Finding Sunshine (28 page)

“Is everything okay?” she asks, feigning innocence.

“No. My woman is nothing but trouble.”

“But that’s what you love about her,” she states, leaning across the table to feed me a piece of bread that she’d slathered with an herb-infused brie. I moan in appreciation.

Just as we’ve finished devouring the bread and cheeses, our meals arrive.

“Are you going to tell me how the meeting went?” Nina asks, spearing a piece of ravioli on her fork.

“It went really well.” I answer, cutting a piece of the tender steak and dipping into the whipped mashed potatoes before taking a bite and moaning.
Fucking heaven.

“And?”

“You’ve got to try this,” I say, leaning across the table and feeding her a small bite.
Her eyes light up and she moans softly in appreciation.

Fuck.
That’s the same sound she makes when she teases my cock mercilessly
.
I need to focus on something other than devouring this meal and then getting upstairs to devour
her.

“Mr. Royal said he’d be willing to give me a yearlong contract to start. He even offered us an apartment to move into. And once everything at the pub is organized, if we want to go back to Boston, they’d give me a severance package and all they’d have to do is hire a new manager.”

“So you’d do all of the work setting it up?”

“Yes. Seeing the building today gave me all of these design ideas. Maybe we could put your photographs on the wall. You could take some artistic shots of the remodel, or of the brewing process.”

“What if we want to stay here?” she asks, before reaching for her beer again.

“Then I would continue on as the manager, and we’d eventually buy a house,” I answer, taking another large bite.

“Houses are expensive,” Nina comments, looking oddly upset as she moves food around her plate.

“I know, but we have the capital. I’ll tell Sarah and Ben that I want them to buy me out of the house,” I state plainly, swallowing a sip of my beer.

“I have nothing to contribute,” she pouts, taking another bite.

“We’re in this together, Sunshine. Just you and me.” I try to reassure her, putting down my utensils I reach across the table to grab her hand. I squeeze it, adding, “Everything I have is yours.”

“What do you want to do?” she asks, squeezing my hand in return.

“Honestly,” I begin, taking a deep breath, “I really want to take this opportunity. I think it could be a great adventure for us, even if it is only for a year. But, I’m not going anywhere without you.”

“Okay,” I hear her say.

“What?” I ask, having been briefly distracted by the sight of her tongue licking sauce from her lips.

“I’ll move up here with you.”

“Really?” I ask excitedly, and she nodes her head, smiling. I lean wholly across the table, giving her a quick, rough kiss. “Fuck, I love you, Sunshine.”

~:~:~:~:~

“Let’s take off these leggings,” I mutter against Nina’s lips, as I run my hands under the back of her short dress, palming her superb ass.

“
Tights
,” she corrects me, reaching under her dress to help me pull them down.

“Huh?”

“They’re tights,” she says again, wiggling and pulling them down her gorgeous legs.

There’s a difference?

Pulling away slightly, I look down and ask, “What’s the fuckin’ difference between leggings and tights?”

“Do you really care right now?” she giggles, bending down to step out of them.

“Fuck no,” I say, pulling her back into my arms and claiming her lips with my own. My woman moans, and taking advantage, I thrust my tongue inside, tasting her sweet flavor mixed with the maple ice cream we shared for dessert.
Delicious.

I begin to trail kisses down her neck, feasting on the delicate skin. The salty tang and her skin warming with excitement are overwhelming my senses, and I can feel her pulse beating faster under my tongue.

“
Aaron
,” she sighs, as my lips travel further down, onto her shoulder.

Her body sags into mine as she fists the sides of my shirt, holding on as I continue to a
rouse us both
. Reaching the tops of her breasts, I attempt to pull down her dress further, wanting to taste them.

“Zipper,” she groans.

Moving my lips back up to her mouth, I reach behind her and search blindly for the small metal pull.

She breaks away, panting, “Side.”

I growl in annoyance.

Why the fuck, does a woman’s clothing have to be so difficult to take off?

