Mine, Not Hers (True Love Book 1) (7 page)

"You were amazing last night. Do you know how much my body craves you? You sucked me so well I thought I might come twice. You know, I worry about you when you drink, but maybe I could keep some wine or vodka around. You know, under my close supervision." I feel him grinning as he whispers this into my ear.

"I love you, Katie. You are my world."

He turns me around to look into my eyes. He holds my head in his hands and kisses me sweetly. I’m thankful he can't see the tears on my face from the guilt I feel from the night before. Whatever I did in a past life to deserve him must have been pretty amazing. My evening shenanigans will have to remain my little secret.

Katie

Valentine's Day is approaching, and I can't wait to see what Jason has planned. He’s one of the few men I know who loves Valentine's Day. Our first together, when we were in high school was so sweet. He picked me up in the morning before school and presented me with a single, dark red rose and a basket of warm muffins topped with red sugar. Throughout the day, I found notes in my backpack. He must have sneaked them in, one by one, each time we were together. Each one described a different feature about me he loved.

After school, he brought me home and told me to be ready at six. It was Friday night, so we had the whole evening. When he picked me up, he was dressed in jeans and a baby-blue sweater that made his eyes look incredible. He prepared a picnic, even though it was twenty-five degrees outside. He drove his mother's station wagon instead of his truck so we would have more room. We went to the same parking lot where we made love for the first time. We climbed into the backseat, and he laid out our meal.

He prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips and Coke, my favorite meal. He kept the car running with the heat on so we wouldn't freeze. He also brought a small votive candle and placed it on the console while we ate. To this day, it’s one of the best meals I’ve ever had. After we finished our dinner, he handed me a small wrapped box. In it was a beautiful silver link bracelet, with a small silver padlock. The lock was inscribed with the words “forever mine”. He didn't have to say another word: that inscription said it all. I put it on, and jumped into his lap. I kissed him with all the love I had in my heart. Our body heat steamed up the windows. We were fumbling with each other’s clothes to get at what we wanted most - our naked, uninhibited bodies together.

He leaned the back seat down as far as it would go, which wasn't much, so that I could climb on top. We had long before learned that with our height difference, we had to “adjust” in certain situations. This reminded me of our first time - his pants down around his ankles, me completely nude looking down into his lovely face.

I braced my feet against the seat on either side of his hips. I raised and lowered myself on him in perfect rhythm with his thrusts. His eyes were glistening from the soft light of the moon shining through the condensation on the windows.

"I love you, Katie, forever. It's like I was missing a big part of me, and when I found you I became whole. Tell me you'll never leave me. While I'm inside you, tell me. I need to hear it,” he said while our foreheads were pressed together.

"I love you, Jason, I'll never leave you. I can't imagine my life without you."

Whispering those words was what he needed to hear. He came deep inside me. He pulled me down by the shoulders so that I encompassed him completely. He rubbed my soft mound that was straining for friction against his body, and I began to shiver. I screamed his name and he held me against his body while I came. We were soaked in sweat. My bracelet caught the glimmer of the moonlight, and he took my wrist and kissed the lock.

“Mine,” he whispered.

*  *  *

Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year. Poor Jason has been so busy, I've barely been able to see him.

He tells me to block the day after one o’clock. He has a patient to see in the morning, but the rest of the day is ours. He’s always had two requests for me for February 14: one, that he get to plan the day, and two, that I keep his gift limited to a card and me. That’s it. He hates for anyone to spend money on him, but he loves to do it for others. I always let him because of the sheer pleasure he gets from it.

Just as he asked, I'm ready on the dot at one. There's a knock on the door. When I open it, there stands my knight in shining armor. He is gorgeous. His eyes are dark, probably from lack of sleep, but it doesn't take a thing away from his face. He gives me that killer smile, zooms in fast and scoops me up. Before I know it, he’s kissing me fiercely and we’re headed toward my bedroom.

"Whoa! I thought we were going out?"

I can't help but giggle as his lips are sucking on my neck.

"I never said we were going out, I said to be ready at one, I didn't say ready for what."

Oh, silly me. I grin back at him and let the assault on my senses continue. He strips me down to nothing in a minute flat. I begin to return the favor, but he grabs me by my wrists.

"Wait. I want to look at you."

His gaze sweeps over my body, and I feel the heat. He does that to me so easily. I can't take it anymore, so I whisper to him; "Now it’s my turn," and I begin to undress this beautiful man. His shoulders are strong, with thick muscle running down his neck to his upper arms. I climb up to standing on the bed so I can kiss him there. My tongue glides down from his earlobe to his arm, and back up again. He’s an intoxicating blend of salty and sweet.

