Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 120326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
He pounds me hard and fast, sweat dripping down his neck, holding tight to my waist. At one point he lifts me by the hips so he can get in deeper. His low grunts and dirty whispers fill my ears and my senses.
As the night wears on, it feels as though there isn’t a single part of my body that he hasn’t claimed. I’m on top of him now, moving back and forth as he laces both our hands together. He stares up at me, mouth open in wonder and lust.
“Marry me,” he breathes harshly, squeezing my hands tight.
I’m momentarily taken aback, but I don’t stop moving. I’ve never felt more vulnerable in my entire life, and I don’t think Robert has, either.
Through my foggy, sex-filled thoughts, I whisper, “Okay.”
He beams at me, coming seconds later. I collapse on top of him and cradle him in my arms, trying to show him how much I love him with actions because my voice won’t work. After a while I see his eyes start to flicker; he’s dreaming, deep in slumber. Stroking his dark hair hypnotically, I tell him, “You’re mine,” in the quiet, empty house. Nobody has ears to hear me, but as Robert’s eyes continue to flicker, I think I see him smile.
The next morning we oversleep, not waking up until ten or eleven. My bladder feels like it might burst, so I throw on one of his large T-shirts and hurry to the bathroom. Unfortunately, I don’t make it there unnoticed, as Liz is walking down the hallway.
Her brown eyes light up when she sees me, and a grin splits her lips. “Does this mean what I think it means?”
I can’t help it; I grin right back at her. “Yeah, Liz. It does.”
I think she might be tearing up a little then, because she dabs her eyes. “You’ve been the making of my son this year, Lana Sweeney. Don’t think I’ll ever forget that.”
He’s been the making of me, too, I think to myself.
Embarrassed by her praise, I continue to the bathroom. When I emerge, Robert’s already retrieved my bag from his car where I left it last night. Liz cooks us omelettes for breakfast, after which I go to Robert’s room to find my clothes.
They’re on the floor, dry but a little stiff. I throw them on nonetheless, knowing I only have to wear them for the walk across the field to my house. Robert comes in just as I’m dressed, backing me up against his door and kissing me long and leisurely. Once he allows me up for air, I tell him I’ll see him later and then leave to go home.
It’s a windy but moderately warm day out, so I take a detour and walk through the overgrown grass at the back of Liz’s place over to the edge of the hill. The breeze filters through the grass as I sit down, giving it movement, bringing it to life. It tickles softly at my legs. With my arms around my knees, I sit there for a long time, breathing in the sea air and watching the hypnotic flow of the waves.
I don’t know how much time has passed when I hear someone moving through the grass, nearing me. Robert settles down to my left.
“I thought you were going home,” he says, gently trailing his fingers over my skin.
I shift closer to him and rest my head on his shoulder. “I was, but then I felt like sitting out here for a while.”
He smiles, letting his arm fall to my legs. Bending down, he runs his nose over my knee. There’s a long stretch of peaceful silence before he says, “I asked you to marry me last night.”
Tilting my head to him slightly, I smile back. “I know, I remember. It wasn’t exactly the most conventional way to propose,” I tease him.
“Ah true, but you did say yes.”
Smirking, I reply, “I think I remember my exact word was ‘okay.’”
“Same difference.”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t mean you have to start planning a wedding or anything.” He chuckles. “I just want to know that you’ll be my wife one day. Knowing that, well, it gives me peace.”
Turning to him, I lift his hand in mine, fitting my fingers through his. “I will be, Robert. One day.”
“One day,” he repeats, pulling us back to lie flat on the grass. Staring up at the bright blue sky, I see our future take shape. A future very different from the past we’ve lived. It will be transparent, and there will be no more masks. No more pretences and no more lies.
In this moment my heart soars, because the shape of that future gives me peace, too.
End.