Take a Bow (The Perfect Plans Series Book 2) (43 page)

“She is
so
nice,” I share aloud, watching her walk away.

Alex wraps my waist in his arms, squeezing me back against him. “She’s very sweet, and a wonderful actress,” he agrees genuinely, leaning into my ear, slight preoccupation in his tone, “I especially liked the sound of something she mentioned.”

“Oh? What’s that?” I can finally speak, though it’s barely a whisper.
What comment,
exactly
, is he referring to?
I bite my lip, my inner dreamer shaking her pom poms, chanting, “M. R. S.”

“Alex, my man.”

Our heads turn to find John, the director, approaching, cupping Alex’s shoulder in a friendly, masculine gesture.

“Can I borrow him for a moment, Aby? There’s someone I have to introduce you to, Alex, one of my buddies from Toronto. Hey, you’re from Toronto, aren’t you Aby?” I smile and nod as he quickly continues, “I’ll bring him right back to you, I promise.” He moves to lead Alex away, Alex turning to flash me an apologetic, though brilliant smile.

I stare at his long retreated form, basking in the awe of him.
He had pictures of me in his trailer?
How sweet is that? My heart does a summersault and the pulse it uncontrollably sends down my core jars me back to the present.
Well
.
What now?
I look around, puckering my lips before I spy a waiter across the room holding a tray of hor d’oeurves.
Food works
.

I make my way towards him, grabbing a new glass of wine from another waiter as I pass. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had, but the fact that I’m wondering may mean I should sip this one slowly. The combination of the effect on my inhibitions at the hands of my consumption, mixed with
Mr. Smitten
himself…
Very, very, dangerous
.

Popping the little treat into my mouth, I moan at the delicious taste, sucking the residue from my fingertip before licking my lip. I have no idea what it was, but
damn
is it yummy.
Shoot, he’s gone
, I glance around for the same waiter, pouting before giving up and taking a sip of wine. Tucking my clutch under my arm, I clasp my hand across my chest, scouting the room for what to do next. I’m trying to look casual, without looking like a dumbass in the corner. Whether it’s working, I have no idea.

Feeling a little vibration from my purse, I tilt my head towards it, catching the very faint chirp of my cell from inside. Juggling my wine glass, I fumble to get it out. It’s a text…from
Alex
?
What?

Subject: Now

Meet me in the hall off the kitchen. Turn right as you pass the media room. If you suck your finger into that pretty mouth of yours one more time, I may just have to take you right here.

My head darts up, searching the room for him.
Oh God
. I look back to my phone, taking in his closing…

Mr. VERY Smitten

Oh good God
, my chest heaves with pants of instant desire. Where the hell is the kitchen?

I make my way to the next room, through yet another, and another, before finally reaching the large gourmet kitchen at the back of the ridiculously large house. It’s empty, the island cluttered with empty food trays. One end of the room opens to what must be a family room -
or media room
? I don’t know where the hell I’m going. Moving past the large leather sectional, I gasp as someone grabs my hand, yanking me into a hallway.

“Mmmm, there you are,” Alex murmurs, leaning casually against the wall, pure lust exploding from his sparkling blue eyes. He looks absolutely sinful standing there watching me, his finger leaving my hand to trail deliciously up my bare arm. My mind couldn’t find a word if I tried. “Come,” he licks his bottom lip, taking a step back, and opening a door behind us.

In a trance, I follow him into…
the powder room
? It’s bigger and incredibly more elaborate than any I’ve ever seen. Catching our reflection in the mirror, the sight of his gaze working it’s way up my body sends the inhibitions that were lying in wait rocketing to life.

“Did you intend to take advantage of me in this ostentatious bathroom, Mr. Tate?” I inquire suggestively, turning slightly to rest my thigh along the large granite countertop, purposely exposing a bit of flesh from beneath the skirt of my dress.

