But I know she’s just scared.
She tries to roll away but I pull her closer, wrapping her up in my arms. In my love.
“I need to go.”
“No. You don’t. You’re where you’re supposed to be. With me.”
“How can I be this happy when they’re gone? I’m not supposed to be happy. I’m supposed to be miserable and hate the world. Or at least fear it.”
“Baby. You had something horrible happen to you. You lost something very important to you. But life goes on. You can’t crawl into a coffin with them. You’re still alive. Would your husband want you to be as unhappy as you have been or would he want you to find another kind of happy. With someone like me who just wants to take care of you and give you all the damn love you can take.”
She stills and her eyes lock on me. “But shouldn’t I keep doing all the things I’ve been doing. Shouldn’t I honor their loss by helping other people. Charity is a good thing.”
“Yes, charity is a good thing. But not if you just bury yourself in it to hide that beautiful heart of yours. To keep from moving on.”
I hold her closer, feeling her soft curves relax into my arms. The sweet smell of our lovemaking clings to the room, making my dick jerk.
“Not the damn time,” I grumble under my breath.
“What?” she says.
“Nothing. Do you know what I see when I look at you, baby? I see hope and strength. And so much love that it just runs out of you like a damn river. Your heart is so pure that you can’t help but throw yourself into helping everyone else out there. But the thing is….you deserve a life too. You weren’t responsible for the accident. The drunk was. And knowing how sweet and forgiving you are, you’ve probably forgiven the man who wrecked your life and yet you won’t forgive yourself for something that wasn’t even your fault.”
She curls closer and my fingers tangle in her silky hair. I lift her chin and make her look in my eyes. “Baby, we’re forever. I want to marry you. And if you want them, I’ll gladly give you babies. If you can’t because of your children, I’ll understand. You’ll always be enough for me. You’re all I want. Everything else is just gravy.”
“So I’m asking you now…will you marry me, Charity? Will you be mine forever? Because I can tell you now, there will never be another woman for me. You’re it. If you don’t want me? I won’t be with another woman.”
“That’s a lot of pressure,” she sighs.
“It’s just the honest to god truth.”
“I want to marry you. I want to be with you. But I just don’t know if it’s the right thing for me.”
“Then we’ll wait.” I smile and kiss her cheek softly. “I’ll wait forever for you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. I’m yours, you’re mine. Forever. I love you, princess.”
“I love you too. Now how about making love to me again?”
I laugh and roll her under me, grinding into her plush hips and thighs. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
We rock together, our breaths coming rapid and harsh until I slip inside her and our bodies twine around each other. In and out, up and down. Breathless with desire, I thrust hard into her, her breathy sighs and moans, ratcheting my passion higher until I feel the same knot of tension building in my body and then I stiffen, my release painting her velvet walls. Her nails dig into my shoulders and she screams like a wild woman, lost to the pleasures of our love.
And we fall into each other’s arms, sighing, replete. And the night folds in around us as I close my eyes and she cuddles into my shoulder, her soft breath on my throat.
“I love you. You’re the best man I’ve ever met, Jameson.”
“Sleep, baby girl. We’ve got forever. I love you too.” And I sigh, letting sleep claim my aching body. It may take me awhile but I’m well on the way to winning the woman I love more than life itself.
Epilogue One: Charity
Istare in the mirror, stunned.
“I don’t know why you look so surprised, sweetie. You’re beautiful and that dress just brings it out.”
I turn to Hannah and grin. “You’re just saying that because you’re my friend.”
