Chapter Twenty-Two
Destiny glanced across the dinner table at Jaxon as their waitress set their meals in front of them.
They were at one of her favorite restaurants, the Reata.
They’d taken Charlotte to her parents’ house for the night, and she was looking forward to a wonderful evening out and the luxury of sleeping late in the morning.
They’d arrived in her new SUV, since Jaxon’s truck was high off the ground and difficult for her to get into. It had been fun dressing up again, even though she’d had to enter the restaurant on crutches. Jaxon was finally free of his, and he was glad of it.
“I’m hungry. I’m so glad you brought me here.”
He smiled, picking up his iced tea. “This is a special night.”
There was an unusual tone to his voice, and she raised her eyebrows. “Any reason for that?”
Her heart began to pound as he rose and got down on one knee beside her.
Holding out a box with a diamond solitaire engagement ring inside, he looked into her eyes. “Destiny, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I also want to be Charlotte’s new daddy. Will you marry me, honey?”
Joy burst in her chest. With tears flowing from her eyes, she said, “You’ve made my dreams come true, sweetheart. Yes, I’ll marry you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as nearby diners clapped.
He kissed her gently, then smiled, looking into her eyes.
When he’d returned to his seat, their waitress approached their table with a bottle of Dom Pérignon on ice. She opened it and filled a flute for each of them.
Jaxon thanked her, then turned to Destiny. “I brought the bottle with me. I wanted something special for our celebration tonight.”
She took a sip. “This is delicious. Thank you, honey.” Her mind whirled with thoughts of their future as she started on her meal.
Jaxon smiled frequently while he talked about the house he wanted to build on the ranch for them. “I’ve got an architect lined up. We can set up a time to talk to him and figure out what we both want in the house plans.”
“I’d love that.”
He reached across the table for her hand. “That brings me to my next question. How soon can we get married?” His eyes were bright with joy and anticipation.
She squeezed his fingers. “As soon as we can plan it. I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“Do you think your mom and dad would let my parents help with the wedding? They’ll have a long list of people they’d like to invite. Your parents shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden for that,” Jaxon said.
“I’ll ask. Money’s tight for them, and I know they’ll appreciate the help. Besides, they’ll want your parents to be happy with the wedding of their only son,” she said with a smile.
He grinned. “Mom’s going to be excited when I tell her I popped the question. She likes you, Destiny, and helping to plan the wedding will be so special for her. She doesn’t have a daughter, so this is as close as she’s ever going to get to doing it.”
When they’d finished their meal, they took the remainder of the champagne and headed back to Destiny’s.
Jaxon locked the front door behind them, then turned to her. “Come here, you,” he told her, taking her into his arms.
She grinned and let her crutches fall to the floor. “Yes, sir.” Then she kissed him with everything she had.
When she came up for air, he laughed. “I love it when you kiss me like that.”
As he handed her back her crutches, she said, “Bring that champagne. We’re not done celebrating yet, mister.”
He swatted her bottom as she headed for the bedroom.
She laughed and said over her shoulder, “Get moving, cowboy, and don’t forget the flutes.”
As she entered the bedroom, she held up her left hand, watching her ring sparkle in the light.
A warm wave of joy washed through her again.
How lucky she was to have her dream of marrying Jaxon come true.
She laid her crutches on the bed and unzipped the back of her dress.
And tonight, she’d make love with him. Life didn’t get any better than that.
Eight months later, Destiny clasped the railing as the tour boat rocked with the oncoming waves.
She and Jaxon had arrived in Vancouver three days ago for their honeymoon.
They’d already enjoyed the Sea to Sky Gondola and Whistler day trip, which had taken a full ten hours, and today they were on a whale-watching excursion.
So far, they hadn’t spotted any whales, but they hadn’t been out long.
Jaxon put his arm around her, warming her. Despite the mid-July sun overhead, there was a stiff, cool breeze coming off the water. “Having fun?” he asked.
