Page 101 of Cruel Dreams

When the dots disappear, a large, Jesus, I can’t call it a house, but a mansion, looms in front of me. There are windows everywhere, and the front is hugged by a massive porch. More than one chimney juts from the roof. In the distance, two cottages sit near the tree line.

“Holy God,” I murmur.

“I hope that means you like it.”

I twirl around. It’s my Zane all right. White dress shirt, grey and black tie, black dress pants. I devour him with my eyes and then devour him with my mouth.

“Yes, yes, yes,” I screech against his lips. “Yes,” I say more quietly, hugging him closer and closer.

I brush my lips over his jaw and down his neck, my hands exploring a body I haven’t touched for almost a year, finding his taut ass and a stiffening cock. I want him all over me, under me, inside me.

He pulls away and searches my face.

I rest my palms against his cheeks. “Thank you. For waiting.”

“Ah, Stella. You did more, so much more. I hope you give me the rest of our lives to show you how much I love you.”

“Yeah, I will.” I heave a sigh.

“What is it?” he asks, worried. His hold on me tightens.

“This is going to be our house? Where we’re going to raise our children?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Is Zarah going to live with us?”

“If it’s okay. I told her you wouldn’t mind, but—”

Placing my fingers over his lips, I say, “Shh. I don’t mind.”

He grips my wrist and moves my hand away. “Then what is it?” Tension tugs at the corners of his eyes.

“It’s so...” I feign agitation, waving my hands in the air. “Big.”

“Is it too big? I can sell it.”

I shake my head and say, “No. I wouldn’t ask you to do that. But...how many bathrooms does it have?”

“Eight,” he mumbles, a flush creeping up his neck.

“Eight bathrooms,” I echo in faux dismay. “I’m not, I mean, you...”

“Stella, just spit it out. If you hate it, say so, but you haven’t even seen the inside yet.”

“Zane,” I say, smiling, trying to keep my laugh buried. “I’m not going to have to clean this monstrosity, am I?”

“Of course not—” He cuts off, realizing I’m teasing. “You!”

With a shriek, I start running, and when my feet meet the lush grass, I kick off my heels.

Zane chases me up the front porch steps and sweeps me into his arms. He holds me, and his gaze is full of all the love in the world.

He opens the door and steps over the threshold, and I know he’s opening more than just the door to our new home.

He’s opening the door to the rest of my life.

Eagerly, I step in.

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