A Million Wishes (21 page)

“
Oh no, nuh uh Romeo. I’m taking a shower alone otherwise I’ll never make it to class on time.” He reached for her and scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the steaming shower and stood her up under the spray, watching as she tilted her head back and let the water soak her thick shimmering locks. While he watched, he poured a dollop of shampoo into his palms and lathered it, stroking his thick fingers through her hair and massaging her scalp until she was purring and leaning back against him, her hands gripping his hips and her soft bottom pressed against his groin.

Noah grabbed the washcloth and squeezed soap onto it and he gently scrubbed her entire body. Then he took down the handheld shower massager and rinsed her lily white skin with the warm stream of water until he was jealous, literally jealous of the water droplets and how they caressed adoringly down her body. It was so hard for him to not use his tongue on her and trace each one down. If she didn’t have to be at class soon he’d be doing that already. He looked at her face when he turned her around and her eyes were all dark and smoky.

She was aroused and it took everything in him not to pick her up and press her against the shower wall and take her again. Miki gave him a sultry grin and tip toed up to press her mouth to his and took the washcloth and started rubbing down his chest, scrubbing down his hips, wrapping her fist around his thickening cock and stroking until he grasped her wrist and turned her around, swatting her ass and picking her up, setting her outside the shower and tossing a towel at her. “Wicked minx, get ready for class.” He growled, setting her off in a fit of giggles.

By the time he finished his shower she was dressing and pulling her still damp hair up in a knot and putting on a warm hat, coat and gloves. “I left you my keys on the table in case you want to go anywhere. Gina is picking me up so you can have the truck. I’m heading to the diner after my classes and am going to pick up my last check. I’ll be home after that.” A horn blared in the driveway and she ran to him and kissed him, pinched his butt and took off before he could even say a word.

Once she got to the front door she turned around and gave him a bright smile. “Noah, I love you.” He smiled and felt a lump of emotion clog his throat but he managed a hoarse voice to say “I love you too Mikayla.” Then out the door she went, waving to her friend.

He already had a plan in mind, so he grabbed his wallet and Miki’s truck keys, heading out with one destination in mind. He was going to a jewelry store to buy her a ring. Make it official. Make her his girl for the entire world to see. In all the years he had been in the service he hadn’t spent much money. Most he saved or invested. He never had to pay rent, either living on base, or when he took time off those few times he stayed out at his parents’ massive plantation. He had a nice nest egg to start their life on. Now was time to do some spoiling. Things he had dreamed about doing for her before that now he couldn’t wait to get started on.

Noah pulled into the jewelry store and went inside. Nervous butterflies were tying his stomach in knots. He was immediately greeted by a female sales clerk that first looked at his leg; tsk’d and patted his arm sympathetically.

“
Hello, my name is Molly I’ll be assisting you today sir, and your name is?” He smiled at her and held out his hand “Noah ma’am, I’m looking for an engagement ring for my girl.” Molly smiled at him and ushered him over to a table and chairs “Would you feel better sitting Mr. Noah? I can bring the rings right here for you to look over them and we can discuss the cut and style you’d like.”

She didn’t even wait for him to answer before she pulled out his chair and walked off to unlock the case, returning quickly to him and sitting in the seat across from him. It was warm in the little store so he took off his coat and hung it on the back of his chair, sitting down, looking at the tray of diamonds she’d just brought over. Molly looked at his sweatshirt and smiled at him.

“
My Daddy is retired Merchant Marine. He served for 25 years in the military, so I admit; I have a soft spot for sailors.” She patted his hand and he blushed, grinning at her. She had to be somewhere in her late 30’s early 40’s, a pretty little thing, but she didn’t hold a candle to his Miki girl. “Well thank you ma’am. I’m over a decade in the Navy and been a SEAL for most of my Navy career. I was just recently discharged for medical reasons.” It was still hard for him to talk about but he figured the more he did, the easier it would get. “Apparently below the knee amputees aren’t quite reliable SEAL material.” He laughed it off, trying to just let it go. Something his mother had always told him in times of strife was “Let go and let God.” So he was trying to embrace that.

Molly’s blue eyes were watery and she took his hand in hers “I for one am thankful for your service Mr. Noah. I know the sacrifice soldiers make let alone SEAL's. Looks like you have a lot to look forward to now though. You served your time and now you’ll be getting your girl!” He grinned at her and squeezed her hand. “Thank you Molly, and please just call me Noah okay?”

Nodding her head she gestured to the rings “Ok Noah, does anything about any of these strike your fancy? Anything at all, like the cut, the color, or the setting?” He looked them over, pointing out a few things he liked about some and she took those away and brought back another tray. As soon as he saw it he knew it was the one. It was delicate but sturdy just like his Miki girl. Molly called it a princess cut and Miki was definitely his princess. It was a platinum and diamond ring with two trillion-cut diamonds framing a princess cut center stone. There were filigree details and rows of diamonds around the band. It was stunning. It would be gorgeous on her dainty finger.

“
That’s the one Molly, that one right there. That’s my Miki girl.” He was smiling but at the thought of her being his wife, finally, had tears in his eyes. He didn’t even ask a price he just stood up and put his jacket back on, smiling as he got out his check book. “Do you know what size ring she wears Noah?” He shook his head and held out his hand “Her ring finger is smaller than my pinkie. She has the daintiest hands I’ve ever seen.”

Molly slipped the ring on his pinkie and it stuck halfway. Noah grinned. “That looks about right, if it isn’t. I’ll bring her back in here with me to get it sized. “I’m happy for you Noah.” Molly rang up his purchase and he wrote out the check, handing it to her and watching her gift wrap it for him in a pretty little silver box and bow. “Thank you Molly. Can you tell me where the closest flower shop is?” She wrote down the directions and came out from behind the counter and hugged him. “Let me know how it goes. I just know she’ll say yes!” Noah laughed and nodded “She will, she loves me about as much as I love her. Thanks again Molly.”