Giggling at my frustration, she steps back and slowly pulls the zipper down, shrugging the dress off her shoulders. I watch it pool at her feet.

Fuck!

I growl again at the sight.

Standing there, with her messy—
sexy
—hair still piled atop her head, Nina is wearing a matching bra and panty set. White lace, with little black satin bows.

My favorite.

“Do you like?”

“You wore those on purpose, didn't you?”

Her soft giggle gives me my answer.

I was right. My woman's nothing but trouble.

They are the panties I bought her, because I’d ripped off the first pair she wore when I saw her wearing them for the first time.
Worth every fucking penny.

Pulling her back into my arms, I reach behind her, unhooking the bra and dragging it down her arms before tossing it aside. Next, I reach up into her hair and tug gently on the elastic band, sending her curls falling everywhere.

Nina twists her arms around my neck, and I wrap mine tightly around her, pulling her into my body. Leisurely, we breathe in and taste each other, neither one of us in any hurry.
We have all night.

I move one hand between our bodies, cupping the damp lace covering her pussy.

“Aaron,” she sighs again, as I run my fingers lightly over her.

“Yes, Sunshine?” I tease, continuing to stroke her.

I take a small step back, giving myself room, and she moves her hands down to my sides. I can feel her gripping the fabric of my shirt tightly.

“What do you want?”

“I want your fingers inside me,” she moans, moving in time with my touch.

“Do you know what I wanted to do all during dinner?” I ask, slipping my hand down the front of her panties. Her pussy creams against my fingers as I touch her burning skin.

“No.” She shakes her head and rubs herself against my now still hand.

“I wanted to tease you as much as you were teasing me,” I whisper in her ear, moving my hand slowly against her.

“You like it when I tease you,” she giggles breathlessly.

“I do,” I admit, chuckling lowly.

Maybe I really am a fucking masochist.

Leaning down slightly, I take her mouth, silencing her moan as I penetrate her wetness with two thick fingers, pushing them fully into her tight, velvety channel.

My woman begins panting with pent-up need as I fuck her with my fingers. Flicking her clit with my thumb elicits a breathless gasp. I tighten my arm around her waist, holding her up as I bring her closer to orgasm.

“
That’s it
,” I whisper in her ear. “Come for me.”

She’s so primed for release that the moment I scissor my fingers deeply inside of her pussy, she lets loose a wave of pulsing contractions. My cock twitches with jealousy.

“
Aaron
,” she moans, still coming.

Nina sags against me, her warm breath hitting my neck as she nuzzles me. The hands gripping the sides of my shirt begin frantically tugging at it and pulling it out of my dress pants.

“Let me,” she whispers huskily against my ear as I begin to move back so I can strip more quickly.

Once I’m un-tucked, her small, delicate fingers move up and begin to slowly unbutton my shirt until it’s open completely.

I tangle one hand in her curls as she nuzzles her way down my chest. The other grips her hip as I steady myself. A gentle flick of her tongue against my nipple sends my pulse racing.

“Fuck, what are you doing to me, Sunshine?” I groan audibly.

Her answer is a satisfied giggle as she runs her hands back up my chest and over my shoulders, where she begins pushing my shirt off and down my arms. Letting go of her momentarily, I quickly shake myself out of it.

She places her hands on my hips, and beginning at my neck, starts to slowly tease me again with her warm, wet mouth.

By the time Nina reaches my pecs again, I can no longer stand the slow torture and pull away.

“I’m not done,” she pouts up at me.

“Later,” I mutter.

I drag her mouth back up to my own and suck on her already swollen lips. I could kiss this woman for the rest of my life—
and that’s what I intend to do
.

Spinning her around to face the edge of the bed, I pat her butt gently—
for now
—and command, “Up on the bed, Sunshine. On your knees.”

“Aaron,” she laughs, pushing herself back into me.

“Behave.”

I step back to watch as she crawls onto the bed, her breasts swaying and her ass wiggling.

Fuck, I didn’t think my cock could get any harder.

