Designed for Love (20 page)

I held out my arms, and he sat on the
bed. I traced my finger along the stubble on his cheek. He bent down and
nibbled my lip, sliding his tongue along my mouth until I opened mine. The
tangle of our tongues and heavy breathing awakened something new in me.

My heart beat against his chest, or was
it his? I wasn't sure. They beat together. He pushed my legs apart with his
knee and positioned himself on top of me, resting on his elbows. His mouth
never left mine. I felt his hardness against me and was lost yet again.

* * *

Later, Bill rolled off to the side and
leaned on his elbow. "You're beautiful, you know? With your tousled red
hair spread out against the pillow." He traced the crease between my
eyebrows with his finger, then leaned down and kissed me. Gently at first then
with a bit more pressure. Not a passionate, I want you kiss, more of an 'I love
you kiss'. Dare I tell him? Was it too soon? Not to me. But how would he take
it?

"I love you," he said it first.

My eyes fluttered open and I looked at
him. Our gaze held for a moment.

"I said I love you."

"I...I...are you sure? I mean. Oh,
God, I don't know what I mean. I love you, too." Could it be? Had he
really said he loved me? More importantly, did he mean it? Not that it mattered
I just said it back. Could this be happening to me? What about my career? This
was too soon. Everything was happening too fast. But part of me didn't care. I
couldn't deny it. I loved him. He loved me. What more could a girl want?

"So then it's official?"

"What's official?" What was he
talking about? I was confused.

"We're engaged."

I tried to sit up. "What do you mean
we're engaged?" Not that the idea repulsed me. Far from it. In fact, I
liked it. Liked it a lot.

"Well." He pulled me down and
traced circles around my nipple. "The way I see it, you told Nick we're
engaged. I told Kathy, various workers heard me. We love each other, its
official."

I rose up on my elbows. "Why, Mr.
Rhett, is that the proper way to ask a lady for her hand?"

Bill broke up laughing. "Well, Miss
Scarlet, I reckon it ain't." He pulled me on top of him and rolled both of
us to the other side of the bed, then slid out, and got down on one knee.
"Miss Scarlet, will you give me the pleasure of your hand in marriage?"

God, I loved this man more than anything
in the world. Maybe it was fate that we met. Whatever it was, I couldn't be
happier. I stuck out my lip in what I hoped was a pouty look. "Why, Mr.
Rhett, ah'm not sure. Ah mean after all, this is kind of sudden an all."

I saw the confusion on Bill's face, the
hurt, the doubt. Suddenly, I pulled him up on the bed.

"Well, fiddle-dee-dee, why not? Ah
mean after all you do love me, right?"

He pulled me to him and snuggled against
me. "With my whole heart and soul."

"Well then, ah accept." I
leaned down and stroked his chest, moving my hand down to his stomach. My lips
captured the groan that escaped his mouth.

"I swear, woman, you're going to be
the death of me. But what a way to die."

Epilogue

I stood next to Bill in the reception
line. I still couldn't believe it. Here we were in Gladys's great room. Even I
had to admit it turned out better than I hoped.

Elegant, expensive, yet it had a homey
feel to it. Never would have thought such cold colors could look so elegant and
homey at the same time.

It had a comfortable, lived in feel to
it. Not like a museum where you were afraid to touch anything. Even the
furniture invited you to sit on it. Of course, the warm marble floor and
antique brass helped. But mostly, it was Gladys's personal items. Family
photos, warm pictures. Special little touches like the quilt on the couch that
Gladys's grandmother made. Not to mention, she'd found a great artist, Margaret
Geyer and photographer, Roger Dowell. Their pictures really added the warmth
and spark to the room that was otherwise lacking.

So, here I stood next to my new husband,
receiving our guests. I was surprised when Gladys offered her home for our
wedding reception. I looked across the room at Gladys and Nick.

They hadn't changed a bit. They still
couldn't keep their hands off each other. Thankfully, they weren't locked in
one of their amorous embraces that caused even me to turn red. At least, not
yet, they weren't. Who knew what might happen before the night was over.

I had a sneaky feeling a wedding
announcement from them wasn't in the too distant future. Nick sure was smitten
with her. Funny how life works. From a ladies' man to part of a couple. I never
would have guessed the first time I saw them together that it would turn
serious between those two.

I shifted from one foot to the other.
Already, my feet were killing me. I wished it was time to sit down and eat.
Although, between my family and Bill's, I doubted we'd do much eating. A lot of
kissing, more than likely. And knowing that bunch, they wouldn't be satisfied
with little pecks on the lips. Oh, no, not them.

They'd expect long passionate kisses.
What was it about people that they enjoyed watching a bride and groom kiss?
Seriously, wouldn't they rather be kissing their own mates? Apparently not. I'd
been to enough weddings in the family to know different.

Not that I minded. Hell, I'd use any
excuse to kiss Bill. Problem was, every time we kissed, I wanted to go farther.
Unfortunately, that would have to wait until later. Much later.

But look out then, Mr. William Johnson.
If he thought I was aggressive and wild before, he ain't seen nothing yet. I
couldn't hold back my smile or my blush.

Bill leaned down and whispered in my ear.
"Penny for your thoughts. You look like the cat that swallowed the
canary."

"Why, Mr. Rhett, ah do declare you
say the silliest things."

"That may be true, but your face is
as red as your name, Miss Scarlet."

"I just bet it is." I wished I
had a fan to hide behind. I'd show him a thing or two about blushing.

"Aren't you going to share it with
me?"

I put my hand under his jacket, behind
his back and slid it inside his pants. "Later, baby, I'll share it all
with you." I almost burst out laughing at the shocked look on his face.

"Woman, you tempt me to take you
upstairs to bed instead of to the dinner table. They better call us soon, or I
just might oblige."

"I can't think of anything I'd like
better."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it's with
great pleasure I introduce, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. William Bradford
Johnson." The Dee-jay interrupted.

"Guess it'll have to wait until
later." I whispered. "But then, Mister, look out."

"I can hardly wait." Bill led
me through the hall to the head table.

Just as I expected, we no more got to our
seats and the clanging on dinner plates started. Bill pulled me to him.
"Shall we give them something to applaud?"

Heat spiraled through my body as his lips
claimed mine. Already, I was drowning in a sea of passion. My mouth opened to
accept his tongue. I savored the taste of him. Somehow I'd get through the
evening. After all I'd have a lifetime to love to him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Multi-published
author, Roseanne Dowell, former school secretary and writing instructor, is an
avid reader and writes various types of romance – paranormal, contemporary and
mystery. Living in Northeast Ohio with her
husband of forty-nine years, she has six grown children, fourteen grandchildren
and one great grandchild. Roseanne spends her time between writing, quilting
and embroidering. She's been published since 2006 with five releases this year
and seven new releases coming in 2012. She also enjoys blogging, tweeting,
facebooking and posting on various writers groups. To learn more about Roseanne
check her website:
http://www.roseannedowell.com

Also
Published by Books We Love

http://bookswelove.net/dowell.php

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