Chapter 29
Zara
Dear Sandra,
I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you that night.
I’m sorry that we fought.
I miss you every single day.
I hope you know that I always loved you.
I hope you know that you were the most beautiful, most special, most loving friend.
I wouldn’t change our childhood for a hundred million dollars.
I met someone.
I think he’s the one.
I love him.
I wish you could meet him.
I know you’d flirt up a storm and then give me your blessing.
I want you to know that your friendship was more precious to me than the diamond ring on my finger.
All my love. I will miss you forever,
Zara
“Tonight was a long night.”Jackson sits down on the edge of the bed, wearing a white shirt and black boxers. I try to keep my eyes off of the bulge, but it’s hard to avert my gaze. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired.” I admit, as I sit on top of the bed and lean back against the headboard. I cross my legs and stare into his eyes as he shifts over next to me. “You?”
“Tired as well.” He nods and rubs his forehead. “Your parents will be here tomorrow.”
“They will.” I swallow hard. I’m not looking forward to mom and dad trying to grill him and worm their way into his world at the same time. “Your grandma will hate them.”
“She won’t.” He shakes his head and reaches over to grab my head. “I won’t hate them either.”
“You haven’t met them yet. They’re not users perse, but?—.”
“But nothing.” He pulls me into him and I stretch my legs out, so I can lean back and rest my head on his chest and look up at him. “They’re your parents, so I know I will love them.”
“No need to?—.”
“I’m not lying.” He grins. “I can read your mind.
“Apparently.” I smile. “Are your parents coming tomorrow as well?”
“They’re not coming.” He shakes his head, his face impassive. My dad got an invite to a golf tournament and my mother is in London.”
“I’m sorry.” My heart breaks for him. His parents couldn’t even be bothered to attend their only son’s engagement? “But at least your grandma is off your back? Maybe?”
“I don’t care.” He runs his fingers across my lips. “I don’t care anymore.”
“I think they’re selfish.” I frown. “They should be here for you. No matter if it’s fake.”
“It’s not fake.” He says softly, and my heart stops. “And I don’t need them here for me.” He kisses the side of my neck and then along my collar bone. “You’re here.”
“I don’t want to be a lawyer.” I admit to him. “I don’t want or need a letter of recommendation. I don’t want to go to law school.”
“You were doing it to try and support your family.” He nods. “But now you have the million dollars, you don’t need it.”
“I don’t want the million dollars.” I say softly, my brain screaming at me and calling me crazy. Jackson’s eyes widen, but I know I can never win his heart if he thinks all I care about is money.
“You have to take the million dollars.” He frowns. “Zara, listen to me. You’re not letting me down if you do take it. I don’t think that you’re?—.”
“I’m not taking it—.” I press my fingers against his lips and then I run my fingers down his chest and he kisses the top of my head. My heart is racing as he runs his fingers down my back and pulls me up slightly. I feel his lips against mine and I kiss him back, loving the minty taste of his tongue as it enters my mouth. He groans as we kiss and I roll over, so I’m on top of him. His hands move up the inside of my shirt and caress my back before he attempts to pull my top off. I lift my hands up and he throws it the side. His fingers grasp my breasts and I moan as he touches them delicately, his palms rubbing against my nipples as I grind back and forth on his lap.
I can feel his cock growing between my legs as I gyrate on him. It’s his turn to moan and he pushes me to the side and onto my back. I watch as he sits up and pulls his shirt off. My fingers reach up and my nails drag across his nipples and down to his abs. He holds his breath as my fingers continue downwards and trace the long length of his cock and then squeeze. I look up at him through narrowed eyes as he grunts and shifts down toward me. He takes one nipple in his mouth as he sucks on other nipple and I run my fingers through his hair. His body is hot and mine is even hotter as he kisses down my stomach and toward my boy shorts. I feel his hands on my hips and he tugs my boy shorts off, but leaves my thong on. He looks up at me with veiled eyes and we just stare at each other for a few moments.
He kisses back up my stomach toward my lips and then kisses me hard. I gasp as his tongue slides into my mouth and his fingers slip down the front of my thong. I’m gasping for air as he rubs my clit, my breasts brushing against his chest as he continues to kiss me. He slips a finger inside of me and moves his lips to the side of my neck and continues staring into my eyes. I can barely breathe as he touches me.
“You’re taking it.” He growls, as he slips another finger inside of me. My entire body shudders as he teases me. I shake my head and he pulls both fingers out and then rips my panties off. I reach up and tug on his boxers and pull them down. I watch as he tosses them to the ground.
“Nope.” I reach up and touch his hardness and he grunts as my fingers slide up and down. I shiver as he grows harder and thicker in my hands and he lowers himself toward me. He grabs my hips and pulls me down slightly and I gasp as he pulls my legs up over his shoulders.
