To Have And To Hold (10 page)

“Got it. Have a good night.”

Teresa waved as she stepped into the elevator.

Will grabbed his doorknob and advanced into his office. Closing the door behind him, he moved toward his desk with the stack of papers in his hand and froze. The smell of something floral caught his attention, pivoting he turned toward his couch.

“Hello, Will.” Kelli called out to him in a soft purr from her seat in the center of his couch, sitting cross legged and sexy.

It had been a month since he’d seen her last in the cabin with Brett. Walking out of that house had been the hardest thing he ever had to do. “Kelli. How’s Brett?” He could have kicked himself.

Rising, she asked, “Do you really want to discuss Brett?”

She began to take steps toward him. Slow, torturous steps, allowing her hips to swing dramatically draw his eyes to them. The suit she wore clung to her body like a wet kiss. He had to swallow twice to keep himself in check. “Is he still in the picture?”

He lifted his gaze from her hips to her face.

“Do you think I would be here if he were?” Stopping in front of him, she said, “No, Will. He is no longer a factor in our life.”

Our life
. She’d said
our
. “Is that why you’re here? To tell me it’s over between the two of you?”

She laughed and light illuminated her light brown eyes. “I could’ve called to tell you that.”

Turning away from her, he moved toward his desk and leaned back against the front of it. He needed space to keep his head clear. Her body and scent were playing havoc with his senses. “Speaking of calling, it’s been a month since we parted that weekend. You didn’t even leave me a note when you picked up your car from my house.”

No guilt colored her features. “You’re right.” She glanced down at the carpet floor under her “fuck me” stiletto heels.

He stifled a groan. “So, now what? You had some time to kill and thought you’d swing into my city again.”

“No, Will. The day in the eatery weeks ago was totally out of character for me. You knew me in college; spontaneous is the last thing I am.” Shrugging a single shoulder, she continued. “But, I was hurting and sacred that day. I needed something or someone to help me forget.”

“So you used me.” His statement of fact had a bite to it, but he couldn’t help it. Even though he’d gone into that weekend with no promises and open eyes, he couldn’t stop the fact that he’d loved her for many years.

“I used you, to find myself.” There was a slight tremor to her voice. “Yes.”

“Are you expecting me to say you’re welcome?”

“No.” She approached him again. “I’m expecting you to say you love me.”

He blinked. There was no way he’d heard her correctly.

“Will?” Standing in front of him now, she reached out and touched his face.

Turning his face, he brushed his lips on the palm of her hand. “Kelli, you’re confusing sex with emotion.”

Pulling her hand back, her voice laced with pain, she said, “I’m not some teenage girl lost in false images of puppy love and infatuation.”

“How do you know for sure...that it’s love?” Shooting off of his desk he moved to the center of the room.

“Over the last month, I’ve pieced my life back together. For me. I found a job that I love and an apartment in Asheville. I’ve resumed horseback riding and a lot of other things that I’ve wanted to do for myself, but was too worried about if Brett and his mother would approve or if it would fit into their plans for me.” Her voice sounded thick and gritted, as if she were holding back tears.

She’d been here and he hadn’t even known. Glancing at her, he noticed she stepped out of her shoes. “And?”

One button of her blazer came undone. Then the second and third followed. When she parted it, Will saw that her breasts were bare underneath and his dick received instant messaging from his brain. The jacket dropped soundlessly from her arms to the floor.

“And, Will, every moment of everyday I thought about all the things you made me feel.” Reaching over to one hip, she unzipped her skirt. “I remembered all your words of encouragement and your confidence that I should never have to give up the work I love.” She pushed it down her legs. “The way you touched me and held me at night.”

Two things he noticed simultaneously, her bare pussy lips and the chain around her waist. His chain. “Kelli.” Her name slipped from his lips in adoration.

Stepping out of the skirt at her ankles, she crossed the carpeted floor until she was a few feet away from him and, like a beautiful bare sienna goddess, she lowered herself to her knees. “I didn’t come to Asheville that day looking for love, but I found it.” Her hands went behind her back. “I found you.” Tears spilled down her smooth brown cheeks. “The first time you kissed me by my Carolina blue car, my world shifted and I felt complete.”

