“You excited?” she asked playfully, dipping her fingers into the warm humid confines of his jeans, releasing the thick shaft.

Harsh moonlight illuminated his eyes, exposing the shadows with apprehension. He captured her wrist, mumbling, “I can’t do this.”

She recoiled at his rejection. Sensations needled the corners of her eyes. “Excuse me?”

Summer plucked her from her knees. Jogging sideways, he distanced himself from her reach. His brows crouched over his dark brooding eyes. Seeming lost in his thoughts, he paced back and forth in a soundless stride. Each frayed exhalation brought another offensive sting to her heart.

“Fuck it,” he grimaced out loud. Summer’s attention, finally landed on Carrie Ann as if she just walked into the room. Throwing his hands out to the side, both shoulders winched nearly to his ears as he shrugged. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

“You do realize I’m here? And that I was just on my knees getting ready to give you a blowjob, right?”

A goofy smile covered his face, pointing his fingers to her feet. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

A scowl pinched a deep groove at the bridge of her nose. Summer disappeared behind a door she assumed was his closet. Minutes felt like hours, standing alone in the romantic setting, feeling like a confused dejected idiot. He loves my blowjobs. I can’t believe he just turned that down.

He reappeared from the closet seeming calm and collected. His eyes locked on her with a galvanizing stare that made her heart nearly lurch from her chest. She felt her insides melting from the inferno slipping through her veins. Not missing a beat, Summer ambled straight for her still sporting a cocky grin tucked into the corner of his upturned mouth.

Mesmerized by the sight of him, strolling toward her in his jeans…oh those damn jeans… unbuttoned and revealing, made her nerves dance, her brain race, and her stomach turn a quick somersault. Carrie Ann staggered back, but he caught her around the waist, coercing an arch from the small of her back. Her hands caught between them as he held her securely.

Summer guided her hand to his beating heart. “I don’t care how many years have passed or how many miles lie between us. You have owned this from the first moment we met. I will never forget the first time I caught your big blue eyes staring at me from across the room.”

“Actually, you were the one staring at me,” humor colored her hushed voice.

“Same difference. We were staring at each other. You were wearing that sexy little smile, it’s the same one that’s spreading over your lips right now.” He brushed a soft kiss to her nose. Pulling back, a small frown strained his features. “I came to see you that day, on your birthday. I had something to ask you.”

His heart thundered beneath her palm. Carrie Ann’s pulse flickered and leaped in her veins, seeing tender emotions rim his lashes.

“You did?”

“I did.” He held a small diamond pinched between his fingers. “I’ve held on to this for all these years. At first I kept it because I just couldn’t bear to let go of the thought of not having you beside me for the rest of my life, but then…I held on to it in hopes I’d be offering it to you in a moment exactly like this.”

Her heart swelled as big tears rolled down her cheeks. He seemed to struggle with an internal thought, but only for a brief moment, showering her with a sexy grin as he dropped to one knee. The blush on his face shone through the darkness.

“I know it’s soon, but I don’t want to waste another moment, another day, another night. We’ve already endured nearly four thousand nights apart, I don’t want to waste one more. Carrie Ann Lowell, you steal the very breathe from my lungs every time I see you smile. The way you love me…so perfectly, blows my mind.” The blaze of adoration in his eyes, transfixed her. “You mean the world to me. It would be my privilege if you’d allow me the honor of being your everything. Marry me, Red?”

“You’re already my everything. You always have been. We just got lost for a while.” She made a pass at her cheeks with the back of her hand. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

Summer rose to his feet, slipping the band made of white gold on her finger. The solitaire diamond sparkled in the moonbeam shining between them. He raised the back of her hand to his lips. “Don’t get too attached. I plan on adding this diamond to a different setting.”

“I don’t care about the ring, Summer,” she insisted.

Summer’s fingers tangled in the silky locks of her hair. He took her mouth with erotic gentleness, the kiss tasting of salt and heat. Finishing the kiss with a gentle nuzzle, he whispered, “I love you, Red.”

She began a slow descent, placing strategic kisses down the center of his hard stomach, shedding him of his jeans. Licking and nibbling, enveloped in his scent, she resisted his insistent tugging on her arms, whispering, “I love you. I want to taste you.”

A long purr resonating in her throat enticed him to comply, parting her lips to lick the hard, silky flesh. She took him into the warm suction of her mouth, loving him, tasting him, devouring him. Glancing upward, she grinned, seductively behind his broad tip.

“Christ, that’s it, Red. No more fucking around. I need to make love to you. Now.” His self-control vanished, clasping her by the arms and hauling her to the bed.

Grappling roughly, her clothes were stripped from her body in a feverish rush and strewn across the room. His fingers dug into her thighs, pinning them wide open. The dominating mood drew a low groan. Summer parted her wet flesh with one swipe of his tongue, just one, only one, before crawling up her body. She gasped as he buried himself inside in one strong thrust. He withdrew to the tip, plunged again, rooting deep.

There would be time for sweet tenderness, but at that moment Carrie Ann was engulfed in a sensory overload, urgent to hurry the rhythm. Her hips rocked upward to firmly greet him, but Summer set the pace, reining in his rush. He spoke in a dreamlike tone, telling her how much he loved her, how good he was going to treat her, how much he wanted to start a family.

Stringing her tight, he withdrew slowly, rolling her on her stomach. His hands slicked over the thin film of moisture on her back, gripping her hips, teasing her, torturing her before giving her full penetration. He hunched over her, gently, tenderly, his teeth closed over the curve of her shoulder. His fingers moved beneath her, turning precise circles over her wet center, pursuing her pleasure.

He was all around her, inside her, taking ownership of her mind, body and soul. Words tumbled from her mouth I love you. Now, Summer, yes. He responded to each pulse of her muscles, quickening his thrusts. With every withdraw he shunted deeper, taking her higher, cresting a summit she’d never climbed. Sheer ecstasy.

His body jerked, contracting with his own release. Rejoicing in the delivery of slick heat, her strength disintegrated, collapsing on the bed. Holding his weight, he lowered over her. His mouth touched her back, sending shivers down her spine. Summer eased them to their sides, coiling his arms around her, petting and stroking. Their breathing began to regulate as the tremors diminished, leaving them in a sedated state of rapture. They stared at each other, smiling, allowing the realization to sink in.

Summer’s fingers speared through the silky strands of her hair. His simmering gaze drifted over her in a slow pleasing inspection. Carrie Ann tucked her toes between his calves, playing with the soft hair. Not giving one thought to the slickness between her thighs.

“I’m going to be so good to you. Forever, Red. Forever.”

Chapter Fourteen

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In the chaos of the weeks that followed, Ryan Summer and Carrie Ann Lowell became known to the world as Ry-Ann.