EPILOGUE
FINN
“ M ore champagne?” I lift the bottle from the picnic basket and offer it to Shelly. The setting sun shining on her empty glass creates a rainbow on her beautiful freckled face underneath her straw hat.
“I’m good, thank you.” She gives me her glass and I place it in the basket, then lie back down on the beach blanket. At the top of the sand dunes, beyond the turtle nests and away from the beach and holidaymakers, it’s peaceful.
Shelly takes off her hat and snuggles at my side, her head using my chest for a pillow. My fingers lazily graze her arm, sliding under the sleeve of her keep the sea plastic-free slogan t-shirt.
“The view here is beautiful, don’t you think?” she says before her eyes drift closed as she sighs.
I didn’t miss the worry in her voice that this may be the last time we get to enjoy this sunset from our spot. The orange, yellow, and pink hues that paint the sky this time of night certainly are mesmerising, but they have nothing on the beauty of my girl.
I catch her scent as her blonde curls blow in the breeze, tickling my face. This simple life with her is all I want for the rest of my days.
A smile curls my lips. I draw the line at living in a camper. Even though Shelly’s tried on more than one occasion to convince me of the positives and freedom living in a camper brings, there’s just no way I can stand it long-term.
One night or a weekend is enough for me, preferring the comforts of my rental. But in the near future, I plan on giving us both a permanent home where we can watch this sunset together every night.
“This would make a nice porch area, don’t you think?” I kiss the top of her head, mulling over my plans for the land. “A wraparound porch with a swing for the kids.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You haven’t knocked me up yet.”
Her head bobs as my chest shakes with a silent laugh. “It’s a good thing I haven’t. We need to get married first.”
She lifts her head and faces me. “Is that a proposal?”
“No.” My smile widens. “You’ll know when I propose.” I roll her onto her back and kiss her lips.
Her fingers glide through my hair, holding me close as her tongue swirls around mine. I lap up the lingering taste of strawberries and champagne. She always tastes exquisite.
I grind my pelvis into her as her legs part for me, giving her a small appetiser of what’s to come when I get her home. Either my rental or her camper. Either way, I’m gonna be balls deep inside my woman .
“What’s that digging into me?” Her brow furrows as she stares, wide-eyed.
A chuckle leaves my lips. “What do you think it is, turtle girl?”
“I’m not sure. It’s rather hard.”
“It’s what you do to me. You make me hard as a rock.” I kiss her lips again. “A rock that glitters in the sun. A rock that reminds me of your emerald eyes.”
Her brow furrows as she looks up at me. “What are you talking about?”
“I love you, turtle girl. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Here in this very spot until we’re old. Until death do us part.”
“I love you too. And that’s a nice dream. It’s such a shame this will turn into luxury apartments if we don’t win the court case.”
“The only apartment to be built here is ours.”
Confusion mars her face. She scrunches her brow. “I wish I had your confidence.”
I gaze down at my girl with a huge grin on my face. Keeping this secret for the last few days has been torture. “I’ve done a deal with my father.”
“What?”
“I bought the land. He let me have it at a discount. Said it was our wedding gift.” I can’t contain my smile as she gazes at me, full of hope, questions, and love.
“But we’re not getting married?”
I hold myself above her with one elbow resting on the beach blanket while my other hand reaches into my pocket for the rock.
My heart hammers in my chest, but I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I’m one hundred percent sure Shelly will say yes. I think I’m just hoping she likes the ring and I’ve done the right thing by proposing here, which I’m ninety-nine percent certain of.
Shelly likes the simple things in life. She wouldn’t thank me for a fancy dinner and grand gesture in front of everyone. This spot means more to her than anything, and I want to remember this moment every time we’re sitting on our porch swing, looking out at the sunset.
Feeling the velvet box in my hand, I slide it from my pocket and flip open the lid. Her green eyes widen as she gasps. The twinkling of the emerald stone set in a silver band with small diamonds set for the turtle's head and legs reflect in her eyes.
“Now, this is the proposal.” I take the ring from the velvet cushion and slide it on to her finger, hoping it fits. Once it’s past the knuckle and snug on her skin, I release the breath I was holding. “Marry me, turtle girl. Be my wife.”
Unable to speak, she nods. A tear gathers in the corner of her eye, but I kiss it away before she pulls my head down to her lips and kisses me. Her hands tug on my hair, then they’re on my t-shirt, fisting the fabric as she kisses me with such need, as if we haven’t spent the last month wrapped up in each other like this every day.
I kiss her back eagerly, needing more than my tongue inside this girl. The truth is, I need her by my side every day. She sparks my creativity and loves me for it. With her, I’m more myself than I’ve ever been, and I love the man I am when I’m with her.
My mouth breaks away from hers, needing to kiss her neck and more. My tongue licks at her salty skin before moving south over her t-shirt, and I bite down over the globe in my palm, seeking her nipple under the cotton fabric.
She sucks in a breath. Her hips lift, seeking friction against my throbbing dick. This woman has me stiffening at every given opportunity. It’s a wonder she isn’t already pregnant with the amount of times I’ve had her. She’s not on the pill and I don’t always use a condom, opting to pull out instead. It’s a risk, but the need to be inside her with nothing between us is sometimes overwhelming. Like now.
