*Characters are the property of Janet Evanovich- I make no money, all mistakes are mine.*
A/N: SMUT ALERT: If you don't want to read about engagement night sex, skip the italicized section. Thank you for all of your messages, and reviews, keep them coming- they make me smile. This chapter is un-edited too, so there will be some mistakes, but will be revised if I ever get out of this freaking hospital room and back on an actual computer. Wanted to get this out as fast as I could, thanks to your sweet messages.
As he got down on his knee, I couldn't stop the tears from falling at a less than attractive rate. I looked in his beautiful brown eyes, and saw nothing but love, and admiration, maybe a bit of nerves mixed in. No blank face. I was getting full access to the man I have come to realize I need like I need air. He is it. I guess Someday wasn't really some abstract thought, it was an actual destination that took years to reach. It felt like the air had been vaporized from my lungs as he reached up, and grasped my left hand with his right hand, and began to speak;
"The day I got home from my last mission for the government I was on a new mission- to make you mine. I had no idea the changes that had taken place. The moment that I stepped into your apartment, and heard Julie call you "Mama", my heart felt fuller than it has ever felt. In that moment I realized what I was missing in life; You & Julie. There are so many more things I want, that I never knew I would want. Now that Julie is a Manoso, my heart yearns to make it an official family, not just two guardians on a custody sheet. I want us to all be Manoso's, live in the new house, make mistakes, make up, spend lazy days watching movies as a little family. I want a family for the first time in my adult life. I want you- forever. Stephanie Michelle Plum- my Babe, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
By the end of his speech, I was crying so hard, I probably had snot bubbles. Sexy, I know. He still had a hold on my left hand, so I used my right hand to cup his perfect face.
"Carlos- It would make me the happiest woman in the world to become Stephanie Manoso. To live the life that I never dreamed I could have, to be with the loves of my life everyday for the rest of my life... I don't know how I got this lucky. Yes. yes. yes, I would love to be your wife!"
He placed a kiss to my left hand, reached in his pocket, and pulled out the most exquisite ring I have ever laid eyes on. It was platinum, with a thin band of diamonds encircling a large cushion cut diamond in the center. He never took his eyes off my face as he slid the ring on. He stood up, wrapped his arms around me and wiped the tears from my face.
"I love you so much, Babe. I'm the lucky one."
I couldn't stand the separation any longer, so I grabbed his hair, and pulled him to me in a fierce, passionate kiss. We held each other tight, relishing the moment.
He picked me up, wrapping my legs around his waist, and my arms around his neck continuing our amazing kiss, until I felt myself up against the bed. He sat my feet on the floor beside the bed, and looked at me with so much love I thought I was going to melt into the floor.
I unbuttoned his shirt slowly, kissing each patch of skin as I uncovered it-then pushed it off his broad shoulders before running my hands up his body until I reached the top of his shoulders, and ran my nails down his back making him shiver.
He grabbed my dress from the bottom, and pulled it carefully over my head, leaving me in only my lace thong, and kick ass heels. He gave me an appreciative look before picking me up by my ass, and sitting my in the center of the bed, and laying down beside me.
He started kissing my mouth, moving over placing gentle kisses across my face, nipping my earlobe, moving down to kisses, licks, and gentle sucking on my neck. I turned my head sideways to urge him on, but he was a man on a mission.
He kept moving down spending time alternating kisses and licks across my collarbone, taking his time, driving me insane... my panties were beyond ruined.
After what seemed like hours, he made his way to my nipples, sucking, and biting like a starved man- paying attention to each breast by alternating rubbing his rough, calloused hand, and his hungry, warm mouth. It was pure ecstasy.
He moved down my stomach, giving open-mouthed kissed all over, dipping his tongue into my bellybutton. He looked up at me with hooded eyes as he used his teeth, and mouth to remove my soaking wet panties. I have never felt such strong desire in my life, and I don't think he had either. It was all-consuming, like an inferno struggling to stay contained.
He moved down the bed to my feet, and carefully took off each of my shoes, rubbing, and kissing as he went. He made his way up my legs before grabbing my thighs, and draping them over his shoulders. Oh boy!
He leaned down, and licked the entire length of the promised land, before paying special attention to my aching clit. I knew it wouldn't take long before I completely lost it.
As soon as he inserted two long, calloused fingers, I absolutely took flight. I screamed out a garbled version of his name as I convulsed around him. Good Lord that man is magic.
He waited until I had come down from my high before standing up to strip off his remaining clothes, and moving over top of me. He looked into my eyes with the most pure form of love I have ever seen, and I am sure it was what he saw in my eyes too. This man was it for the rest of my life, and I have never been happier.
I slowly reached up, and pulled him closer to me by his hair, and gave him a deep, tender kiss to show my love for this perfect man. During the kiss, he moved himself in place, and achingly slowly sheathed himself in me.
We laid there completely still surrounded by each other just reverently kissing for a few minutes, before he slowly started moved inside me. We settled into our rhythm, neither one wanting it to ever end, keeping it slow, tender, and loving. This was the true meaning of making love.
After the longest time, we picked up the pace ever so slightly, and went over the edge together in a flurry of gasps, and a mingling of each others tears. There was no scream of ecstasy, it was so intense that neither of us were able to speak, only breathe, and both of us were so overwhelmed that we shed a few silent tears. A true bonding of souls, hearts, and bodies.
As far as I was concerned, our committment, and love that moment was as strong as the vows we planned to speak to each other legally binding our union. After that moment, there would be nothing to separate us, we were one.
We made love multiple times during the night, reaffirming our connection, until we fell asleep wrapped in silk as the morning light started to shine through the windows.
