"How long will it take before we get there, Ben?"
"About 20 minutes."
"That's basically Chicago…Ben…"
"Ciara…"
"Ben you didn't spend a ton of money on a super expensive hotel when you know I don't need that; all I need is you."
"No, we're not going to a super expensive hotel."
"Good, because I don't want you to be spending all of your money on me."
I feel relaxed because for the first time in over a month we don't have to hide our being together or sneak around to see one another. I'm not worried about how we are going to prove his innocence and if he is going to be sent to prison for starting fires he didn't do. But I also feel anxious because I just know that this wonderful man is up to something and I desperately want to know what it is. Whatever it is I hope that it goes quickly so we can get back home or has a bed involved with it because with the way he's looking and smelling tonight I'm ready to rip his clothes off right now.
"Did you make a reservation at a super cheap hotel then?"
"No beautiful. No hotels at all, or motels for that matter."
"Okay, then. So, we must be going home after we eat. You are feeding us, right?" I pat my tummy where our babies are growing.
"Of course, I'm feeding you."
"And then going back home?"
"Are our children going to be as inquisitive and impatient as you?"
"As if you're not inquisitive, or impatient for that matter, Mr. Pin Me Up Against The Wall And Have His Way With Me For Everyone To Watch."
"Hey, you admitted you were a willing participant at first," he chuckles.
He's right, I totally wanted him until I realized that we were putting on a show for anyone watching the camera feeds in the mansion or anyone who might have walked into the room.
"Cheeky bastard," I say under my breath.
"What was that?" he asks with an even larger grin on his face.
"Oh, nothing…" I singsong in response.
"Uh-huh."
"To answer your question from before, they'll probably get a double dose of the inquisitiveness and impatience, so we're in for a real treat I'm sure."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he brings my hand that he has not stopped holding since we've gotten in the car up to his lips and kisses my knuckles."
"Me either," I softly laugh.
"We're here," he states as he turns right into the driveway of an exquisite and enormous house.
"Where are we?"
"This is the new property that Stefan had me upgrading the security on."
I let out a low whistle as I unbuckle my seatbelt, "Nice digs."
"I know, wait until you see the inside."
He's on my side of the car and opening the door before I know it.
We walk to the door hand in hand. He opens the door and lets me in first as he always does.
"Wow!"
"I know, not too shabby, right?"
I let go of his hand and slowly spin around as I take in the view. The living room is large with a hardwood floor, plush leather furniture, and enough seating for 12 people. There is a fireplace along one of the walls and a large tv is hung above it.
I follow my nose to the fabulous smells that are emanating from somewhere inside of this place. June one of the many staff members at the DiMera mansion looks to be putting on the finishes touches to dinner, "Miss Ciara, I'm sorry but you're not allowed in here," and she quickly shoos me out and closes the door.
It doesn't matter because I can tell already just by the smell that whatever it is that we are eating is going to be scrumptious. When I turn around, I see that Ben has followed me and he looks so happy.
I walk into the dining room and find that there are candles lit along the ledge of the window, two tapers are lit on the small table which has been set for two, and rose petals are strewn everywhere.
"Did you do all of this?"
"Do all of this no. Plan all of this, yes. I needed help to pull it off in such a short amount of time."
He takes my hand and brings me over to the window. Ben then stands behind me so that he can wrap his arms around me and places his hands where the baby bump is. One of his thumbs is slowly moving back and forth over and it makes me smile. It feels amazing to just be in his arms and not have a care in the world.
The view out of the large bay window is breathtaking. There is a deck that leads to an in-ground hot tub. Beyond that, the yard is quite expansive and borders what looks to be a lake. The sun is still bright, but it is obvious that it is getting lower in the sky and ready to set.
"What do you think?"
"It's so pretty here."
"I know right, and it's very private," he says kissing my neck and squeezing me just a bit tighter.
I sigh, leaning back into his muscular body, "Will you hold me like this forever?"
He rubs his cheek against my own, and the feel of his stubble grazing my skin sends what feels like sparks of electricity running down my spine.
"How about I hold you like this until dinner is ready, because I need you to eat so that you have plenty of energy for tonight," he growls and then bites my neck.
"I can live with that," I smirk up at him.
I hear a soft cough from behind us, "Mr. Weston, Miss Brady your dinner is ready."
Ben looks over at June, "Thank you, June."
He releases me from his embrace and walks over to the table to pull out a chair for me. I take my seat and he pushes my chair up to the table. He sits across from me and once he is seated June comes in with our meal and places our plates in front of us. She then goes back into the kitchen to bring out a bottle of sparkling red grape juice.
