you so much.
To my Naughty Mafia girls: Kelli Maine, Emily Snow, Katie Ashley, Michelle Valentine and Ava Black. You rock my world, and I love you guys!
Mom and Dad: I love you both so much.
To Lori: Your friendship is amazing and I love you to pieces!
To A.L. Jackson and Molly McAdams: You two are the best sprint buddies ever, and I am so thankful for the friendships I’ve found in you. I love you both BIG!! xo To Niccole Owens: I am so thankful that you and I have found each other. You are talented and the best person to brainstorm with ever! The next bottle of wine is on me.
To my beautiful beta readers: Nichole Boyovich, Kara Erickson, Samantha Baer, Sali Powers, and Holly Pierce. You are the best!
To the authors and bloggers who have dedicated time and energy on me and my work. Thank you so, so, so much!
And as always, to you, the reader. I hope you enjoy Jules and Nate’s love story.
Happy Reading!