An Unexpected Hunger (30 page)

“A
lexa,” he said. Our eyes locked, and I let myself fall under his spell. “I never want to go another day without you. I’ve loved you forever and will continue to love you for always.” He opened the black box and pulled out a beautiful ring, white gold with a large round solitaire diamond.

I gasped as he held the ring at the edge of my fingertip.

“Will you marry me?”

Tears burned in my eyes and
my throat closed. Being with Ricky was like riding a crazy roller coaster; scary as shit, but fun as hell. Life without him was bland, unseasoned, and tasteless. I wanted him. I needed him. I craved him.

“Yes,” I said, wiping away the tears.
“I love you.”

His smile grew twice in size
, and he slipped the ring on my finger, nestling it just above the key ring. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he swept me off the ground, my feet dangling as he swayed me back and forth.

When our lips met, the
charge of energy between us zinged through my entire body. After all these years, I was finally his and he was finally mine. I surrendered myself to his spell, and it felt great.

“That was a great speech,” I said, maintain
ing my hold around his neck. I knew I would never get enough of the way it felt when he touched me, or the way he smelled when I nuzzled in close to his skin. Ricky was my drug, and I was addicted. An addiction I never wanted to break.

“I told you it would be
good,” he smiled back.

I STARED AT my ring finger, the moment too surreal to process. My engagement ring and wedding band glistened, even in the dim light of the moon. I looked over at Ricky, sleeping soundly in bed, as I laid next to him. We had made love over and over again, neither one of us ever getting enough. I smiled, comforted by the fact that our love was so intense, yet so enduring. He couldn’t wait to be married, so just a short few weeks after he proposed we organized a small wedding.

For our honeymoon and one year anniversary, we came back to New York City, to the same hotel we stayed at last time we were here. It felt good to get away with just Ricky, especially with all of the planning for the restaurant
we’d been doing. We still had a long way to go, but I thought my dad would be proud.

I slinked out of bed
, and walked over to the large window. Glistening with soft white light, the water silently lapped. I stood and stared, taking a few quiet moments to catch my breath. I was so taken aback by the view that I didn’t hear Ricky get out of bed.

“What’s the matter?” he asked,
wrapping his arms around my waist from behind me. His hands rumpled the soft satin of my nightie. He buried his face into my neck, planting soft kisses on my skin, covering every square inch of my body with goose bumps.

“Nothing is the matter,” I said. “Just letting it all sink in.”

Ricky gave me a sideways glance. “Not having any second thoughts, are you?” he asked, half teasing.

I laughed. “Not at all…just the opposite. I can’t believe after all this time…we are actually married.”

He held me tighter, and I rested my head along his shoulder. His arms felt strong and secure around me, and I knew with Ricky I’d always feel safe.

“I love you
, Mrs. Perry,” he whispered.

“I love you,
Mr.
Perry,” I replied.

I turned around in his arms to face him.
“I can’t wait until the restaurant is ready…I don’t think I could ever thank you enough.” I smiled and planted a kiss on his lips.

“I can think of a way,” he smirked.

I leaned back, trying to discern the look on his face. “How’s that?” I asked.

He smiled his
mischievous grin, scooped me up in his arms, and walked me towards the bed.

“
By loving me forever and always as much as I love you.” He laid me down and brushed back my hair.

“Forever and always,” I said. “I promise.”