“You liked it?”
“Fuck, yes.”
He laughs, pulling me closer. “If I have anyone to thank for this toy, it’s you. It’s a new one I added to the line, designed almost entirely off of your feedback, and our rooftop adventure.”
“Really?” I sit up and look at the toy on his cock, pulling it off to inspect it more closely. The vibrator extends up from the ring in a gentle curve, so it just barely touches the clit with each thrust—getting that teasing feeling that was just mind-blowing.
“I called it the Kara.”
I start to laugh, and I can’t stop. Not because it’s funny, it’s sweet. It’s incredibly sweet. But because in this moment, I am so, so happy. I know he made a mistake, and he knows that too, and I’m sure there will be plenty of time for me to make him grovel—preferably with his tongue between my legs. But my brain has caught up to the fact that I would be crazy to make this our last night together. How can it be when we’ve barely started?
I tackle him down on the bed, kissing him as hard as I can. “I think it’s a little weird to have a sex toy name after me, but I like it.”
“I’m glad.” His smile is huge and it lights me up inside.
“I hope you have an extra toothbrush,” I say against his lips.
I feel him tense underneath me. “You’re staying?”
“I’m staying.”
He pulls me down to kiss me, and I feel him getting hard all over again. I laugh, breaking up the kiss. “I don’t know if I’m ready for the next round. Maybe after some more Italian food.”
“I think I could arrange that.” He slides out from under me, heading to the dining room. He comes back with a plate piled high with pasta, and the rest of the bottle of wine. “By the way,” he says, handing me the wine, “now that you know everything, I can think of the perfect application for your research skills.”
“Oh?” I ask. “What’s that?”
He smiles his wicked little smile. “Testing each and every version of my toys, telling me how I can make them better, and most importantly, letting me fuck you afterwards.”
I return his smile. “I think I could arrange that.”
Epilogue
One Year Later
The Plaza Hotel
The ballroom is swirling with people, the party a major hit. I see Jet across the room speaking with representatives from his manufacturing plant, and I see people swarming the sample table, ready to spread the work that KINdred Spirit is no longer just a toy company. It’s now everything to do with sex, from the massage oils he tried on me to lingerie to honestly the most delicious lube I’ve ever tasted—and I’ve tasted a lot…for research, of course.
Jet’s toys have been so successful that they’ve been sold out for most of the last year. The capital allowed him to expand faster than he was expecting, and I love that I’ve been able to help. It wasn’t too long before he asked me to come work at KINdred Spirit as a developer and researcher, and as much as I love the people at the shop, research was my first love. But I still stop by from time to time to chat, and of course, perform competition research.
There’s a chime throughout the hall. It must be eight o’clock. I make my way towards the stage, and I see that Jet is already on his way. He just wants to say a few words to thank everyone who’s here. I hear him tapping on the mic as I get closer to the front.
“Hey everyone, if you don’t know me, my name is Jet Kincaid.” There’s a whooping cheer from the audience and a whole mountain of applause. I finally weave my way to the front of the crowd and find Jet smiling. “Thank you. I just wanted to take a couple of minutes to thank everyone who’s come here to celebrate the expansion of KINdred Spirit.” More applause. “There is a list of people a mile long I need to thank, and I’d never remember them all or be able to thank them adequately up here. Everyone who’s helped us get this far has a special place in my heart.” He spies me in the audience, and his grin widens. “But there’s one person I do need to thank while I’m up here, because without her, KINdred Spirit wouldn’t be the same company it is today. Kara Bishop.”
There’s applause for me, and a couple of cheers from people I assume are Joey and Ella somewhere in the back. I duck my head, blushing furiously. Jet continues, “Come up here, Kara.” I hesitantly make my way towards him as he keeps talking. “About a year ago I met Kara, and she helped me refine the toy that became our bestseller—the toy that’s named after her, the Kara.” I blush harder. It’s no secret that the toy is named after me, but having it announced in front of a ballroom full of people is something I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.
“In the last year she’s become my best friend, and the one person I rely on most.”
I’m still looking at the ground as the tears come into my eyes, because I feel that way too. But the next words Jet says aren’t into the microphone, they’re right in front of me as he takes my hands. “I love you, Kara.”
I look up to find his face serious and full of emotion. “You’ve been everything to me for a long time now, and I want you to be everything for me always.” Jet sinks to one knee and I hear a collective gasp from the hall full of people as he produces a small box—one with a ring inside it. Suddenly I’m crying, and I’m trying to blink away the tears so I can see him and the ring. I think I’m laughing too because I didn’t expect this to happen here.
Jet is smiling up at me, and the ring is sparkling like fire under these thousand lights. “Kara Bishop, will you marry me?”
My voice has completely vacated the building, and I can only nod as the tears run down my face and the entire room erupts in cheers of celebration. Jet is pulling me to him, kissing me fiercely. Then the ring is on my fi
nger and it’s perfect and I’m blinded by how utterly beautiful it is. Engaged. I’m engaged.
There’s a smile on my face and I feel like I’m floating. I kiss Jet again, and before we know it we’re swarmed with well-wishers, people with congratulations, people who want to see the ring. The entire crowd seems to revolve around us, continual words and hugs and tears, but the entire time I never let go of Jet’s hand. He’s my anchor, and now I know that he always will be.
I’m not sure how much time passes, it’s all a blur. But when the lights are low and people are dancing, Jet pulls me away from the remaining crowd, and we slip away up to our room. I’d always wanted to stay at the Plaza, and Jet thought this was the perfect opportunity.
Our room is plush, with a giant white bed and beautiful green and gold furnishings. I noticed them earlier, but I don’t notice them now. As soon as the door closes behind us, Jet’s arms are around me, his lips pressed against mine, moving to my ear, my neck. “I’ve been waiting to get you alone for hours,” he groans against my skin.
“Did that really happen?” I ask, and I hold up my hand so I can look at the ring. My ring. “We’re getting married?”
“We’re getting married.” The happiness is practically leaking out of him. I can’t remember a time when he’s been so…joyous.
Jet undresses me, one article of clothing at a time, giving attention to each new swath of skin that he reveals. By the time I’m naked, he’s caressed and kissed every inch of me, and I’m reaching for him, more than ready for him to be inside me. My pussy is drenched, and tonight I’m desperate for him to make me come. He sheds his clothes and slips on a condom in the blink of an eye, and now I’m looking around for the telltale flash of color. What toy will we be using tonight?
Jet catches me looking, and pulls me against him, his hard cock pressed between us. “Tonight, I want it to be just us.”