Abby
Leo curls himself around my legs as I enter the house, nearly tripping me. Every dang day.
“Hey, bud.” I set my stuff down on the foyer table and bend down to pet him. “I’m home a little early today. It’s not dinner time yet.”
He looks up at me pitifully, as if I betrayed him.
“It’s true,” I tell him, not that he believes me.
He stalks off after realizing I’m not going to feed him, back toward his sunny spot in the window. He’ll come find me later when it’s actually time to eat.
From further in the house, Grayson’s deep rumble is audible, muffled through the door of what used to be the guest bedroom, and is now his home office. I happily helped convert the room for him when he moved in. It’s not as if I ever had guests over, anyway.
I tiptoe to right outside the door, pressing my ear to it. I like overhearing him talk about all that business jargon authoritatively when he’s on his conference calls. It’s kind of sexy.
“You should really consider putting in for the manager position,” someone is saying over the loudspeaker. I think it’s his boss. “You’d be a shoo-in.”
“Aw, I’m blushing,” Grayson responds, laughing. My heart does a little flip-flop. I love hearing him laugh.
“No, I’m serious. Only thing is, it’s in Seattle.”
Seattle? Well, he obviously won’t—
“Yeah, I’ll definitely think about it. Update my resume and all that, thank you.”
I take a step back, my heart pounding now. He’s considering going to Seattle? I thought he was happy here.
Continuing down the hallway on silent feet, I go to our bedroom, processing this information. Is Grayson getting that itch to leave Crescent Pass again, the way he did all those years ago?
My eyes unexpectedly fill with tears, that fear in the back of my mind that I’m not enough to hold his interest speeding to the forefront. I knew it was too good to last.
Sure, there have been no other signs. Things have been great the past year and a half. We communicate well, always getting on the same page when a disagreement pops up. Sexually, it’s not even a question. He’s still all over me every night.
Maybe… Maybe it’s not anything to do with me. Maybe it’s only wanderlust. But what can I do about that? Could I go with him?
No, things are worse now with my parents’ health compared to when he first moved here. Dad gets even more confused now when his routine is disrupted and Mom has started to have problems with her right hip. I have to be here for them.
I chew at my bottom lip, thinking it over. Even if I could convince Mom to move to Seattle with us, it’d be so hard for Dad. They’ve lived in that house for over forty years. Starting over somewhere new…
The bedroom door opens and I quickly turn away, wiping at the remaining tears on my face.
Grayson comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle and kissing my neck. “I thought I heard you sneak in,” he murmurs. “I just finished up my last work call.”
How can he be so calm right now when he’s planning on leaving? Does he assume I’ll go with him, no questions asked? Or does it even matter if I’m willing to go or not?
I don’t know if I can trust my voice not to shake at the moment, so I don’t respond.
“You okay?”
I nod, even as a helplessness overtakes me. What else can I say?
“No, you aren’t.”
He turns me in his arms, thumbing away the tears still there. How did he know?
“What’s going on? Something at the library?”
I shake my head.
“With your parents?”
“No,” I whisper, managing to get that out.
“It’s not me, is it?” he asks jokingly, probably trying to lighten the mood.
I can’t even lift my lips in a semblance of a smile.
He lets go of me, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Oh, shit. What’d I do? Leave the toilet seat up?”
I burst into tears. That stupid toilet seat. It’s the only time I’ve been actually mad at him. He kept leaving it up out of habit, not thinking twice about it since he’s lived alone for so long. How I wish this was something as trivial now.
My mind races with what to say. I want to ask him to change his mind about Seattle, but I shouldn’t have to do that. I should be with someone who wants to be with me. Not someone who wants to leave.
But it’s Grayson. He’s my world.
His hand brushes my cheek, redirecting my attention to him, his face uncharacteristically serious. “You’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
I nod, knowing I need to explain myself. “I overheard you on your call.”
I get my tears under control as his expression turns to confusion. “Okay…”
“What you said about Seattle,” I clarify.
“What’d I say about Seattle?”
I huff in annoyance. He can’t be this oblivious. “The manager position. That you’re going to apply and it’s in Seattle.”
The confusion on his face disappears, turning into understanding. “Oh, that was nothing.”
My brows narrow. “It’s nothing that you’re thinking about relocating?”
“No, I’m not applying.”
I blink at him. “But you just said—”
“That was to get him off my back. I’ll tell him later I discussed it with you and it’s not something I can do.”
“Oh.”
