There's a reason he's starting the story from that point. "I'm not going to like where this is going, am I?"

"You damn sure won't." He pauses briefly before adding, "She got into the shower with me."

My pulse is pounding so hard, I feel it throbbing throughout my entire body but especially in my face. "That bitch! I'm gonna kill her." And then my mind really starts jumping to conclusions, like how hard it would be for him to turn down a naked woman in the shower when he's so hard up after almost three months without sex. "Did you fuck her?"

"Hell, no! I can't believe you just asked me that."

I see from his expression that I've hurt him. "I'm sorry. I was just thinking of how long it's been since we were together, and I know you must be incredibly frustrated."

"I don't care how long it's been. My balls will never be blue enough to want a piece of that."

"What did you say to her?"

"That I'd never be with her again because I loved you and we were going to get married. I know you haven't given me an answer, but my heart tells me you're going to come and I'm marrying you when you do."

He hasn't given up on us. Or me. But I don't have a choice anymore. It's time for me to get my ass down there and be with my man before I let him slip away. Eleven weeks down. One week to go. But I'm done with this shit! Adios!

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Laurelyn's tour comes to an end next week and I hope it marks the beginning of a new start for our future together. She has continued to be mysterious about her plans and hasn't verbally committed to anything one way or another. It concerns me, but I haven't wanted to push the envelope for fear of blowing it with her.

Originally, she was scheduled two weeks off once the tour ended and then she'd be back in the studio to begin working on the next album, but things have changed since then. I gave her a ring and told her I wanted to marry her.

It's been three months, and although it is per my request, she hasn't given me an official answer. Not knowing is beginning to wear on me. I pretend to be patient, but I'm not. I want her here and every day is a battle to not demand she come immediately so we can begin our forever.

Frankly, it's a little depressing that she didn't drop her entire life the moment I put that ring on her finger. In the back of my mind, I'd hoped she would, but then I remember that her strong will and independence are some of the things I love so much about her. I like that she has a life and it doesn't solely revolve around me. But then the selfish part of me despises it at the same time.

It's been a long day and I'm exhausted when I come home for the evening. It's a little late for Mrs. Porcelli to still be here, but I find her in the kitchen. "Perfect timing, Mr. McLachlan. I was just taking dinner out of the oven."

It's a familiar smell but one I don't usually associate with Mrs. Porcelli's cooking. It smells just like my girl's lasagna. "That smells just like Laurelyn's been in here cooking."

"It should. It's her lasagna."

I've missed her cooking a lot, so this is a nice token to remind me of what a good cook she is. "Thank you. I'm sure it'll be delicious."

Mrs. Porcelli gathers her things and is on her way out the door. "A package came for you today. I put it in your bedroom."

I haven't placed any kind of order that I can recall and I'm not expecting a parcel. "What kind of package is it?"

She grins as she says, "I believe it's something from Laurelyn. Have a good evening, sir." She goes out the door before I can respond.

Like a child at Christmas, I can't get to my bedroom quick enough to see what Laurelyn might've sent me. My mind reels with all kinds of expectations as I walk—or maybe dash—down the hallway.

The door to my bedroom is closed but I don't have time to sort out why because I'm anxiously swinging it open with the expectation of seeing a box on my bed. What I find lying there tops any possible expectations I could've had.

It's my beautiful Laurelyn.

She's lying on her side facing me when I enter my bedroom. Her head is propped in her hand, her elbow pressing into the mattress, her long legs slightly bent, one more so than the other. Her brunette locks hang in loose curls and she's wearing one of my button-downs—unbuttoned. It's opened just enough for me to see that she's naked beneath and I'm instantly hard.

My brain turns to complete and utter mush because all of my blood is pumping straight to the organ my body thinks is most vital at the moment—my cock—and I go stupid. I can't say anything. All I can do is stare at her stretched across my bed.

"Hello, Jack Henry," she says while she smirks and moves to sit up on the bed. "Surprised much?"

There's a disconnect between my brain and mouth but luckily, the connection to my feet is working. I close the distance between us and she rises to her knees to meet me in the middle of the bed.

