Part 2 of 2

She wasn't sure what Rick's plans were for the day but they did little more than shop. After getting fit for her cowboy boots, she left with a cowboy hat, a diamond and sapphire pendant of the Tetons, and things she never heard of like a few jars of Chokecherry preserves, buffalo jerky, and huckleberry fudge. She never considered Wyoming an art hub but there was an extraordinary number of galleries and her favorite was the Diehl Gallery with its holiday exhibition despite the curator being Rick's former exclusive Jackson Hole hookup. She knew it from the woman's expression and Rick's discomfort. Once they left Michonne asked, he admitted it, and they didn't speak on it any further.

That evening they sat at opposite ends of the large sunken bathtub next to a 10-foot grid window with another amazing view. The lavender-infused bubble bath, dim lighting, and Rick massaging the arch of her foot was heaven. Her moans echoed through the bathroom. Her eyes were closed, but she knew there was a smirk on his face. He loved how vocal he could make her.

"Hey, you're not falling asleep on me are you?" He applied more pressure to her foot followed by a kiss on her arch.

"No." She was, a little, and that wasn't good because she had special plans for tonight. She crawled over and lay on top of him, placing soft kisses on his lips. Before he could deepen their kiss, she moved to his neck because his deep kisses undid her and they wouldn't make it out of this tub without at least one orgasm each. He liked when she applied a little pressure on his neck as she kissed it, just as she liked when he did it to her. His hand landed on her back, tickling her skin with his soft touch. She was already sensitive to his touch and the water from his hand tickled as it ran over her back. She pulled away when his hand slid between her legs, her lips barely touching his. "Give me ten minutes and then come find me downstairs."

"What?"

"It's a surprise." She climbed out of tub making a show of patting her skin with a plush white towel. With her back to him, she bent over just a tad for the desired effect and she got it when she heard Rick groan.

She was so excited she was ready in less than five minutes but she felt as if she'd been waiting for twenty minutes. The anticipation was killing her, and she was tempted to run upstairs to see what was taking so long but that would ruin the surprise. Finally, she saw him — shirtless with his pajama pants hanging low on his slender hips — before he saw her. She was lying back on her elbows on the white fur rug in the living room. She lit candles around the room but the real light came from the fireplace. When he finally saw her, she knew he was happy.

"Like my outfit?" She asked.

She wasn't usually into sexualizing holiday costumes and she wasn't sure if she was Mrs. Claus or one of Santa's helpers, but whatever she was even she knew she was sexy in the velvet red bikini top tied between her breasts trimmed with faux white fur and the tiny red skirt with fur on the hem.

He sat down next to her and traced over the swell of her breasts with his finger and then her bare midsection; he smiled, as he watched her squirm at the feel of his touch. When they first became intimate, even before having sex, he studied her. He didn't just kiss and touch her. There was a purpose — her pleasure and his knowledge. What made her moan, beg, become breathless. And just as important, what she didn't like. That was the joy of dating a mature man and she wished she had done it earlier in life.

His hand cupped the side of her face and she leaned into his hand until he cradled it and kissed her neck. "Are you my surprise?"

She found it difficult to speak with his tongue swirling on the flesh just below her ear. Involuntarily, she arched her back and tossed her head back and to the side, the pleasure of his mouth on any part of her was always instantaneous. He placed his hand on her chest and pushed her until she was flat on her back.

"I love the way you taste," he moaned against her skin making her shiver. "And it will only get better." He traced his finger along her hip bone and under her skirt.

He kissed from her neck down the center of her chest and along the waist of her skirt, sometimes running across the flesh just above the material with his tongue. Slowly, agonizingly so, he kissed and licked back up her torso, kissing up between her breasts and then the swell of each. Meanwhile, his hand touched her inner thigh, and she opened her legs wider hoping he was ready to fuck her even though she loved the slow torture.

Rick wasn't much for a quick fuck up against a wall unless she spent all day or night torturing him when he couldn't do anything about it. It's not that he always loved slow; he loved anticipation to the point of making her crazy.

He turned her over on her stomach and she felt a rush. It always excited her when she couldn't see him and didn't know what he was about to do. She still had dreams about that time he blindfolded her and tied her hands to the headboard. That night seemed to go on forever. She snapped back to the present when he ran his hands up and down her body from her shoulders down to her ankles. His touches alternated between the light touches of his fingertips to deep massage. She lifted her ass in the air when she felt him tug at her skirt. He was slow about it, so slow the material sliding over her body tickled her skin.

"Fuck," he whispered.

