The UN Series Complete Box Set (86 page)

I push off the counter and go back into the living room to see Angel sitting in the middle of the floor surrounded by pink stuff as Holly holds the puppy. “What is all that stuff?” I ask, coming up behind her.

She turns to look up at me with a frown on her face. “It’s her sweater. She tore it to shreds while locked in her cage.”

I let out a laugh. “Smart dog,” I mumble and walk over to my mother. “Thanks for the camera, Mom.” That really was a great idea. I don’t own a camera. I’m sure Angel does but I never see her use one.

“No need for thanks, hun. I bought one for us as well. We didn’t have one when we went to New York last time. I plan on taking pictures of everything. I told the girls we could make scrapbooks when we get back,” she says excitedly.

I go to speak but I catch sight of Angel walking out the front door. “I’ll be right back,” I say as I follow after her.

*****

SAMANTHA

“Go potty,” I tell my puppy as I cross my arms over my chest. It’s freezing outside.

“Need me to keep you warm?” Slade asks, wrapping his arms around me.

“Yes, please.” My teeth chatter. He tightens his arms around me and I lay my head back against his shoulder. I look up to the gray sky and smile. It’s supposed to snow tonight.

“I think it would be better this way,” Slade says, turning me around and pulling me close to him.

He leans his head down to mine. I rise up on my toes and press my lips to his. He brings one hand up and threads his fingers into my hair. His tongue enters my mouth and dances with mine. It’s starts out sweet but becomes heated very quickly. I pull away before we both get worked up.

He opens his eyes and smiles down at me as he runs his hand through my hair. I feel something cold land on my cheek. He brushes it off then looks to the sky. “Looks like the snow is coming sooner than they predicted.”

I turn around, look out over the yard, and see the snowflakes lightly falling. “Yeah.” It wasn’t supposed to snow until late night, early morning.

“Come on, let’s go inside, and say goodbye. I want to leave before it gets bad,” Slade tells me, bending down to pick up the puppy.

“Hey Mom, Dad, we are going to leave. It’s snowing outside,” he informs them once we walk inside.

“Really? We should probably go too,” Micah says.

“Come on, let’s get a picture of everyone real quick,” Vivian suggests, picking up my camera.

“Here I can take it,” Tate offers.

“Don’t be silly. All of us girls can sit on the couch and you guys can stand behind it. I will sit it right here.” She walks over to a shelf on the wall and places it on there. “I’ll just set the timer that way you can be in it too.”

I look up to Slade to see him look from Tate to me. When his eyes meet mine, he gives me a big smile. I don’t know why he does not trust Tate. I wish he would just see that no one could ever take me away from him.

Vivian ushers us all over to the couch where all of us girls sit down and I place my puppy on my lap. The guys position themselves behind us and I smile when Slade puts his hands on my shoulders.

“Everyone smile. I only set the timer for sixty seconds,” Vivian urges.

*****

I walk inside our house and set the puppy down, letting her run wild in the house. I make my way to the kitchen and place some of the leftovers in the fridge. I had tried to tell Vivian we weren’t going to eat them. We leave tomorrow night and by the time we make it back home the food will be bad. She still made everyone take a little something home.

I open a bottle of wine and pour two glasses. We didn’t drink much at Vivian’s but I feel like having a glass to celebrate Christmas Eve. I pick up the glasses and walk into the bedroom. I frown when I don’t see Slade in there.

“Slade?”

“In the living room.”

I walk down the hallway and into the living room. I smile when I see him sitting on a blanket in front of a burning fireplace.

“Cozy?” I ask, cocking an eyebrow.

He pats the blanket beside him. “I will be when you join me.”

I hand him his glass of wine and sit down beside him. I lie down and look up to the fireplace, seeing the urn that holds both of my parents. It makes me wonder how my mother made it by herself through the holidays over the last five years. Growing up she would decorate the house like a mad woman. She always wore the over the top Christmas sweater and played Christmas music throughout the house.

I look around the living room to our overly huge Christmas tree in the corner along with the nativity scene. From the Christmas throw pillows that I placed on the couch to the garland, Christmas candles and inside lights, I might have over decorated myself this year. Slade didn’t seem to mind.

“You okay, Angel?”

“Yes.” I smile over at him. “Thank you for starting a fire.”

He nods and then turns and places his wine glass on the fireplace before he lies down beside me. “That was nice of your parents to get us a camera.” I have a camera that I bought back in college but I don’t use it anymore. I don’t even care to turn it on. It’s full of pictures of Jax and me. That feels like another lifetime to me now.