"Mm, so strong."

I swear he blushes. I unbutton his shirt slowly, and toss it aside. I caress his chest with my naked body and he moans. He wraps his arms around me, and cups my rear. I wiggle away from his grasp, and lower myself down on my knees on the bed. I take one of his nipples in my mouth, which makes him gasp. I alternate licking, sucking and gently biting. He is moving his hips trying to ease the strain in his tight jeans. I run my tongue down the length of his torso, pause at his belly button, and swirl my tongue in and around. His abdominal muscles are so tight, I can't even get a good bite, but I try. I reach the top of his pants with my tongue and I tease his skin along the entire length of his waistband. He is rock hard and groaning. I grab the top of his jeans with my teeth and pull, which makes the top button pop open. I reach for his zipper, but he beats me to it. He removes them faster than I can blink.

He lifts me off the bed, and pulls the covers back in one swift motion. We fall in together and make a little tent. It’s warm and sweet in here. His skin smells like the soap and the cologne I got him for his birthday; what a great mix. We start playing and wrestling under the covers, but he stops abruptly and looks me in the eye. "I can’t wait to do this, Katie."

He leans out of bed, and fumbles with his jeans. He rights himself back on the bed, and sits back on his heels. I’m still on my back lying next to him. He produces a small piece of red velvet cloth.

"Katie, you know I love you, I tell you that everyday. What I also hope you know is that you are my world. You always have been. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you by my side. I had different plans on how to do this, but I just can’t wait any longer. Will you marry me, sweetheart?"

He opens up the cloth, and I'm blinded. There is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. A large emerald-cut diamond in an antique platinum setting, with four small diamonds on each side. I’m stunned for a moment.

"It was my grandmother’s on my father’s side. She wanted the oldest grandson in the family to have it, and that's me. I've been holding onto it for years, knowing it would be on your finger someday, and now's the time, if you'll have it."

I feel myself nodding as he slides it on my finger. It's a little loose, but I can have it sized. I kiss it, then I kiss him. He squeezes me so tightly it’s hard to breathe.

"You've made me the happiest man alive, thank you for giving yourself to me. I love you."

We return to our lovemaking with renewed passion. Marriage. I knew it would happen someday; it was inevitable. We talked about it in high school like it was a given. I lie back while kissing him and spread my legs. It's an invitation just for him, and he accepts. He drives himself into me and we move in unison.

He releases control, and gives himself up to the pleasure. He comes quickly inside me. He grunts and thrusts with each spasm until he fills me completely. I feel his warm come inside me, and down my legs. It's all him, and I'll take every bit of it. He kisses my neck and he’s still shaking. He kisses my breasts one at a time, but doesn't linger. I know where he's headed. He slides two fingers inside me, and his tongue is circling my clit. His fingers begin their magic. I was already so close to coming before, that I let myself go and explode from his knowledge of my sex. I look wearily down at him, and he is smiling from ear to ear. Usually our sex relaxes him so much that he passes out. Not tonight. He looks downright energized.

"You said yes, I heard it. Can't take it back now!"

He is so happy. He takes my hand and kisses my ring.

“Mine, forever."

He hops out of bed, and unceremoniously tosses me my clothes.

"Up and at 'em! We have things to do!"

Why can't we just lie here and bask in our joy? Mr. Overachiever has more Valentine's Day plans, but I won’t complain.

Jason

I feel like I’ve been waiting for this day my entire life. From the first time I laid eyes on her, I knew. From some unknown place deep in my soul, I knew she was the one. There are no other words to describe it. Only if you’ve felt it yourself will you ever know the joy of finding your soul mate.

I just want to be married to her. All of the expense and time-consuming preparation just seem unnecessary. Her mother wouldn’t have had it any other way, though, and I knew it. We essentially let her have her way, except for Katie’s dress. Katie had seen one a few years ago that she loved, and she manages to find a close rendition at a store near her office. She won’t tell me anything about it, except that it’s “her”. I know I’m supposed to know what that means, but I have no clue.

Her mother finds us a beautiful reception hall near our church. She organizes the flowers, music, limos, cake, food and the photographer. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the woman happier. Katie is so easygoing that she’s happy to give her mom the pleasure of organizing it all. We decided to keep the wedding small, so that the expense to her parents would be minimal.