“Wait,” she says with panting breaths.
I lift onto my elbows. “What?”
“So there’s no court case?” Her mouth hangs open as if it’s suddenly sinking in.
“No court case, no lawyers, no development. Dad must be getting soft in his old age.”
“So he reached out to you? I didn’t think you were on speaking terms.”
“I called Mum two weeks ago and told her I was going to ask you to marry me.” I can’t say the words marry me without smiling, knowing this girl’s gonna make me the happiest man alive. “She called Dad and told him to get his head out of his arse before he loses his son, like he lost her all those years ago. I think the words ‘daughter’ and ‘grandkids’ were thrown around, and here we are.”
Shelly makes a beautiful giggling sound. “If I’d have known the promise of grandchildren would’ve shut down the development, I would have slept with you sooner.”
“You couldn’t wait to open up for me, admit it.” I grind my pelvis against her.
The giggle turns to a moan.
With the sun almost set, a cool breeze swathes my skin, but the fire in my belly and the blood rushing through my veins straight to my dick has me burning up with need.
“I think it was the other way around.” She squirms as I tickle her waist. “You were a cocky jerk, to be fair.”
“I’ll show you cocky.” I tug at the button on her denim shorts. “Take these off, turtle girl. ”
She glances around. “Someone might see.”
“There’s nobody here but us.”
She raises an eyebrow as if to say, really? . “The last time you said that, we ended on a centre spread in the London Daily .”
I chuckle, but she’s yet to see the funny side of that fiasco. “This is our land now. If anyone takes photographs, I’ll sue for trespassing private land.” My lips press against her stomach as I tug on her shorts. “Now take these off. I need to make love to my soon-to-be wife.”
She lifts her bottom as I pull the denim down her thick thighs, over the inked turtle that matches my new art on my leg. Her knickers come down with the shorts, exposing her pussy, half hidden between her touching thighs.
I toss her clothes near the picnic hamper and pull my erection from my shorts. “Open up for me. Let me see that glistening pearl between your legs.”
Slowly, she lifts her knees, then lets them drop to the side, exposing herself fully to me. The breeze embraces us, making her tremble, as if even nature and the elements crave her as I do.
“Are you wet for me?” I glide a finger from her sweet cavern to the pearl between her folds, sliding her slickness all around in slow circles.
“You know I am.” She fists my shirt and drags me closer to her, my dick settling at her entrance.
With one thrust, I seat myself inside her heat. The feeling never gets old, like coming home after being lost at sea. She fits me perfectly, like a turtle fits its shell.
The ring on her finger grazes my neck as she wraps her fingers around me. The new sensation already becoming my new favourite thing. Each time she presses the metal against my skin is a reminder she’ll soon be my wife.
“I love you, Finn.” She gazes into my eyes as I slide in and out of her at a steady rhythm, using every ounce of strength to keep myself under control.
“I love you, too, turtle Myrtle.” I use the name she hated, claiming it back from the idiots who gave it to her.
“When we’re married, you won’t be able to call me that anymore.”
I pause my movements and stare down at my fiancée. The realisation washes over me that she’ll be a Jones-Fitzpatrick. “You want to take my name?”
“Of course. I want the same name as my husband and our future kids.” She lifts her hips, coaxing me to move mine, but I’m just enjoying this moment and committing it to memory.
“Are you going to make love to me, then, or are we just staring at each other?” She smiles up at me, her beautiful face bathed in moonlight as dusk welcomes the night.
“Tell me what I like to hear and I’ll give you what you want.” My cock twitches inside her, desperate for more friction, but having her at my mercy is all too tempting.
“There you go again, wanting me to stroke your ego.” She rolls her eyes with a smile. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips. “I wanted you from the first moment I laid eyes on your inked chest.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” I move again, giving us both the friction we crave.
“But I fell in love with you the moment I saw you lift the turtle from the sand with such delicacy.” She runs her fingers through my hair, tickling the back of my neck with her other hand. The sensation travels down my spine and straight to my balls. “I knew then that you were the man for me.”
With her words swelling my chest, I pound faster. “Slip your hand between us and rub your clit, baby.” I can’t hold out much longer. “I need you to come before I pull out. ”
“Don’t pull out this time.” Her green eyes glisten under the moonlight.
Something in my chest stutters. “Are you sure? What if?—”
“Then your parents will get their grandbabies sooner than they thought.” She bites her lip as if worrying it between her teeth, waiting for me to approve. “Now tell me what I like to hear.”
I’m lost for words, overcome with emotion. We’ve not been together that long, but I can’t see any reason to put off the inevitable. I thrust deeper, hitting the spot she loves. “You’re the girl for me. The only woman I want and the only person in this world who makes my soul soar through the sky.”
Just as I fly into the dusky night like an eagle set free, I glide over the waters. My cum filling her up as she soars right beside me, squeezing me and milking me for every drop of my seed. Her moans fill the surrounding space, and even if we’re heard, I couldn’t care less. Right now, all I see is her. My turtle girl. My soon-to-be wife. My life.