When we got to his apartment, I followed him to his apartment without a word, waiting for the final surprise. When we got there, though, my heart practically stopped.

Candles flickered from every surface, including the floor strewn with rose petals. Gavin led me through the beautiful scene he’d created for me to his bedroom where a book was waiting, wrapped in glossy white paper.

My hands shaking, I pulled the paper away to find a leather-bound journal. Its pages were blank, save for the first one where the word Me was written.

“I thought the journal could be our fresh start. Some pages to fill with our story.”

I bit my lower lip as tears sprang to my eyes again. When Gavin slowly sank to one knee in front of me, the tears fell fresh and strong.

“Gavin,” I said, barely able to choke out the word.

“Sweet Emma, when I met you, I was broken.” He stroked my knuckles with his fingertips. “But you saw past all that; you accepted me and all my flaws. You challenged me to be a better man, and for that I owe you immensely. I love you with all my heart, and I can’t imagine growing old with anyone else. You’re the one I want. Just you.”

I swallowed hard, nodding along as tears rolled down my cheeks. “I love you too, so much.”

“The story of our love is only beginning. It’s time to write our own happy ending.”

Gavin swallowed, growing more emotional than I’d ever seen him. He reached into his pocket, withdrawing a little square box. When he opened it and pulled out the most exquisite ring, my heart almost stopped. It was old-fashioned and simple, but gorgeous. Absolutely perfect.

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

“Marry me, pet?”

I drew a deep, shuddering breath. “Yes, Gavin, yes. I will marry you.”

I held out my hand and he slid the ring on easily, kissing my fingers when he was done.

But I wanted more than that. So much more.

Dropping to my knees in front of him, I grabbed his face and crushed my lips to his, wanting him to feel how much I appreciated everything he’d done, all the thought he’d clearly put into every moment of this night. There was no flash or public fanfare. Instead, it was exactly how it was supposed to be—just us. Private and intimate.

“I love you so much,” he murmured.

“A million billion,” I told him.

I think he felt my appreciation because he led me to the bed and I fell on top of the covers, barely breathing as he pulled away my clothes. In the glow of the candlelight, I lay back and watched as he shrugged off his jacket and dragged his shirt over his head, revealing the chiseled stone of his abs. He unbuckled his belt and let his pants fall to the floor before stepping out of his shoes and socks, then finally tucked his thumbs under his boxers to reveal his thick, hard length.

God, I’d never tire of seeing him.

Unable to help myself, I scooted to the edge of the bed and motioned for him to come closer so I could grip his length and pull him into my mouth. Still, as I circled his tip with my tongue, I knew this wouldn’t be enough. Not for a night like tonight. So, with hunger plain in my now husky voice, I looked up at him.

“Let’s try it.” I knew he understood what I meant, but he glanced down at me, a mischievous light in his eyes.

“Ah, love. Whatever you want. But let’s get you nice and ready, then. Lay back for me.”

I did as I was told, spreading my legs wide for him as he got on his knees in front of me and licked the space between my thighs.

By now, he knew my body like it was his own, loving every inch of me in all the ways he knew best. It was like every move was perfectly designed to inch me closer and closer to climax. As his calloused finger traced my folds, I writhed against him, willing him to end my torture and push inside me once and for all.

“I thought you wanted to . . .”

He looked up at me, a faint smile on his lips. “I do. I just want to make sure you enjoy it just as much as I will.”

Without another word, he went back to work. My body squeezed around him while he sucked my clit and teased me relentlessly, pumping one finger into my pussy.

I whimpered, needing him to push in more. Just when I was near the point of pain, he pushed a second finger inside and I exploded, every bit of tension breaking apart into a million pieces. I cried out, gripping the covers as I screamed for Gavin, begging for more. When the rising swell of my pleasure finally slowed, he placed soft kisses against my thighs and spread my legs even further.

There was a silence, and then I felt something warm and slippery dripping down me. Gently, he massaged the lube into my skin, warming it as I rocked against his touch.

I couldn’t deny that I was nervous, but as soon as I heard Gavin’s voice, all my anxiety melted away.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little nervous. But excited too,” I said, and it was true. For all the worry I felt, I was also curious. I wanted to know what this would feel like, but more than that, I wanted to be with him in every way I possibly could. Wanted to please him in every way.

“I’m going to get you ready now,” he said. “If there’s anything I do that you don’t like, say stop and I will.”

I nodded.

“Turn over for me,” he whispered, helping me from the spot where I lay so that I was now on my hands and knees.

“Good.” He spanked me for good measure and then trailed his fingers up and down my backside, smoothing more liquid into the space before—I gasped—his other hand found my clit again and swirled in light, teasing circles.

“Relax, baby,” he said.

I let out another gasp as a finger slid slowly but steadily into me. Into the place where I’d denied him all the times before. It was tight but not unpleasant, and he moved in and out slowly, readying me for more as his other hand worked its magic.

“Do you like that?” he asked.

“Yes,” I hissed, and it was the truth. The curiosity in me grew and I arched, wanting to feel more, needing to please him.

“Good,” he said, and then pushed another finger inside me.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Gavin

When Emma had murmured those three little words—let’s try it—I knew exactly what she was asking for. My heart sprang into my throat, and I murmured something about needing to ready her first.

Though our last few days had been filled with exceptional amounts of nudity and hot sex, nothing could have prepared me for this moment. The diamond ring glinting on Emma’s ring finger and her enthusiastic yes to my proposal make it all the sweeter. I felt stripped bare, flayed open in the best way possible. And now she was offering me her sweet virgin ass, all because she knew it was something I wanted.

Fuck.

Maybe that made me sick and twisted instead of a romantic—but, Christ, that did something to me.

As I watched her naked on the bed before me, it took every ounce of my self-control to slow myself down to make sure this would be good for her.

Go slow, Gavin.

Gripping her hips, I turned her over, my hands anchoring her ass high in the air. Emma supported her weight on her knees and forearms. She was so beautiful—fuck, her little pink asshole looked so tight and inviting—and I couldn’t wait to take her there. But first, I had to make sure I wouldn’t hurt her.

“I want you,” Emma said softly, and I knew she was telling the truth. The way her body arched into my touch made my cock ache, but I forced myself to remain calm.

“Not yet, pet,” I said, swirling my finger around her clit in the way I knew she would like, a little reward for her eagerness.

Before we went to the next level, I had to make absolutely certain she was ready for me. I didn’t want to hurt her, and so I squirted more lube onto her, loving the way it dripped down her backside before I caught it and massaged it into her skin.

She let out a little moan and my cock throbbed again, wanting to be inside her already.

“You’ll tell me if I hurt you?” I managed through gritted teeth. God, I hoped I was right, that she was enjoying this, because my cock was already aching and ready to burst.

She nodded.

My fingers continued moving inside, readying her, and her lips parted in surprise, though she showed no sign of pain.