Chapter 141

I have never been so in love
I thank god above that I've found you
And I know it's a miracle

It had been one of the most perfect days she had spent in quite some time. Brenda's house was airy and bright with a most inviting backyard. She had spent hours chatting and laughing with her best friend as Patrick had excused himself to take a nap. Though they spoke regularly, there was nothing like being in the same room with a person who means so much to you. As the sun started to set over the dome of St. Peter's, Brenda set up the backyard for dinner with jazz floating on the air and her lemon trees draped with tiny white lights. After an amazing dinner of homemade pasta and profiteroles for dessert, Brenda had excused herself, claiming an early morning, and left Patrick and Robin to enjoy the terrace alone.

Reclining against the chaise longue under the cover of a moonlit sky, Robin sighed happily as she cradled a glass of wine in her hand. She looked up in surprise as Patrick gently removed the glass from her hand, setting it on the table, and extended his hand to her.
"D-dance with me?" he asked.

A lazy smile formed on her face. "But you don't like to dance" she pointed out teasingly.

"N-n-not with an aud-dience" he replied with a small grin.

Swinging her feet to the ground, she placed her hand in his and let him lead her to the far end of the terrace. He slid one hand around her waist, coming to rest on the small of her back as his fingers entwined with hers and he curled their joined hands against his chest. They swayed languidly to the music, neither speaking but both enjoying the closeness – physically and emotionally. The fresh citrus scent from the lemon trees enveloped them and as Robin rested her head against his chest, hearing his heart thump rhythmically, she could not remember a time when she had been happier.

His lips brushed against her temple as he drew her closer to him. Holding her, feeling her body hum against his, he felt as complete in the moment as he had ever felt in his life. Under the blinking stars it was as though they were the only two people who existed in the world. Until that moment he had not realized it, but he had waited a lifetime to feel like this.

Robin slowly lifted her head from his chest and smiled at him. "I wish there was another way to say it-"

"Say wh-what?" he interjected.

"Another way to say I love you. Because I feel like I'm repeating myself."

His brown eyes danced at her words and dipping his head, he brushed his lips against hers. "D-d-don't mind" he whispered. "I l-like it."

He slipped his hand under her shirt, resting just above her hips, as his fingers danced playfully along her skin. That one small movement made her heart start to beat wildly out of control. Closing her eyes, she sucked in a breath and tried to steady herself but as his hand rose ever so slowly under her shirt, she realized she was a lost cause. Opening her eyes, she pounced towards him, fastening her mouth over his and coaxing his lips apart with her tongue. She swallowed down his moan as her tongue slide along his. His other hand slipped under her shirt, sweeping lightly against her soft skin as he took hold of her waist and hoisted her up.

Not breaking their kiss, she wrapped her legs around his hips as she looped her hands around his neck, playing with the fine hair at the nape of his neck. Even as he walked backwards, dodging the chairs and a table, stumbling towards the door, she felt secure in his arms. She could feel the strength returning to him and not just to his recovering muscles and she realized she didn't want to let him go, not ever.

With a few bumps and groans along the way as they ran into furniture, they finally made it to their room. Patrick kicked the door shut behind him and dropped her to mattress, falling on top of her as Robin pulled him with her. Their hands were a flurry of activity, lifting shirts, pulling buttons, pushing pants over hips. This was not the slow, reassuring love making that had marked their intimacy in recent weeks, it was desire – hazy, dizzying, intoxicating desire.

Robin fisted his hair, crying out his name as his lips and tongue assaulted her body, working his way from her mouth to the apex of her thighs. Her nails scratched his smooth skin as she pleaded for more. As his tongue flickered against her thighs, her hips rose from the bed and she clenched her eyes shut as an unexpected climax washed over her.

Rising up, Patrick captured her mouth in a long, deep kiss. His arousal pressed against her reminding her of the effect she had on him. Her hands swept across his chest and over his shoulder and with the smallest of movements, they shifted positions. He lay underneath her as she straddled his hips. His eyes were heavy-lidded as he gazed adoringly at her. Her tongue darted from her mouth, swiping at her lips as she drank him in; there was just no getting enough of him.

Reaching behind her, she wrapped her hand around his length and slowly stroked him as her hips undulated against his. She smiled in satisfaction as she watched his eyes roll to the back of his head and his breath begin to come in pants. Leaning forward, she flattened her tongue against one nipple and then the other.

"Shit" Patrick hissed, his hands threading through her hair.

She reached for a condom from the nightstand before peppering his chest with kisses and working her way down the length of his torso. Patrick was the first man she had been with who not only appreciated her sexuality but encouraged it. Her experiences before him had all been variations on a theme – her partner treating her as though she might break – or they might and she had slipped into a passive role. But Patrick had no such view of her and pushed her to be playful, commanding and sultry. As with all aspects of their relationship there was an amazing give and take and the confidence they gave each other allowed a deeper connection than either believed possible.