She smiled, looking over her shoulder as he admired her ass in a red lace thong. Until he met her, he didn't know he was an ass man. She laughed as he palmed her ass and gave it a few squeezes. He nibbled his way down her spine causing a desire to surge through every inch of her body. He kissed her ass and licked the crease of her butt cheeks, but when he bit down on her ass, she couldn't pretend she wasn't desperate for more.

"Please," she groaned.

"Let's get rid of these," he said as he pulled off her thong. He directed her onto her knees and he kissed down the backs of her thighs as she stared at the dancing flames in the fireplace waiting for more, wondering what was next. His hands ran over her slowly, aimlessly as if he had nothing but time. He ran a finger over her pussy, never inserting it, just rubbing her wetness along her pussy lips. The anticipation. There was a tingle the second he used his fingers to spread apart her pussy and when she felt his tongue — slow, wet, and warm — she jumped. She could feel his face pressed against her ass and she wasn't sure which of them moaned louder. Her body had a mind of its own as it rocked back against his face hoping for more of whatever she could get.

"Spread your legs wider," he said.

She did and when she looked down, he was lying on his back with his head between her knees looking up at her as he ran his tongue over his lips. She lowered herself on his face and was met his tongue. She gripped the rug as he gave her pussy one long lick and then another and another. She could feel the changes in his tongue from pointed to flat, licking up and down, swirling around. And when his mouth closed around her clit and sucked she screamed. She could feel his smile. He loved making her come undone by his tongue.

There had to be hundreds of nerve endings in the ass and he had all of hers on overdrive when he slapped her ass while he licked her pussy. She almost lost her balance when his tongue swirled around her clit. He did it all. He sucked, licked, fast and slow. She lowered herself onto her elbows, lowering herself more, and rocked her hips back and forth fucking his face. It was steady at first and then her movement became so frantic that her ass clapped. But she didn't want to cum just yet, so she slowed down.

He was so good at this she had to lean forward to get away from his mouth, needing a reprieve from the intensity. He knew she was close so when she lowered herself onto his face again his arms wrapped around her like a vice and held her in place. She braced herself for what would happen next. Her legs cramped from how tense her body was. It was a non-stop, rapid assault on her clit. She squirmed and screamed as the pressure built up. Then she lost the battle and came.

She attempted to dismount his face gracefully but her body was weak and she collapsed on the floor but not before kneeing him in the head. They both laughed, and she reached out and rubbed the side of his face. "Sorry."

She felt the wetness around his mouth and it excited her knowing it was her. She pushed her hair out of her face, delirious as she watched him get rid of his pajama bottoms. She reached for him, wanting to reciprocate, but he positioned himself between her legs and smoothly slid inside her. She barely had time to register what was happening. Her eyes rolled, and she choked on pleasure. They both remained still for a moment enjoying the sensation of him inside her.

"Right there," he moaned. "This is where I want to be."

He lifted her leg and pulled out then slid back in then he pulled out and rubbed his dick up and down her pussy looking into her eyes as they listened to her wetness. The feel of him inside her was familiar but also exciting like the first time all at once. He moved slowly and stare into her eyes but still made her feel like she was being fucked. It took her breath away how slow and intentional each stroke was. How he focused on her every verbal and physical reaction. He leaned down and kissed her and she could taste herself on his lips and his tongue when she sucked it. Their moans disappeared into the other's mouth.

He broke their kiss. "Take that off," he said as he fucked her.

It was then she realized her Santa bikini top was still on. She didn't take it off because she didn't want to interrupt their groove so she untied it and exposed her breasts. His eyes zeroed in on them bouncing.

"Perfect," he groaned.

"My breasts?" She massaged them, rubbing her thumbs over her hardened nipples.

"All of you," he stroked a little deeper for emphasis but his eyes were on her breasts. "Fuck."

He kept her off balance, fucking her slow and then fast, long strokes, quick and hard, pulling out to rub his dick against her clit then sliding back in. The magic was that he never did it too quick as to make it anticlimactic and frustrating. It all felt amazing.

Then he fucked her fast and hard, the pace frantic like he was about to explode but he didn't. Her breathing was unsteady and her eyes were half closed and crossed. Her walls clenched firmly around him and she could tell he noticed the difference. She watched as he bit his lip, closed his eyes, and turned his head to the side — the telltale sign it took a maximum effort for him to not cum.

He buried his face in her neck. "You don't play fair," he said with a shake of his head as he pulled out and squeezed his dick.

"And neither do you," she said with a pout. "I was almost there."

"I know, but that's not how you wanted it," he said.

"It's not," she said breathlessly, inhaling the pungent smell of sex heavy in the air.