"I have left the dessert you requested on the counter in the kitchen when you are ready for it, Mr. Weston. Will there be anything else, sir?"
"No, but thank you June. Everything looks wonderful."
"Very well, then I will leave for the evening," she turns and walks back into the kitchen and shuts the door.
Everything on my plate looks phenomenal and smells even better. On my plate is bacon-wrapped filet mignon along with fire-roasted broccoli, and garlic mashed potatoes. There is even a small loaf of bread along with some butter for Ben and me to share.
"Did you come up with this menu, babe?" I question.
"I did. Is everything okay?"
"I'm impressed, and it's perfect."
He pours me a glass of the sparkling red grape juice, then one for himself, and raises his glass, "To the future."
I clink my glass against his, "To the future," I repeat.
He takes a sip from his glass and the look that he gives me makes my temperature rise and my skin flush.
I dig into my plate and eat as quickly ask I can because I want dessert, and I'm not thinking about what June left on the counter for us. Ben also eats what is on his plate quickly, finishing before me. He takes the napkin he had placed on his lap and wipes his mouth, "I'll go get dessert."
I kind of want to tell him to forget dessert, but I'm also curious to see what he asked June to make. When he comes back into the dining room he is holding a plate with a small cake on it. He sets it in front of me along with a small dessert plate for each of us. The cake is about 4 inches around and is covered with some sort of frosting. If I were to guess I would say cream cheese from the smell. The frosting is covered with red jimmies and along the edge of the plate, there is some sort of glaze along with raspberries. On top of the cake there are 3 stick looking objects that look to be made of chocolate and two fortune cookies.
Ben takes one of the sticks and brings it up to my mouth. I take a bite and find out that it is bittersweet chocolate, it's delicious, and he eats the other half. He cuts the cake in half and I see that the cake is red velvet; one of my absolute favorites. He takes half of the cake and places it on my plate and then puts the other half on his. I take my first bite and savor its goodness, this cake is heaven.
"Do you like it?" Ben asks before taking his own bite.
"It's amazing, good choice baby."
I take a few more bites and then take a deep breath. I'm beginning to feel so full.
"Why don't you see what your fortune says," he suggests.
I smirk at him, "Alright, you know I can never turn down a fortune cookie."
I take the cookie from the top of my piece of cake and crack it open. You will be asked an important question tonight. I repeat aloud what I have read for Ben to hear, "You will be asked an important question tonight."
Ben gets up from his chair and walks over to my side before getting down on one knee, "Baby, you are my everything, and I truly don't know where I would be in this world without you. I have waited my whole life for a love like yours and now that I've found it, I can't wait another second to tell you this and to ask you this," his hand is shaking when he reaches inside of his suit jacket to reveal a small black box which he opens to reveal a stunning solitaire diamond ring and reaches out to take my left hand with his.
When he does this I can feel the tears starting to escape and run down my cheeks, and when I look down at him I can see that there are tears in his eyes as well, "Ciara Alice Brady, I love you with all of my heart and all of my soul. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"
Once he has finished asking me the question, I have been waiting to hear my entire life, I nod my head and eagerly say, "Yes, Ben I would love to marry you!"
He places the ring on my finger, and I watch as the sparkles dance and glitter as the exquisite ring moves along my finger. He wipes the tears from his eyes, then rises up from his knee and pulls me against him, "You have made me the happiest man in the world." He lowers his head and then gently places a kiss upon my lips and rests his forehead against my own.
"You know what Ben?"
"What, Ci?
"Ever since I was a little girl, I've been dreaming about the day that the man of my dreams would ask me to marry him. I could never picture his face until I met you. Then every dream I had about it you were the one asking me. This is even better than when you were asking me in my dreams."
This time when he kisses me, he devours my mouth. He hungrily pulls at my bottom lip with his mouth and then grazes it with his teeth. I pull back to look at eyes and they are dark like the sky at midnight. He runs his tongue along my bottom lip and pulls my waist flush against him. I can feel his hardness pressing against me and I wrap my arms around his neck to bring myself even closer. He kisses me again and his tongue invades my mouth to dance with mine. He kisses my jaw and then leans down to sweep me up into his arms.
"Ben, what are you doing?" I gasp because he has left me so breathless.
"I'm taking my fiancée up to the bedroom so that I can make love to her all…" he kisses my forehead, "night," he kisses my cheek, "long," he says before kissing my neck and then carries me up the stairs to the waiting bedroom.
