Page 86 of Hard
My eyes spring open. More than the tease in his tone, I realise what he’s just said.
‘What?’ he asks amused. ‘You didn’t think I meant it when I got down on my knees, so I thought I’d try it another way.’
‘Ano—That was a proposal? And you thought you’d fuck a yes out of me?’
‘I think I fucked a few of them out of you,’ he replies with a sexy smirk.
‘You haven’t even told me you love me yet!’
A beat later, I’m sitting at the end of the bed, Keir on his knees in front of me—no, that’s not right. He’s in front of me ononeknee.’
‘Paisley,’ he begins. ‘Let me tell you how ardently Icovet your body.’ I open my mouth to protest—to tell him I’m still not taking him seriously when he grasps my hand. ‘How ardently I love your heart and your soul. If you’d so me the honour of becoming my wife, I promise to spend the rest of my life making you happy. And making you come.’
‘This isnotthe kind of proposal story we can tell our grandchildren—or your daughter.’
‘We’ll keep the good bits to ourselves. Come on, trouble. What do you say? It’s not so hard. Just say yes.’
Chapter 29
KEIR
Of course, she did say yes.
So it might have taken me crawling up her body, placing kisses as I’d travelled—it might have taken an afternoon of worshiping her pussy while whispering promises of my everlasting love. But none of that was any great hardship. Because this woman. My trouble. She’s everything.
I don’t think I could put a point or time to it, or tell you the exact instant that I knew I was in love. I’d spent years promising myself I wouldn’t put go through it again—I wasn’t going to risk my heart and my sanity. I kept telling myself I don’t need companionship or sex. Until a chance meeting at a wedding I didn’t even want to attend brought me to this point.
My own wedding.
Four days have passed since I proposed to her, my knees against the hard wooden floor, stark bollock naked, and still desperate for her. And I don’t care what she says, it’s an excellent story to tell our grandkids. I can see it now...
Well, it was like this, little Jimmy. Your Grandma was on her knees after the best orgasm of her life, when I looked down at her beautiful pink pussy and I knew—I just knew—that I’d be the luckiest man alive to get be the one to pound it for the rest of her life.
It’ll be an awkward conversation for the dinner table, sure, but one they won’t forget. I only hope I don’t live long enough to lose the memory of her smile to dementia—her smile as she’d watched me open the tiny velvet box to her ring. Yep, I’d bought it before our flight and had it couriered to the hotel. And it wasn’t a last-minute panic buy, but something I saw and just knew she’d love... if I could only get her to take me seriously.
It’s Art Deco in style, to remind her of the Claridge’s and our first night. Sapphires for the colour of her eyes. A teardrop shaped diamond of several carats, that reminded me of a certain part of her anatomy. Or rather,twoshapes of her anatomy.
‘What’s the smile for? Will suddenly appears in front of me, dressed in a white linen shirt and pale pants. Pinned to his chest is the smallest, most pale pink rose I’ve ever seen, and he has another in his hand. ‘Actually, I recognise that kind of look. I’m just not used to seeing it onyourface. And on second thoughts, keep it to yourself, whatever depravity you’re imagining, yeah?’
‘It’s not like that,’ I reply. ‘I was just thinking about getting old.’
‘What kind of lunatic thinks about losing his hair and getting saggy balls on the day of his wedding,’ he asks, pinning the flower to my chest. Then he slaps both hands against my cheeks.
‘Ignore him,’ Sadie says, coming up behind her husband, beaming the widest smile I’ve ever seen her face wear. ‘You look so handsome, Keir. And just wait until you see your gorgeous bride. Oh, and Sorcha, too.’
Handsome and dressed almost identical to Will. White shirt, pale pants, a pale pink tie, and a waistcoat vest.And pink because Paisley said Sorcha should choose the accents.
What is it about weddings that makes everyone cry? Sadie’s eyes are glistening and I’m fighting the same effect.
‘You did good,’ she tells me. ‘The venue is perfect, Sorcha is on cloud nine, and your bride... ’ her words trail off as her eyes begin to further well. ‘She’s beautiful, on the inside as well as out.’
‘Like me you mean,’ interjects Will.
‘Yes, but not quite so modest,’ Sadie replies, giggling as Will wraps her in his arms. Pulling her back to his chest, he places his hands wide on the slight swelling under her dress.
What’s in front of me is exactly what I’ve found in Paisley. Love. Acceptance. A place to call home.
‘What are you smiling about now?’ Will asks, his tone tinged with humour. ‘You know, they lock people up for grinning into empty space.’
