Page 144 of In The Game

“Yay! We’re doing the disposal!”

Barrett’s shoulders shake, and he groans through laughter. “Proposal.”

I nearly double over at the absurdity of it all, it reminds me of our first date. From the outside, it looks like a disaster, little blunders left and right, but it’s fine because we’re together—and that’s all we need to be happy. It doesn’t matter how many hiccups we run into, from where I stand, it’s flawless. I’ll trade a picture-perfect aesthetically pleasing proposal for my five-year-old informant and an oversizedBALLSshirt-wearing “disposal” any day.

He pulls a ring box from his pocket and opens to reveal the most gorgeous pale-pink sapphire ring.The man knows me.

“I had this whole thing planned out, but I can’t even remember it anymore, so I’m gonna wing it. Um… When I saw you in that Lakes box, it was a literal dream come true. And when I saw Arthur, I knew he was mine. Laying eyes on you both was like peeking into the future. That feeling has only happened one other time—the night we first met. We found each other again because fate knew we were always meant to be. I am sorry it took me so long. If I had known we were going to lose contact, I probably would have asked you to marry me on our first date, but instead I’m asking now. Raleigh, we lost so many years, I won’t lose any more…So, will you marry me?”

The laughing tears are now happy tears. I drop to my knees and do my best to wrap my arms around them, my bears.

“Yes. Always, yes.”

FIFTY-SIX

Ioffer to do the bedtime routine so she can take a shower. Tonight we’re celebrating our one-month engagement. As I close Arthur’s bedroom door, I hear the water turn off. The sound of other people living here is less and less unusual every day. It’s comforting. We’re together under one roof, the way it’s meant to be.

I love seeing her car next to mine in the garage. I love that both sides of the bed are messy in the morning. I even love all the random toys I trip over, though I suspect that will get old before long. It’s all a reminder of how fucking lucky I am.

She steps out of the steamy bathroom wrapped in a towel, and I intercept her before she can put on anything else. Water droplets bead at the tips of her hair, and I run my fingers through the wet strands, admiring the goose bumps that spread across her shoulders. Her fingers toy with the waistband on my sweatpants to let me know what she needs. Below her ear, I suck the rosy shower-fresh skin. Her soft sigh spurs me to keep going. She’ll be wearing her hair down all week after the mark I leave.

She grips my arms as I walk us closer to the bed. I’ve wanted to get inside her all night. Based on the way she’s digging her fingers into my sides, the feeling is mutual. Nothing would make me happier than to help ease some of her tension she’s been taking on the last couple weeks. I’ll take care of her the way she needs.

Right before the back of her knees hit the mattress, she spins us around, backing me into the bed. I rip away the towel and chuck it in the corner of the room. I’ll never tire of seeing her naked. She drops to her knees, and I melt. Her nails scrape my ass as she drags down my sweats.

Taking in the view of Raleigh, naked, wet, on her knees, and licking her lips… it’s almost too much.

“Damn,” I hiss.

I sit on the edge of the bed and take her hand, licking it palm to fingertip. She makes a fist and pushes the head of my cock into her closed palm, then follows with the other.

“Spread your thighs.”

I’ve recently learned I enjoy getting a view of her pussy whenever she does this. She parts her knees, and I bite my lip. The only thing that pulls me away is seeing her full lips open and her tongue swirl around the crown before popping off and repeating the move twice more. I keep my gaze locked on her face, not wanting to miss the best part. I know my patience will be rewarded, but it doesn’t make waiting any easier.

Her eyes meet mine. Here it comes…

Those cinnamon-colored eyes sparkle as she takes the rest of me between her lips.

“Fuuuuuck.”

That look demolishes me. She enjoys transforming me into a puddle as much as I enjoy watching her work my cock. Each suck, lick, and deep push conquers me and I forget about everything else around us. Nobody sucks me off like Raleigh. I love that she knows exactly how I like it.

Gripping one side of her wet hair around my palm, my fingertips sift through the loose strands on the other side. She shivers as the opposing sensations flood her senses. Her eyelids flutter, and it makes me grin. I use the hold on her hair to keep her head in place while I snap my hips, fucking her mouth. Slowing only to push myself deeper into her throat. I toss my head back and groan. She steadies herself against my thighs. Seeing her take me like this is such a turn-on. I forget to breathe when the tip of her nose kisses my pelvis and the tears spill over her pink cheeks.

“Mmhmm,” I approve.

I pull out and she eagerly fights back, swirling the string of saliva around the tip.

“You have a sinful tongue, love.” I shove her down on my cock, loving her sounds. “So fucking sinful.”

It would be so easy to grip her head again and finish down her throat, but I can’t. Nothing beats seeing my cum leak out of her pussy. Pushing it back inside and making her keep it. I growl, using every bit of self-control I have to pull her off me. Leaning down to kiss her, I taste myself on her tongue. She’s so goddamn generous with her mouth.

“Done with me already?” She teases.

“Not even close.” I pull her into my lap, sliding two fingers inside her drenched pussy. “This for me?”

“You know how wet I get.”

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