He focused on her nipples with languid licks and then grabbed them both, squeezing one as he sucked on the nipple of the other. He bit down on her nipple and immediately blew cool air on it. The alternating feeling of pain and pleasure was erotic. Then her pussy became his focus once again as he slid two fingers inside her, fucking her with them while he licked her clit. She pressed her feet against the floor and rocked herself back and forth onto his hand. She wasn't sure which was better; when he licked her clit or when he moaned while he sucked it sending vibrations through her entire body. Sounds came out of her mouth she'd never heard and if she didn't know better she'd think she was in pain by the sounds she created.

She knew her reactions only encouraged him, making him want to do more, and so he did until she could take no more. She gripped his hair and her body twisted and turned until she was on her side with his face trapped between her thighs as she came on his mouth.

"I want to be on top," she said. Her voice raspy from the screaming.

Once he was on his back she didn't hesitate in climbing on him and sliding down his dick, causing aftershocks as he filled her. His hands slid up her body and played with her breasts. She started out slow, rocking back and forth, admiring the look of ecstasy on his face. She hoped she gave him as much pleasure as he gave her.

She couldn't feel him deep enough even though he filled her up. She wanted more. She always wanted more of him. She took his hands and leaned forward, pinning them above his head and rode him faster, grinding back and forth, her lower body doing all the work. And while she knew he was enjoying himself, at the moment she was all about herself. And every bit of pain and numbness, even the raw skin on her knees and the pain her mind had yet to register was worth it.

"Fuck," he groaned.

There was something about hearing those words come out of his mouth, knowing how he fucked her when the world saw the charming man whose best friend was the president and who ran in the same social circle as the royal family.

She sat up and grabbed his face with one of her hands and ran her thumb over his lips. "Such a bad word from such a proper mouth," she whispered.

"You're fucking amazing," he moaned. He placed his hands on her hips. She could feel his fingernails dig into her skin as he pulled her onto his dick.

His neck and his chest were red, his skin radiated heat like a furnace. They both had a sheen of sweat on their skin visible by the fire. Her inner thighs were slick with her wetness. He licked his thumb, and she bit down on her lip knowing what he was about to do and when he rubbed her clit it didn't take long before she threw her head back and came, but she denied him, returning the favor of when he didn't let her finish earlier. Slowly, she dismounted him and slid down.

As soon as she closed her mouth around him in inhaled sharply and the muscles in his stomach tightened. He groaned as he looked down at her pushing her hair back so he could watch himself disappear in her mouth before using her hair to guide her head. He loved that she didn't hesitate to take him in her mouth, to taste herself on him. When she moaned, he jerked up causing all of him in her mouth. When he hit the back of her throat her eyes watered. She pulled back and licked her lips as she stroked him with her hand.

"Sorry."

"I'll take it as a compliment."

She stroked the base of his dick while sucking just the head. Her forefinger and thumb acting as an extension of her mouth, both moving in unison leaving no part of him untouched; she wanted every inch of him to feel good. She rotated her hand and her head constantly sucking; he groaned and cursed and hit the floor with his fist.

She reached the part of his shaft just beneath the head and licked it for a few seconds before moving to the top, gently sucking the head.

"Wow," he moaned over and over.

She had to admit in the past, she half-assed oral sex, found it to be a chore because the men expected it at a certain time - before sex but after they went down on her for thirty seconds - it was like they fucked by numbers. But with Rick, she worshiped every inch of him and couldn't wait to feel and taste him in her mouth. It was his responsive he was. How much he loved it and didn't hesitate to tell her.

"I'm gonna cum," he croaked out as he gripped each side of her face.

She pulled him out of her mouth a line of spit from her mouth to his dick glistened. "That's the plan." She slid him back in her mouth but no longer had control as he held her head still as he took over and fucked her mouth.

"Oh my god," he moaned, moving faster and faster in her mouth. His eyes were closed, and he was lost to the world.

He came in her mouth and she continued to slide his dick in and out of her mouth, coating him with his own cum. His eyes were wide as he watched her clean him, sucking and licking all while holding his stare. She moved up his body, kissing and licking along the way, and placed a kiss on his lips before settling into his arms.

She grabbed her cell phone from the nightstand and struggled to read the time. It was almost ten in the morning. She vaguely remembered Rick carrying her upstairs the night before then visions of all they did played in her head and she couldn't contain the devilish smile on her lips. It was quite the night yet par for the course. Sex with Rick was always amazing. She rolled over onto her back to see Rick on his back stirring awake as he ran his hand over his torso pushing the sheet down giving her a view she'd always admire.