She leaned into him as she scanned the water for whales. “Anytime I’m with you, I have fun.”
He kissed her temple. “I love you, sweetheart.”
Suddenly, one breached, and the tourists on the boat cried out in excitement.
“That’s a minke whale,” their guide told them.
“It’s beautiful!” she said, excited at her first sighting.
“It sure is,” Jaxon said as he tightened his arm around her.
Her mind drifted back over the past few days.
They’d had an amazing wedding at the gorgeous Los Portales venue in El Paso.
Charlotte, whose adoption was now complete, had been their tiny flower girl.
Erin had been Destiny’s matron of honor, and Wyatt had been Jaxon’s best man.
Of course, Nick had come, and so had Hunter, Boon, Levi, and Zane, the other cowboys at the Diamond O ranch.
The guests, many of whom had had a long drive to El Paso, had been welcomed with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and the afternoon ceremony had been so beautiful that Destiny knew she’d remember every moment for the rest of her life.
She’d had fun at the reception—after she’d made it through the line, that is. With over two hundred family and friends attending, that had taken a while, and her ivory satin shoes had definitely not been made for comfort.
Jaxon kissed her cheek, bringing her back to the present. “What’re you thinking about?”
She smiled. “About our amazing wedding day. Honey, it was everything I’d ever dreamed of.”
“I feel that way too,” he said. “I’ve never seen my mom and dad so happy. I’m glad our parents get along so well with each other.”
The people around them cried out as another minke whale breached nearby.
She clutched the railing as the waves from the breach reached them, rocking the boat. “I love this!” she said, laughing.
He kissed her cheek again. “So do I, honey.”
She scanned the water again, looking for movement. She felt happier than she’d ever been.
Jaxon popped the cork on the champagne that room service had just delivered. “It’s not quite Dom Pérignon, but it’ll do.” He poured Destiny a glass and then one for himself before joining her in their bed at the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel.
She took a sip and smiled. “It’s good, honey.” Then she pulled the covers up over her chest. “I swear, the longer we were out today, the colder that wind off the water got. I’m still feeling chilled, even after that hot shower.”
He grinned. “I’ll bet I can warm you up.”
She chuckled and scooted closer to him. “I have no doubt of that, handsome.”
“We’ll definitely be warmer tomorrow when we’re crossing all of those suspension bridges at Capilano Park,” he said.
“I can’t wait for that! Are you scared of heights?”
“No, not really. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Then he grinned. “But if I am afraid, will you protect me?”
She laughed. “Of course I will.” After another sip of champagne, she said, “I’m so glad the house is finally finished and all our things are already moved in. It’s hard to believe that we’ll be able to walk right in and start living there as soon as we get home.”
Warmth filled him, along with a deep sense of accomplishment. “There was a time or two when I didn’t think it would get done on time.”
“The builder really tried hard for us, and I know it’s because he likes and respects you,” she said.
He kissed her temple, pleased that she saw him that way. “Thanks, honey. I especially like how Charlotte’s room came together.”
“Isn’t it beautiful? I love the furniture your mom picked out. And the murals are fantastic. The cattle and horses look so realistic, and I love that the artist included Bub.”
“Well, Charlotte’s going to be growing up on a cattle ranch. Her room should reflect that, don’t you think?”
“Of course. It’s perfect.”
“Mom’s just excited to have a grandchild to spoil.” He put his empty glass on the table. “Take that last sip, sweetheart. I’ve got plans for you.”
She chuckled. “You do, huh?”
“You bet I do.”
She emptied her glass, and he took it from her. “I’ve been wanting to make love to you all day long. You looked so cute while you were watching for those whales today.”
She grinned. “I’m too old to look cute.”
“The hell you are.” He rolled her over on top of him.
She put her hands on his chest. “This is more like it.”
He reached down and took hold of the hem of her short, midnight-blue nightgown. He pulled it up and drew it over her head, tossing it away. With a sigh, he said quietly, “You’re so beautiful, sweetheart. I love looking at you.”
