Chapter Twenty -Eight
Eddie
Basking in this bliss has been the ultimate fun for me. The weekend getaway was perfect, and if I had my way, we’d spend every weekend together like this for the rest of our lives. It will be just as blissful—just us without the outside world.
“Tired?” I ask. Lawliss’s head is resting against the back of the couch, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion, yet she nods with a smile, and my heart fills full.
She’s been complaining about feeling weak this past week. At first, I thought it was from the stress of everything that has happened in her life, but it’s been constant since we reconnected.
I remember her being fit, strong, sharp and untouchable. But lately? She’s been running on empty. She claims it’s age and growth anytime I bring up going to the hospital. She’s ready to fight me at the mere mention of it. Stubborn as hell. But I have to convince her when we get back.
“I’ll draw you a bath,” I say, standing. She hums in response, and I take that as a yes.
As the tub fills, I add a few drops of the spiced cider oil she picked up at one of the antique shops earlier. She swore it was the best she’d ever smelled, claiming she likes having the smell of me on her.
After the pottery session, we wandered through the markets, picking out antiques and other items for her family. James gifted us the ceramic jars, bowls, and cups in addition to what we made, along with a miniature version of his Love and Life piece. Lawliss hasn’t let go of it since, holding it against her chest like a treasure. She’s already planning to recreate it, even took James’s contact information, promising to visit again.
When I return to the living room, I don’t say a word. I just scoop her up, and she instinctively wraps her arms around my neck. Her weight against me feels right. Like this is where she belongs.
In the bathroom, I set her down, and she undresses, slipping into the warm water with a soft sigh.
She leans back, eyes closed. Then, without opening them, she says, “Sit with me.”
There’s enough space for both of us, but I lower myself onto the floor beside the tub instead, my back resting against the wall.
Her voice drops, softer now, almost teasing. “Would you believe me if I said I wanted you now?”
I have to close my eyes, forcing myself not to react too quickly. The way she says it, like a slowly burning fuse, sends a rush of heat through me. I chuckle, trying to keep it together. “Here I was thinking you were tired.”
“I am tired.” She stretches her arms above her head, the water shifting around her, exposing more of her bare skin. “But not too tired for you.”
Damn.
“You keep getting bolder.” My voice is rougher than I intended.
“More like comfortable,” she replies, turning in the water so she’s facing me now. Her eyes hold mine, daring. Then she licks her lips, slow, deliberate. That undoes me.
I lean in, my lips meeting hers, and she opens up instantly, moaning softly into my mouth. Her hands move into my hair, nails grazing my scalp as she presses closer. The edge of the bathtub separates us, but I feel her heat in the way her body responds to mine. I slide a hand to her bare back, tilting her head, deepening the kiss.
We break apart just enough for her to whisper, “I want you. Now.”
My breathing is uneven. My control? Gone. “Your wish is my command.”
I peel off my wet shirt, unbuckle my shorts, and join her in the tub. The water ripples around us as I pull her into my lap, her skin slick against mine. Her thighs straddle me, fitting like they were made to.
I kiss her again, slower this time, savoring her taste, the feel of her body melting against mine. My hands move over her, tracing the body I know by heart. The soft sighs that escape her lips make my blood burn. I can’t go a day without her. I don’t want to.
I slide my hand between her legs, finding her already drenched.
“You’re so wet,” I murmur against her ear, then flick my tongue over the spot just below it. She shivers, gripping my shoulders.
“Always for you.”
I smirk. Damn right.
I lower my head, taking her nipple into my mouth, teasing and sucking, my fingers working her at the same time. She squirms, gasping my name, her body arching into me.
“This feels so good,” she moans, her hips moving in sync with my fingers as I curl them inside her, finding that spot that makes her breath hitch.
“Come for me,” I whisper against her skin.
Her fingers dig into my back. “I’m— I’m coming,” she gasps.
I grip her waist, my lips at her ear. “Let go.”
And she does. She trembles against me, gasping and moaning my name as she shatters in my arms.
I hold her through it, stroking her back, grounding her. When she lifts her head, her lips are swollen, her eyes heavy with something deeper than lust.
“Today is all about you,” I murmur.
She surprises me by pushing me back against the tub, her body shifting, her thighs tightening around me. A slow smirk curves her lips.
“Not just me,” she says. Then, with deliberate slowness, she sinks down onto me.
My head drops back. Fuck.
“I love it when you ride me,” I groan, gripping her hips and guiding her pace.
“Yeah?” She moans, rolling her hips, taking her time, and torturing me in the best way.
