She nodded, and I knew she was dying to respond, but I still wasn’t finished.
I brought her hands up to my lips, kissed each one gently, then held them to my chest and looked down into her deep blue eyes.
“Laurel, I love you,” I said, watching as her eyes filled to brimming and she smiled broadly. “I love how strong you are, how focused on getting what you want. I love our history together and the fact that you’re my sister’s best friend. I love the fact that you’re already part of my family, and that you love them as much as they love you. I know it’s early yet, and that we still have a relationship to build, but I want you to know that I want to raise our kids in the home that we grew up in … I want you to one day be my wife.”
Laurel gasped, then threw her arms around me and pulled me down for a kiss. A long, wet, heated, emotional kiss.
“Does that mean you’ll forgive me?” I asked, once we came up for air.
“Yes!”
42
Laurel
“I love you,” I kissed his lips, “too.”
I’d gotten up early, intent on going to Dillon’s to talk. When I’d woken up, my head aching and my eyes puffy from crying, I’d felt bad about making him leave yesterday when he’d wanted to explain, and telling him I didn’t trust him.
I’d been emotional and extremely upset, but shutting down and running away was no way to deal with a problem. That was a lesson I should have learned after years of doing just that with Travis.
So, I’d decided to work on changing my way of dealing with relationship conflict and go see Dillon so we could work it all out.
I was totally unprepared to walk into my living room and see Dillon standing there, his eyes bloodshot as if he’d gotten no sleep, holding about three dozen daisies in his hands. His apology had been pure magic. I wished I’d had my phone recording the whole time, although I knew I’d never forget his words or how I’d felt when he said them.
Which was why I couldn’t stop kissing him.
He’d said he loved me!
It was my young teen-girl’s wish come true, hell, it was old Laurel’s dream come true.
I put my hands on hisT-shirt and clutched the material, then tugged, tugged, tugged until we were walking backwards into my room.
Sticking my hands under his shirt, I lifted, brushing skin as I pulled it up, then Dillon helped me out by lifting it over his head and dropping it to the floor. Eager to touch, to taste, my lips hit his chest, then kissed a trail across it, pausing to tease his nipples with my tongue.
I pushed his shoulder gently, indicating what I wanted without actually pushing him back.
My current bed was an air mattress on the floor, after all, I didn’t want to injure him, I just wanted him to lay down. He did, but he had to crouch down first, then kind of lean back and fold onto the bed.
He looked up at me, amused, then put his hands behind his head and waited.
I moved to the bottom of the air mattress, kneeling on the floor as I tugged off his shoes. Not very comfortable, I admit, and I really, really wished I’d bought a bed before having Dillon in my room, but I wanted him. I wanted him now. And no bit of discomfort was stopping me from getting what I wanted.
Once his shoes and socks were off, I scooted onto the air mattress and hooked my hand in the waistband of his shorts and tugged. Dillon lifted his hips in an effort to help, and within seconds, he was naked before me.
“An air mattress?” he asked, still grinning up at me, totally unfazed by the fact that he was naked, his cock hard and proud, while I was still fully clothed.
“You’re lucky it’s not the bed I want, with the slated headboard, or you’d be tied up right now,” I countered, feeling powerful in our reversed positions.
Yeah, I didn’t know where that came from, but the thought of Dillon tied up and at my mercy had heat pooling in my belly. And I could tell he liked the idea too, because his eyelids hooded and he licked his lips as he looked at me.
“C’mere,” Dillon said throatily, so I scooted up until I was straddling him, but still not touching. His hand came up to brush my thigh, one finger going under the hem of my shorts. “I like these.”
My thighs quivered and my nipples hardened. Placing my hands under my tank top, I undid my bra and slid the straps down my arms, taking it off, but leaving the tank in place. It was white and pretty sheer, so I knew he could see the outline of my breasts, and the rose color of my nipples through the thin fabric.
I lowered slowly, his fingers going high enough beneath my shorts that they brushed the edge of my panties, and rocked against him.
Dillon groaned, his eyes drifting closed while his fingers caressed my hot core over the lace.
Bending at the waist, I kissed him, nibbling his lips as I continued moving over him. He kissed me back, then lowered his head to run his tongue along the top of my breasts. I brought one hand to the cloth and lowered it, freeing my breast for his mouth over the top, the strap falling down over my shoulder.
I groaned at the twin bursts of pleasure at my nipples and at my clit, desire making me heady and the need for more turning to greed.
Hooking my fingers in my shorts, I pushed, crying out when naked flesh met naked flesh, and proceeded to tease the head of his cock with my wetness, as he bit down on my nipple.
“Yes, Dillon,” I said, encouraging him to continue what he was doing. “Feels so good.”
I lost his mouth and let out a sound of loss, then groaned when he pinched my beaded nipple between his fingertips, his lips coming to my ear.
“Your pussy feels so fucking good,” he murmured in my ear, causing shock and heat to rush through me.
He’d never talked to me like that, in bed or out, and I found it terribly arousing. So much so that I wanted to say something back, to talk dirty with him, but I found it hard to push the words past my lips.
