Page 14 of Marry Me, Right Now

I nodded, trying not to seem too eager. She exhaled a deep breath as if she were steeling her will, forcing herself to share. “I love it when a guy gently runs his hand over my hip bones. It’s sort of intimate, I guess, but it’s also sort of, um, possessive somehow.”

“May I try, to gauge your reaction?”

She nodded, but I couldn’t tell if her slight reluctance was due to embarrassment, or the fact that she knew she was about to be turned on. I walked around to stand beside and slightly behind her. “So if we were at a party, and I needed to get a reaction out of you…” I put my arm around her casually, resting my hand on her waist. Then I let my fingers wander inward, finding her hip bone, splaying my fingers to very softly give her a bit of a grabbing sensation.

She gasped softly, and I could feel her entire body soften. It felt so sexy, so right to have her in my arms like this, even for a second.

“Wow,” I said. I released her immediately but then set my hand between her shoulder blades. “I love stroking a woman’s back,” I said gently. “It’s not supposed to be a sexy area, but it’s always such a wide, soft, delicate expanse of skin. It’s incredibly calming to just trail my fingers along while someone is trying to maintain a conversation.”

Mia laughed. “That feels really nice, actually. Maybe that could be our little thing to calm each other down if we get rattled.”

She turned to me, spinning out of my arms but staying very close. “We’re going to have to work out code words and signals, so that we can help each other out if we get lost. We’re also going to have to create an entire back-story, of how we met, why we fell in love so fast, and all that.”

“You’re right,” I said. “Should I go grab some pens and paper, and we can start writing our story?”

“In a second,” she said. She looked up at me, determined, exhaling a shaky breath. Then she started speaking very quickly. “There are a lot of things that we are just going to have to get used to, and I know that I’m a really shy and nervous person, and you’re going to have to coax me along sometimes, but I will really try hard to play along, and remind myself that it’s not just for your family house, it’s for your seven million, and my one million, and I’m just gonna have to get over a lot of things.” She took a quick breath, then suddenly wrapped her hands around my shoulders. “And we’re going to have to tell the story of our first kiss, so we might as well get that over with so that we can tell people it was right here in your front window in the moonlight.”

Mia tipped up her chin, and slowly, hesitantly, brought her lips to mine. My hands instinctively wrapped around her lower back, cradling her as we shared a soft, tentative kiss. Her beautiful full lips tasted like vanilla and honey, and having her in my arms like this was causing a rush of possessive, intimate feelings that I was trying to shove back down.

I swear it felt like she was reacting as well, as she didn’t stop. Pressing against me, her fingers lightly stroked the back of my neck as she parted her lips, drawing me in.

When she pulled away, I was afraid she would actually see stars in my eyes. She seemed completely lost as to what to do next, so I tried to lighten the mood. “I hope that kiss was worthy of a fabulous story to tell your girlfriends,” I grinned, instantly rewarded with a little giggle.

Our arms still around each other, I began to sway back and forth. “We also have to practice dancing. But can we skip that forced ballroom dance at the wedding?”

Mia seemed extremely relieved. “I’m not a dancer,” she said. “I’m totally fine with that.”

“Moving you in, getting to know each other a lot better, and planning a wedding within a month – that’s going to be a lot of work.”

She nodded, concentrating.

“Well, maybe I could skip a few shifts at the coffee shop, since I guess I won’t have to pay for rent while I’m here?” She looked up at me, suddenly horrified. “I mean, I’m sorry – that’s what you said, right?”

I burst out laughing and she looked confused. I led her back to the sofa, sitting close beside her. “Okay, we’re going to have to have the money talk right away.”

She nodded, looking like she was about to get into trouble and be assigned detention. “You’re going to have to get used to the idea that I have a ridiculous amount of money. I mean, not buying and selling countries sort of money, but I am quite wealthy. This condo is completely paid for. Of course you can live here for free. I’m also going to be giving you a credit card, and you can buy absolutely anything you want. The bill will be paid every month. If you want a new top of the line phone, a new car, clothing, jewelry – it’s all yours.”

Her mouth fell open slightly, and it was a bit nerve-wracking to see her breathing seem to pause.

“Mia? Please say something.”

“I… I don’t know what to say. That’s just such a foreign concept to me I can’t even mentally process it.”

“Okay, let’s start small. Would you be alright with quitting your job, and living here for free? I know the title of ‘housewife’ isn’t very progressive. But for at least the first few months, there will be the wedding to plan, I’m sure you would like to redecorate some of this place to your taste. Once things get settled, you can do whatever you like. Maybe you’d like to take some classes, or volunteer somewhere?”

Mia quickly reached for her glass of wine, chugging the last three sips. “This is really a lot to take in.”

“Baby steps. Do you want to quit your job and work on this marriage project for the year, and save my family house, while earning us both a bunch of money?”

“Yes,” she said flatly. Her bottom lip was quivering, but she was determined.

“You seem to be a little put off by the idea of sudden wealth, but do you think you’ll be able to come to terms with that, and let me spoil you for this year?”

She nodded, but her eyes were tight as if she was doing a thousand tricky math problems at once.

“I have to say, I’ve always been worried that any girl I dated was a gold digger, and just after my family money. Being with a girl who obviously isn’t will be a refreshing change, even if it’s a platonic friendship and a sham marriage.” I grinned, and was relieved when she laughed.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I know I’m really weird about money. It might take me some time to be okay with it. But I’ll find a way, and I’ll play along. You just might have to coach me now and then.”

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