Page 100 of Idle

“Perfect.”

Jesse pulls away from the counter. “It was great catching up, Quinn. If you’ll excuse us, though, I need to take this wonderful woman home for a private celebration.”

He wiggles his eyebrows—he’s gotten as bad as Theo. With a quick “sorry,” I allow my boyfriend to lead me out of the wine bar and back home. Jesse jumps when the door closes.

“I swear, you’ve been as jumpy as a cat ever since we left the wine bar. What’s going on?”

His right foot rocks. “Nothing.” His eyes shoot in every direction.

I place my hand on his well-defined chest. “Talk to me.”

He huffs out a laugh. At least I think it might be a laugh. It’s a strangled sound, for sure. “I have something I want to give you.”

Adrenaline rushes through my veins. Far from being the caveman I originally believed him to be, Jesse surprises me with little gifts on the regular. He’s taught me what it means to be loved, and to love in return. I’m truly a lucky woman. “A present?” I clap and look all around. “Where is it?”

He leads me over to the sofa—another one of the prototypes Arch Pointe wants to produce—and pushes on the top of my shoulders. “Sit. I’ll go get it.”

I make myself comfortable while he slips out of the living room. I like this space, but a new one specifically for Jesse and me would be better. My parents are so embroiled with the whole VOW-cubed debacle I’m sure they don’t care where I’m living. Father did mention he was relieved I got my ass in gear and am making my own money. His ominous comment is the only sign I’ve received things might not be going well for him and his partners. While I wish them luck, there’s little I can do to help, so staying away has been the most prudent course of action.

My eyes stray over to the closet with a washer and dryer. Jesse tried to teach me how to do my own laundry but gave up when I turned all his underwear pink. Now, he cleans our clothes and I fold them. Good compromise, in my opinion.

Jesse finally reappears, holding something behind his back. He joins me on the sofa, and I crane my neck to see what he has. “What is it?”

He shakes his head. “Always so impatient.”

I hold out my hands, palm up, wiggling my fingers. “Gimme.”

His tongue wets his lips. His chest expands and he produces my present from behind his back.

My heart rate kicks up. “It’s a mermaid! You whittled me a mermaid!”

I pluck the wooden figurine out of his hand and my eyes go wide. The mermaid’s holding a wooden lollipop. Sporting the most glorious words ever written:

Will You Marry Me?

Epilogue – Jesse

Hands behind my head, I lie in bed while Paige gets up, naked, and heads for the bathroom. Well, she’s naked except for the rock I put on her finger last night. A small smile plays around my lips as I relive the glorious moment.

The look of wonder on her face. Tears. Joy.

Her cry of, “Jesse, you’ve made me the happiest woman on earth!”

Then the hours of proving how much we love each other. It was a perfect night. Perfect morning, too.

A towel lands on my head. Her sultry voice asks, “Coming?”

Flicking the duvet off my bare body, I reply, “With you? Always.”

I follow her into the bathroom, where the shower’s already heating up. She steps inside. Remaining outside, I watch the water sluice over her slight curves. She may complain about her tomboy figure, but it’s perfect for me. She opens the door and holds out a loofah. “Wash my back?”

“With pleasure, soon-to-be Mrs. Dimon.” She giggles and I join her in the shower and delve into this very important task.

Which devolves into her washing my abs.

And then my cock, with her mouth. I’ve never been one for blowjobs in the past, but with her, it’s like nirvana. She sucks me hard, which causes my hips to rock into her mouth. But I don’t want to come like this now, in here. I find my voice. “Stand up, Paige.”

Big brown eyes gaze up at me. She mumbles around my erection, “Now?”

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