Page 21 of When The Rain Falls

"I'm ready." She sighs dramatically, putting an arm over her forehead. "Take my maidenhood."

"Areyou ready?" I ask with a mischievous smile. "Because my plans for you are going to take all night."

"They better not. I'm tired and my feet are killing me."

"Babe, you won't be standing. Wait a second." I pause to think. The wheels in my mind turn over a scene from a porno I once watched. "Scratch that. We're going to try something." Laurel leans up against me and chuckles.

"Finn, just open the door."

"Yes, Your Majesty." I grin at her. I swipe the key card and a red light on the door turns green. Laurel reaches for the handle.

"Woah, woah." I grab her hand. "Hold it right there." I swoop her up into my arms and she wraps her hands around my neck. "Fuck, how much does this dress weigh?" I grunt under the weight of Laurel and her layers and layers of what must be steel clad satin. I secure her in my arms, but it takes a second.

"Ok." Now we're ready. I push my weight against the door as I turn the handle. The door doesn't open and I slam Laurel against it.

"Ow!" she exclaims. But she's laughing.

"You know. We could just get started right here." I plant a kiss on her neck.

“Oh no! We paid a fortune for the suite. You open the door right now, I want my jacuzzi." I laugh into her neck as I fumble for the key card again. I swipe, turn the handle, and the door opens into a giant living room. There's a jacuzzi in the center and a king sized bed in a separate nook. The windows start at the floor and end at the ceiling. The Seattle skyline sweeps across the room.

I'm so awestruck by the room that I trip making my way towards the bed. As I go down, I launch Laurel onto the mattress. My arms catch my fall, but I just give up and lay face-down, right on the carpet. I groan. That's not how this was supposed to go in my head. I roll onto my back and look up at the ceiling. Laurel's head hangs over the bed.

"Smooth, Finn." She laughs at me. "You ok?"

"Yeah. I just need your hand for a second." She gives me her hand and I use it to pull her off the bed. The silkiness of her dress helps her to slide right off, like an otter slipping into the water. She lands on top of me.

"You scoundrel." She props her elbows onto my chest. "You tricked me."

"Oh, I'm just getting started." I reach an arm around her back and fumble for the zipper. She kisses me just as I find the pull. It makes a delicious sound as it slides down her back. I roll Laurel onto the floor beside me and straddle her thighs. I undo my buckle as I stare down at her.

"Fuck." I want to say something more eloquent, but there aren't enough words to tell Laurel how stunning she is. "I can't believe you're mine," I say, pulling my belt from my belt loops.

"Why? Why can't you believe it?"

"Because you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life."

"What about the sunset in Cabo?"

"Nope. You're more beautiful than that."

"What about the rainbow canyons in Utah?"

"More beautiful."

"What about watching the M's win a playoff game?"

"Ok, now don't push it," I say as I brush a strand of hair off her face. She laughs as I pin her arms on the floor beside her head.

"I can't believe you're mine because you're beautiful. And smart. And kind."

"Go on. Tell me more," she jokes.

"I like how your little jaw moves when you chew. And how when you steal the covers, you wrap yourself into a burrito. And how you can be having the absolute worst day, but you'll still have a smile for me."

"Knowing I'll see you is the only thing that gets me through those days." Her voice is soft. Tears threaten to fill my eyes.

I lean down and kiss her, fumbling with the layers of her dress. I'm trying to find the hem so I can lift it up, but the fabric never seems to end. It's a giant tangle of lace, and tulle, and satin. I pull back in frustration and dig through the fabric.

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