Love and Truth (37 page)

“Okay,” he whispered. He tugged on them slowly and I thought I might die if he didn’t hurry up. Chills scattered across me like a wildfire as he glided his hands down my legs, pulling my panties with them. They dropped to the floor with the rest of my clothes and I was completely bare and vulnerable to him. He kissed his way back up, starting with the arch of my foot.

“God, Nicole. I just want to glide my tongue over every inch of you.”

My heart raced with every kiss, shooting waves of desire through me. He lightly kissed the inside of my thighs and they clenched in response. He continued his sweet torturous journey kissing the rest of the way up my body until he reached my mouth. His hand eased down my chest, barely grazing my breast and causing a whimper to escape me. His hand moved down, brushing over me slowly where I was longing for release. The heat and tension pooling inside me was indescribable, and I couldn’t take it much longer. The rapid rise and fall of my chest sped up and I tilted my hips up into him, telling him I wanted more of him. His hand answered my plea and I moaned into his mouth, unable to control my response to the incredible things his skillful hands were doing to me.

“Jonathan…please.” I arched up into him again. All of my thoughts fluttered around in my head and I couldn’t hear anything else but the hammering of my heart and the rush of air flooding my lungs.

“Shhh. Soon, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Soon.”

I gripped the bed sheets, fisting them as the tension in me built. He reached over and grabbed the protection he had set down on the bed. Then I felt the absence of his other hand as he put it on. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and the room was spinning. Fear, lust, and love swirled within me in anticipation. He rose up now, hovering above me and looking down into my eyes.

”I love you, Nicole.” I looked up at him and I could feel the heat radiating between us. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my neck, just under my earlobe.

“Tell me if you want me to stop, sweetheart,” he whispered, “and I will.”

I nodded because there was no need for words. He lowered himself down, pressing his body against mine, and we melted into one another. All of our walls tumbled down in one solid motion as our bodies were finally joined together. I whimpered in pleasure and pain as he slowly claimed my body and soul.

He continued to love me, filled me with pleasure, and whispered his love for me into my ear.

“Nicole, you feel so good. Are you okay? Is this okay?” I felt him trembling and I knew he was holding back. I wrapped my legs around him and reached up, cupping his face between my hands.

“I’m not going to break, Jonathan. Get out of your head and stop worrying. Just make love to your girlfriend.” I hungrily pressed my lips to his and transferred every ounce of assurance that I had into him.

“Damn, woman. You’re going to be the death of me.” He spoke softly and with a needy growl. Urgently, he reached down behind my knee and pulled my leg up over his shoulder, finally letting go of the worry, the doubt, and the fear. He loved me with abandon, and it felt like my world had gone into slow motion as I absorbed every movement and every touch ignited within me. I fell apart beneath him and soon after he followed me in a spiraling, fulfilled state of pleasure.

We were sweating, panting, and trying to catch our breath as he rolled me onto my side, pulling my back into him.

He kissed the back of my neck thoughtfully. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m wonderful, actually. I feel like I’m floating on a cloud that’s never going to come down. That was–”

“Perfect,” he said. He reached down and pulled the sheets up over us and we lay together like that for hours. He held me and I let him. I never wanted to leave his arms again.

“I love you,” he said again. “I love you so much and I’m not letting you go, not ever again. Your mine forever, Nicole. You’re never getting rid of me.”

Epilogue

18 months later
…

I stood hand in hand with Jonathan amongst my family, his family and our friends...it all seemed very surreal. My parents and Annie flew into Okinawa yesterday and having them here today meant so much to me. I’ve spent the last year studying to be a dance teacher. After a lot of thought, it was what I decided I really wanted to do with my life. My relationship with Jonathan had been nothing but wonderful and full of new things every day. He continued to wow me and make me crazy all at the same time. His love for music blended with my love for dance really solidified our future. Six months ago we started making plans for something amazing and today it has all come together.

“Are you ready?” He whispered in my ear. I looked up at him and saw nothing but adoration in his eyes. I gripped his hand a little tighter and smiled.

“More than you know. I am so excited, Jonathan.”

“Well let’s go do this thing then sweetheart.” He tugged my hand and we made our way to the front of the crowd. Standing on the front steps of
Dancing on Music
, I gleamed with pride and happiness. Our dance and music school would open its doors today. Half of the building was a full, state of the art dance studio and the other half was a fully equipped music school.

“If I could get everyone’s attention please…” Jonathan said, clearing his throat.

Everyone quieted down and their eyes fell upon the two of us.

“Today, Nicole and I would like to welcome you to Dancing on Music. We are excited to teach those that love the art of dance and music just as much as we do. If it weren’t for the beautiful woman standing here beside me, none of this would’ve been possible.”

I blushed at his words and swallowed before taking my turn to speak.

“I just want to say how grateful I am for all of you, especially those of you that traveled so far to be here for us today. This is our passion and we are overjoyed that we can make our dreams a reality. I want to thank my parents and my best friend for always believing in me and showing me that I can achieve anything that I set my mind to.”

I paused before addressing Jonathan, turning to face him.

“To you, Jonathan Hayes, all I want to say is thank you. Thank you for showing me who I really am, through your eyes. Thank you for being the guy that proved all my theories wrong. Today would not be possible without your determination and dedication to making our dreams come true.”

I rose up on my tip toes and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

“Okay everyone; let’s open the doors so you all can see what we have been working so hard on.”