“Perhaps I did,” he smiles, taking a predatory step towards me. “Any reservations?” He reaches for me, lifting me further onto the counter before sliding his hands up my thighs to raise my dress, stepping between the widening spread of my legs.

“None,” I manage on a moan, his hardness brushing my core, his lips placing succulent kisses along my neck that send shivers down my spine.

“Good answer,” he whispers at my ear, taking my hand in his, placing it at his manhood, his clear indication that he wants me to take control.

This Adonis of a man is
mine
. The lusty power that reminder scores through me is carnal. It unleashes me.

I waste no time undoing his pants, his needy stare burning into mine as I slide my hand inside, gripping his smooth cock in my palm, giving it a gentle pull. His guttural groan through parted lips lights my ardor as I reveal his impressive hardness to my gaze, the glistening pre cum donning the tip.

Gripping my thighs firmly, he lifts my ass, shoving the restricting skirt of my dress out of the way.

God
, I moan in anticipation, leaning back, desperate to feel him inside me, resting my hands on the cold granite - an eager, wanting participant in our erotic escapade.

Swiping his fingers along my core through my soaked thong, his eyes take possession of mine. The unadulterated sensuality is his gaze has me sucking in air. “Alex,” I manage on a whisper of need, arching my pelvis towards him.

“Is this what you want, baby,” he takes his cock in hand, rubbing it along my core. “You want me inside you?”

“God, yes,” I moan, my head falling back against the mirror, eyes closed in abandon.

My body shudders as he slides my thong to the side, his hardness sluicing through my wetness before slowly, so very slowly, inching inside me. I can feel every ripple, every hardened edge hitting my sensitive nerves, my legs quivering in anticipation of his fill.

He grabs my legs, plunging deep, hitting the very edge of me. I release a small scream at the fullness, the sheer decadence of having him inside me. Here. Now. It feels naughty.

Holding my legs in the crook of his arms, he leans forward, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. “Shhh, sweetheart. You need to keep quiet,” he whispers against my mouth.

“Oh, God, Alex…I can’t,” I manage, my body undulating towards his steady thrusts.

“You can, and you will,” he leans back with a sinful smile, placing his hand over my mouth, shielding my cries of pleasure.

His thrusts quicken, plunging deep inside my pulsing core over and over again until my head starts spinning, iridescent spots of color invading my psyche. My orgasm looms, threatening to throw me head first over the edge of ultimate pleasure. I bite my lip to hold back my mewls.

“Open your eyes, Aby,” Alex’s voice barrels through my euphoria.

Lifting my head, my eyes open to his blue gaze, heavy with lust, his perfect full lips parted, breaths coming in quick pants through his pounding thrusts.

“I love you,” he mutters, his steel blue eyes holding me hostage, my eyes echoing his words as I fall, plummeting into oblivion.

“WHERE ARE YOU taking me?” I giggle, grabbing a tighter hold of Alex’s arm, fighting the urge to reach up and pull the blindfold away.

“We’re almost there.” There’s a cute excitement in his voice that sends butterflies shooting through my tummy, exhilaration coursing through my veins. “I’ve got you,” he reassures me as I stumble, a small squeak escaping my lips. Instinctively, I reach out, clasping his fingers tightly in my grip. “You’re okay,” he chuckles, securing his arm around my waist to guide me.

My heels don’t seem to agree with the sudden change in the ground texture. It’s uneven, and full of some kind of debris, and I maneuver with measured steps. Taking a deep breath, I inhale the air around me, my senses heightened by my restricted vision, the scent of the outdoors permeating my psyche.

Finally coming to a stop, he releases my death grip, slowly turning me in place. I feel like a mannequin in the movement, excited, but stiff as a board - a rather unpliable combination. “I’m going to sit you down,” he warns, guiding me.

My body responds just as awkwardly, following his lead with caution. It’s not easy moving to a sitting position when it feels as though you’re bending to place your bum down on air. Only it’s not air, it’s a cushion. A very soft, plush cushion.

“Okay,” I hear him say, feeling him sit beside me, “…you can remove the blindfold now.”

