Her heart flipped and a bone deep ache penetrated her body. He trusted her so much that he could be at ease when he felt most vulnerable. She turned her head and kissed him lightly, her heart overflowing with love for this man.
This man who put her needs first.
This man who trusted her.
This man who would go to any lengths to please her.
This man she loved.
She'd always treasure his trust, nurture it as though it were precious. Which it was.
Exhaustion made her eyes close, her body relax.
Really, you need to roll off of Simon. It can't be a comfortable way to sleep.
Her breathing became deeper, matching the same rhythm as the man beneath her.
They woke the next morning in the same position, completely rested and comfortable.
Epilogue
Simon paced the courtyard of the elegant resort with a frown.
Was he about to make a big mistake? What if she wouldn't have him? The last six weeks had been the happiest of his life. Did he really want to screw that up?
He looked out at the water, reliving those memories with a contented sigh.
I don't want to screw it up. But I need her. I want her to be mine. The need to brand her as his, to stake his claim, was nearly overwhelming.
Looking toward the outside door to their suite made him shudder. Fuck! Why was this so hard? He and Kara shared everything. There wasn't a corner of his heart and soul that she didn't know.
His phone vibrated in the pocket of his suit jacket. He was in a suit and tie, and it wasn't even a damn work day. He was currently in Orlando, to visit Disneyworld of all places, to realize one of Kara's dreams. Incredible that a woman born and raised in Tampa had never been to Disneyworld!
Of course, neither had he. But, then again, he had come to Florida as an almost-adult.
He clenched his last heart-wish in his palm, squeezing it until his hand was white, his blood circulation nearly cut off.
He had saved one wish. The other one had been used to get her to come on a vacation trip during her spring break. He had given her the heart a month ago and told her he wished that he could take her someplace that she wanted to visit during her spring break.
Okay. Yeah. He expected Paris, London, The Orient, or even Africa. Instead, she had mumbled quietly that she had always wanted to go to Disneyworld. Barely more than an hour’s drive from Tampa, and with a private jet available for travel anywhere in the world, he hadn't expected this to be her dream vacation.
Granted, it had actually been fun. He especially liked it when she got scared on a ride and threw herself in his arms with a shriek and a delighted laugh. Tonight was their last night at the resort, and he was taking her to dinner in one of the best restaurants in Orlando. He just hoped that they had something big to celebrate.
Fishing his phone from his jacket, he looked at the caller ID. Hudson, Samuel.
"What?" he snarled into the phone.
"Did you ask her yet?"
Simon nearly laughed at the slightly nervous voice on the other end of the phone. Sam acted like this event was just as important to him as it was to Simon. "No. She's getting ready for dinner."
"You've had a week. What the hell?"
"What do you care?" Actually, Simon knew very well why Sam cared. He'd let it slip that if Kara said yes, Sam would very likely be seeing Maddie Reynolds again.
"She's good for you. You need her. Plus, I don't want to put up with your shitty mood if she says no."
She wasn't going to say no. She couldn't say no. He would just have to convince her. Anything else was not an option.
The door of their suite opened, and Simon lost all interest in his conversation with Sam. "I'll call you later."
"Ask her."
Simon clicked off the call and pocketed his phone, his eyes never leaving the beautiful woman in red that was framed in the door of their suite.
God, she's incredible. Will I ever get used to the sight of her?
Most likely...not. It didn't matter where she was, or what she was wearing, he started having palpitations the moment he saw her.
Tonight, dressed in a red cocktail dress that flirted with her knees, and a pair of matching heels, she took his breath away. Her hair was down, and tiny strands ruffled from the slight ocean breeze.
"You look beautiful," he told her truthfully as he reached her side, planting a light kiss on her lips. You look like a f**king goddess.
Every day. Every single time he saw her.
"Thanks. You're looking very handsome yourself, Mr. Hudson. Are we ready?" she asked, shooting him a happy smile.
I'm ready. Ready to strip off that sexy dress and see what kind of underwear you're wearing. Then I'll strip them off with my teeth and f**k you until you scream.
His c**k was rock-hard, but that was nothing new. It happened every day, every time she smiled at him. Or when she didn't smile at him. When she frowned. When she argued. Fuck! Her mere presence was all that was required to give him an erection.
Or her voice. Or just the thought of her. Damn...he was easy when it came to Kara.
"In just a minute." He guided her back in the door, closing it behind him. "I need to talk to you."
Her smile faded and he wanted to kick himself.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice suddenly concerned.
"No." He sat on a leather couch in the opulent suite and pulled her down into his lap. "I need to ask you something."
Do it. Just do it. Before you go crazy.
He opened his clenched fist, showing her his final heart-wish.
"Don't waste it on asking for sex, 'cause I'm pretty much a sure thing." she answered, laughing softly.
He slid her off his lap and seated her beside him. Reaching into his pocket, he handed her a small box.
She looked at him, then the heart, then the box. Taking the box in her hand, she lifted the lid slowly.
"I wish that you would marry me." His voice was husky and filled with part hope, part fear.
"Oh, my God. Simon, I didn't expect this." She pulled the huge, sparkling diamond ring, housed in a platinum setting, from its velvet home with trembling fingers. "I don't know what to say."
"Say yes. Please." Say yes or I'm gonna lose it.
She looked at him with a stunned expression. "You want to marry me? Simon, you haven't even told me that you love me. I assumed you just weren't ready. I didn't expect this."
How in the hell could she not have suspected? She'd owned his heart, body and soul for what seemed like forever. "I love you. I love you. I love you." Surely he had said that to her before? "I do. I can't believe I've never said it, but you had to have known."