Once she’s in the middle of the bed, Nina turns her head and looks back at me, her eyes bright and teasing. “Are you going to join me?”

“Reach up and hold onto the headboard,” I instruct. Quickly stripping off the rest of my clothes, I kneel behind her.

Running my hands up her sides, I cup her breasts, teasing them until her nipples are razor sharp and she’s groaning with renewed need.

“Aaron, please.”

“I’ll take care of you.” I promise, kissing my way down her spine until I reach the small of her back.

I can smell her excitement as I peel down the lace panties, kissing and nipping her curves until she’s squirming and moaning with unfulfilled need.

Tugging the scrap of lace down her legs, I throw it onto the floor.

“Spread your legs, Sunshine, and hold on tightly,” I tell her, as I position my swollen cock against her glistening pussy.

Taking hold of her hip tightly with my other hand, I demandingly thrust completely inside her in one stroke, taking her somewhat by surprise.

I stop then, breathing hard as I attempt to relax.

“Oh, goddess! Move.
Please
,” she begs, rocking her hips back and forth against me.

“Not until you’ve had your spanking,” I groan out the words.

Her movements cease, and she whispers frantically, “
What
?”

Running my hands firmly along her ass, I whisper hoarsely, “I think we’re both going to enjoy this.”

Lifting one of my hands, I smack her perfect ass firmly.

Her pussy tightens around my cock. We both gasp and then moan with pleasure, as I twitch with need inside of her.

Fuck, I knew this would be good.

“Fuck me. I knew we’d both like this.” I declare, breathing deeply and attempting to stave off my need to orgasm.

“Aaron,” she pants.

I spank her again, on the other cheek, and we both gasp, shaking.

I quickly lose myself in Nina, as we physically reaffirm our love and commitment to one another.

How can it feel like we just met yesterday and a lifetime ago, all at the same time?

Much later on, with my woman snuggled tightly in my arms and about to drift off to sleep, I can’t help but ask, “What
is
the difference between leggings and tights?”

~ Nina ~

“If you’re going to keep buying our coffee, we’ll have to sign you up for the rewards program,” I tell Aaron, as he pays for our
Starbucks
order
—
just
like he insists on paying for
everything
. My man has never relented in his efforts to illustrate that he can provide and care for me, and even more so now that we are living together.

It has been several weeks since Aaron and I returned from Pinetree, and a lot has happened. I’ve moved out of my apartment and temporarily into the house with Aaron, placing most of my belongings in storage back at my parents’ place.

They were not excited about me moving in with him, and are even less enthused that we are relocating to Vermont for at least a year. The fact that they both adore him has made them feel only marginally better about the situation. In their minds, Aaron and I should be married before we begin living together.

Although Becca and Sarah don’t necessarily want Aaron and I to move away, they couldn’t be happier that our relationship is—in Sarah’s words—‘Progressing in the right direction.’ To her, that direction is a huge, overly planned wedding. Orchestrated by her, of course.

As angry as I’d been with them after initially learning of Aaron’s past, I understand now that they had both acted in Aaron’s best interest. How can I fault them for caring for and wanting to protect him?
That’s exactly what I want to do, forever.

Jordan, on the other hand, acted maliciously. She and I have ceased being friends, and I can’t get over the joy she took in finding out and telling me about Aaron’s past. She may make claims to the contrary, but her actions were in no way done in the name of friendship. I don’t think I’ll ever understand her true motives.

In the end, moving to Vermont hadn’t been a hard decision to make. Aaron really wanted to accept the opportunity that Mr. Royal offered him, and I have nothing important holding me in Boston. I know my future is with him. No matter how rushed or rash it may seem, I want to make a life with Aaron—location doesn’t much matter. I can see us being very happy together, starting over and finding a place in Pinetree
.
Everyone we met during our brief stay was wicked friendly and welcoming. It is a family culture there—one I can see us being a part of. I will enjoy exploring all of the new images I can capture with Mr. Snappy, my camera, over the next year, at least.