I gasped and moaned, taking the tip of him inside, then bobbing in place, hoping to show him that I liked what he was doing, even if I couldn’t quite voice it.
“That’s right, tease me,” he said, his breath hot on my ear, before he sucked the lobe into his mouth and scraped the tender flesh with his teeth. “I want you to fuck me, Laurel. Fuck me until you come. Hard.”
“Yes,” I managed. It wasn’t what I wanted to say, but I hoped it was enough to encourage him to keep talking.
Not bothering to take off my clothes, my tits hanging over the top of my tank, I lowered myself on his cock until I was fully seated.
“You’re fucking gorgeous,” he said when I sat up, his hands coming to cup my heavy breasts. Dillon’s thumbs rubbed my hard nipples as I began to move, rocking my hips so that my clit brushed against his pelvic bone. “That’s right, baby, ride me.”
Jesus.
I put my hands on his chest and rose, taking him almost fully out of me, then teasing him, and myself, by lowering, then rising, then lowering again, until I slammed back down and braced myself, then began to ride.
It didn’t take long until my orgasm began to build, I pinched Dillon’s nipples while he kneaded my ass and urged me faster.
When it hit, my eyes held his and I moaned, “I love you so much,” then came apart. He kept my hips moving while I floated on the wave of my orgasm, until he came as well.
“Laurel,” he called, making my eyes open to find his again. “I love you, too,” Dillon said, then bucked beneath me and found his release.
I rocked gently against him, milking our pleasure for as long as I could, then collapsed on top of him.
Once I found my breath again, I kissed his chest, then his throat, his chin, and his lips.
“Want to get breakfast?” I asked, suddenly starved.
“Sounds great,” Dillon said. “I know just the place.”
43
Dillon
When Laurel was ready, this time dressed in a pretty blue sundress that matched her eyes, we got in my car to go grab breakfast.
I knew she expected me to take her
to the diner, or another restaurant, but it was Sunday, which meant family brunch. And I figured what better way to let Laurel know that I meant everything I said, that I loved her, and wanted to eventually marry her and have children, than to show my family that we were together.
“Isn’t this the way to your Aunt Annabeth’s?” she asked, turning in her seat to look at my profile.
I smiled and said, “Yup.”
“Oh my God, are we going to brunch?” Laurel asked, and her tone had me turning my head to look at her.
“Is that okay?” I asked, hoping she didn’t think it was too soon.
Laurel bit her lower lip and nodded.
“I love Lewis family Sunday brunch,” she said, then her voice lowered as she admitted, “And, I’ve always dreamed of coming to a brunch with you. I know, I’ve been before with Jasmine, but…”
“I get it,” I said, pleased that she was as excited about coming out as my girlfriend as I was.
She took a deep breath and blew it out.
I chuckled and placed my hand on hers on her lap.
“They already love you, so it’ll be easy,” I promised.
Laurel nodded and let out a shaky laugh.
“Oh my God, your parents.”
“Now, you know they love you. Always have. Hell, half the time growing up I thought they liked you more than me.”
She clenched my hand in hers and muttered, “I’m not going to panic.”
“We’re here,” I said as I parked in between Gabe and Reardon’s vehicles. “Let’s go break the news.”
Laurel nodded and we both opened the doors and stepped out.
Her nervous glance hit me as we headed toward the door and I noticed she’d slowed to a snail’s pace.
“That’s it,” I said. I backed up until I was next to her, then bent and lifted her into my arms.
She automatically hung on to my neck.
“What are you doing?” Laurel asked, panicked.
“Ripping off the Band-Aide,” I said, then rushed inside to where my family was gathered.
The floor plan was open, so even though some people were in the kitchen, others in the dining room, and still others in the living room, all eyes were on us when I carried her into the house.
“Lewises, you know Laurel,” I said with a devilish grin. “She’s my woman now.”
At first there was a stunned silence. Even though the younger Lewises knew we’d started dating, and Reardon’s parents had seen us at the shower yesterday, they’d all witnessed the drama of Jasmine’s arrival and knew we’d gone home separately. While the rest of the elder Lewises, who couldn’t make the shower and were celebrating with Reardon and Chloe today, were obviously surprised by our pairing. Especially my parents, who’d been as in the dark as Jasmine.
Then, everyone started to cheer and clap.
Laurel jumped in my arms, then started laughing. I put her gently back on her feet as my mom and Jasmine rushed us.
“I knew when he showed up this morning right away, instead of waiting like a jackass, that you two would work things out,” Jazzy said, pulling Laurel into a hug.
“This is the best day of my life,” my mother said, pushing Jazz out of the way to hug Laurel herself. “I always knew this day would come, but it feels like I’ve been waiting forever for my son to wake up and figure things out.”
I shook my head.
“Maybe if all of you had bothered to clue me in on what everyone else seemed to know, I wouldn’t have taken so long.”
“Oh no,” my mom said, letting Laurel go to put an arm around me. “I know better than to try and tell you to do anything. When I do, you run screaming in the other direction. No, this one you had to figure out on your own. And I’m so glad you did.”
I kissed my mom on the cheek and hugged her.
My dad walked over and did the same to Laurel, then asked, “So, when’s the wedding?”
