I laughed. “I do think he’s got a plaid shirt underneath his tux.”
“Hey,” Heath protested, feigning hurt. “I left it in the car to change into after the reception.”
We chatted easily for a few more minutes. I didn’t know how someone could seem so regal and so warm simultaneously, but Heath’s grandmother did it.
“You two have a lovely time tonight.” She wished us well, turning her attention to another couple of partygoers. But before she did, she added, “And Heath, do bring her round for tea next week.”
“You’re in,” Heath murmured as he led me through the crowd. “She doesn’t invite just anyone to tea.” I smiled, happy she liked me, too.
As we passed through the throng of partygoers, I saw so many celebrities it almost seemed surreal. I’d think, that guy looks just like… and then realize, it really was that guy. I guessed Ash had been crazy famous for years now, so that was his crew.
Funny, when I’d first moved out to L.A. that was all I wanted, to be at a star-studded party with the chance of meeting and greeting celebrities. Now, as Heath led me toward the exit, all I wanted was some time with my guy. We’d done our time at the party. We’d chatted and danced and posed for photos. Now it was time for the real fun to begin.
He took my hand and led me out in the starlit night, down a path to a tree. It had a charming wooden bench underneath it, and I wondered if the wedding planners had brought that in as well, thinking of absolutely everything.
We sat down together, Heath’s arm outstretched behind and around me. We looked up at the stars overhead as he gently caressed my shoulder. I relaxed into him, a smile on my lips.
“Violet.” I felt the deep rumble in his chest as much as I heard his words. “There’s something I want you to know.”
“Yes?” I didn’t feel wary, but I did listen up. There was something in is tone that made me know this was important.
He took my hand in his and looked down at our intertwined fingers. “I know we haven’t known each other that long.”
“Four and a half months,” I agreed. Not that I was counting. But it did strike me as crazy that we’d only known each other that short a time. Somehow, though, I knew. The way I felt about him right then was the way I’d feel about him for the rest of my life.
“I’m sure about the way I feel.” He echoed my thoughts as he looked up into my eyes, caressing my chin with his hand. “I love you.”
My eyes filled with tears as I drew closer to him. “I love you so much, Heath.” We kissed and used the words we’d just expressed, over and over as we kissed and held each other.
“Who would have guessed?” I asked, running my fingers through his hair. He pulled me onto his lap and I pressed my hand against his chest, feeling his heartbeat. “City girl falls for mountain man.”
“We tried not to,” he said, and I had to laugh, remembering how we honestly had, telling each other to stay away because we weren’t each other’s type.
“Some fights you just can’t win,” I agreed.
“So happy we both lost.” He grinned and kissed me under the starry sky in the moonlight. I couldn’t agree more.
EPILOGUE
Heath
Violet and I drove down from Vermont to the city in a snowstorm. Mid-December and you never knew when a squall would hit. Good thing I drove a truck and not a clown car convertible.
When we arrived, we stomped our boots and left them just inside the entry. Even in a doorman building, you didn’t leave your belongings out in the hallway. This was New York City, after all, not small town Vermont where everyone knew your name. But it was beginning to feel more like like a second home for us as we spent time in the city each month. Back in June I’d leased this apartment. Violet needed somewhere to stay when she met with colleagues at the Explore Channel, and sometimes I came with her, meeting with Colt and his people, or with other artists I was getting to know and like.
Violet and I done some traveling, too, hitting the road and seeking out the best local gems all over the country. That was Violet’s job now, seeking out great stories to share for her series Love Your Local. And sometimes I’d come along with her, too, taking the opportunity to explore local art scenes. Amazing what you started learning once you picked your head up and looked around. People were doing interesting things all over. And now both Violet and I had vehicles to discover and share it.
“What time is it?” she asked, carrying her dress into the bedroom. She’d picked out something special for my family’s holiday party that weekend. I knew she’d look stunning in it, but my favorite look on her was still nothing at all.
I had big plans for our holiday party. I didn’t know if she had any idea. But just because I had big plans for the weekend didn’t mean I couldn’t also have some fun plans for that evening.
“It’s not even four o’clock,” I assured her, following her into the bedroom.
“We don’t have dinner reservations anywhere tonight?”
“Nope.” I strode toward her with a gleam in my eye. I let her hang up her dress, but then I grabbed her and gave her a deep kiss.
“Hey.” She smiled up at me, sensing where I wanted to go with the evening. Wrapping her hands around my shoulders, she ran them slowly down to my biceps, licking her lips. She looked good with my plans.
“You know what I was thinking about during the drive down?” I helped her out of her jacket, then out of her sweater. “While you took that nap.” Off came her T-shirt, then her jeans. I really knew how to make quick work of pesky things like clothing.
“I don’t know.” I already had her breathing quick, anticipating.
“We’ve got a great big mirror in this bedroom.” I pointed to it next to the bed. “And I have an idea for how to put it to good use.”
“Oh you do?” She pulled my shirt up over my head, proving two could play at that quick-to-undress game.
“Come here.” I took her hand and led her to the edge of the bed then sat down. She smiled and started to lean down to kiss me, but I surprised her by spinning her around. Completely naked, she stood in front of the mirror on our bedroom closet door. “See how fun it is to watch?
” I reached up and toyed with her breasts, cupping, massaging, rolling her sweet, pink nipples lightly in my thick fingers.
She watched me playing with her, the sight of my big hands grasping her breasts, and I could tell she liked it. Her lips parted, and she started breathing faster. I bet her pussy was getting nice and slick. I reached my hand around and gently dipped my finger in. So hot and wet. Watching her watch in the mirror, I started playing with her clit, finding the sensitive nub and rubbing it just how she liked.
“Oh!” Her knees buckled slightly as she watched. She liked seeing me grab her, toy with her.
“You see how wet you get, baby?” I asked, showing her the fingers I’d used to stroke her pussy. In the mirror, she could see them glisten. She moaned, gazing at them. When I brought my fingers back, she was even wetter. I shifted my weight, moving closer to the edge of the bed, then brought my legs between hers.
“Spread open. Wide.” I pushed her thighs apart and she straddled me, bringing her pussy down close over my cock. The sight of her luscious, curved ass hovering right over my shaft was almost too much to take. But I wanted to make sure she was enjoying her view, too.
“You see how you can watch like this?” I asked, and her eyes widened at the image of us, her down on my lap facing the mirror. “You’re going to watch us fuck, Violet. You’re going to watch yourself come.”
“Oh!” she moaned. I loved talking dirty to her, saying just the right things to set her inner naughty girl free. “You want me on your cock?” she asked, positioning her wet entrance right on my tip.
In response, I grasped her hips. Holding her there tight, I thrust up inside of paradise, her tight, wet walls clenching like a tight fist around my hard cock. She screamed, arching back in response. No matter how many times I entered her, I knew I always stretched her.
“Yes,” I growled, grasping her long hair in my firm hand, keeping her secure on me. “Take me in. I want to see you work on my cock.”
Wet, quivering, she started moving, up and down, taking my cock deep inside her, then pulling up, then down again. It felt so good, getting a rhythm going, as she pushed her pussy down onto my huge, fat shaft.