Epilogue
You be good now, you hear?” Roman tells Tessa, who grins and nods her head vigorously. She hitches her backpack higher as she looks at the crowd of students.
“I will, Dad, I promise. Thank you so much. I love you!” Tessa wraps her arms around Roman, giving him a huge hug. I can hear his breathing catch as he hugs her back and kisses the top of her head.
“I believe in you Tessa. We”re just going to be on the coast, so give us a call if anything happens,” Roman says and she nods.
“She”ll be fine,” I say, threading my arm through his.
Tessa looks at me and my heart swells with love for her, too. I”ve always heard nightmares about friends who dated men with a teenager and how the teenager made their life a living hell. But Tessa has welcomed me in a way that has surprised me and made my heart expand with love for her.
“Come here, you,” I tell Tessa, then give her a big hug. I whisper in her ear, “you”re going to love it here. I”m so glad you have this opportunity.”
She steps back and pride swells in me. This is exactly the right environment for her and I”m proud that Roman came around to approving this. She needs that kind of support in her life.
We watch as Tessa walks down the hall, joining a group of other teens like herself, but then turns and waves back at us.
“Remind me again how she”s going to be okay?” Roman asks as we walk back to the rental car. He”s jingling the car keys in a way that reveals how nervous he is.
“She”ll do great. I know the director of the program and they”re used to looking out for these kids,” I say, trying to reassure him.
“It”s my first time being apart from her,” Roman”s voice catches as he pulls out of the parking lot. “It”s harder than I thought it would be.”
“I understand, sweetie, I do.” I put my hand on his thigh as he drives. Even though our relationship is still new, we”re always finding a way to be physically connected when we”re together. It makes me smile because it”s exactly what Helen described about how it was when she met her husband.
“How long until we get to the coast?” I ask, rolling down the window and enjoying the warm summer air.
“GPS says it should be about two hours.”
***
“This place is fantastic,” I say, the sound of the surf reaching us before we can see the ocean. We turn through a stand of trees, and the ocean is suddenly there, bold and magnificent.
Waves are crashing on the beach and there are people flying kites high in the sky. It looks like the very definition of summer.
“Yeah, it”s not bad,” Roman says, grabbing our bags from the trunk and bringing them to the door.
“Here we go.” I punch in a code on a keypad and the door clicks open, revealing a beautiful, open-style living room with exposed wood beams, with a couch facing a huge fireplace. To our right is the kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and a large island.
“Wow,” I say, taking it all in. “It”s even better than the pictures.”
Roman laughs as he drops our bags in the corner, then goes back to the car to grab the groceries we picked up in town.
After he finishes stocking up the kitchen, Roman comes up behind me and wraps me in a big hug as I stand at the front door and look out at the ocean. I lean back into him, his beard tangling with my curly hair. The warmth of his embrace makes me happier than anything else in the world.
Roman is my rock. He is exactly the man he says he is and he loves me with a passion that feels like winning the lottery each and every day of my life. Each day with him and Tessa is a gift.
“What are you cooking tonight?” I can”t help but grin as I look at the man I love. He doesn”t do it every night, but he does cook for me regularly. I”m not a bad cook -- he just loves to pamper me.
“If memory serves, there”s a grill outside. Steak and grilled corn sound good to you?”
“Sounds perfect. How about you get started and I”ll unpack our clothes?”
“Deal.”
***
“I love how you spoil me.”
Roman rubs my shoulders as we sit on the porch of the cabin, sipping our beers as we watch the sunset.
The sun glows on the horizon as it slowly sinks. The waves continue to crash on the beach, the sound louder now that the tide is coming in.
I rest my head against Roman”s chest, savoring his embrace. As much as I love Tessa, I”m grateful that we”ll have this week to ourselves.
“We should head in,” I say, rubbing my arms against the sudden chill of the night air.
As Roman builds a fire in the fireplace, I make us hot chocolate with rum.
“This is delicious,” Roman says, putting down his mug and pulling me into his arms. I draw circles on his thigh with my finger, giggling when he flexes his muscles for me. No matter how often he does it, it always makes me happy.
“Thanks.” I lean in to kiss him, but he pulls away. “What? No kissing?” I tease, though confused. It”s not often we pull away from each other.
Roman clears his throat and moves so that we”re facing each other on the couch.
“Marsha, I love you.” Roman”s hazel eyes twinkle in the firelight and I reach up to rub my hand over his jaw and beard.
“I love you, too, Roman. I always will.”
“I can”t imagine my life without you and I never want to. The way you are with Tessa is beautiful to watch. I love how supportive and patient you are with her, and how much she respects and cares for you, too.”
Roman takes my hands in his, his hazel eyes never leaving mine.
“I love her, too, Roman. You know that.” My voice catches from the intensity of the moment. You don”t normally know the moments that will change your life, but I know this is one of them -- and I”m ready for this.
“Marsha, having you come into our lives makes me the happiest man on earth.” Roman moves off the couch and gets down on one knee in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Oh, Roman.” My voice is jagged from emotion as he holds my hands in his and looks up into my eyes. The vulnerability in his eyes makes me tremble.
“Marsha, would you do me the honor of spending the rest of our lives together? Every moment with you is precious and I want to make every moment count.” Roman”s voice catches as he lets go of my hands, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a red velvet box. “Will you marry me?”
Roman opens the box and the firelight makes the diamond ring sparkle brighter than the stars in the sky. My love for Roman overflows my heart and I nod, tears of joy streaming down my face.
“Yes, Roman. Yes!” My fingers tremble as Roman slides the ring on my finger, then tenderly kisses each fingertip on my left hand. “There aren”t words to describe how much I love you, Roman.”
I pull him up and our kiss explodes with passion. Each stroke of his tongue sends ripples of desire across my skin.
We quickly undress, and then Roman gently lowers me onto the sheepskin rug in front of the fireplace.
Stroking my face, he looks at me with pure adoration.
“You are the most beautiful woman in the world,” he says, moving his body over mine.
“And you are the most handsome, sexiest man I”ve ever laid eyes on.” I reach up and pull his mouth down to mine, gasping at the intensity of our kiss.
Roman”s hands caress my body, lingering over my wide hips. “I love your curves, Marsha. Every one of them.”
I smile up at Roman and spread my legs for him. His thick cock twitches against my hot core, and I instinctively raise my hips up to him. I need him inside me with a desire that”s blinding.
“We have the whole week to ourselves,” Roman says, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.
“Let”s make it one to remember,” I whisper, crying out as he thrusts into me.
Our bodies move in a frantic rhythm, the heat from the fireplace glowing on our skin. I grind against him, pushing my hips up so I can take all of him even deeper.
In a blinding burst of pleasure, my orgasm comes fast and intense, making me see stars.
“Oh my God!” I cry out, wrapping my arms around Roman as he pumps faster and faster, his groans echoing in the cabin as he comes and his body shakes over mine.
“I love you, Marsha.”
“I love you, too. Roman. Now and forever.”
* * *