WARNING: Smexy times ahead in this chapter.
Also, the games that are mentioned below, actually do exist in real life.
Steph's eyes were wider than I'd ever seen them as she looked from the ring to me. "Ram?"
Her questioning response sent a fresh rush of fear and anxiety flooded through me. Not because of what I'd done, but of what I was afraid she was about to say. I held up my hand, stopping her from saying anything else. "Just hear me out."
She remained silent, giving me the opportunity to continue.
"There are times in your life, when you're cruising along, thinking everything is just the way it's supposed to be. Then just when you least expect it, something or someone comes along which changes everything you thought you knew to be true. Yes, technically, we've only been together a week, but hands down, it's been the best week of my life."
She instantly shot me a look of dismay as her eyes went to my arm still in a sling.
"The shoulder notwithstanding," I acknowledged. "Even with that, I firmly believe I'm still here because of you. Honestly, I don't know how I survived before you love, and I don't ever want to spend another day without it and you in my life. So, will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Eric Ramsey?"
As I finished my speech, the air stalled in my lungs, and I could damn near feel my heart threatening to beat right out of my chest. If I miscalculated and she said no, I wasn't sure how I'd ever survive another day without her.
Ever so slowly, a smile began to spread across her face as her eyes grew glassy with unshed tears. "Yes," she replied, her voice shaky and barley above a whisper.
"Yes?" I repeated.
She nodded as the tears began to break free and track down her cheeks. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Despite the bad arm, I pulled her to me and kissed her for all I was worth, when we finally broke apart, she was half sobbing half laughing as she looked down at her new embellishment.
"Well, I'll be damned," the clerk said from behind me. "I have to say in all the years that I've owned this business, I've never been witness to a marriage proposal inside my store." He reached across the counter, extending his hand for me to shake. "Congratulations, you two. In celebration of this momentous occasion, not only am I going to give you a twenty percent discount on that ring, but as an early wedding gift to you, I'm going to throw in the matching wedding bands for free."
I swear, I think the smile I'm wearing is going to split my face in half, but I couldn't contain my happy as I reached out and shook his hand. "Thank you, so much."
It took a few minutes and a phone call to my credit card company, letting them know what I was about to do before we walked out of the antique's store with the engagement ring on Steph's finger and the matching wedding bands in a small pouch in my pocket. We thanked the clerk, who ended up being the owner, one last time before we headed back out to finish our walk.
As we did, Steph intertwined her fingers with mine and I could feel the ring rubbing against my skin. If someone had told me a week ago, that I'd be engaged to Stephanie Plum, I would have called them crazy. Yet here I was, engaged to the woman I love and happier than I think I've ever been in my life.
We turned the corner and I spotted small ice cream shop. "How about some ice cream to celebrate?"
She grinned up at me. "Since we can't really do what I'd want to do to celebrate, I guess ice cream would be the next best thing."
I groaned at her statement. "Don't think for a second that we're not going to celebrate properly the moment I get you back to the cabin."
Her smile slipped just a little. "But your shoulder."
"Is feeling better today." I stopped, then leaned down to kiss her. "We will figure out a way."
We ordered two cones, mine with a double scoop of strawberry and butter pecan and Steph with two scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough and moose tracks. Then we took a seat outside at one of the small bistro tables.
As we ate, I watched Steph and noted how her brow began to knit in concern. Was what we just did finally starting to sink in for real, or was she worried about something else?"
"You're concerned," I said more than asked.
"Maybe a little," she replied.
"About?"
"How everyone is going to react to our news."
"Why does it matter how they react?"
My questioned caused her to pause and looked over at me. "When we left a week ago, we were nothing more than friends and now we're about to show back up a week later engaged? I'm just afraid the guys are going to give you a hard time."
"The guys or Ranger?" I asked.
She sighed. "Both, I guess. Honestly, he shouldn't say a word other than congratulations. Especially since he chose to remain friends only, but I'm concerned his ego will get in the way."
I switched the remainder of the cone to my bad hand, then reached over with my good one to give hers a squeeze. "Hey. Don't worry about Ranger or the guys. If they cause problems, I can handle them."
She returned my squeeze with one of her own. "I know you can, but I really don't want you to have to. I want them to be happy for us."
"They will be."
When she shot me a look of disbelief, I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, okay. I'll readily admit that I expect every guy at Rangeman to threaten me with bodily harm or death if I hurt you."
