Page 42 of Finding Her Way

The truth is so obvious that I have to turn away to keep my expression hidden. I don’t want him to see how much he still means to me, especially now after we’ve hooked up.

Jase guides my attention back to him with a finger to my chin.

“Look at me, Cecelia. That guy in this picture was a dumbass at fifteen. And an even bigger idiot at eighteen. He didn’t know anything about the real world. He was young and dumb. But I can assure you, I’m not that same guy now. And you’re not the same idolizing girl. You’re a smart, strong, sexy and confident woman now.”

I blush under the weight of his compliment. Honestly, I still feel the same way that little girl did with her teenage crush. Only now, my heart is flayed wide open.

Jase leans in and kisses me gently.Sweetly.

“The woman in front of me now has done something to me no one else has ever done.”

“What’s that?” I ask, hoping for the answer I want to hear, but guarding my heart against something that might break it.

He reaches for my hand and entwines our fingers together.

“Everything about you, Cecelia, gets me whipped up. I’ve never felt this way about anyone else but you.”

“Oh…” I gasp, drawing my hand to cover my mouth.

He chuckles, his chest rumbling with a low sound as he pulls me into his warm embrace, my face nuzzling into his chest.

“Maybe that’s why dessert is always saved ‘til after dinner. It’s saving the best for last. And you’re it for me, CC. You were worth waiting for.”

The End

One Year Later

“Come on baby. For old times’ sake, let me eat my dessert before we have dinner.”

I giggle and place my hand at Jase’s chest, shoving him away from the counter where I’m making my homemade whipped topping for the pumpkin pie.

“Now, now. Be a good boy and let me finish what I’m doing and thenmaybeyou’ll get some before we leave.”

It’s already two p.m. and we’re supposed to be over at my parents’ house by three o’clock today for Thanksgiving dinner. The pumpkin pie sits out on the counter to cool and I still have to finish my hair and make-up before we leave.

But Jase makes it nearly impossible for me to be on time with his roaming hands and the way he places kisses in all the sensitive spots he’s found over the last year that drive me wild. And he’s not very good at being told no.

I turn back around to add more sugar to the white frothy topping, dipping my finger in for a taste.

“Am I going to get some of that?” Jase asks, his warm, minty breath hitting my neck and the length of his hard cock pressing firmly into the crack of my ass.

I indulge him with another drag of my finger through the flavorful concoction, offering it to him for a taste. I can’t help the moan that escapes my throat as he sensually sucks my finger into his mouth, swirling his talented tongue around the tip.

“Mmm. Yeah, baby, that’s sweet. But not as sweet as it would taste between your legs.”

With strong hands placed at my hips, he spins me around to face him and then he drops to my feet. I think he’s about to nuzzle his nose into my crotch –which would be so very hot– but instead, he brings something out from behind his back.

Oh my God.What the…

“Don’t get that panicked look,” he winks, holding the box out between us. “I know we haven’t really talked about marriage and that you need to finish college first. But that doesn’t stop me from promising myself to you.”

Swoon.

Flipping open the velvet-encased box, a dazzling opal and diamond encrusted ring sparkles from inside the case.

“It’s not an engagement ring, per se, but is still my promise to you that when you’re ready, I’ll ask you to marry me.” He pauses and carefully removes the ring and slides it on to my finger.

“Jase.”

When he stands, he pulls me into him so that our mouths nearly touch.

“Cecelia Rachel Sundstrom. Thanksgiving is a day where we count our blessings and contemplate all the things in life we’re thankful for. And, you, baby, are my biggest blessing.”

And with that, let’s just say, we were definitely late for Thanksgiving dinner.