Page 81 of Waiting Forever
“What’s that?”
He pours the mixture into two tall glasses. “This isn’t from Dallas. But I had it made at a local restaurant downtown that makes amazing mojitos.” He brings me the drink and sits beside me, lifting the lid from his tray.
I sip the sugary sweet cocktail. My eyes roll back into my head. I moan again. “Oh my gosh. This is so good. My favorite fajitas and delicious mojitos. I’m in heaven.” I chug the drink.
“Easy,” Nathan says. “It tastes like candy, but it still has liquor and I need you somewhat sober for the rest of your surprise.”
“I can’t imagine anything better than this.”
“I can.” Nathan smirks.
I wriggle on the stool, his look flooding my head with dirty thoughts. “This is the best birthday ever.”
Nathan and I devour our food. Each time he takes a bite, he moans too, amazed by the explosion of flavors the fajitas leave in your mouth.
“We need to get Catalina’s to open a chain in Orlando,” he says.
I nod and lick my fingers clean. “I know.”
Nathan refills our glasses, but I only drink half. I want to be sober for what he has in store, too. I want to remember it forever. In detail. And I can’t do that drunk. Right now, I’m happily buzzed and stuffed.
Nathan refuses to let me help him clean up when we finish our meals.
He looks good in the kitchen here. He looks good in the whole damn condo. It fits him. I swivel on the stool and take in the great room and view beyond of the lake and other buildings downtown. “This place is awesome. So beautiful. I love it.” I hiccup. “I feel like I say that all the time.”
Nathan wedges between my legs on the stool. “Say what?” He cups my cheeks and plants a sensual kiss on my lips. He tastes like lime and sugar.
My insides flood with heat and my breathing quickens.
The smirk on his face says he knows how he affects me and loves it. Leaning close, his chest brushes my nose as he reaches toward the counter behind me. He straightens and hands me the Tiffany box. “Surprise number two.”
“You shouldn’t have.” I smile at him. “You’re all the gift I need.”
He rubs his chest over his heart and kisses my nose. “Open it.”
I untie the bow and lift the lid. Inside is a shiny charm bracelet. I take it out and finger the tiny silver trinkets.
Nathan points to the ladybug. “This is for luck. So no more bad shit happens to you.”
He doesn’t even know what happened but the thoughtfulness behind this takes my breath away. Tears brim my eyes. “Thank you.”
He moves onto the next charm. An Eiffel Tower. “I picked this because I know how much you love Paris.”
I nod.
“This little candle represents your birthday. And this one made me think of you the moment I saw it.” It’s a square charm with the wordsGirl Powerengraved, a diamond in place of the lettero. “I don’t know any woman more powerful than you,” he says, and my breath catches with more tears.
I finger the last charm. A small diamond-encrusted key. “Does this represent the key to the condo?”
He wipes a stray tear from my cheek with his thumb and then slips it under my chin, tilting my face up. “It can stand for that, too. But I chose it as the key to my heart. No one has ever claimed it or even come close.” He secures the bracelet around my wrist. “You own it. You own me, Kensi. Maybe you always have.”
I sniffle, laugh, and tackle him. He catches me but stumbles back from my surprise attack.
“I love you, Nathan.” I kiss him. “I love you so much.” I didn’t plan to say that. I even stopped myself from blurting it earlier, but after what he just did for me and told me about owning him, I couldn’t resist. Why keep it to myself? He deserves to know. He should know. “You own me, too. You always have.” I wrap my legs around his waist as our kisses grow deeper and more desperate.
He walks us to the master suite and lies me on the bed. “Look around.” He straightens.
Even though I’m missing his lips, I sit up and take in the space. Only a small lamp in the corner is on, casting a romantic glow over the room. Rose petals cover the bedding, under me and around me.
