The Promise of Paradise - By Allie Boniface Page 0,73
house?”
“Actually, it's our house, now that you said yes.” He twisted the key in the door. “And I'm pretty sure the party can wait until we take ourselves a tour of it.”
* * *
Much later, after the last guests had driven away and the grill was cold and she'd hugged Jen goodbye and promised to call as soon as the dress search began, Ash followed Eddie into the back bedroom, the master, the only one with furniture and the only one that needed it tonight, as far as she was concerned.
“To the future,” he whispered. “And to my beautiful wife.”
Not yet, she almost corrected him, but it didn't matter because in soul she already was. Linked to him, loving him, she'd known too from that first day that he was her One, the single person she'd been seeking. Every day, every minute of the rest of her life, wouldn't be long enough to spend with him.
By degrees he pulled the neckline of her dress away from her skin, replacing each inch with his mouth. Teasing. Wet. She arched into his touch, bottom lip caught in her teeth. One hand caught her nipple, running the thumb over and over until it hardened and she cried out in want. With gentle hands he lowered her to the bed, and in the next moment Eddie slipped off her dress entirely and tossed it aside. He pulled his own shirt over his head and dropped it onto the floor. His shorts followed. Then, in slow degrees, his hands returned to her skin. He grinned, his dimple popping under those sky-blue eyes, but he didn't say anything. His fingers moved to her belly, to her legs, to the smooth, warm, desperately wet apex that ached for his touch.
“Eddie...” She reached for him, legs and arms and tongues entwined, and then it was like always, coming without even feeling him inside her yet, rolling on that wave until another one came after it and finally she pulled him into her because if she didn't she would die, it was as simple as that.
Completion. Utter completion, she thought a while later as they lay together in silence. “I love you.”
“Oh, Ash. Times a thousand. Times a million.” He rolled up and rested on one elbow. “I'm the luckiest guy in the world. To get to spend every day with you, to come home every night to you...” Tears stood in his eyes. “You saved me.”
Wasn't it amazing, she thought as she wound her fingers through his, how two people could save each other? Could love each other, complete each other, catch each other when they fell and steady each other against the storms of the world around them?
Eddie lifted her fingers to his lips. Her ring glittered in the half-light. “I'll go to the moon and back to make you happy. Fill up every ocean. I promise, I'll tell the world a hundred times a day how lucky I am that I get to be loved by you.”
Ash closed her eyes, emotion turning into a tight little ball at the back of her throat. No words. Just love. How amazing.
“Me too,” she agreed. “Every day. I promise.”
Want to find out if Lucas discovers his true love? Read Beacon of Love coming in May 2013!
* * *
Beacon of Love
Excerpt
“Wise ass.” Sophie backed into the street before Lucas could grab her. “I’ll see you later!” she called. “I think Lon said something about meeting tomorrow morning and--hey!” She squawked off the last word as Lucas lifted her off the ground and onto his shoulder.
As if she was a bag of flour.
Or a damsel in distress.
Or his damn cavewoman.
About a hundred thoughts raced through her mind, and it took all she had to keep them from coming out in biting words.
“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” Lucas asked as he carried Sophie back to his truck, parked in front of the bar. He wasn’t panting, not out of breath in the least, as if she weighed close to nothing. “If anything happened to you, Lon would kill me.” With one hand he opened the passenger side door. Only then did he lower her to a seat inside the truck. His hands slid down her arms and settled her hips into place.
Oh yum. All her scathing thoughts of thirty seconds earlier vanished. She shifted on the leather. There was room for him on this side of the cab, she was almost positive. If not, she’d make room. In about two seconds...
Available from www.lyricalpress.com in May 2013
About the Author
Allie Boniface is a small-town girl at heart who's traveled around the world and still finds that the magic and the mystery of small towns make them the best places to fall in love and find adventure. From the New England coast to Rocky Mountain hotels to tiny European bars, she's found more character and plot inspirations than she could ever count. Currently, she's lucky enough to live in New York's beautiful Hudson Valley with her own romance hero, her husband who can fix, build, drive, and grill anything and is the epitome of the strong and silent type.
When she isn't writing love stories, Allie is a full-time high school English teacher who enjoys helping her teenagers negotiate the ups and downs of writing along with the ups and downs of life (because, really, she's still trying to do the same thing!). And while she'll continue to travel far and wide, Allie knows there's really nothing like coming back to the place where the people who have known you welcome you home with open arms.
You can keep up with all of Allie's news and new releases on Facebook, Twitter, or at www.allieboniface.com.