I chuckled. “We just started dating, Dad, can’t we see each other awhile before the I do’s start?”
My father scowled good naturedly and said, “You’ve been courtin’ the last fifteen years, and I didn’t raise an idiot, did I? There’s no way you’re letting this beauty get away now that she’s agreed to have you.”
“Ouch,” I said, rubbing my chest playfully. “Don’t hold back, Pop.”
“Don’t worry, Jacob,” Laurel said, grinning up at my dad. “I’ve got him right where I want him.”
“That a girl,” my dad said lovingly.
“All right, all right, make room,” my Aunt Annabeth said as she pushed through the crowd, a beer in one hand, a mimosa in the other.
“Thanks, Aunt Annabeth,” I said, accepting the beer.
“Thanks,” Laurel echoed as she took the mimosa.
“Let me just say I am pleased as punch about this union.”
They do realize we aren’t actually married yet, right?
“And Jazzy,” she said, catching my sister’s eye as she tried to melt back into the crowd. “They’ve just taken the pressure off you, but you and Serena are next … We’re ready for more weddings and babies.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jasmine said, then fled into the other room.
“Finally got your head out, huh, boy?” my aunt said.
Wow.
“And, you,” she added, turning to place her hands on Laurel’s face. “I’m so happy that we can officially welcome you to the family.”
“Well, not officially,” I began, then Gabe clapped a hand on my back and said, “Just go with it, man.”
So, I went with it.
Epilogue - Laurel
I looked around Party with Laurel my heart swelling with pride.
We were officially open for business. There were still flowers, of course, with a front counter for Cherry Springs customers who wanted to order for personal reasons. But, there was also an open office in the storefront for people who wanted to book us to plan their party.
The flowers we did in-house, and we’d also started procuring decorations, furniture, and miscellaneous items for the parties we hosted, including the Star Wars themed items from our maiden party.
We hired out the catering, bartending, and music. I’d spent the last few months networking and contacting those I’d met at the convention with Dillon as well as people from a wedding expo I’d attended a few weeks before… as a vendor.
It had been unbelievably exciting, and we’d even secured a few bookings on the spot, as well as some emails and phone numbers to contact for more information.
Chloe was currently at home on bed rest, frustrated and disappointed that she and Reardon hadn’t been able to have their wedding before the baby was born like they’d hoped, but everyone agreed, the safety of her and the baby was much more important than whether or not the baby was born out of wedlock.
I couldn’t wait to tell her, though, that I’d just booked Three Sister’s Catering to cater her reception. She was going to flip. We’d travelled there together to meet with the sisters, pick their brains about their business, and learn everything we could from them. And, we’d both loved Millie’s food.
“I’m going to lock up,” Lisa said, pulling me from my musings. “Do you need anything else before I go upstairs?”
Last month I’d moved in with Dillon, and Lisa had moved into my apartment over the shop.
“No, I’m about to head out myself. Thanks,” I said, smiling as she nodded and turned to lock up.
I’d hired three more employees over the last few months as our business had grown, and Lisa had moved up to be under Chloe, and was helping me run things while Chloe was away. My team was the best, and I’d be nothing without them.
Want me to grab dinner on the way home?
I smiled at Dillon’s text. I still got butterflies whenever I saw his name on my phone.
I pulled out steaks to thaw, thought we could grill tonight.
I replied, tossing my stuff in my car before getting in and heading toward the home I’d always dre
amed of living in, and now did.
Mmmm, perfect. I love you.
I grinned, those butterflies flapping happily.
Love you, too. On my way.
I put my phone on the seat next to me and drove.
I was parking when Copper and Penny came running around the side of the house at the sound of my car.
Dillon must be out back grilling already, I thought, then led them back around the side of the house, rather than inside, where Princess was probably hiding in her usual spot under our bed.
I smiled as I looked out over the acreage as I walked. I could see the daisies growing in the distance, and knew I needed to take time that weekend to go for a walk and see them.
“Hey,” I called, when I rounded the corner and saw Dillon out on the deck by the grill. It was open, and he was doing something with tongs in one hand, and a beer in the other.
“Hey, babe, how was your day?” he asked, and I laughed.
He’d been asking me that every evening since I’d moved in. I pretended I thought it was corny, but we both knew I loved it.
“It was pretty great actually. I booked two more parties, how about yours?” I asked as I walked up the stairs toward him.
He handed me the glass of red wine he had waiting and dropped a kiss on my lips.
“Great, too. Boise is a go.”
Jasmine and Dillon had both been successful in their efforts to move Lewis Sporting Goods across the nation, and were officially starting their world domination efforts in San Francisco, Seattle, and now, Boise.
“Congratulations,” I murmured, offering up my lips for one more kiss.
“I talked to Reardon, he said Chloe is going nuts on bed rest, but doing much better. He sounded a little freaked out.”
“I bet,” I replied, bringing the wine to my nose and inhaling the delicious fragrance of a good red. “To both … Chloe going nuts and Rear freaking. I know how much she thrives on doing, I can’t imagine how hard it is for her to be still. And, Reardon, well, I’m sure being a first-time dad is hard.”