Page 80 of Moonlit Kisses

Her mouth forms an O shape as her eyes widen. Her eyes flit between me and the roses and then around our bedroom. “Oh, Max. This is gorgeous.” She takes the bouquet from me, bringing them up to her nose and then stroking a petal. “These are the most beautiful roses I’ve ever seen.” Her eyes have become glassy as they make their way back up to mine. She reaches her hand around my neck and drags me in for a kiss. “Thank you so much. I love them.”

My hands slide to her hips, and I use my hold on her to pull her further into the room, exactly where I want her positioned. Then I deepen our kiss. She holds on tighter with one arm banded around my neck and both of my arms band around her middle, holding her tight to me. The heat between our bodies matches the fire building inside of me and I remember I actually want to get down on one knee, so I pull away slowly and drop down in front of the woman who has stolen my heart. Her gaze follows me as her lust switches to surprise. She brings her hand up to cover her mouth, and a tear falls from her bottom lash to land on her cheek.

“Molly, I know I’ve already asked you to marry me, but I wanted to do it properly.” I draw in a deep breath. “The morning I arrived at work to find you asleep in your car has led to this moment.” She giggles and I raise my brows and tip up one side of my mouth. “I had no idea that day that I would fall irrevocably in love with you. You were completely unexpected and such a beautiful surprise.” I take her hand in mine. “And while you are one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on, it’s what’s inside your beautiful heart and your character that brought me to my knees. Your kindness to others blows me away and your warmth and genuine desire to help anyone in need are like nothing I’ve come across before. The icing on the cake is the way you deal with whatever life throws at you with quiet strength, grace, and a steely determination to come out the other side stronger than you were before.” I kiss her hand gently, smoothing my finger along her bare ring finger. I glance down at that finger, then flick my eyes back up to hers. “I can’t imagine anyone else I would want to spend the rest of my life with. Raise a family with. Grow old with. Molly, will you do the honor of becoming my wife?”

She drops to her knees, her dimples on display as tears streak down her cheeks. “Of course I will, Max. I can’t imagine a better man to spend the rest of my life with. You’re the man I want my children to call Daddy and you’re the only man I want to grow old with.”

I breathe a sigh of relief and meet her in the middle for a kiss that’s full of the promise of a long and happy future together. I pull back and grab the ring box. Opening it, I take her left hand and slide the delicate band onto her finger. Her eyes drop to watch. “Oh, Max. This is gorgeous.” She holds it up in front of her face, twisting her hand this way and that. The twinkling of the lights strung around our room, creating a sparkle.

“I thought it suited you. It’s simply beautiful without being flashy. Just like you.”

“You didn’t need to go to this much trouble for me. I already said yes.”

“Nothing was too much trouble for you, Dimples. You deserve the best. Always.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me in for another kiss, which leads to clothes being discarded every which way and me sliding into heaven. I want to climb inside her and live there. She’s my home, the one who holds my heart and soul in a way that feels eternal.

Drawing back, I lock my eyes with hers, dirty green to mercury. Her hold around my neck tightens as I move in and out of her heat, our mouths open and barely touching. Me breathing in her essence, taking her breaths as my own.

Resting my elbows on the floor, I cup her head, stroking her hair away from her beautifully flushed face. “I love you, Molly,” I whisper breathlessly against the soft pillows of her lips. Our bodies move in sync as I enter and withdraw repeatedly from Molly’s hot pussy. I make love to her mouth and her body, building us both to our mutual orgasm until we’re both a mess of boneless limbs and sweaty flesh.

She smiles against my lips as we catch our breath. “I love you, Max. So much,” she says with panting breaths. I rub my nose along hers and collect her to me, burrowing my face in the crook of her neck. I lick and suck the hammering pulse point, then move onto my knees and pull her up with me. With her arms and legs wrapped snugly around my body, I stand and walk us into the shower, where I tenderly wash her and then defile her all over again.

CHAPTER40

–max–

I’m lockingthe front door to the office when I see Martin pull in. He pulls to a stop and jumps out, heading straight for the door like a man on a mission, so I open it. “Hey, Martin.”

“Hi, Max. I was hoping to see Molly.” What is it with this family turning up unannounced all the time? I mean, my family does it, but this is a completely different situation.

“Molly’s not here.”

He looks around my body into the office as if to check for himself. “Where is she? Will she be back soon?”

“She’s volunteering atSheltertonight. It usually runs pretty late.”

His shoulders drop, disappointment dripping from his features. “Beth told me about Molly’s childhood.”

I blow out a heavy breath. Me and my big mouth.

“Look, I shouldn’t have said anything because it wasn’t my place. Molly didn’t want you guys to know. She’s embarrassed that you know how she lived as she was growing up and she doesn’t want any pity.”

He huffs out a harsh breath, running his hands through his hair. His expression reminds me of Dad when he was pissed at Preston after he told Em he wanted a divorce. “I have a right to know how my daughter grew up,” he snaps. His posture stiff, his attitude demanding.

Hang on a minute. “Uh, pretty sure you gave up that right when you turned your back on Molly’s mom.” Not that it’s my business, but I don’t like that he thinks he can waltz into my girl’s life and be privy to things she would rather not share.

His eyes snap up to mine and narrow. “Look, Max. I know you’re together and all that, but this is family business.”

I shake my head. “See, that’s where you’re wrong, Martin. She’s my family now. Thisismy business. I won’t have you storming your way into her life when she’s not fucking ready. Have some damn respect for what she’s been through and dealt with on her own. She’ll come to you when she’s damn well good and ready.” I step into his space, towering over him. “This shit.” I point to the floor between us. “You turning up whenever you please, expecting to talk to her, is gonna stop. She needs time.”

“What do you mean, she’s your family now? You’ve only started dating recently.” He steps back slightly, putting more space between us.

“I mean, she’s wearing my ring and agreed to marry me. Which means I’m gonna watch out for her.”

“But you don’t need to protect her from me. I’m her father. I’m not here to hurt her or cause her harm.” His posture’s softened and his voice is full of sincerity.

I soften my voice and my posture to match. “Look. I know you won’t intentionally hurt her, and I know you want to get to know her. I get it. I do. This is an impossible situation. But what you need to understand is that Molly and her mom only had each other for a long time, surviving through dire circumstances. Apparently, it took Nicole a long time to trust Jack. Can you imagine the bond between Nicole and Molly? Can you even fathom what she’s lost? Her mom. Her brother. Her stepfather. All gone.” I raise my eyebrows at him. “That sort of loss would be unimaginable. On top of that, she then lost her apartmentandher job. Everything. Gone. Just like that. But she dealt with it all on her own.” I huff out a harsh breath. “Storming in here, demanding to see her is unacceptable. You need to give her time.”

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