"Good morning," she said.

"Good morning." He immediately grabbed one of her breasts.

She watched as he zeroed in and took it in his mouth. He moaned as he sucked then flicked her nipple with his tongue. Her eyes closed and she ran her hand through his hair, scratching his scalp and enjoying all the sensations he elicited with his tongue, his teeth, and his beard.

He climbed on top of her and she could feel his erection. It would have been so easy to let him slide inside her but she knew them and a little was never enough not to mention she could still feel the effects of the sex they had hours ago. He wasn't kidding around last night, and neither was she.

"No, no, no." She pushed him away and climbed out of bed before he could convince her to stay. "We're not staying in bed."

"We're on vacation. We're supposed to stay in bed all day."

She laughed. "That is not vacation."

"Well, what would you like to do? Hit the slopes?"

"My legs can't handle skiing today."

"We can take that fancy camera of yours to the national park. You can capture the beauty of a Teton winter."

"Sounds like a plan." She spotted his gift for her wrapped in fancy gold paper sitting next to his luggage. She enjoyed wrapping paper with snowmen and Santa. "I can't wait to see what you got me for Christmas."

He groaned, rolling his eyes as he climbed out of bed and followed her to the bathroom. "I had a great gift but then you came up with this ridiculous idea."

She wanted to remember the spirit of Christmas and implemented a $10 gift limit. Besides, there was no way she could keep up with him. Their first Christmas he bought her a scarf that, in an uncouth moment of curiosity she googled and discovered cost about the same as her mortgage. Last Christmas it was a pair of diamond stud earrings.

"I could make the argument coming here is a breach of our agreement."

"This is a friend's home, and it's for both of us. It cost nothing."

They climbed in the shower and Rick stood under the showerhead with a smile on his face and his shoulders relaxed. He stepped forward and pulled her against him.

She brushed his hair back. "It's wonderful here." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You like it or is this the sex talking?" He smirked.

She noticed the scratch marks and bite marks on his skin and traced her finger along them. This wasn't the first time she did this. He never complained. He loved them, wore them like a gold star for a job well done. "Your sex-inducing stupor doesn't last that long."

"Sure," he said as he kissed on her neck. "Like you don't want it right now."

It was rare when she didn't want it. Even with a headache, she wouldn't turn down feeling his face between her thighs. She smiled. "To answer your question, I love it here. Maybe you can reconsider getting a place here."

He pulled back. "Real estate. That's quite a commitment. Would you accompany me on the trips back here?"

"Absolutely." She placed her hand on his cheek.

"Year after year after year?" He spoke softly, staring into her eyes.

Under the guise of a vacation home, their conversation shifted to something more serious, and they both knew it. They were more vulnerable and exposed because of their honesty rather than their nudity.

"For as long as you'll have me."

"Forever sounds good," he said.

When he kissed her forehead, she closed her eyes and held him tight. As tight as she could. She saw her future, and it was everything she wanted in life and more than she imagined. And she wasn't afraid. Not of him asking. Not of what it would mean for her life. Not of their relationship failing.

That evening they transformed the house; there were decorations everywhere. The banister was decorated with a garland and lights wrapped around the beams. They decorated the rooms downstairs out with red ribbons, pine cones, and poinsettias. The kitchen island had a white stand with white candles surrounded by berry garland.

The soulful voice of Leon Bridges filled the air as they prepared dinner. She loved that music was a part of both their lives and there was a song associated with all the beautiful memories they made together. He hovered and gave painfully detailed instructions, but Rick let her prepare the roasted chicken. She held her wineglass as she took a peek in the oven to check on the chicken. She swayed to Beyond as she turned around and nearly dropped her glass before placing it on the countertop.

She looked down at Rick on one knee with an open ring box showcasing a sparkling diamond ring. "Yes."

He laughed. "I didn't ask yet."

She waved her hand frantically as if telling him to hurry.

"I thought about asking you to marry me in Paris, London, the Seychelles but our love isn't about grand gestures. I wanted you to know, simple and quiet with nothing but each other, that's what makes me want forever. May I have you forever? Will you marry me?"

Her trembling hand lay over her heart as the tears ran down her cheeks. He was right. No over the top dramatic plan could top this moment.

"Darling, this is when you say yes."

"Yes."

He could barely stand before she rushed him, throwing her arms around him, muttering yes over and over. Her grip was strong, but he was able to pull away to slide the ring on her finger. He watched her as she stared at it on her finger.

"It's perfect," she whispered.

"You're perfect," he replied, kissing her forehead.