Page 50 of Saved By the Firefighter

He helps me off the ATV, and I gasp at the sight before me. A blanket spread on the ground with a picnic basket, surrounded by a sea of wildflowers, and in the center, a single rose. There are a few LED lanterns creating a soft glow around the scene.

Jake leads me to the blanket. "Ellie," he begins, his voice cracking with emotion as he goes down on one knee. My heart leaps into my throat. He’s always been a man who cuts to the point, so he simply asks. "Will you marry me?"

Joy floods through me, so intense it's almost paralyzing. Yet, there's a shadow lurking—Marcus. What will my protective older brother think of this?

"Jake, did you...?" I start, but he's ahead of me.

"Marcus knows. He gave me his blessing.”

"Are you serious?" Disbelief colors my tone; my mind can’t quite grasp it.

Without another word, Jake pulls out his phone and calls Marcus, putting him on speakerphone.

"Marcus?" I ask, my voice shaking. “Jake said he talked to you about…proposing?” I can barely get the word out, still not believing this is happening.

"Ellie," Marcus replies gruffly. "Jake's a great guy—you could do a lot worse."

Jake and I both laugh. "Thanks...I guess," I reply. “So you’re really okay with this? You’re not going to get on my case and act all moody?”

He sighs. “I’m warming up to it and gave him my blessing. Don’t make me change my mind. Jake…Did she say yes or what?”

"Don't know yet," Jake says, looking at me with raised eyebrows.

I stare at him. Oh my god, I haven’t even responded. “Yes!” I shout. “Yes. Yes I want to marry you and have this baby with you and all of it.”

“Baby??” Marcus yells, but Jake hangs up on him for now.

Jake slides the ring on my finger and then I launch myself into his arms.

Our kiss is full of the promises we're making to each other—a future together, a family. It's passionate and tender all at once, and as his hands roam my back, I'm struck by the realization that this is it. This is real. I'm going to marry Jake Wilder.

"Love you," I murmur against his lips.

"Love you more," he whispers back, and I know it's true.

We eat a romantic dinner under the fading light of sunset, then Jake packs it all up into the ATV and we drive back to the ranch house. From there, it’s a wonder we even make it to his room before tearing each other’s clothes off.

The door to Jake's room swings open and the world outside evaporates; it's just him and me, heat rising between us like a living thing. As if pulled by an invisible force, our hands are on each other, fingers dancing over fabric in a hurried frenzy. His shirt—gone. My dress—a pool of fabric at my feet.

"Ellie," he breathes out, his voice husky, as he backs me towards the bed.

"Jake," I whisper back, equally breathless. I'm aware of only him—the strength of his arms as they encircle me, the intensity in his brown eyes that flicker with a flame only I can quench.

He lays me down gently, his body hovering over mine. His lips find mine again, igniting a fire that burns through my veins. I arch into him, craving more, needing to feel as much of him as possible. His hands roam everywhere, setting every inch of my skin on fire.

"God, Ellie, you're so beautiful," he murmurs, as his mouth trails down my neck, marking a path to my chest.

"Jake, I—" The rest of my sentence dissolves into a moan as he latches onto a nipple. He's relentless, thorough, giving each breast attention.

He spreads my legs wide and just takes all of me in. "You have no idea how much I want you, Ellie. You’ve been on my mind every second since the moment you moved in next door and said hi.”

"Then take me," I say, winding my arms around his neck to pull him closer. "I'm yours. I think I was from that first moment."

He groans at my words and then his mouth is everywhere again—on my neck, my collarbone, my breasts. He lowers his lips between my legs, his tongue darting out to taste me. I arch into him, craving his touch, my hands fisting in his hair. His mouth and tongue work me into a frenzy, then he raises himself.

When he finally enters me we both cry out, the pleasure so intense it's nearly painful. He fills me, completes me, and as we move together in a rhythm, I’m so happy we found each other.

I’d cross that line with him over and over.

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