I bury my head in my hands. God, I’m an idiot. Overthinking things as usual. Jumping to conclusions like it’s an Olympic sport.
He gently pries my hands away from my face, a gentle smile on his lips. “Did you really think I’d leave you?”
“No.”
“Then why are you crying?”
I sniff, betraying my lie. “I got carried away. You know how my imagination is.”
“I’m very familiar with it, yes.”
I give a weak laugh. This poor man must be sick of my neuroses.
He holds my hands in his. “Abby, you’re it for me. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”
I smile, but there’s not much heart behind it. I can’t believe myself. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson by now.
“What can I do to prove myself?” he asks.
“No, there’s nothing you need to do. I was being stupid.”
He studies me, and I both love and hate that he can see completely through me now. It’s the mortifying ordeal of being known, come true with him.
He nods, as if he’s come to some kind of internal decision, and bends down on one knee.
Holy—
“Oh my God, Grayson, you don’t have to do that.”
He’s not offended, merely amused at my outburst. “You don’t want me to?”
My hands flutter helplessly, unsure what to do. “Of course I want you to. But don’t feel obligated because I’m acting crazy.”
That lopsided grin of his I love so much makes an appearance. “It’s not obligation that makes me want to do this.”
I nod, my heart pounding again, beating overtime. He’s proposing. Grayson is proposing to me.
“Can you open the top drawer of the dresser?” he asks. “The one with my socks?”
It takes a moment to process his request. Wait, I thought this was a proposal. What do socks have to do with it? “Okay…”
I turn around, doing as he asks.
“Inside the gray pair.”
What in the—
My hand closes around something hard. Something velvety. Is it…
I pull out a ring box, nearly dropping it when my hand begins shaking.
“Grayson,” I whisper through numb lips. “How long has this been here?” Right under my nose.
“About a month. I bought it in Portland when—”
“When you went to deliver that table with Owen and Harper,” I finish. I hadn’t given much thought to him going since it was a Saturday I had to work at the library. I just thought he went with them because he’d be bored at home, otherwise.
He holds his hand out and I give it to him, time seeming to slow as he opens it to reveal a beautiful square-cut diamond ring, the silver band dotted with smaller shimmering diamonds.
“I wanted something a lot gaudier,” he teases, knowing I’d hate that, “but Harper suggested something a little more understated.”
Well, if this is their version of understated, I can’t imagine what else was at the store. That being said, I’m immediately in love with it.
“In case I haven’t outright said it before, I’d never jeopardize what I have with you over a job.”
He’s being Serious Grayson right now, which doesn’t happen all that often. But when it does, it makes it all the more special.
“You are the love of my life. And I give eternal thanks to Owen and Harper for deciding to have a week of wedding activities. Because it led me to you.”
I bite my lip, trying to hold back my tears. “And to your mom? For being so crazy that you needed a fake wedding date?”
“To her, too.” He grins, his smile lighting me up inside. “I can’t imagine my life without you. And I want to spend the rest of it making you as happy as you’ve made me.” He takes the ring out of the box, holding it toward me, where it catches the light to sparkle brilliantly. “Will you marry me?”
I nod, too choked up to speak, my heart pounding thunderously in my chest, ready to escape for how elated I am.
He takes my left hand and slips the ring on my finger, the metal cool against my overheated skin. It’s a comforting weight, one I’m not used to yet, but more than welcome.
Standing, Grayson takes me in his arms and kisses me, but I can barely kiss him back, still shaking with adrenaline and happiness.
“Abby,” he says, amusement in his tone. “You’re not surprised, are you?”
“No.” I wipe at my eyes. “And yes. I just can’t believe how lucky I am. That this is real.”
“It’s real,” he promises. “I can’t wait for you to be my wife.”
There’s a tug in my lower belly at the gravelly way he says it and the earnestness in his gaze. “I want you to be my husband. So bad.”
I slip my arms over his shoulders and tug his head down to meet mine, kissing him thoroughly this time. He returns it wholeheartedly, his hands sliding down my backside to squeeze my ass.
“I want that, too,” he murmurs against my lips. “And I’m never leaving. You know that, right?”
“I know.” My voice is sure now. “You might just have to remind me once in a while.”
“Deal.”
He lifts me in his arms and lays me on the bed, stripping me of my clothes, kissing every inch of me he uncovers until I’m a shaking, panting mess.
His knuckles drift down my cheek, my neck, his lips soon following, whispering featherlight over my sensitive skin. He works his way down to my breasts, sucking my nipples unhurriedly while my pulse thuds out of control, need climbing within me.