I’m more than eager to comply. Pulling it off swiftly, I look straight ahead, my eyes adjusting, slowly taking in the scenery around us. I gasp as the beautiful scene comes into focus, bright twinkling lights illuminating the night sky above and before us. Tears build instantly, threatening to blur my already hazy gaze.

Alex says nothing, sitting idly by as I absorb our surroundings. The trail he just walked me up - its floor lined with mulch and twigs that contributed to its shaky journey - is draped from either side with more strings of lights than I’ve ever seen.
No, that’s not true
…I’ve seen the likes of this magical fairytale image before - in the picture on my childhood vision board. My breath lodges in my throat, realizing my silly picture pales in comparison to the magnificence before me. The reality of it is simply stunning.

His perfect smile pulls my gaze, and I turn to look at him, my mouth agape. “How did you do this?” I whisper in awe.

“I have a few friends in the staging department,” he squeezes my hand, and it’s only then that I remember we’re seated.

Looking down, I’m taken aback by the quirky loveseat in stripes of brown and tan. A floor lamp you would swear came right from the set of
Friends
stands to the right of the settee, its dim light but a whisper among the twinkling glow above us, trailing all the way down the magical path ahead. It’s truly breathtaking.

“Alex, this is…” words escape me as my gaze takes it all in, returning to his with tears in my eyes. “It’s beautiful,” I sigh.

“Not as beautiful as you,” he takes my face in his hands, his perfect words dancing across my lips as he takes me in a soft, sensual kiss.

“No one has ever done anything like this for me,” I mumble, breathless against the warmth of his lingering lips, my hands curling around his neck to hug him.

His strong arms embrace me in return, and I lose myself in this amazing man before opening my eyes once more to bask in the beautifully lit scenery, secured in his loving hold.

Softly lit candles burn in glass votives gathered in a cluster on the ground beside the loveseat. My gaze follows the line of candles, momentarily cataloguing their placement. Adjusting in his arms, I turn, finding them on the other side as well, lining the floor around the base of the lamp, leading a new trail behind us.

I can’t help but shake my head at how far he’s gone to pull off the most romantic night of my life. “You thought of everything,” I look back into his stunning blue eyes, before turning to look behind us, the trail of votive candles leading my gaze to a sight that steals the remaining air from my lungs.

“I was going for
iconic
,” his humble whisper blasts through the silence of my gasp, as I stare, frozen in place, at the sign to which he’s referring.

Every individual letter is lit from within its casing, a perfect replica of the Hollywood insignia. The only difference being its staggering phrase…MARRY ME?

Oh my God
. My breaths return in a desperate pant, struggling to refill my lungs, my heart pounding through an explosion of excitement and shock.

“The first time I saw you, my heart whispered
she’s the one
,” his words pull my euphoric gaze to find him on his knee before me, my hand still held in his. “I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to be the man that makes you fall to your knees by whispering in your ear, the man you build a life with. I wanted to be the one that worships you, makes you feel desired…leaves you trembling in yearning.”

My mouth drops open on a gasping breath at the realization of what’s happening.

“You are more than just everything I need in this moment,” he reaches for the inside pocket of his suit jacket, pulling out a velvet box, his beautiful blue eyes never leaving mine. “You are everything I have ever wanted…all I could ever dream of. You are
my
more, Abigail Dawn Ryan,” he releases my hand to open the delicate jewelry box, revealing a sparkling pear shaped yellow diamond, the size of which I’ve never seen.

My hand darts to my trembling lips, tears streaking down my cheeks, my lips parted in awe as I struggle to breathe. Looking back into his eyes, the love I see reflected there shatters me.

“You are my beginning, my end, my everything. And I want to spend forever enjoying all that will come in between. It’s always been you, Aby. It will always
be
you.” Removing the ring, he lays the box down to hold my left hand in his, his gaze worshipping me with his love, leaving me trembling in yearning as he whispers, “Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”