The Randy Romance Novelist(91)
“I handled this all wrong. I didn’t want to get your hopes up, and then when I figured out you were pregnant, I was too scared to be intimate with you.”
“Why didn’t you say anything then?”
“Because I wanted to get through this promotion first; I wanted to secure our future.” I paused and took a deep breath. “I wanted to propose to you, and I wanted to do it in a way that you knew I was proposing because I am so f*cking in love with you and not because you were pregnant, but I needed the promotion first.”
Rosie’s hand was at her chest in shock. Her breathing was heavier and more tears filled her eyes. Quietly, she asked, “Did you get the promotion?”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “I did.” I nodded and then got down on one knee in front of her.
Both of her hands instantly covered her mouth as more tears streamed down her face. Nerves wracked me as I knelt in front of the woman who stole my heart years ago . . . I just didn’t know it until recently.
From my jacket pocket, I removed the ring I purchased only a day ago, and held it out in front of me. Sobs started to escape Rosie, and for a brief moment, I was worried she might pass out.
Wanting to hold her, I linked my fingers with one of her hands and took a deep breath. “Rosie, I wish I could say from the moment I saw you, I knew I had to make you mine, but I can’t. I was blinded by our friendship, never truly realizing my feelings for you until I thought I was going to lose you to someone else. The moment I realized I loved you, that I couldn’t go a day without seeing your face, I made it my mission to make you mine. I thought I needed this grand moment to propose to you. I thought I needed to have a good job to provide for you, but after today, I see that doesn’t matter. What matters is the love we share, the love we’ve created, and our little family.” Pausing for a second to gather myself, I looked deeply into her eyes and smiled. “Rosie Bloom, will you make me one lucky man and marry me?”
Between her crying and sniffles, she nodded her head yes, unable to speak.
Elation burst through me, as I slid the ring onto Rosie’s finger. It was entirely too big, but I didn’t care; she was mine.
We both stood and I pulled her into my chest, kissing the top of her head, joy overfilling me. Her arms wrapped around my waist and she held on to me tightly, not wanting to let go. Through my shirt, I could hear her mumbling, “I love you,” making my heart soar.
Needing to see her, I put a miniscule amount of space between us and asked her to look up at me. “Rosie, look at me, love.”
Her beautifully tear-stained eyes met mine, followed by a warm smile.
“I’m sorry, love, for all the confusion. I didn’t want you to think I was proposing because of the baby.”
She laughed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “In my state of hormonal bliss, I probably would have thought that, so I’m glad you explained everything.” She looked at her ring and then back up at me. “You really wanted to propose a while ago?”
I nodded. “I wanted to propose to you the minute I realized I was in love with you. There is no one else I would rather spend the rest of my life with, Rosie.”
“You still find me attractive?”
I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help it, the scrunch of her nose was too adorable. “Rosie, I find you so f*cking sexy that I can’t wait to get you back home. The doctor said it was okay to perform normal activities, and I’m pretty sure me pounding into you is a normal activity on our day-to-day schedule.”
Her entire face lit up. “What are we waiting for then?” she pulled on my hand and led me past the pond and out of the park. “I need your penis.”
Chuckling and shaking my head, I responded, “You’re so randy.”
Epilogue
ROSIE
“Can I ask you a question, love?” Henry asked, coming up from behind me and placing a kiss on the back of my neck.
I was nine months pregnant, ornery, uncomfortable, still horny, and ready to click the publish button on my first ever book. I loved Henry so much, more than anything, but the man was grating on my damn nerves. I used him for two things: food delivery and his penis. Anything else, I wanted him to steer clear of me.
“Sure,” I answered him, double-checking everything I’d input when it came to sale price. I was a ball of nerves, unsure if I was ready for this or not. Wolf Fleece Wendy believed I was; she even set me up with her publicist to help me with my release. This was all so surreal.
“Did you like my balls slapping your ass this morning? I thought it sounded like a sweet lullaby.”
I paused mid-click and looked at Henry. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants, the waistline of his boxer briefs peeking out and his chest bare. His hair was rumpled to the side and he had a devious smile on his face.
“What kind of disgusting question is that? No one likes the sound of sweaty balls slapping against equally sweaty sex skin.”
Henry laughed. “What? You don’t talk about balls slapping asses in your book?”
“Uh, no. I don’t. I didn’t think it was appropriate.”
“Balls slapping asses are always appropriate.” He kissed my forehead and then knelt down beside me, trying to paint a pretty picture. “You could do some really good stuff with ball slapping. Just think: He holds her hips in his hands, his grip tight, not wanting to miss the intimate connection between them. The room is silent except for the fleshy slap of his balls on her ass.”