Walking into the sanctuary today, it’s overwhelming. The floral arrangements are amazing, and smell just like Katie, if that’s possible. It’s as if she’s invading my senses already and I haven’t even laid eyes on her. The scent stirs something deep inside me, and I’m aching to see her. We only have a few more minutes, and she’ll come walking through those doors. I have no nerves, no cold feet. This is our destiny. The organ begins to play, and the doors at the back of the church open. She walks in, and my life begins. She is right, that dress is
her.
Wow. I feel the tears run down my face.

Thank you, God, thank you for her.

Katie

I'm not going to make it! I run down the corridor toward the bathroom at my office. I do make it, but barely. I’ve been throwing up for three days. I know I'm pregnant, but I'm pretending I don't. I've been able to hide my squeamishness at work by dodging most of the sick kids. I've been handling the non-contagious cases for a couple of days, and the other nurses are getting peeved. Now there's no hiding it. I either have to tell them I’m pregnant, or that I have the flu, which would get me promptly sent home. I don't officially know yet, but I can just tell. I have boobs for the first time in my life.

I tell Dr. Wilson that I believe I’ve caught a bug and, as expected, he sends me home. On the way home, I stop at the drugstore to pick up a pregnancy test. Jason is busy with patients all day, then a private session with some big athlete after regular office hours. He knows I don't know much about sports, even though I'm learning, and I don't have a clue about who's who. Plus, I might slip up and mention a name to someone in passing and that's a no-no. The media try to get too involved with the rehab information when key players are injured. He keeps me pleasantly ill-informed.

He won’t be home until nine. I don't know if I can find out alone, and then have to sit on it for hours. Jason and I have discussed kids many times, but neither of us has been gutsy enough to say, “OK, I'm ready.” I’ve stayed on the pill, and we have enjoyed two years of wedded bliss.

About a month ago, he and I went to Colleen's wedding in Milwaukee. After she graduated from Boston University with a degree in communications, she began working for a small local TV station in Milwaukee doing research for the news. That's where she met Tom. I met him once when they came down for Jason's graduation. I knew she was head over heels in love with him. She looked beautiful on her wedding day and they seemed so perfect for each other. While we were up there, I realized that I forgot to bring my pills. I really didn't think that a couple of days off would make a difference, but Jason and I were so caught up in the romance of the weekend we couldn't keep our hands off of each other. We even left the reception and went to our hotel room for an earth-shattering wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. We were back in the ballroom in thirty minutes; no one even noticed.

I get home with the tests. I’ve bought five, just to be sure. I'm so nervous; I have no idea how Jason will react. I down a large glass of water and wait. I have been so sick, that I feel dehydrated. I don't even know if I can pee enough for one test. I fumble with the first package. I pee on the stick, and throw it on the counter. I reach for the second one, and repeat. All five tests are scattered all over my bathroom counter like some mad scientist’s gynecological office. I remind myself to breathe because I think I’ve been holding it so long I'm light-headed. I pull in a deep breath through my nose, as I steel myself and walk to the counter. A couple landed upright, and it's obvious. Two lines on that one; a bright plus sign on that one. I flip over the others, and they all indicate the same thing.

Definitely pregnant.

It's 7:30 p.m., and I haven't eaten. With my stomach so queasy, I don't dare. I'll puke all over Jason when he comes in from sheer nerves. I lie down for a minute to help the nerves subside. The next thing I know, I feel a freezing kiss on my cheek. It startles me, and I jump.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, it's really cold out there. You looked so peaceful sleeping, I just wanted to kiss you," Jason says, grinning down at me. There are light snowflakes melting in his hair. His cheeks are a little red, and his eyes are beaming. I sit up and see that it's 9:45 p.m. I've been sleeping for a couple of hours.

"What took so long?" I ask as I wipe my eyes.

"Well, Dr. Parks was in the office after I finished with my last patient. He called me into his office to talk."

Oh no, I hope he's not losing his job. Not a great time to tell him he's going to be a daddy.

“He's going to retire next year, and wants me to take over the practice. He wanted to discuss a buyout, but he's making it cheap. He’s essentially giving me the practice."

"Why would he do that? Won't he lose a lot of money?"

"No, he's well off. This practice is the go-to place for all the major athletes in Chicago. He’s built an amazing clientele. He treats me like a son, and told me that's how he feels about me. He knows I'll continue to grow the practice the way he would."

I'm taken aback. This is unbelievable news.

"Oh, honey! I'm so proud of you, congratulations!"

I jump up and throw my arms around his neck. The swift movement, plus the fact that my stomach is empty, makes me feel dizzy and green. I run to the bathroom, and dry heave a few times. Jason comes running after me.

"Honey, are you OK? What is it?"

I turn around to look at him, and whisper, "I'm pregnant."