When his hand brushes over my pussy, I arch into him, desperate. I both love and hate the low chuckle he gives.
“Impatient, are we?” he murmurs.
“Please,” I beg, not caring how I sound. Only with him do I ever get like this.
“Anything my fiance wants, she gets.”
He parts the folds of my pussy with his thumbs so I’m open to him. Vulnerable and exposed in the best way possible because I know this man will always take care of me. He’s mine forever.
He stares at me, his hot gaze devouring me, and I love how hungry he looks. Like he can’t wait to eat me up.
His warm tongue is a shock to my system as he licks me, no longer unhurried but with purpose. My hips buck and he holds them down, his thumbs drawing soft circles over my hipbones, matching the pace of his tongue.
He drives me crazy, but pulls away before I’m there, hastily taking his own clothes off.
“I want you to come on my cock,” he explains, and I nod, instantly wanting that, too. To join with him in the closest way possible during our first time together as an engaged couple.
He rolls on a condom and presses between my legs, his hard cock easing into me, filling me until there’s nothing but him. Grayson. My future husband.
I’m already so worked up, it’s not long before I’m spasming around him, my orgasm stretching in waves as he pushes in and out in full, steady strokes, prolonging my pleasure.
He slows his pace as I recover, murmuring how good I am at taking his cock, how much he loves me, how he wants to do this every night for the rest of our lives.
When that ache gathers again, my hips rise to meet his gentle thrusts, letting him know I’m ready for round two. He flips me over, my ass in the air as he pushes in from behind, the angle making his cock feel thicker and deeper inside me.
I moan, pressing my cheek to the duvet, bracing myself as he drives into me, slowly at first, then picking up the pace as my body adjusts to him.
“Fuck, baby, you feel so good. Can you take it rougher?”
“Yes.” I want anything he’ll give me. Forever now.
His hands grip my waist, holding me in place as he moves even faster, need thick in my veins, spiraling higher and higher until he stiffens and jerks. He groans, and just hearing him in the throes of pleasure sets me off, too, heat enveloping me as tingles race over me, my chest heaving, unable to catch my breath.
I love the way we’re connected like this, his palms still resting on my backside, keeping me close to him, my limbs shaking with what he’s put me through.
He finally releases from me and quickly cleans up in the bathroom, then is soon back, pulling me into his side, intertwining our legs together and bringing my hand to rest over his chest.
“I love you,” he murmurs, cupping my jaw and kissing me tenderly.
“Love you.” In this moment, my heart is overflowing with love for this man.
He takes my hand in his, his thumb brushing over my new ring. “Do you like it?”
“I love it. Almost as much as I love you.” I kiss him, lingering long enough to feel his dick twitch against my thigh.
“You want to go again?” he asks, smiling against my lips.
“If you’re up for it.”
“Mmm. This is why we’re perfect together.” He squeezes my ass, bringing us closer. “I’m tempted to haul you off to Vegas tonight before you change your mind.”
I laugh, though I can’t say it’s a terrible idea. “I’d marry you however you want.”
Seriously, I’ve never been one to dream about a big, flouncy dress and everyone staring at me as I walk down an aisle. It’s always been the man who matters more.
And Grayson’s the only man who’s ever ticked all my boxes.
“Nah, I can’t be accused of copying Owen. I have sort of had an idea, though.”
He’s been thinking about our future wedding? “Yeah?”
He’s almost shy as he says, “Remember that winery we went to?”
I nod. “Where we had our first kiss. Well, first kiss where I wasn’t drunk.”
He grins. “Exactly. I thought it might be a fitting bookend. To get married where we first got together.”
My heart melts. How perfect is this man? “I love it. Absolutely.”
“Wait, seriously? You’re not going to drag me around to a million wedding venues to find the right one?”
“Does that sound like me?”
“No,” he admits.
I bring my finger up to trace his crooked smile. “I don’t care where I get married, as long as it’s to you.”
“Abby.” His voice gets lower. “You’re making me feel all mushy inside.”
“Good. That’s how you make me feel every day.”
He rolls over to cover me with his big body, kissing me thoroughly. I sigh happily, loving his attention and devotion. Anticipating our wedding and everything beyond it. Anniversaries and birthdays and one day children running around our house, shrieking in delight as Grayson pretends to chase them, scooping them up in his strong arms to tickle them. Growing old and enjoying the life we’ve forged together.
I’ve always wanted forever with him, and now that I have it…
I’m never letting it go.
Allie Winters 