He rubbed his jaw. “We have the BBQ with your family tomorrow, correct?”
She loved the way he said BBQ, his English accent stumbling over the word. He still called it a barbie sometimes, too, and she loved when he did. “Yeah, we do. In Jersey.”
He flinched. “Ugh.”
“I know, but according to Jessie, little Scotty is too small to travel. She probably just wants—”
She opened their door and took a step inside the living room, and then promptly froze. Candles lit the whole living room, and pink roses filled almost every surface of the dining room table. Dinner for two sat on the table, but there was no one in the room. How could he have done all of this while performing on stage?
“How—?” Turning on her heel, she looked at Justin. He held his hands in his pockets, the nervous look on his face again. “Justin, this is beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” His lips twitched. “This is just a fancy dinner. I know it breaks American tradition not to have burgers and beer, but—”
She closed her arms around his neck, tugging him down for a kiss. His hands came out of his pockets to close around her waist, and something metallic hit the hardwood floor. With a curse, he dropped to his knees and picked it up before she could see it. She raised a brow at him, looking down at him when he didn’t move from his crouched position at her feet.
“Um, are you going to get back up?” she asked.
He cleared his throat. “I will. In a second.”
“Okay … ?”
Then, when he flushed but didn’t move, she knew. She knew what was coming, and she almost joined him on the ground from the weakness in her legs. He captured her hand, holding it firmly in his. “This past year has opened my eyes to so many things I missed as a child. So many things I never knew really existed. Love. Support. Trust. I heard about it all, but until you, it was just an urban legend. Like the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot.”
She choked on a laugh. “Bigfoot?”
He turned even redder. “Okay, on second thought, maybe this isn’t the most romantic notion to bring up right now.” He was always so sure of himself. So quick to reply with the perfect words in the perfect situation. Seeing him flustered and struggling for words brought tears to her eyes.
“But until you came along, I didn’t know what happiness could feel like. I didn’t know what it would be like to care about someone so much that their happiness would be more important than my own. Until you … I didn’t live. Not really. And now I want to take the next step. I’m hoping you’re ready for this, too, but if not, that’s okay.”
Her heart wrenched at his uncertainty. “Justin—”
“I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you smile every day, and making sure you know how much you mea
n to me. Making sure you never doubt me. Or us. If you’ll let me, I will do all of this and more. Lexi?” He lifted his head, determination lighting his eyes. He held up a gorgeous ring between his thumb and pointer finger. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you … marry me?”
Her knees finally gave out on her, and she collapsed to the floor in front of him. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”
She cradled his cheeks in her hands, looking deep into his eyes, and then kissed him with all of the love, promise, and hope of the future. He flipped her feet out from under her, catching her easily and lowering her to the floor. The cool wood on her bare skin sent a shiver through her heated blood. He climbed over her body, settling in between her legs, and capturing her left hand.
Slowly, reverently, he slid the Marquis cut diamond ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. Turning her hand toward her face, he smiled down at her. “There. It’s official.”
She nodded. The happiness in his eyes, and the sheer joy bubbling up inside of her, blew away her ability to speak or form a coherent sentence. Instead, she showed him. Tugging him down, their lips fused and she kissed him. Tongues entwined, she grasped his shirt and yanked it over his head, releasing his mouth only when she absolutely had to.
Everything inside of her demanded she have him inside of her now. He tore her shirt off, his hands closing on her breasts and squeezing. He lowered his body over hers again, and his hand slid down her stomach, over her thigh, then up her skirt. When his fingers cupped her mound, she moaned and opened her legs more.
“Please,” she panted.
He yanked his pants off and slid between her legs, rubbing his penis against her. She groaned and urged him closer, begging him to come inside of her. Seizing her mouth again, he slid his hand in between her thighs and rubbed his thumb where she needed him most. Her stomach clenched, and she opened her legs further, giving him more access. Ripping his mouth from hers, he sucked on her nipple while thrusting a finger inside of her. Desire made her claw at his arms for something to hold on to.
Gasping for air, she rolled away from him. He shot her a surprised look then reached for her. “No. My turn.”
She climbed on top of him, straddling him and closing her mouth on his. He groaned into her mouth and cupped her breasts. Each tug of her nipples made her need him more, and she ached to come down on him, taking him all inside of her with one sure thrust. Her heartbeat quickened, and she rubbed against his hard length one time before she forced herself to pull back. And, God, that was hard to do. So hard.
Sliding down his body, inch by inch, she lowered her head until she was a breath away from his erection. Flicking her tongue out, she licked the sensitive tip before taking him into her mouth. He hissed and buried his hands in her hair, pulling her closer. She swirled her tongue over his penis, taking him in even more. He threw his head back and moved his hips, a sigh of ecstasy escaping him.
His abs clenched, and she tasted his pleasure. He was close. So close. She sucked harder, wanting to bring him over the edge with her mouth. Needing to give him this.
“Jesus, Lexi.”