My heart pounds as I take her face in my hands and hold it as I kiss her mouth. It feels new even after having done it so many times. I'm vigorous because I don't have a choice. I haven't tasted her in months and I'm in withdrawals.

I'm still holding her face when I stop kissing her and press my forehead to hers. "I've missed you so much. There hasn't been a single minute when you weren't on my mind."

"I know. I've missed you too. I wanted to come months ago, but I couldn't leave Charlie and the guys hanging after they were so good to me."

I don't know what that means, but I'm not beating around the bush. "Is this just a visit or have you come to me so we can start our lives together?"

"This is the beginning of our forever."

"Then there's something I'm supposed to do."

I take her hands and pull her with me as I slide off the bed. She's standing in front of me as I drop to my knee the way she told me she would expect me to do when I properly asked her to marry me. I take her left hand and she's wearing the ring I gave her months ago. I bring it to my lips and kiss it. "I love you with every fiber of my being." She beams and I'm certain she knows what's coming next. "I never want to be separated from you again. It's my heart's only desire that you become my wife and the mother of my children. Will you marry me?"

"Yes." It's one word. Simple. And it's all I need.

I push the shirt covering her stomach away and press my face against her bareness beneath it. "I swear I'll make you happy."

"I don't doubt that for a second," she says as she runs her hand through my hair. "I don't want to wait. I want to be your wife as soon as possible."

I kiss her stomach and then look up at her from where I am now on both of my knees. "God, I'm so glad to hear you say that. I don't want to wait, either." She's still running her fingers through my hair as she smiles down at me and I slide my hands around to her bottom. "There's something else I can't wait to do."

"What 'cha wanna bet it's the same something I have on my mind?"

"I don't think we have to do any kind of betting." She reaches for my hands on her bum and uses them to pull me up from the floor. "We both know I'm always your sure thing—any way you want me."

She pulls the button of my jeans free and quickly gets my fly open so she can slide her hand inside. She wraps it around me and begins sliding it up and down. "I've missed this too."

It's been too long since I was inside her and I feel like I'll come just from her touch on my cock. "Whoa, baby. I'm gonna come in your hand if you keep doing that."

"And you'd rather do it inside me, wouldn't you?"

"Abso-fucking-lutely."

She turns around and peels the shoulders of the shirt back and lets it fall to her feet. She steps back and her bottom meets my crotch. She rubs it against me as she says, "I know how you want to do this."

I'm about to explode but I don't want the first time of our forever to be like that. I want to make love to her and see her face while I do it. "Not this time," I say as I grasp her hips and turn her around. "I want to see my wife-to-be's face when I make love to her."

"If I were wearing panties, that would've melted them right off." She sits on the bed and scoots back before putting her feet on the railing and spreading her knees wide. "Come here and make me scream until everyone on this side of town knows your name."

"I can do that." I lift her feet and hook her legs over my shoulders. I grasp her hips and lift them until she's in the perfect position. I take a moment to smell before I taste. "There's no telling how many times I've sniffed your undies while we've been apart, but nothing can replace this." I bury my nose against her and inhale until my lungs feel like they'll explode. "There is no substitute for this."

I can stand it no longer. I'm a starving man dying to taste her. When I do, it's even better than I remember. Within seconds she's squirming her hips against my mouth and moaning. "There is no replacement for that, either."

She isn't going to last long at this rate, but it makes me happy to know that I can still make her orgasm so easily. "Do you want me to slow down to make it last longer?"

She grabs the back of my head and pulls my mouth back down against her. "No! Don't you even think about stopping or slowing down. I'm right on the edge and fairly certain I'll die if you don't let me come soon."

I reach up and give her the okay signal to signify my compliance because I'm afraid to try to tell her. As I suspect, it's maybe fifteen seconds later when she begins to tense and quiver. I hear her breathing increase as she moans, and I'm pretty certain when she pulls my hair that the east side of town hears her scream my name.

I don't dare stop until I feel her relax against me. That's when I know she's feeling the euphoria, but I can't help myself. I'm like a beast as I move fast so I can get inside her. I wanted to make love to her but I can't because it's been too long. It'll have to wait until next time, but I'm not worried because I already know that won't be long.