if he believes that too. I’m balanced on the edge of the counter, my legs tight around him, holding on to keep from falling in more ways than one.
“Nothing’s has ever felt as good as you,” he murmurs against my mouth. “You’re made for me, Annie.”
Every stroke is beautiful satisfaction and torture at once, and I need more. He rasps as he builds us both up, fingers digging into my ass as he fucks me.
It’s beautiful. It’s messy. It’s us.
When I come around him, he can’t hold back, and he comes too, groaning his release against my shoulder while my fingers play in his hair, the last of the aftershocks running through me.
“Well, I feel better,” I murmur.
He grins. “Same.”
“Good, because we have a busy day.”
“We do?”
“I have to do work things.”
“You can’t take today off? Because I’m going to need you again in two hours max.”
Arousal washes over me. “No. But you can come with me. Maybe we can fit in a quickie at lunch.”
“‘Bring your fiancé to work’ day. Sold.”
I bite my cheek because the thought of bringing Tyler to my anything as my fiancé makes me so insanely happy.
“Tell me you’re done by five,” Tyler says.
I trace his handsome jaw with a finger. “Should be possible. Why?”
“Because I have a realtor lined up to show us a couple places. I love Elle too, but we can’t live here long term.”
“The rent is great.”
“I don’t care. I’m getting us something nice for as long as we’re in New York.”
“Fine. Are you going to record here?”
“I thought I might get involved in your dad’s label. Both as a business proposition and for my own music. But only if it won’t come between you.”
I shake my head. “Not at all. He’d love that. And I would too.”
Something buzzes from across the room—my phone.
“Shit. It’s Dad.”
We didn’t call him back after getting engaged last night because we wanted a few moments to ourselves.
“He knows you’re here. If I don’t answer, he’s going to think we were having sex.”
Tyler’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “Please don’t answer.”
I pull down my T-shirt and straighten my hair. Then I squeeze past him and grab the phone, sliding the bar so the video call connects.
“Hey, you guys!” I say but frown as I take in the unfamiliar backdrop, my dad’s pale face, and Haley’s sweaty one. “Did you paint? Oh my God! You’re in the hospital. You had the baby!”
“Once we finally got here, he was out in three hours,” Haley sighs.
Tyler appears behind me, and my dad’s eyes narrow while Haley looks delighted, the baby in her arms.
We gush over baby Mason and get all the details.
“Nice work,” Tyler says, and my dad grins.
He looks beyond proud. “How about you two? Any news we should know?”
“Well, we cast someone in the lead for the musical.”
I swear my dad looks disappointed. “Thats it?”
“And…” I hold up the ring.
“Tyler. Tell me you didn’t go down on one knee,” Dad snorts.
Haley shoves his shoulder. “Don’t act like you’re too cool for that. You’ve done it. You even cried.”
My jaw drops.
“I didn’t cry,” he says.
“Your eyes were shining.”
“Trick of the light.”
“Anyway.” Haley rolls her eyes, turning back to us. “We’re so happy for you both.”
“Thanks Haley, we’re happy for you, too. All of you.”
Tyler clears his throat. “Jax, we have a couple of weeks before we really gear up for the musical. I’d like to use your studio if I can book time.”
“You got it.”
When we hang up and I toss the phone back on the table, feeling the only man I’ve ever loved pull me against him again, I’ve never been more content.
“I’m ready for those Rice Krispies squares now,” I sigh.
Tyler’s eyes crinkle. “Only if I can eat them off you.”
Epilogue
“It’s gone. It’s actually gone,” Annie mutters, lifting pillows to search the couch in our living room.
I roll up the cuffs on my dress shirt as I cross the bright, airy apartment from the master bedroom. “Six, tell me you haven’t lost your ring.”
She crosses to me, her face a mask of shock.
Then she pulls her hand out to show me the diamond glinting on her finger.
Relief slams into me, along with pleasure.
Every time I see it on her hand, I feel that way. Even though we’ve been engaged for three months, I haven’t gotten over knowing she’s mine.
Beck teases that it won’t go away until she’s signed the certificate and she can’t back out.
The truth is I know it won’t go away even after that.
“Why