Page 17 of Haunted By the Highwayman
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
My face is pressed into the pine of the kitchen table. Rick is bent over me, half on top of me, his hot bare skin all over mine, and I’m writhing in agonized ecstasy as he takes me hard.
“Look at us,” he says into my ear. “Going at it like animals in the kitchen.”
I love it when he talks dirty. I shiver as he sucks my earlobe, then licks all the way down my jaw, a hot wet slick of pure lust. He hits my prostate again and again until I’m squirming and moaning and pressing my face into the hard kitchen table like a shameless slut.
“Should I let you come?” he says. “I drew thefuckcard so I guess it’s up to me.”
Yep, we’re still playing the dare game after six months and still loving it. But our relationship is so much deeper than that now. We share real dates, weekend trips, walks on the beach… all the Hallmark stuff. Cuddling on the sofa watching TV. It’s bliss.
“It’s up to you,” I whisper, knowing that he loves to be in control. As much as he loves crawling for me.
“Maybe I won’t,” he says. “After all, the highwayman isn’t here to save you now.”
“Please?” I say, barely above a breath.
He kisses the back of my neck. After a moment, his hand slinks around me and takes my throbbing dick and then I’m soaring right here in our dingy kitchen. I feel Rick’s devotion in every touch. I feel his own convulsions, and the wetness deep inside me as he joins me in ecstasy.
Sliding his dick out of me, he looks at me and smiles.
“I love you, Arden,” he says.
“I love you too.”
Like every time we say those words, we stare at each other with goofy grins for a few moments. Just drinking it in. I savor Rick’s flushed, satisfied smile, the tenderness in his eyes. I’m never going to get tired of this. The last six months have been perfect.
The only flaw in my happiness is the fact that I haven’t seen Jack at all. I’ve looked out for him in the bathroom mirror, but nothing. It seems cruel to be so happy while I have no idea if he’s still lonely. I wish I knew if he ever found the courage to try to find Robert.
“Do you want to draw another card?” Rick says.
I fan my face dramatically. “Too exhausted.”
His face takes on a sly grin. Just like he used to look when he pulled a prank on me. I’m surprised to see it; true to his word, he hasn’t pranked me once since his promise at Gossmer Hall.
“I think you’ll want to see this one,” he says.
Curious, I reach out and take a card. This one is handwritten. Rick’s handwriting.
“MARRY ME?” the card says.
My chest gets tight. The height of emotion turns to almost panic. I’ve never been so happy. It scares me.
“What?” Rick says, looking equally panicked. “Are you saying no? Please tell me you’re not saying no.”
“It’s yes. Yes,” I squeak out.
He crushes me in his arms, laughing with pure relief and joy.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have done that right after you fucked my brains out,” I say. “I was already exhausted. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“And I should’ve gotten down on one knee, too,” he says, looking mad at himself. He drops to the floor and holds up his empty hands like he’s displaying something. “Imagine I have a ring here. We’ll pick one together. I didn’t want to get something you wouldn’t like.”
I laugh, overcome with love for him. His strength, his goofiness, his charm, his vulnerability… all of him.
“Oh Rick, stand up.” I pull him up and into my chest, our naked skin hot and sweaty as we cling to each other. “It’s the perfect proposal. It’s just so… you.” I kiss his collarbone and peek up at him. “Why are you so fucking amazing?”
