Surprise Delivery(106)

“Oh really?” I ask, feigning shock. “I didn’t know that.”

She turns back to the musicians, entranced by the music. Even though they definitely sound pretty different from Elvis, I have to admit that they sound pretty good. As the song begins to come to its conclusion, my heart thunders in my chest and my hands tremble – it’s showtime.

I shouldn’t be this nervous. I mean, I know what the outcome is going to be. Yet, despite that, despite all of my self-assurances that this is going to go my way, I can’t help but feel jittery as I get down on one knee. I slip the small, black box out of my pocket and open it – and wait.

When the musicians finish with a flourish, the patio restaurant erupts in applause. Clapping wildly, Alexis turns around to find me down on my knee, offering her a ring. As if on cue, the entire patio falls silent as all eyes turn to us. Everything is so still and so silent, it’s like we’ve been dropped into a vacuum or something.

Alexis’ eyes are wide, shimmering with tears, and she covers her mouth with trembling hands of her own.

“Alexis Martin, you are the woman I have searched for my entire life,” I say. “You have brought more joy to my world than I ever dared to hope for. And because of you, I feel more alive than I ever have. You are my heart, my soul, and my entire world. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

Tears rolling down her cheeks, but eyes shining with joy, she nods slowly. She pulls her hands away and laughs.

“Yes, Duncan,” she cries. “God, yes. It’s about time you asked!”

Smiling, I get to my feet and help her to hers. I take the ring out of the box and as all of the guests on the patio erupt into applause again, I slip the ring on her finger. She looks at it for a long moment, shaking her head, her eyes fixed on her hand, though she’s not really seeing the ring. In her eyes, I see her thinking back through her life and everything that’s brought her to this point.

And when she looks up at me, I see the most pure, intense love I’ve ever seen in another person’s eyes before. It makes my heart swell in ways I never knew it could.

“I love you, Duncan Clyburne,” she says.

“And I love you, Alexis Martin,” I reply. “I love you with everything in me.”

As the crowd applauds and cheers for us, we kiss beneath the full, silvery moon. And nothing in my life has ever felt so perfect.





After a late-night run to a fantastic creperie for dessert, we finally make it back to my condo, still high on the rush of our engagement. My mom is keeping Aurora overnight, and the plan is to go pick her up in the morning and take her with us when we have some engagement pictures taken. After all, we’re starting our family – officially – and Aurora is a very big part of that. But tonight is all ours.

As we move into the bedroom, I pull Alexis to me and kiss her more deeply than I ever have. Her lips part, accepting my tongue into her mouth and our kiss grows hotter and more passionate in a matter of moments. My body is responding to the feel of her kiss and her body pressed to mine. I’m nearly dizzy with anticipation. Alexis is my drug and I really need a fix.

She puts her hands on my chest and pushes me back, a flirty smile on her face.

“Take your clothes off,” she instructs, her voice dripping with sensuality.

I slip out of my coat and toss it on a nearby chair and start working the buttons on my shirt. Biting her bottom lip, her eyes filled with desire, Alexis turns and walks toward the bathroom.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“Patience, my love,” she winks. “Good things come to those who wait.”

I watch her walk into the bathroom and shut the door behind her as I strip out of my shirt. My shoes, socks, and pants quickly follow, and I lay back on the bed, waiting for my second dessert of the evening.

“I’m waiting,” I call with a laugh.

“You are an impatient man,” she calls back, her voice muffled through the bathroom door.

“I am. Especially when it comes to getting something I really want.”

While I wait, I take the opportunity to dim the lights and light some of the candles around the room. I don’t want it pitch black because I want to admire the beauty who is sharing my bed tonight in all her glory. With the mood in the room set, I sit back down on the bed and continue to wait. And when she opens the door, framed by the light in the bathroom, I can’t help but think it was worth the wait.

My breath catches in my throat as I look at her, my eyes traveling from the tip of her toes to the top of her head. With a sultry swagger in her hips, Alexis walks out of the bathroom wearing nothing but black stockings, high heels, and the dark green, sparkling and feathered mask she wore our first night together at the gala.

“I can’t believe you still have that,” I chuckle.

“It has sentimental value,” she purrs. “Now lie back on the bed.”

My cock growing stiffer by the second, I do as she commands. The smile that crosses her red, plump lips as she climbs up onto the bed after me stirs something inside of me, making me grow even harder. God, I want this woman. I need this woman.

On hands and knees, Alexis climbs up the bed and then straddles my chest. She looks down at me, her eyes glittering behind the mask, and I’m having trouble controlling myself. I reach up, needing to feel her flesh beneath my hands, but she slaps them away.