Chapter 16: Affection Ring
A few weeks later in Florida...
Candy loved her new home a lot. She loved her new friends, the ocean, sea food, everything, and… her new working place! Her boyfriend especially took her to visit several hospitals for her to decide where she wanted to work. He then talked to the hospital head to have Candy work in her favorite location. With some talking skill, family name and promise of donation he could do that seamlessly.
Candy exchanged letters routinely with Beatrice and Annie too. Her life couldn't be happier now that she lived with the love of her life!
Likewise to Neal, he's happy that she finally returned his love. But he also wanted to have more. He wanted to marry her, the topic which she had been avoiding to discuss…
In one beautiful starry night, Candy and Neal were together in the balcony outside the bedroom, facing the ocean. She sat on his lap facing him, wrapping her legs around his waist. He's caressing and cuddling her.
"I love you, Candy," he whispered. "Are you happy here?"
"I am," she replied.
With eyes closed, Candy put her head on her boyfriend's shoulder enjoying his warm hands which were roaming all over her.
"When do you want to marry me, Candy?" asked Neal gently.
"Married?" Candy asked. Her tone was belittling as if she disliked the idea which left him a bit offended. She abruptly got up, left his lap right away.
"I only know you how long? Two months! And you've talked about married!" sneered Candy.
"Correction," Neal snorted. "You've known me more than ten years not merely two months!"
"The past is not counted."
"Why not?" He got up too. "Because I learned that you're beautiful? Brave? Kind? Irresistible? Liked roses?" He put his arms around her waist. "Used to like milk shake and ice cream but now debating if Florida orange juice is better. Used to like beef steak but now like broil lobster and fish fillet better..."
She grinned.
"I usually fought with my boyfriends after four months. I can't see your bad temper yet in two months," said Candy. She hit his chest gently pretended being angry.
"Which bad temper of mine that you haven't seen yet? Haven't we fought enough? Have you not tired of seeing the bad boy sides of me yet?" He pecked her neck with his lips. "Have you met anyone who's wickeder than me?"
"No. You're the wickedest. I should double your probation period."
"Listen, if you live with me, then I expect you to wear a ring in that finger." Neal tried to sound like someone who had authority. He released her and put his hands on his waist.
"Fine, then I leave…" whispered Candy naughtily.
"You always want it your way, don't you?" Neal sighed. "Fine let's just live together. Go ahead! Have sex without getting married or any commitment. Simply cohabit."
Neal then playfully glanced at her with a menacing grin. "I have to punish you for refusing to marry me."
She knew what that meant.
"Help," she yelped.
She ran away, giggling and he caught her by the waist from the back. He turned her around to kiss her. At the same time, he snapped the string of her thin night gown to let the dress drop loose to the floor. He squeezed her breast and took her to the bed. They had fantastic sex…
oOo
The following night, Candy was reading a medical magazine on the sofa waiting for her love finishing taking a shower. When she smelt a fresh smell, she knew he's coming. She lifted up her head to greet him with a smile and at the same time was thinking of what hot position he'd do tonight. Her smile was subdued as soon as she saw what's in his hand. It's a ring!
"What's that?" Candy asked suspiciously.
"An affection ring," answered Neal lightly.
"An affection ring?" she asked confused.
Neal sat next to her, took her hand affectionally and brought it to his lips to kiss it.
"Don't worry, it's anything but a wedding ring," Neal said gently.
"Your hand is so lovely." Neal gently caressed it. "I want to put something in it to remind you of me always. This ring is a token of my love to you so I can always touch you and be close to you," Neal said seductively.
Neal put the ring in her finger and patted her hand lightly. "It's emerald to match your gorgeous eyes color."
Seeing Candy's suspicious look he added romantically, "No, don't worry. I am not proposing to you. If I proposed to you one day, I'd wear my best tux, outdoor at sunset, and the ring will be diamond with a matching golden band."
He kissed her hand again.
"Lovely affection ring. Love it, sweetie," Candy said, convinced. "Thank you."
She put her hands around his neck and they started kissing.
His speech was long, full of details, but surprisingly he said it superfluously smoothly as if he had said it many times before. But looking at his eyes, she saw nothing but an honest look. She decided not to think more about it and instead started to take off his clothes like he took off hers and bedded him as usual…
oOo
One day, Candy promised to meet Neal to have lunch together in the school cafeteria. But because of some unexpected duty in the hospital, Candy came quite late. Reluctantly, he had to leave first for his class and leave Candy eat alone finishing her food. While eating, she was examining the affection ring in her finger feeling grateful to have that loving man who loved her endlessly everyday.
Unexpectedly, a gorgeous brunette came to her table.
"You're Neal's new girl, aren't you?" she asked. "The ring in your finger is his affection ring, isn't it"
Candy started at her openmouthedly with a face saying how-do-you- know-it?
"Because the color is green like your eyes. The wedding ring is diamond." She showed her brown amber ring. "This is mine from him because my eyes color are brown."
She gave a smirk and walked away. "Welcome to the club. Enjoy him while it lasts!" She winked.
Candy didn't believe her ears. She followed the girl's back with her eye. Her eyes almost popped out in disbelief. She thought irritatedly, Unlike you, I am not merely one of his girls! I am his... his...
Well, true I am just his cohabitate..., Candy admitted.
She then thought about how romantic he was when he gave that ring to her. The speech was too well said, no stumbling at all.
How many times had he repeated those same lines to other women?, thought Candy fuming.
She right away thought of that girl and said to herself, No, I'm not one of you. I'm different. I'm his only one, forever!
oOo
That night, they were together naked in bed loving one another. He was busy nipping her nipple when suddenly she thought about her future together with him.
"Neal, will you dumb me one day?" Candy asked bluntly.
"Never. I love you forever and ever." Without expecting much, he added, "Marry me if in doubt. I seal my promise with a wedding ring."
To his surprise she responded, "Neal, I love you. Will you marry me?"
He stopped whatever he's doing right away. "You're proposing to me?"
"Yes," said Candy. She touched his handsome face lovingly. "Will you marry me, my love?"
He stared at her tenderly for a moment, then moved on top of her to kiss her. It was a long kiss, long enough to make her struggle to free herself.
"Will you marry me?" she asked again.
"Of course, Candy...," he said softly.
"Propose to me…"
"What? Now?" asked Neal.
She nodded.
"Naked?" he asked. "Should I change to my tux first? Or do it tomorrow perhaps at sunset with a diamond ring?"
"Do it now," she said affectionally. She looked at him tenderly. "We use the affection ring first..."
He grinned. "As you wish, dear…" And as always, he did as she wished...
And that's how they got engaged…
A few months after he graduated, they were married.
ooooOoooo
Neal proved to be the man who Candy had been hoping for. He had all superb qualities she had been looking for in a man, he's handsome in bed and out, and clearly loved her so much.
Like what Mary the cook said long ago when comforting her, no one treated her better than he did*. Until many, many, many years later, Candy always smiled every time she remembered Mary's premonition. Her husband was totally worth more than anything, even if now, as the Leagan matriarch, she had been facing irritating family intrigues on daily basis, and it'd be so for the rest of her life.
They lived happily ever after.
-THE END-
* Chapter 1: About Mary the cook
ppPPPpp
Thus concludes this Candy - Neal story…
I want to thank all the readers for being here until the end (bowing). Your presence to read chapter after chapter is highly appreciated. If only I could do more to show it rather than just writing a simple thank you…
000
A special thanks for all the reviewers for the input and support.
Bye All...
kellyelin