“You will take it.” He grunts as he positions his cock against my wetness and reaches down and plays with my breasts.
“No,” I moan as his cock slides up against my slit and we both groan as the tip slips in and out. He continues teasing me, rubbing the tip of his cock against me as I grow wetter and wetter. It slips in every other time and I just need to feel him inside of me.
“You will take it.” He slides his cock up one more time and lowers his face toward my lips. The tip of him is barely inside of me and I shiver as he presses his lips to mine. “You deserve it.”
“I don’t want it.” I whisper as we stare at each other. He slides another inch into me and I moan as I shimmy on the bed. I need to feel all of him inside of me.
“I want you to have it.” He slides another inch inside and we’re both panting now. His lips crush against mine. “And you will have that and more, Zara.” He growls as he thrusts inside another inch.
“Hmm?” I can’t talk now. I’m too turned on.
“You will have everything.” He slides in another inch. “Because...” He paused and slides in some more.
“Hmm?” I gasp as I my legs flex over his shoulders.
“I love you.” He whispers against my lips and my eyes widen in shock at his words. He slams the rest of his cock inside of me before I can say anything and I gasp as he thrusts deeper and deeper. He reaches down and rubs my clit at the same time and I feel like my soul is going to jump out of my body. He kisses me passionately and I can barely tell which side of the universe is up. I’m on fire.
My body is dancing.
My heart is soaring.
My brain is leaping.
And Jackson feels like he is now a part of me. He moves faster and harder, deeper and softer, until I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven. And then, just when I feel like I can take no more, an orgasm wrecks my body, making me scream and hold onto him. He thrusts harder and faster, his lips feverish against mine, until I feel him stop and then explode inside of me. Sweat glistens our skin as our bodies become one until finally he collapses onto me and pulls me into his arms.
“I love you, Zara Hathaway. No lies. No jokes. No requests for breakfast in the morning.” He strokes the side of my arm. “I want this engagement to be real. I want to make you fall in love with me. I will do whatever it takes. Please just give me a chance.”
“I don’t know that you can make me.” I say shaking my head and my heart breaks as I see the dread and hurt in his eyes. “But only because I already love you.” I say quickly and laugh as his expression changes and he showers me with kisses. “I love every part of you Jackson.”
“So this can be real?” He asks softly, stroking my hair. “You’ll really be my fiancee?”
I stare at him in shock and he just laughs. “I mean we don’t have to get married right away.” He plays with my hair and then kisses me. “I will woo you and spoil you and?—.”
I stare at him for a couple of seconds and nod slowly. I want him to be happy. I want him to know I love him and if he needs us to still be engaged already, I will do it.
“What is it?” He frowns as he gazes down at me, a look of worry in his eyes.
“Nothing.” I say, quickly and kiss him. “I am happy to do whatever it is you need. I love you and I want you to be happy.”
He stares at me for a few seconds, his eyes thoughtful. “You’re a true romantic, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” I smile at him. “And I love you.”
“But this isn’t how you’ve always pictured marrying the man that you love.” He tilts his head to the side and studies my face. “If we keep this up, I rob you of a true proposal and a surprise engagement ring. And the wooing and dates that go along with the beginning of a true relationship.”
“It’s fine,” I said quickly, though my heart is racing at how he could read me.
“It’s not fine.” He pulls me into his arms. “And you don’t have to pretend that it is. I love you, Zara. And I want to give you everything you’ve always dreamed of.” He smiles at me softly. “I don’t want to rush this part because I know how much it means to you. I just want you to know one thing.”
“Oh?”
“I cannot wait to marry you. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. But we don’t have to rush it. I don’t want to to rush to the wedding, when we can start at the beginning and reach the same place. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m already tamed. I’m already ready.” He strokes the side of my face. “You’re it, my darling.”
“Are you sure?” I ask him, softly. “Won’t it ruin everything?”
“Nope. Because the only thing that matters to me is you.” He grins and kisses me softly. “I don’t care about Pruitt Holdings. I don’t care about my grandma trying to hook me up. I don’t care what people think when we end our engagement tomorrow and tell everyone we’re still desperately in love. All I care about is making this moment and this beginning perfect for you. I don’t want to start at the end. I want to start at the beginning.” He grabs my face and kisses my nose and then my lips. “I want to help you live your dreams and all I ask is that we both traverse this path together because my life only really started the night that I met you.”
“I love you, Jackson Pruitt.” I run my fingers through his dark curly hair and kiss him hard. “Who knew a one-night stand could lead to something like this?” I say in amazement as we both just stare at each other.
“I guess when love is fated in the stars, it doesn’t matter how it begins.” He says softly. “You were made for me and I was made for you. And our hearts are one and the same, Zara Hathaway. I love you my darling. And that will never change.”