Page 28 of Hot Touch
“Fuck them and whatever they think,” I muttered, stroking her chin with the tips of my fingers. My girl just smirked and shook her head. “Fine,” I groaned, stepping back and adjusting her clothes back in place before fixing myself up. Though, I didn’t clean her off me; I wanted to wear her all day long.
Later, when the guys sangHappy Birthdayto me with my girl tucked to my side, I wasn’t sure how life could get better.Liar, a little voice whispered in the back of my head. My eyes dropped to the hand she had on my chest, and the empty ring finger glared at me. It wasn’t the first time I’d thought about marrying her and making her mine in every sense of the word.
Shit, I had a ring waiting at home in the back of my sock drawer.
I was engaged once a long time ago. It had been a crazy, youthful thing. I was positive, if we had gone through with it instead of breaking up two weeks later, we’d have probably divorced before the ink dried on the marriage certificate. I’d been a hormone-filled idiot, and she’d been in love with the idea of love.
But as I stared at Alejandra, the happiness that shone in her eyes as the guys sang and celebrated me, I knew it was time.
Part of me had tried to wait. Give her time. We’d moved in together before we’d had our first official date. It was fast, but I didn’t care. Not when it felt this right.
That night, when I got home from work, I wasn’t the least bit surprised to find the living room decorated in my favorite football team colors. A big Happy Birthday banner had been taped to the wall up high. Or as high as she could reach while probably standing on the stepladder.
Helium-filled balloons bounced around the room, and that’s when I noticed them. Pictures hung off the ribbons. Goddamn it, this woman was going to make me cry. She popped out of the kitchen with a big smile on her face, still wearing the same sexy little milk maid dress that made her look so damn hot my mouth watered for a taste. I’d hoped she hadn’t changed. I had been thinking about her wearing it and how I would take my time with her now that we were home with more than enough privacy.
“Happy Birthday!” she sang, holding a little cake for the two of us.
“Baby…” I muttered as I stepped closer. She’d in fact baked me a cake. One for just the two of us to share. My mind ran wild with how I wanted to eat it. Smear the frosting all over her delectable body and spend the next forty-eight hours licking it off her.
“What is it?” she asked softly the moment I reached her, her gaze studying me closely. “You don’t like it? Too much?” I rubbed the small of her back with my thumb as I glanced around.
Different pictures swayed this way and that off each of the what I was going to guess forty-four balloons. Images of the two of us through the last couple of months hung in the air. One after another displaying a memory.
I turned towards her and cleared my throat but couldn’t get myself to say a word, just a terse shake of my head. I was going to get a lifetime of memories. I’d figure out a way to live to at least a hundred to guarantee I’d get a little over fifty years with her.
“Hell no,” I scratched out, shaking my head. “This is… so much more than I could have imagined. Thank you, baby.”
“Daddy likes it?” Her lips twitched, and I nodded, pressing my forehead against hers.
“Daddy fucking loves it. Tell me that’s chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream,” I muttered, and she smiled.
“You said it was your favorite.”
“Fuck, I love you.” I pressed my lips against her forehead. “Let me change, and I’ll be right back.” I kissed her and hurried out.
When I returned with a surprise in my pocket, we sat down and ate. Alex was incredible in the kitchen. She’d made lasagna and a salad for us. I’d just finished when she started to take out some candles for the cake.
“Before we light this place up with way too many candles…” I murmured, noting that she had indeed bought forty-four candles, “come outside with me.”
“Right now?”
“Trust me?”
“Always,” she whispered, taking my hand, and we stepped outside. I brought the cake with us, too.
I turned on the twinkle lights she’d mentioned would look good out here and heard her soft gasp. “You did it! When did you do that?” Alex asked with a wide grin.
“When you went into town for that client at the salon.”
“Baby…” she laughed, covering her lips with her fingers. “I told you it would look good.” She stared around the space, and when she turned to look at me, her eyes were wide with surprise.
On one knee, I held a closed small royal-blue box with gold trim in one hand.
“What are you…” she started to say but stopped talking when I took her hand in mine.
“I never believed in love at first sight. Love, yes. But at first sight?” I shook my head. “God, I was an idiot. That day at work, I felt like something was going to happen. All day. I couldn’t shake the feeling. On the very last call of the night, we rush to a fire at an apartment building. I busted into your living room, and there you were. The something incredible I knew was going to happen. Even with fire licking at my back, I knew you were theone for me. I have no idea how the hell we’ve lived here most of our entire lives without meeting or somehow bumping into one another, but I guess that’s all about timing. Our time came. And I know I’ve pushed you to move in?—”
“You did twist my arm,” she mumbled, and I pressed a kiss to the top of her hand.