We move together, skin against skin, water sloshing around us, but none of it matters—just her, just this.
When she stops suddenly, I groan in protest, grabbing her hips and taking over. My movements become faster and deeper, her nails raking down my chest.
Our breaths tangle, her moans pushing me closer, her body clenching around me until she comes again, her head thrown back, gasping my name. A few more thrusts, and I follow, my release crashing into me, leaving me breathless beneath her.
I pull her down, pressing my lips to her bare shoulder, letting my heartbeat settle against hers.
“I love you,” I murmur. “Lynx.”
She stills. Then, barely above a whisper, she says, “I love you too, Ed.”
Something in my chest tightens. I pull back, searching her face. “What did you just say?”
She bites her lip but doesn’t back down. “I said I love you, Edmund Ansah-Montgomery.”
That’s it. That’s all I needed to hear. I could feel it before—deep in her touch, her kisses, the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t watching. But now? Now she’s finally said it and now I can go ahead with my plan.
***
We’re on our way back to Louisville, and Lawliss is being strange.
“Why are we riding in the helicopter?” she asks, arms crossed.
“Because I want you to try out everything I own,” I joke, and she chuckles, shaking her head, but I can tell she’s still skeptical. The low hum of the helicopter fades as we begin to descend onto the yacht.
“I have a surprise for you, and I hope you like it.”
She turns to me, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “I’ll love anything you give me. Why are you nervous?”
I don’t answer. I just take her hand as we step off the helicopter onto the yacht’s sleek deck. The cool night air swirls around us, carrying the faint scent of salt and something floral.
“Yours?” she asks, raising a brow.
I nod, and she raises a brow. “How much are you worth again?”
“Me alone or Montgomery Industries?” I smirk.
“Don’t answer that.” She shakes her head, laughing.
The city lights twinkle in the distance, their reflections dancing on the water below. Lawliss’s fingers tighten around mine as we step onto the wooden planks. She looks around, her gaze catching on the soft glow of purple candles scattered along the railings. A trail of white lilies and hibiscus petals lead toward a private setup on the open deck and a candlelit dinner, framed by sheer drapes swaying gently in the breeze.
She stops mid-step, her breath hitching. “You did this?” Her voice is barely above a whisper, her eyes shining with something I can’t quite name yet.
I squeeze her hand, leading her forward. Intrigued but unsuspecting. Perfect.
The yacht sways gently beneath us, matching the quiet, nervous energy thrumming in my veins. I never get nervous. Boardrooms, negotiations, revenge, million-dollar deals—I’ve handled them all without breaking a sweat. But now, with her, my hands tremble slightly as I reach into my pocket.
I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering against her skin. We come to a stop, and she turns fully to face me, eyes searching mine.
“I had this whole speech planned,” I admit, exhaling a quiet laugh. “Even thought about convincing you to say yes by making it a rule for you to agree with me all day.”
Her lips twitch, but she stays silent, watching me... waiting.
“But the truth is, no matter what I say, it all comes back to this. I never want to do life without you.” My voice thickens with emotion, my heart pounding in my chest. “Whether we’re covered in clay or paint, dancing in a hall with your family, or flying over the ocean, it’s only ever meant something because you’re with me.”
I drop to one knee.
A sharp inhale escapes her lips, her hands flying to her mouth.
The yacht’s lights cast a golden glow around us, flickering against the deep blue of the night sky. The moment stretches, a fragile breath between past and future.
“Lawliss Dua,” I say, looking up at the woman who changed my life in ways I never saw coming. “Will you make me the happiest man on earth by agreeing to marry me?”
Her chest rises and falls, eyes brimming with emotion.
She touches my face, her fingers trembling against my jaw. A breathless laugh escapes her, a mix of shock, joy, and disbelief.
Then, through the quiet night, she whispers the only word I’ve been waiting for.
“Yes…” she breathes, her fingers tightening around mine. "But... but not now. Maybe in a year or two... or three.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. Classic Lawliss, always needing control or always overthinking.
She lifts her gaze, eyes soft yet determined. “But I want to get married again. And I think... you’ll do.”
Something warm spreads through my chest—a mix of amusement and relief. She thinks I’ll do.
I stand, cupping her face, brushing my thumb along her cheek. “I’ll take whatever you give me, Lynx. Any day, any time.”
She smiles, leaning into my touch and as much as I want to celebrate this moment, a small, wicked thought lingers at the back of my mind.
I just hope she doesn’t find out she’s already married to me before we get married.