Chapter 48
One Year Later
I’m on the back of Sam’s motorcycle with my arms wrapped around his waist. It’s funny to think that just over a year ago, I was terrified to get on his bike.
He keeps trying to convince me to drive it, and I’m just not ready for that. Besides, I love the feeling of my thighs hugging his. I love snuggling into him as he drives.
If I were driving, I couldn’t run my hands along his thighs or up and down his chest. Every time I do it, I feel him shiver in response.
I love how he reacts to my touch.
Tonight, we’re going back to Folly Beach for another picnic. Sam and I frequently make the twenty-minute drive so we can sit on the beach and watch the sunset.
I feel a bit warm in my motorcycle jacket, but I snuggle into his back a little more and tighten my arms around him. I smile when I feel Sam’s gloved hand run up and down my arm and briefly pat my gloved hands before returning to his handlebar.
Sam parks close to our favorite spot and turns off the engine. We both climb off and take off our helmets, jackets, and gloves. He locks the helmets to his bike, as he always does, and picks up the backpack from the floor, where I’d discarded it to take off my jacket, slinging it over his shoulder.
I hold out my hand to him, and he takes it, bringing it to his mouth and planting a soft kiss on the back before leading us onto the beach.
We’re silent as we walk to our favorite spot—the perfect position to see the water and the sun as it falls behind the city.
My mind strays to our first proper date almost a year ago. I was extremely nervous about our relationship at the time. I was so afraid that Sam would break my heart again.
But now here we are a year later, and I couldn’t be more in love with this gorgeous man.
Sam is everything I always dreamed he would be and more.
Every day, he shows me what it means to be loved, and I couldn’t be more grateful for him.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Sam looks at me over his shoulder.
“I was just thinking about our first proper date and how scared I was to get on your bike.” I beam up at him.
“Still scared?” He smirks, and I feel my knees go weak.
“No,” I answer, quickly and honestly. “I trust you, and I love riding with you.”
His smile is so big, his eyes crinkle. “Good. You know what? That was a great night.”
“It ended even better than it started.” I wink at him before settling into the blanket he pulled out of the backpack and laid down for us.
“Maybe we should have a repeat.” His voice is husky, and it sends sparks into my core.
“Mmmm. I definitely think we should have a repeat. But first, I’m starving. What did you bring to eat?” I reach for the backpack, but he gets to it first.
“Turkey sandwiches, pasta salad, and some lemonade.”
“Sounds great.”
Sam pulls out some plates and serves the food, then hands me a plate and a bottle of lemonade.
“Thanks, love.”
He leans over and kisses my cheek before taking a bite of his food.
We both eat in silence as we watch the waves crash into the sand. When we’re finished eating, he tugs me over to him, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
His body feels tense next to mine, and I’m about to ask him about it when he suddenly stands up. Holding his hand out to me, he looks down with an expression I can’t quite place. “Walk with me?” His voice is deeper than usual.
My stomach is in knots and I’m regretting eating so much. But whatever this is, I need to embrace it. Steeling my nerves, I take Sam’s hand and let him pull me up.
He starts to walk, but I pull him back into my arms. I get on my tiptoes and brush my lips against his. He kisses me back, wrapping one arm around my waist and gently gripping my neck with his other hand.
I run my tongue along his lips—a silent request for him to deepen our kiss. The way he responds to me helps calm my nerves.
I’m panting when he breaks our kiss. My eyes fixed on his, I see the fire in his gaze. I want him to take me back home, but he pulls me up to the water, where we walk along the beach a short distance from our picnic site.
The sun is setting as he stops along the water. He turns to face me. Still holding one of my hands in his, he reaches into his pocket and pulls something out before dropping to one knee.
I can’t breathe.
This can’t be happening.
“Sam—” it’s little more than a whisper.
He has a small black box in his hand, and he’s looking at me in a way that makes me feel like the most loved person in the universe. But I also detect the nerves he’s trying to mask.
He clears his throat before speaking, “Kat, I’ve loved you for almost my entire life.
You’ve been my friend. My confidant. My lover.
There is no one else in this world that I want by my side.
My entire heart, my body, and my soul belong to you.
I would be honored if I could call you mine for the rest of our lives. ”
He lets go of my hand and opens the box slowly, revealing a gold band with a square emerald in the center surrounded by small diamonds. It's beautiful.
My breath catches when recognition hits me, and I feel the sting of the tears forming in my eyes as I look down at him.
This man, who holds my entire heart in his hands, and the ring he’s offering me.
Sam’s voice is gentle and hopeful as he continues, “Katherine Emily Oaks, will you marry me?” I look into his hopeful chocolate brown eyes and see how nervous he is, as if he thinks I would ever say no to him. My heart feels like it’ll burst at any minute.
I pull him up so he’s standing in front of me. “Yes. A thousand times, yes,” I gush. I watch as his features shift from nervous to elated.
He gently runs his thumb against my cheek and wipes away my silent tears before I can’t take the distance anymore and roughly pull him into my arms.
Sam kisses the top of my head, my hair, my cheeks, and then finally my mouth.
He kisses me like a drowning man, and I’m his life raft—desire pools between my thighs.
He pulls away, and it takes everything in me to let him. Sam takes the ring out of the box and places it on my left ring finger.
I’m turning into a puddle when he pulls my hand up to his mouth and kisses the ring, and then kisses the back of my hand. “I love you so much, Kat.”
“I love you.” I look down at the ring, admiring it. “Sammy, your mom’s ring is beautiful. Are you sure about this?” I look back at him, trying to gauge his response. “The ring, I mean?”
“Yes,” he answers without hesitation. “She would have loved that it's you.”
I wipe away the tear that trickles down his cheek. Placing my hands on either side of his face, I gently pull him down to me and kiss him, trying to send all of the love I have for this man to him through this kiss.