“Sweetheart,” he whispered, his heart was swelling so much with each of her words that he could barely breathe.

She spread her knees wide and continued, “Will, you told me to return the chain when I wanted to. Did you mean that?” Her voice quivered.

The thought that she had done all of this just to give him his chain back made his heartache with the thought of losing her, but he answered truthfully. He would never hold her if she didn’t want to stay. “Yes.”

“Then I’m now returning it...the only stipulation is that you have to take it back with me inside of it. Or not at all,” she whispered.

Staring down at her, he asked, “For how long, Kelli? A week this time...maybe two?”

She shook her head. “As long as you want me.”

He dropped to his knees before her. “That’s for life, sweetheart. I love you. I’ve always loved you.” Placing his hands on her hips, he brushed his thumbs across the chain that marked her as his. “Do you think you can plan your perfect wedding in six months?”

“Oh, yes, Will.” A broad smile graced her lips.

“Good, then let me lock the door and I’ll show you a little of what the honeymoon will entail.” He quickly turned the lock and began stripping out of his clothes.

“Can we go back to the cabin for our honeymoon?” Her eyes caressed his skin as she watched him reveal his body to her.

“And every year after that.” He confirmed as he strolled toward her bare and ready for the woman who held his heart. Placing kisses along her collarbone, he said, “By the way, are you busy Sunday? I think I need a date?”

“I might be open to you performing a little volunteer work in exchange for my time,” she whispered coyly.

“Let’s see how well I can convince you,” he said, moments before his hand soundly met her ass cheek.

Kelli moaned in anticipation of his persuasive methods.

Epilogue

Kelli heard the first few notes of
Always and Forever
by Heatwave. It was a classic love song that she’d always favored and wanted to walk down the aisle to the man she loved to it. Now, that moment had finally arrived. The doors opened, showcasing her standing in her strapless Chantilly lace dress, simple modern and chic with a Carolina blue sash around her waist. The same color of Patricia’s maid of honor dress and the groom’s and his best man’s tie and vest.

Besides the minister, there were only three people present. Patricia, Carl, who had become close to Will over the last six months and was his best man, and Will. Will. She’d never doubted for a moment that he would be standing there waiting for her at the altar. He was that kind of man, dependable, committed and strong.

She took the first step that would lead her to the man she loved. A man who respected her and her choice to have a career. In a weekend he’d helped her to free her sexuality and rejoice in her own submissive nature as he guided her through the secret part of his lifestyle. Over the last six months he’d helped her to build her confidence in herself. While they planned their small, intimate wedding, he’d allowed her to be a partner in everything that affected their life, like waiting three years before they started on a family so she could build her career again.

Taking the final steps to him, she admired his stride as he moved to her. Leaning into her, he kissed her on her cheek and whispered. “You are beautiful, sweet, and you have made me the luckiest of men.”

Lifting her hand, she caressed his cheek and stared into his hazel eyes. “I love you, Will.”

“I love you, too.” Taking her hand, he led her to the minister.

As the officiate began the vows that would make her and Will husband and wife before a small group of their closest friends, her heart leaped for joy as she finally married the man she was meant to spend the rest of her life with.

About Author

Yvette loves romance and writing it is one of her greatest and guilty pleasures. She enjoys creating happily ever after stories with lots of HEAT. The hotter the better! Life is busy, it would be great to have a chance to sit down and enjoy a long read. Since that is often not the case, she brings you Short and Sexy, Sensual Erotica. Just long enough to help you meet the
need
. She was talking about your reading need...where’s your mind? As an erotic romance author, she tries to show that every woman no matter color, age, shape or size deserves a high level of passion in their life. Whether you like to see them spanked, tangled in a ménage or simply falling in love, she’s got it. So, if you like diversity and a good read, check out one of her books. Then send her a few words through e-mail about it so you all can chat. She runs a newsletter group where she posts contests, excerpts, blurbs, covers and news about where she is and what she’s doing.

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