Page 142 of Hale Yes
“Nicolette Bell, I love you so much more than I ever thought myself capable.”That’s it, buddy. A strong start. Telling her you love her. Keep it going.
“We started as coworkers, and I was immediately attracted to your beautiful brain. But it wasn’t long until I fell even harder for your incredible heart. I love that we were friends first and built a foundation we could grow on.”
The aspens are behind Nicolette and slightly to the right, and the leaves blowing in the breeze remind me of something I learned back in college.
“You probably already know this, but a single aspen tree is only one part of a larger organism. The life force of it is below the ground, and the entire stand is considered a single organism. I feel like that describes how I feel about you. I’m no longer a single tree living on my own. We share a life force, Nicolette. Onthe surface we look like two, but there’s something deeper, below the surface, that binds us together and makes us one.”
My heart almost bursts when she smiles. “I love that you’re proposing with biology facts.”
I can’t hold back my chuckle. “You can take the nerd out of the lab…” Popping open the ring box, I see the reflection of the diamond in her wide eyes. “Nicolette Bell, will you allow me the honor of calling you my wife?”
She gasps and covers her mouth with her hand, and I panic that she’s going to say no.
“I know this may seem soon. We’ve only known each other for less than a year, but it’s been the best nine months of my life. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and I promise to always put you first.”
I’m babbling. I know I’m babbling, and yet I can’t seem to stop.
“If you think it’s too soon, I can save the ring and wait a while. I understand you might need more time, and that’s perfectly fine. I’ll wait forever for you. Or if you don’t like the ring, I can get another one. Maybe I should have taken you with me to pick it out. That probably would have?—”
I’m silenced by her bare hand over my mouth. She apparently removed her glove sometime during my blabbering speech.
“Would you just put the ring on my finger already, Hale? I’m trying to say yes.”
“You are?” I ask, and she bites her bottom lip and nods.
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Sliding that ring onto her finger gives me a peace like I’ve never known, and as I pick her up and kiss her on top of our mountain, I know I’ve found my forever.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Helix should definitely buy this cabin
Nicolette
My eyes slowly open, and I smile, remembering the events of last night. I am an engaged woman, and I repress the need to kick my feet in delight.
After the romantic proposal, Helix and I came back to the cabin and drank brandy out on the balcony that juts off our room. There’s a lounge chair out there, and I’d sat with my back pressed against his chest as we watched the stars.
And then one thing led to another—or more accurately, his hands inside my fluffy bathrobe led to me turning around and riding him like he was my own personal pony. The cold combined with my desire had my nipples hard as pebbles, but he warmed them with his hot mouth as his hands heated my skin. God that had felt good, the icy night air sizzling with the steam of our lovemaking. Then we’d come inside and taken a candlelit bath together.
“You’re turned on,” a raspy voice comes from behind me, snapping me out of my memories of last night.
“What? No, I’m not,” I say, feigning innocence.
Helix chuckles against the back of my neck in the dark room. The sun hasn’t come up yet, but my internal clock can sense that dawn is just around the corner.
“You think I can’t feel the wet spot you’re leaving on my thigh right now, baby girl?”
I shift my hips slightly and notice his leg is indeed between mine as he holds me from behind. The coarse hairs on his leg rub against my bare pussy, and I feel his lips curl against my shoulder.
“Sorry,” I whisper.
“Were you under the impression I was complaining, queenie?” His hand slides up my belly to cup my breast. “Ride it out.”
“What?” I ask again because surely he’s not wanting me to?—
“Grind that cunt on my leg until you come. And then I’m going to fuck your wet pussy until you drench the sheets.”