I awoke a few hours later with a strong Mocha Latte arm wrapped around me, and smiled... it wasn't a dream. I turned around, and the man I love was staring intently at me with a breathtaking smile covering his face.
I leaned in, and gave him a kiss, and held out my left hand, and admired the beautiful ring that now glittered in the late-morning light. I can't believe I'm getting married, and I'm actually happy about it.
Carlos leaned over, and placed a gentle kiss on my left hand, and then my lips. Unfortunately, it was time to break out of our little love cocoon, and join the real world. Today is family day, and we want to spend as much family time with Jules as we can, because tomorrow starts another week of school for her, and Carlos, and I start back to work from having last week offline. I know I am going to have a god-awful amount of paperwork, so I know I need to get myself settled.
Carlos is going to spend the day tomorrow in my office, with me walking him through the new programs, and paperwork policies that I have implemented in my time at RangeMan since he has been gone. I am a bit nervous, but I think he will be proud of me for making his business more seamless.
Not surprisingly, Carlos had everything we needed to get ready for the day here at the new house. Shower stuff, towels, my makeup, and hair products. The man is seriously THAT thoughtful.
I hadn't packed any clothes, not knowing we weren't going back to the apartment last night, but Carlos surprised me with a gorgeous blue, and white drapey, chiffon maxi dress from Victoria's Secret. It was absolutely stunning. He had also laid out matching blue boy-shorts for comfort during family day, and a strapless matching blue bra. I also had some stunning silver gladiator sandals sitting on the counter. Either Ella deserves a raise, or Carlos deserves some special attention tonight.
We got ready in record time, locked the door to our new home, Carlos assuring me he would get our mess from last night cleaned up, and we headed over to Val's to pick up our girl. Carlos told me that Val already knew that he was proposing, but we wouldn't announce it to the house until we told Julie.
We made it to Val's in 10 minutes, and Julie was in the kitchen drinking a glass of orange juice, waiting on us. We had decided to have a family brunch, and then head to Point Pleasant to walk the boardwalk, so Julie had skipped breakfast. Val was standing in the kitchen with the girls, and told Angie, and Jules to go upstairs to get Julie's things so that we could hit the road. As soon as the girls left the room, Val looked down at my hand and tackled me into the wall with the biggest hug I have ever had from her.
She grabbed my hand, and with tears in her eyes told me how happy she was for me, and how I deserved this more than anyone. I am really looking forward to more special moments like this with my big sister. It's like a switch was turned, and we are making up for lost time, and becoming best friends. It's the best feeling in the world, because I have always craved that relationship.
We left Val's house about 15 minutes later, with Jules in tow. We made the trip to Point Pleasant, and arrived at Perk's Cafe by 1:15, because they close around 2:00. Perk's is mine, and Julie's favorite brunch spot, and Carlos had never been. Once we ordered, Carlos held my left hand under the table, and squeezed. He looked over at me, and I have him a small nod, to go ahead, and tell her.
"Jules,We wanted to talk to you about something that happened last night."
"Okay...?"
"Your Mama agreed to be my wife. We are getting married. Soon, we will all three be Manoso's. How do you feel about that?"
At that point, I held out my finger to show her the beautiful ring.
"Seriously? OH MY GOD! We are going to actually be a real family! I'm so excited! When is this happening? Do I get a new dress? Can we do it today?"
Well, if I ever worried about her reaction, her extreme enthusiasm once she got the news clearly put those worries to rest.
"I don't think that is possible, Julie. We need time to do a little shopping, get a marriage license, get settled in our house. We were thinking that since you have your fall break in October, and we will be in the house in the next week, that would give us almost 2 months to get everything lined out. It is just going to be a very small amount of people, and probably in our new back yard. We want you to help us with all of the flowers, decorations, and plans. This is a big deal for us as a family, and we want it to reflect our love, and commitment as a family- the 3 of us."
Julie had a huge grin on her face, grabbed her phone, and started texting. Well, that's a teenager for ya. I'm assuming she has very important things to discuss with Angie, they have been away from each other 2 full hours without speaking to each other. The world may cease to exist if she doesn't tell her right away about the engagement. I gave her 5 minutes, and finally got annoyed.
"Julie... I know you are excited, and I know that you and Angie have a lot to discuss, but do you think you could put your phone away while we are having brunch. Your father, and I don't have our phones out while we are eating. I'm sure your Dad is dying to talk to Tank about who knows what, but his phone is in his pocket. Let's enjoy this day before we get back to school, and work. Once we get home, you can text Angie until your fingers fall off."
She looked up at me sheepishly...
"Sorry, Mama."
Ranger looked over at me, gave me a huge smile;
"Babe."
About that time, his phone started ringing, and he fished it out of his pocket.
"Carlos Manoso... if you even think about answering that phone after I just lectured our daughter about being on the phone, I am going to throw both your phones in the ocean. Geez people, am I that boring?"
About that time, my phone started ringing. I looked down at it, and rolled my eyes. Tank.
"Oh for the love of God, answer my phone, Carlos- Tank is going to bust a blood vessel if we are both incommunicado."
At that point, Julie was giggling behind her napkin. Is one family day a week too much to ask around here? I'm trying to enjoy my engagement here, people.
I looked over at Carlos as he answered my phone with a "Yo."
I only got one side of the conversation, but I could tell it wasn't pleasant.
After about 2 minutes of one word answers, and grunts, Carlos disconnected, and looked at me.
"We gotta go, Babe. Your Dad has some news for us at RangeMan, and wants to discuss it ASAP. I have a feeling it has to do with your Mom."
A/N 2: Promise I will update in a few days, and won't leave you hanging long. Helen is definitely up to no good ;)
xoxo-Brit*