Noah headed to the flower shop and bought a dozen Gerber daisies, Miki’s favorite flower and asked the florist if she knew where a bakery was. Directions in hand he headed there next. He opened the door and the smell of fresh baked brownies hit him and made his stomach growl. He had been so excited this morning when he left he hadn’t eaten a thing.

“
Well hello there handsome!” A rotund gray haired lady with a big smile greeted him as she came up to the front counter.

“
Please tell me that’s brownies I smell and that I can buy one warm from the oven.” He said, looking at her like a man half starved.

“
Honey there is nothing I love more than feeding a hungry man my goodies. My names Annie by the way, I own this place.” She went into the back and wrapped him a brownie in a napkin, bringing it to him with a smile. “That one’s on the house darlin.”

First thing he did was lift the brownie to his nose and sniffed it, groaning and biting into it, groaning again but louder this time. He chewed, swallowed and walked up to her and swept her in a hug and kissed her cheek.

“
Ms. Annie, if I wasn’t about to propose to my girl today I’d marry you right now.”

She giggled like a school girl and patted his chest. “You keep sweet talking me I might give you another one for the road young man.” He winked at her and finished the brownie while he looked at the items in the case. He chose a vanilla cake with Bavarian crème filling, butter cream frosting with chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate curls on top. It had been a hard decision too since Annie had offered him a taste of Italian crème cake with cream cheese frosting. He had nearly melted on the spot, but something about the delicate white cake and the chocolate strawberries on top had pulled at him. He had been envisioning feeding them to Miki, naked, and chose that cake instead.

“
So you’re proposing to your girl today huh? Lucky little thing.”

Noah grinned and nodded “Yes ma’am I am. She’s stuck around while I served in the military all these years and loved me anyways so I’m gonna make her make an honest man out of me.”

Annie threw her head back and laughed. “Well I tell you what soldier, you marry that girl and I’ll make your cake for half price if I get a wedding invitation.”

Noah laughed and paid for his cake and a few other random sweets and fresh garlic bread sticks he hadn’t been able to resist. He leaned over the counter and kissed her cheek. “That’s a deal Ms. Annie.”

“
You have a good day darlin. You let me know the date!”

“
Will do sweetheart, will do.”

He was smiling as he left and loaded his purchases in the trunk. Thankfully it was still freezing cold so he didn’t have to worry about the delicacies while he ran in the grocery store. He picked up steaks, marinade, a couple of potatoes and the stuff for a Caesar salad. It wasn’t fancy but it was something he was good at fixing. He had one more stop to go and it was just next door. He stowed the groceries in the back seat and went in the liquor store, finding a good red wine and buying a few bottles. He made the quick trip home and unloaded the car. It took him a few trips but he quickly put the steaks on to marinate and diced up the salad and put it in the fridge. He set the table and put a candle Miki had in the cabinet on the table and lit it so the sweet strawberry fragrance would fill the room. He put the cake in the fridge to stay cool and tossed the potatoes in the oven to bake. Next he trimmed the stems of the flowers and arranged those best he could in a small vase and placed it on the table. The ring he sat on her plate. The silver wrapped box shimmered in the candle light. He looked at his watch and paced. She hadn’t said exactly when she’d be home. His leg was hurting. That raw ache, tensed up feeling. It was way past time to change his sock and bandage. He’d been on it for quite a few hours so it was understandable that it would be hurting but it still frustrated him. He hated it.

He grabbed the things he needed and quickly changed the wrap and massaged the tight muscle until it eased some. He decided then to change into something nicer. He’d been wearing sweats since he got out of the hospital. Noah slipped on a pair of black jeans and a black button up shirt, dabbing on cologne and brushing his teeth again. He decided to put the steaks on since it was nearly 4 already. She probably hadn’t eaten anything and would be starving. By the time he heard the car pull up his nerves were taut. He flipped the stereo on to some R & B love music. His mom always joked and called it baby making music. He was grinning when Miki opened the door and came in talking to her friend. Apparently she had decided to bring Gina home with her. Noah had met her a couple a times years ago. Miki stopped dead in her tracks and looked him up and down and looked towards the kitchen table.

“
I hope you don’t mind, I made you dinner babydoll.” He nervously rubbed his palms on his jeans and held his hand out to Gina. “Hi Gina, how are you doll? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

Gina grinned from ear to ear and Miki still was silent. “Hiya Noah, you are still a handsome devil. Come here and give me a hug, it’s good to have you home honey.” She hugged him tight and kissed his cheek.

“
I’m going to head home and steady for tomorrow Miki. I’ll pick you up in the morning.” With that she dashed off grinning and Miki finally found her voice. “You made me dinner?”

“
Yes I did. Steak and, oh crap, the steaks…”

He took off for the kitchen and flipped the steaks. They weren’t burnt but they’d be well done anyways. “Sorry, I kind of forgot about them when you walked in looking so beautiful.”

Miki was standing at the table looking at the box. Noah turned the stove on low and walked towards her taking her hand in his.

“
Wanna take your coat off babydoll? I’ve got a fire going.”

She let him help her with her coat and finally looked up at him, her eyes shiny and bright.

“
Noah…”

He dropped awkwardly to his good knee and picked up the box, holding it out to her. Her hand covered her mouth and she choked out a cry.

“
Mikayla Ann Johnson. I want to make this official that you’ll be my girl forever. Will you do me the honor of marrying me babydoll?”

She tugged the string on the bow and lifted the lid, gasping when she saw the ring. “Oh Noah, you shouldn’t have. This must have cost a fortune!”