Jonathan held onto my hand and stood in place. For a moment I was confused until he went down on one knee. My breath hitched and my heart started to race. My eyes darted from his eyes to his hand that was pulling a ring box out of his pocket and my knees nearly gave out. I glanced to the crowd and saw Annie beaming, then watched as my parents gave each other an endearing look, as if they were not surprised at all by this chain of events unfolding before them.

I looked back to Jonathan and he held out a white velvet ring box. Our eyes met and tears automatically began to find their way into my eyes. He flipped the box open and the most beautiful Okinawan pearl set in crystal clear diamonds and white gold stared back at me. I covered my mouth with my hand and he smiled. His green eyes watered and he looked happier than I had ever seen him.

“Nicole Harrison, you took my breath away the first night I saw you and you have been taking my breath away ever since. You are strong, smart, beautiful and caring. You’ve made me want to be a better man and a better person. I fell in love you when it didn’t make sense and from that moment forward I have fallen in love with you over and over again for reasons that make all the sense in the world. Say you’ll marry me and keep taking my breath away for the rest of our lives. Say yes, so I can make my balcony girl, my wife.”

My heart raced and my stomach felt as if there was a flock of butterflies fluttering around in it. I looked at the ring, then back at him. Regardless of all the fears I had when it came to marriage, nothing but the word yes swirled around in my head.

“Jonathan you once told me that life is about the experiences not the outcomes and that you would choose to be with me even if it meant we would ultimately not end up together. I choose the same. I choose you over my fears or the possibilities of heartbreak because I choose to live now for today and to live tomorrow for tomorrow. I want nothing more than to live them with you. Yes, I will marry you. I love you Jonathan Hayes.”

The End

Acknowledgments

With this being my first novel, I must admit I was blind going in on so many aspects of the self-publishing world. I was terrified, but luckily I had AMAZING encouragement from some wonderful people. Without them this novel would’ve never been written. Family, friends, bloggers, and all of my cyber world besties--y’all are my heart!

Felipe Perez, Jr., thank you so much for supporting me as a husband and a friend throughout this process. I love you!

Brandi Williams, you were that last little nudge I needed to actually pursue my dream to write this story. My gratitude for that is boundless; thank you so very much. Holy Shitballs--Amanda Penrod, you’re a rock star. Thank you for beta-reading Love and Truth and for kicking me in the ass when I doubted myself. Where would I have gotten all of the badass content for Annie’s character without knowing you! Thanks for being my Annie muse. Megan Ward from The Book Asylum, there are no words for how much I appreciate you and your fantabulous feedback. You are a beta-reading GODDESS! I bow down to your greatness. Kim Karr, oh how I love thee. Your review of Love and Truth made me cry big ‘ole crocodile tears! I know we met in the cyber world, but I consider you a great friend and fellow writer. I also want to thank you for beta-reading for me. Megan Simpson from Reading Like a Boss, you were one of the first people to mark Love and Truth as one of your TBR on Goodreads. After tons of Facebook messages, emails, and crazy book convos you’re now someone I consider to be a best friend. You’ve been a source of encouragement and a million, very much needed, laughs. BTW, Caleb is still mine ;) Thanks to Tarryn Fisher, we can continue this book boyfriend battle into eternity! I also want to thank you for the gift of the fabulous Brenna Weidner! You two rock my world on a regular basis. Cindy Whitaker, thank you so much for your valuable input and for taking the time to read this story. Aimee Emerick, my love, my best friend, my heart! I love you to the ends of the earth. Thank you for beta-reading and for being the awesome and amazing friend you have always been to me. Lena Ampofo, thank you for being a source of encouragement to follow my dreams. Ladies from Girl Time Book Club: Gail, Michelle, and Brandi; thank you for your company every month while sharing our love for books! Thank you to Natalie Higgs of Liquid Sun for keeping me from being freakishly pale and for your ongoing support in my dream. Please take note, you will finally read an entire book from front to back. It’s required because I insist!

To the wonderful and giving people of The Writer’s Club, your support and help is priceless. I love you all!

Mom, thank you for being my best friend and unconditional supporter 100% of the time in everything that I’ve ever pursued. I love you so very much! Just close your eyes and skip the sexy parts in this book and you should be okay ;) LOL!

Dad, thank you for showing me what it means to work hard and how to make my own way. I love you. Just don’t read the book at all Dad, I don’t think I could handle knowing that you did. Let’s just say you did--but don’t ;)

M. Cain and K. Garrison, thank you so much for being the awe-inspiring teachers that EVERY student in the world should be so lucky to have. Your dedication to your job and your continued support through the years has been unprecedented. I am eternally grateful for everything you taught me. I would not be the ‘me’ that I am today without you.

COLLEEN FREAKIN HOOVER – Where to begin, what to say . . . BUTTERFLY ME; I have no words! Without you, there would be no Love and Truth. Plain.And.Simple! I just want to remove my heart from my chest and hand it over to you, but that would be messy and I would be dead; so I’ll have to settle for saying I LURVE YOU, Colleen. Thank you for basanga, pumpkin carving, butterflying slams, The Avett Brothers, Will, Lake, and the best damned books I’ve ever had the pleasure to read in my entire butterflying life! Your heart and your talent have enamored me and inspired me to ‘Decide what to be and to go be it’! I’m forever thankful to you for that priceless gift.