She sighed and leaned back in her chair. "See, that's what I'm talking about. It's none of their business what goes on between us."
"They just want to see you happy. Even Ranger."
When she didn't answer and her look turned skeptical, I continued. "You still don't see how special you are or the impact you've had on every single one of us at Rangeman. I'm not joking when I say that they really do love you and want to see you happy. Which means after the initial shock wears off, they'll be happy for us. That also means they're going to want to make sure I know they're still on watch, ready to protect and defend you if I do anything stupid. Honestly, I'm okay with that."
"I guess," she finally said after some consideration.
"I figured you'd be more concerned about how your mother is going to react."
She snorted. "I already know how she's going to react. She's going to call you a thug and a criminal, then she's going to point out how you're neither Italian or burg and finally she's going to drop into her tried and true why me tantrum. I'm already expecting all of it and I one hundred percent don't care what she wants or thinks."
She popped the rest of her cone in her mouth and chewed, before finally wiping her hands and face on her napkin. "The only concern I have about her is that she'll try to somehow recruit Joe to help her break us up. For that reason alone, I'd love to already be married when we tell her. That way it would be too damn late for her to say or do anything."
"We can do that if you want," I replied without hesitation. If Steph wanted to get married tomorrow, I'd damn well figure out a way to make that happen.
The smile she gave me was edged in just a bit of sadness. "As much as I would love to, I can't in good conscious do that to your family or the guys at Rangeman."
"My family have already been through five big weddings and one spectacular divorce. Trust me when I tell you that they'd understand."
She shook her head. "I love your family. Well, most of them anyway and I would want them to be part of our wedding."
"How about this," I offered, trying to find a compromise that would work for her. "Let's get married in Trenton, with the guys at Rangeman as our witnesses and then you can work on a vow renewal ceremony with my family back in Illinois for next summer? That way, we could have it outside at the party barn and everyone present."
She stared at me for a long few seconds, but I could almost see the gears turning in her brain as she contemplated my offer. "I guess that could work."
Between Rangeman's connections and her godfather being the mayor, I was confident we could make it work. "Now that's settled, do you want to finish our walk?"
Her concern seemed to melt away and the happiness in her eyes returned as she stood. "Absolutely."
I quickly finished my cone then we continued our walk, stopping at a gifts and game store on the other side of the street. I'd never been all that big in the games, even the video ones that some of the guys back at Rangeman play during their off hours. I guess I've never really ever seen the point in playing those kinds of games when I could be outside enjoying the weather and experiencing more enjoyable activities like rock climbing and hiking.
Still, I had to admit this place was kitschy and unique with board and card games that I'd never heard of before. One package in particular caught my attention and I laughed. "Hey, look. Someone made a card game just for Lester."
When Steph turned to look back at me, I picked up the package to show her. Her smile returned as she read the information out loud. "Dumbass the card game. Even if you're a smart ass you can lose." Her grin was wide now as she shook her head at me. "That's just wrong and is that a donkey wearing braces on the front of the box?"
I turned the package to look at the cover. "I believe it is. Ha, it even kinda looks like Lester."
That statement earned me a playful smack from her. "That's just mean."
"But it was funny."
Still grinning, she shook her head again and turned away. By the time we were done, Steph had picked up both the Dumbass game, a similar but different one called Smartass. One entitled Dumb Criminals, good old fashion Mad Libs and I kid you not, a card game named Man Bites Dog.
After she paid for the one board and four card games we once again returned to the sidewalk. "You do realize that you just dropped nearly a hundred dollars on games?"
She shrugged. "Yes, but these are going to be a massive amount of fun with the guys. Besides," she stopped and tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked up at me. "You just dropped over eight thousand dollars on a ring."
My brow went up at her statement. I should have known that she would be paying closer attention than she appeared. I lifted her hand to look at her ring. "Worth every last penny," I said then leaned forward to kiss her again.
We finished our walk by circling back around to the Gettysburg Baking Company and picking up enough food for us to hold up in the cabin until Sunday morning. I did want to make a stop at the Gettysburg National Cemetery and pay my respects to the fallen before we headed back to Trenton on Sunday. We could do the tour of the battlefield the next time we came here, and we would definitely be coming back.
Once Steph made her stops and picked up the rest of her purchases, we returned to the cabin outside of town. I hated having to watch her haul everything in by herself, but she pitched a huge fit when I tried to help, telling me my shoulder would never get better if I kept putting unnecessary pressure on it.
