Page 67 of Something to Believe In
"You can always go out."
Reaching across the counter, he took her hand in his. "Maddyn Nolen, will you marry me?"
She froze and stared into his eyes.
Looking into her eyes, he grinned. "It's not a surprise. It shouldn't be. We've both acknowledged we've loved each other for years. You know as much about me as anyone ever could, and I know the same about you. You've been with me through cheating and divorce. Through my mom's passing. Both of your parents passed, and we were together. For hours and days, we've been on the road together. We play music and deal with issues and spend hours traveling. The constant is that we've always been together. And we've loved each other through all. The saddest thing is we've denied ourselves our love. Wasted time hoping, dreaming, wishing. Let's get married and be together like we're meant to be. I want you to call me your husband. More than anything in the world, I want to call you my wife." He squeezed her hand. "Will you marry me, Mads?"
She inhaled a deep breath and held it for a moment before letting it out. She moved around the counter and stood in front of him. He turned and pulled her between his legs. Their eyes never looked away from each other. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips softly. "Yes. I'll marry you."
He kissed her again. Deeply and with all of his love. His hand dove into her hair and held her head to his. She began squirming, then climbed up on his lap. He reached behind her to pull her closer so she wouldn't fall and found her bottom bare as can be. The only thing she wore was his sweatshirt. Pulling her head away an inch, she grinned. "Surprise."
He chuckled as she tugged his sweatpants down, exposing his fully hardened cock. "Ohh," she whispered.
He chuckled again. "Surprise."
Giggling, she rose and slid herself onto his erection. A sigh escaped his lips as she slid down. "Mads."
Slowly, she rose and fell. Stretching his legs in front of him, he gripped her hips to assist her in riding him. Together they made love. It wasn't soft and sweet; there'd be time for that; it was urgent and needy. But it was perfect for this moment.
He groaned as his balls tightened. It was at this moment that it felt almost painful, but he knew the pleasure was coming. Groaning once more, she pushed herself onto him tightly and sighed. "Yes."
His vision dimmed to gray as he spilled himself into her body. The white heat pulsed, drawing a long moan from his chest. She kissed his neck until he softened. Her soft lips caressing his body, his soul. Wrapping his arms around her tightly, he held her close until he could see once more.
Maddyn pulled back to move off him, but he held her tightly to him. His voice was gravelly when he said. "Let's go get a marriage license today."
She pulled back slightly to look into his eyes. "What?"
"We get the license today. We can then get married in three days. Just the two of us. Quietly. Just us. For us."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
She swallowed, and he grinned. "I think you want to. Besides, I want to go out and buy you a ring. A big-ass fucking ring so everyone can see it a mile away and know you're taken and you're mine."
"Axel. I don't need a big-ass fucking ring."
He kissed her again. "I think you do."
She chuckled.
Grinning, he teased. "I think you want that big-ass ring. We'll go to the Barn tonight with your sparkler on your finger. We'll work on your song, and in a couple of days, you and I will get up early in the morning and drive to wherever you want to and get married. Where do you want that to be?"
"Actually. Here. Let's get married on the beach by the Sandbar."
"I'll call Jace."
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Maddyn couldn't stop looking at the dazzling kaleidoscope of colors that sparkled off her ring. Sitting in the SUV as Axel drove them to the Barn, she actually giggled, then sighed.
He chuckled. "I knew you'd love it."
She grinned. "Well, I love you. This is a bonus. But it is the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen, and I never dreamed of wearing something this amazing."
He reached over and took her hand in his. "I'm sorry you've never thought you'd wear something like this. To be honest, I saw this ring last year when I went with Sean to pick out Gloria's ring. I knew deep down that I'd put it on your finger one day. That's the God's honest truth, Mads."
Her nose tingled as her eyes filled with tears. "Axel," she whispered.