Reaching her target, she sheathed him quickly before taking him in her mouth. A loud, guttural moan escaped from the back of his throat as she closed her lips around him and he threw his head back against the pillows, lost in the sensations. Letting go of him she straddled him again, slowly lowering herself on him.

Their bodies began to move in a rhythm, one that came naturally for them. Patrick reached up and cupping the back of Robin's head, brought her mouth to his and kissed her fiercely. They swallow each other's cries as they move in unison, building towards their climaxes. Patrick buried himself deep inside her and they held tightly to each other as they free fell over the edge.

Breathless and boneless, they pulled apart and collapsed against the pillows. With a shaky hand, Patrick reached out and brushed her bangs from her face.

"Th-that's a-n-n-nother way" he stammered.

"Another way?" Robin asked, panting.

He nodded. "To s-s-say I l-love you."

****
"Tell me again why I'm having spa services by myself while my best friend and my boyfriend are going downtown?" Robin asked as she refilled her coffee cup.

"Because" Brenda replied coolly, "I've not finished interrogating him and determining his worthiness" She reached for a croissant and grinned as she took a bite.

Once Patrick had asked for her help, Brenda had kicked into high gear and arranged for Robin to spend several hours being pampered while the two of them met with her favourite jeweller to find the perfect ring.

"But I don't want you interrogating him further" she pouted. "I want us to go shopping and eat gelato until our stomachs explode"

"Oh we're going to do that as well. In fact I have no doubt Patrick is going to need a nap later today and we'll hit the shops then."

Patrick flashed her a curious look. "Wh-why need a n-nap?"

"Well it sure sounded like Robin wore you out last night" she answered, with an evil grin. Robin's cheeks flushed brightly. "Who knew your speech got better under…erm…pressure?" she added.

Rolling his eyes, Patrick reached for a strawberry and threw it at her. Catching it, Brenda popped into her mouth and winked at her best friend. "Glad to know you're so satisfied" she teased.

Patrick leaned back and draped his arm across Robin's shoulders. "D-damn straight sh-she is."

Robin cradled her head in her hands mortified. "Shut up" she groaned, "please shut up."

Draining her coffee, Brenda got to her feet. "I'll do better than that. Patrick and I will head out and you can get ready for your morning of being treated like a principessa."

"Be nice to him Bren" Robin pleaded as Patrick gave her a quick kiss goodbye.

"Don't worry" she shot back, arching her eyebrow, "I won't leave any marks."

Patrick gave her a small wave before following Brenda out the door.

****
Patrick's legs bounced nervously up and down as yet another tray of rings were placed in front of him. He wasn't entirely sure what he was looking for, believing he would know it when he saw it. And while he appreciated Brenda's commentary on the rings he had selected so far, there was a part of him that worried she would somehow think his choices unexciting or unworthy.

Sipping on a cappuccino, Brenda eyed him carefully. "Do you know when you're going to propose?"

He nodded.

"Are you going to tell me?"

Patrick shook his head. "N-not sure you could k-k-keep secret"

She playfully slapped his arm. "I'll have you know I'm an excellent secret keeper! I haven't told Robin about this little excursion."

"Yet" Patrick added slyly.

"You're really not going to tell me?"

Patrick reached for the pad of paper and pen and scribbled a note. No. It will be soon though. I've come so close to losing her, I don't want to let more moments pass.

"You realize not knowing is going to drive me insane which in fact, may drive you insane?"

"I h-have m-meds" he stammered. "Can sh-share if you'd like."

"Smartass" she sniffed. "Giuseppe" she called to her friend, "none of these are working, bring out another tray."

The young jeweller nodded and quickly removed the tray and replaced it with another.

Brenda smiled as Patrick's brown eyes widened and he reached for the ring nestled against the rich black velvet. Picking it up, he examined it from all sides. He admired the square setting and the way the filigree and diamonds gleamed on the platinum band. But what he loved most, what had captured his eye immediately was the deep blue sapphire set against a frame of diamonds.

Turning his head towards Brenda, he held it up to her.

It was a stunningly beautiful ring and Brenda felt her eyes prick with tears as she imagined her friend receiving it and wearing it. The ring was a promise of a future that they had both believed at one point she would not have. Her heart thundered loudly in her chest as she considered the path her friend had travelled and how it had brought her to this man who so clearly loved her.

"It's beautiful" she whispered, blinking back the tears. "Can I ask why you want a sapphire and not a traditional diamond?"

Sapphires mean prosperity and passion he wrote. And Robin is rich in everything that matters.

He looked at Giuseppe and nodded. "I'll t-t-take it."