Chapter 32

She looked him in the eye and said, "AJ unless you really want cheesecake we don't need to stop."

His eyes widened in surprise but he recovered enough to ask, "Samantha does that mean you're ready to advance our relationship?"

Smiling because he couldn't seem to ask her if she was ready for sex, she decided she needed to be more direct. "If you have no objections I brought a change of clothes for tomorrow."

"I have no objection at all Samantha. I just didn't want to rush you in anyway."

"Oh you dear dear man. I feel like I'm the one doing all the rushing. Please tell me if I am being too forward."

"Samantha I don't think that all. You are an incredible woman and I want to make love with you as well. Why don't we actually take a break and since we've been talking. I could get the cheesecake served up while you go out and bring in your bag in?"

"That makes sense, but may I have a kiss before I go?"

"Yes of course," he told her as he helped her to her feet. Taking her in his arms he kissed her the way he'd learned that she liked. The soft tender kiss that told her she was cherished. AJ had always felt that you should treat the woman in your life that way. It had started at his mother's knee where she insisted that he treat all women like ladies. He had learned it well and had personally taken it to the next level to cherish them instead.

Sam sighed as they parted and promised that she would be back as quickly as she could.

She returned to find that he had cut them both a generous slice of the cheesecake. Putting down her bag by the couch she joined him at the table.

"This looks great," he told her as he held her chair for her and then couldn't resist nuzzling her neck as he slid her chair up to the table. It caused a shiver to travel down her spine and she uttered a soft moan.

"Thank you," she murmured and then added, "If you keep doing that I won't be able to think about cheesecake."

There was almost an evil grin on his face when he asked, "And that would be bad?"

"No, that wouldn't be bad at all. I want to be in your arms very badly, but maybe I shouldn't say that?"

"Samantha I don't ever want any secrets between us again, so I want you to feel free to say anything you want to me, no matter what it is. No secrets, alright?"

"Alright, no secrets. AJ Chegwidden I am falling in love with you," she told him then lowered her eyes, almost afraid to see the reaction in his.

But AJ wasn't allowing that, he placed his fingers under her chin and brought her face up so he could see her eyes. "Samantha Blaze I love you too and in the spirit of no secrets I need to tell you that I hope one day very soon to have you as my wife."

She gasped, one hand went to her mouth and the other to her heart, tears glistened in her eyes. In a whisper she told him, "Whenever you are ready to ask me, I can assure you that I will have an answer ready for you."

He looked a bit surprised but then did something that surprised her. He slid off his chair and went down on one knee. Taking her hand in his he asked, "Samantha will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

"Oh yes AJ I would love that more than anything else in the world!"

"I don't have a ring for you yet, but we can change that tomorrow if you like."

"All I want is to be your wife. The ring doesn't matter my darling!"

He stood and keeping her hand in his started leading her to the bedroom. Halfway there he paused and said, "Samantha we never talked about children…do you want them?"

Her smile lit the room, "Your child growing inside of me would be a joy!"

"Do you have a time in mind? I ask because of using protection?"

To be continued…