With Sarah’s help, I have been creating both a print and online catalog of my work. With it, I can market my portfolio to locations in and around Pinetree, and try to get them to feature my photographs in their businesses and galleries.

Aaron has already told me that he wants me to do a series of photographs to hang in the pub. I’m looking forward to capturing a side of the brewing process that the public doesn’t usually get to see. We have both been doing our research and watching beer-making documentaries online. Aaron already knows a little about the processes, but he wants to be more knowledgeable than just what types of beer he likes.

“A grande, no-whip mocha with an extra shot of mocha, for Nina. And a grande dark roast with extra room, for Aaron,” comes the barista’s voice, breaking us out of our comfortable silence from where we sit at a table in the corner.

“I’ll grab them, Sunshine.” Aaron pushes back his chair and walks over to the counter to collect our drinks.

“Thank you.” I tentatively sip mine when he returns and relaxes back into his chair, opposite me.

“Are you okay?” I ask, watching Aaron fidget in his seat with a slight scowl on his face, almost as if he has a tummy ache or heartburn.

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re making that face. The one you make when you’ve had too much ice cream.”

“I’m fine,” he says defensively.

“I found a recipe for lemon sorbet online. It’s dairy-free. I thought I’d try making it for you.”

“You’re too good to me, Sunshine.” He smiles and leans over the table towards me. I happily follow suite, accepting a sweet kiss.

“Not possible.”

“I love you,” he whispers, stealing another gentle kiss.

“Ditto,” I reply, leaning forward even more so I can leave several nipping kisses along his now bearded jaw.

“There are no words, Sunshine, to tell you how much I love you,” he states fervently.

I reach out and grab hold of his hands tightly. “I know you love me. And I love you, too,” I promise, lifting up his hands to kiss them.

Aaron’s face softens, and he returns the gesture. Peppering our joined hands with kisses, I can’t help but giggle at his playfulness.

“I lied to you last weekend. I didn’t have to work. I went to see your parents, alone. I had to be the one to tell them about my past, and they needed to know before I asked them what I needed to. It went better than I ever imagined. Don’t be pissed at them—they promised that they wouldn’t tell you what they knew. I know we haven’t been together very long. And I just want you to know, I’m not doing this because of Vermont. It just feels
right
, you know?” Aaron rambles on in a rush, releasing my hands to tuck his hair behind his ears nervously.

“Slow down. What are you talking about?”

I watch as Aaron leans back in his chair to take something out of his pocket.

“What is that?” I gasp.

Gripped in his large, capable hand is a small, black velvet box.

“Aaron,” I breathe in wonder, when he thumbs the box open to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. “Where did you get that?”

“My pocket.” He smiles with a playful glint in his eyes.

“Aaron,” I breathe out again softly.

He can’t really be proposing here—
can he?
I had secretly dreamed this day would come. Eventually. Never in my wildest imagination did I think it would happen so quickly or so publicly.

“So?”

“You’re really doing this here?” I ask, my voice cracking as tears begin leaking from my eyes unbidden.

Goddess. Is he really going to propose?

“Yeah, I guess I am.” He states this as if realizing for the first time what he’s doing. ”I wasn’t going to, but I can’t wait any longer.”

“This is where we first met,” I comment, reaching out to tuck a piece of stray hair behind his ear, letting the silky softness slide through my forefinger and thumb. My man’s eyes have turned a deep blue, sparking with emotion.

“I remember, Sunshine.” He smiles at me with so much love that my heart skips a beat.
No man has ever loved me the way this man—my man—does.
“So?”

“So, what?” I tease.

“Are you going to answer my question?” he persists, leaning forward and tugging gently on my curls before cupping my face.

“You haven’t asked me anything yet.”

“Marry me, Nina?” he asks simply, caressing my cheek gently with his thumb wiping away the tears that have fallen.

Hearing Aaron actually utter those words—
marry
me—I can barely breathe.

“
Yes
,” I whisper against his lips, sealing my promise with a plundering kiss.