Little did she know it was most likely going to get a decent work out shortly anyway. Not to mention, the moment we got back to Trenton, I expected Bobby to start me on PT.
She set the case of wine on the counter in the kitchen, then went back for the rest of the bags while I placed the food and drinks in the refrigerator.
Once we were settled, she glanced at her watch. "It's only four o'clock. What do you want to do for the rest of the evening?"
The grin that threatened to split my face had her backing up with her hand out. "No, no, no. You're still injured."
Her weak protest did nothing to deter me from my goal. "Then we'll just have to get creative again, but there is absolutely no way I'm not going to make love to my brand-new fiancé."
She dropped her hand as a soft smile engulfed her face. "Fiancé," she repeated. "That sounds so nice."
Before she could stop me, I had her backed against the footboard of the bed, my good arm wrapped around her as I nuzzled into her hair against her neck. "It sounds perfect," I corrected.
It didn't take much coercion on my part to get her and me naked and in bed. I have to admit, while I do enjoy having Steph ride me like a cowgirl, the overwhelming need to have her under me, so I can take my time and make love to her properly is driving me to make what I know is a really bad decision.
I started to shift us, so that she would be under me, but despite being lost in the moment with me buried deep inside her, Steph still had enough wits about her to fight me. "No pressure on your shoulder," she scolded as she shifted her weight and leaned forward, trapping me beneath her sexy body."
I couldn't stop the growl of frustration at being halted from my goal.
"I know you're frustrated," she whispered against my ear even as she continues to move her hips up and down, but I love you too much to allow you to hurt yourself."
"I need to feel you under me," I grumbled in response.
"I have an idea," she replied, then slid completely off me, only adding to my frustration. She stood next to the bed and motioned to me. "Stop pouting and come sit on the edge of the bed with your feet on the floor."
Despite being both horny and frustrated, I was also curious to know where she was going with this, so, I did as she instructed.
"Now, take off the sling."
Again, I followed her instructions. She turned around with her back facing me then straddled my lap. Using her hand to guide me back into her luscious heat, she then sank down onto me.
I'd known about this position for years, but much like the missionary style, hadn't utilized it much because it too was a position that offered a deeper connection and intimacy than others. Something that with nearly all my submissives, I wasn't interested in achieving. Until now.
With her back to my front, the position still wasn't at all what I wanted, but I had to admit it put me deep inside her body. She leaned back into my good shoulder, then reached down and I allowed her to wrap my arms around her front, giving me access to play as I wished.
Her lips brushed against my jaw as she shifted, allowing for still deeper penetration. "I know this isn't want you wanted, but it's different than what we've been doing, and it won't put stress on your shoulder."
I know she's trying to accommodate both what I want and what I need. Despite still being a bit unhappy, I respect and appreciate her effort. So, I'm going to be a big boy and not pout about not getting what I want right now. There will come a time when I be able to make love to my wife in whatever manner I wish. Until then, we would continue to be…creative.
"Thank you," I whispered before I grazed my teeth against her shoulder. She gasped in response as she began to rock back and forth grinding on my dick. Fuck that did feel absolutely freaking amazing.
On instinct, I slid my left hand up and my right hand down as I began sucking at the sweet spot on the base of her neck. "Oh god, Ram," she cried out when my fingers slid through her slick folds. "Yes. Just like that."
She was gorgeous. An absolute goddess as she writhed against me, panting and gasping while my fingers played her like a violin.
Minutes passed as we stayed in this position, slowly enjoying the feel of being connected on such an elemental level. I wanted to record the beautiful sounds she made as she accepted the pleasure I offered while giving me the same in return. Careful not to stress my shoulder, I'd push her toward the edge of release, then slowly ease her back, only to repeat the process a second and third time.
The sexy whimpers she made revealed her frustration and not being allowed to come, but I know, the longer I draw it out for her, the more explosive her orgasm will be when I finally allow it to take her over the edge.
When I brought her down for the fourth time, she threw her head back against my shoulder and begged. "Please. Oh God, please, Ram."
"Tell me what you want, pet."
"I want a come," she sobbed as she lifted her hands to cup her breast. "Please, I want to come so bad."
For the fifth time I drove her back toward that glorious peak only this time, I sent her right over the edge. When her body detonated in an explosive rush that had her screaming my name to the heavens, I finally allowed myself to follow her into the abyss.