She leaned down and kissed him softly, covering every inch of his mouth.
He cupped her breasts in his palms, rubbing his thumbs back and forth across her nipples. God, he loved the feeling of her full breasts in his hands.
She sighed. “You always know what I want, honey.”
He took her nipple into his mouth and stroked it with his tongue.
She gasped and leaned closer to him, her knees clutching his sides with each caress.
She sucked in a breath as he moved to her other breast, and he smiled.
She obviously didn’t want him to stop. When he took her nipple into his mouth, she moaned softly, clutching his head with desperate hands.
Suddenly, he rolled her onto her back and hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her panties, drawing them down and off. She looked into his eyes, and he saw her need. Shedding his boxers, he moved to lie on his elbow beside her. “You take my breath away.”
She smiled and ran her hand across his chest. “Thank you, honey. I’ve always thought you were incredibly handsome. That first time I came out to your ranch, I was stunned by how gorgeous you were, all ready to mount up and work cattle. God, you were sexy that day.”
He chuckled. “Well, you didn’t give any sign of it. All I could think of was how to ask you out.” He bent and kissed her belly as she sucked in a deep breath. He knew how much she loved what came next, and he moved lower.
She ran her fingers through his hair, and whispered, “I love you, sweetheart.”
He smiled and moved between her thighs. She opened her legs wider, and he spread her apart as he blew a soft breath on her tender flesh. She gasped and her fingers tightened. He stroked her with his tongue; then, finding her sensitive spot, he caressed it.
She cried, “Jaxon!” and held tighter to him.
His heart began to pound. He loved giving her such intense pleasure.
He took the small bump into his mouth and sucked gently as she moaned softly, tossing her head to the side.
She was wet with arousal, and it excited him.
He was hard, and his control was hard-fought.
After a moment, she began to throb inside his mouth. He quickly stroked her with his tongue as she gasped, “Now, Jaxon!”
“Hang on, sweetheart.” He slid to the bottom of the bed, bringing her with him. He picked her up, then carried her to the dresser and stood her up facing the mirror. Her eyes were half shut as pleasure coursed through her. He clasped her hips, and she bent to lay her palms flat on the dresser.
He slid easily inside her as she sighed, “Yes. Oh God, yes.”
“Open your eyes. Look at me, honey,” he said as he clamped down tight on his control. God, she felt incredible like this.
She slowly opened her eyes as her hot depths pulsed around him. He thrust harder this time, then again and again as she stared into his eyes. It was all he could do to hold her gaze as intense pleasure flooded his senses.
She was so beautiful, her delicious curves enticing him as her soft, light-brown curls fell over her shoulders.
The look of love and adoration in her eyes sent his pleasure soaring.
Suddenly he gasped, “I love you, Destiny,” as ecstasy exploded inside him.
His muscles froze as he throbbed deep inside her.
She cried out, “Jaxon!” and pushed back into him. He couldn’t think. He could only feel the frenzy of pleasure sweeping through his body in waves.
When he finally opened his eyes, hers were closed, but her smile told him everything he needed to know. He gathered her into his arms and carried her to bed.
Snuggled on his chest with her arms around his waist, she said softly, “That was amazing.”
He loved having her cuddled up with him in bed. “And we have every night for the rest of our lives to make love to each other. Think of that, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
She stroked his chest. “I’m the lucky one. I have you, honey. I always dreamed that someday a strong, handsome cowboy would fall in love with me. And, of course, I wanted to marry a rancher. Ranching has always been my life.”
He wrapped both arms around her and held her tight. “Destiny, I’ll love you forever, sweetheart.” He lifted her to him and kissed her softly, caressing her lips with the tip of his tongue and then delving inside her mouth.
She stroked his tongue with hers, making his heart pound. He ran his fingers through her hair and cupped her head in his palm. “You’ve made my life perfect, honey, and I can’t wait for the rest of it.”