“Yes, that was
very
nice of them,” he agrees, cuddling up next to me.

“I think I’m going to have that picture of all of us from tonight blown up and put on the wall above the fireplace.” That way
all
my family can be together.

“I think that is a great idea.” He snuggles his head into my neck and starts giving it little kisses.

“Slade,” I say, sliding my hands up his side.

“Hmm?” he asks, running his hand up and down my thigh.

I place my hands between us and push on his chest, allowing me to look into his eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you, Angel.” He brushes hair off the side of my face. “Sit up,” he instructs, pulling away from me. I sit up and he lifts my shirt up and over my head. I reach behind me and unclasp my bra.

“Now, lie down.”

I obey and he undoes my pants and then slowly pulls down my zipper. I lift my hips up off the floor to allow him to pull them off along with my underwear.

Once I’m naked, he stands up and takes off his clothes. I pull my legs up and spread my knees as I rub my hands over my breasts. He stands there looking down at me with half hooded eyes and his lips slightly parted. I guide one hand between my legs, and I release a sigh at how good it feels to touch myself while I stare at him. From his broad shoulders, narrow hips and washboard abs, he has me moaning in anticipation for what I know is coming. For what I really want.

“Angel,” his voice is rough and deep.

I arch my back as I slide a finger inside of me.

“I need you, Slade,” I beg.

He positions himself on top of me, gazing down at me. “Then let me do it.” He grabs my hand and pulls it away, replacing my finger with his. “You know I know just how you like it,” he whispers hoarsely.

“You do,” I breathe out.

I run my hands up his back and grab a hold of his sides when he adds another finger.

He leans down, bringing his lips to mine. “That’s not enough, is it?” he growls. “You need more, don’t you?”

I nod my head.

“Say it, Angel. Tell me you need more,” he demands roughly as his fingers continue their torture.

“I need more,” I all but moan.

He removes his fingers and positions himself closer to me. I lift my head off of the floor and scream out when he thrusts himself all the way into me.

“That’s what I love to hear.” He grunts as he pulls out and slams back into me.

He slows his pace and lies down on top of me. Reaching up, he pushes the slick pieces of hair out of my face. Without warning, he rolls over, pulling me on top of him.

I place my hands on his chest, pushing myself to where I’m sitting up. I rock my hips back and forth, throwing my head back, taking in a deep breath, and closing my eyes.

“Fuck.” He grabs my hips, digging his fingers into them. I whimper at the pain and rake my nails across his chest.

His releases my thighs and my eyes spring open when he grabs my wrists, pulling me down to lie on his chest. His hands grasp both sides of my face and his tongue enters my mouth. I meet it with just as much intensity. Devouring his mouth as I lift my hips up and down in a fast pace. I pull away, my moans and loud cries filling the room along with the crackling of the fire.

He rolls me over again and we hit the coffee table, knocking it over, the items set atop of it crashing to the ground. He places his hands on my wrists, pinning my body down as he proceeds to fuck me. I wrap my shaky legs around his waist and take in deep breaths.

“Jesus,” he calls out as he thrusts, over and over, until he comes.

I lie there panting beneath him as he stares down at me. He reaches under my head and runs his hands around my neck.

“What are you doing?” I ask quietly.

“Trying to figure out where you hit the coffee table,” he states, still running his hands over my body.

I give a soft laugh. “I didn’t. I think it was you.”

He smiles. “Merry Christmas, Angel.”

“Merry Christmas, baby,” I whisper.

He stands up and leans over, lifting me in his arms. He carries me down the hallway and we enter the bedroom.

“Ahh. Slade look at her,” I say as I see the puppy lying on the floor at the end of the bed.

He chuckles as he places me in bed. He walks down to the end of the bed and picks up the puppy, and then goes to leave the bedroom. “Where are you going?” I ask, sitting up.

“To put her in her crate.”

“Let her sleep with us.” I pat the space in the middle of the bed.

He shakes his head quickly.

“Please, Slade? It’s Christmas.” I pout.

He sighs, defeated, and walks over to the bed and places her next to me. “Thank you.”

He leans over, giving me a soft kiss. “You’re welcome, but only for tonight.”

He heads toward the bathroom and I lie down with the puppy and close my eyes.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

SLADE

I sit next to Angel in the airport waiting for our plane to board as she speaks on her phone.

“Angel, get off the phone,” I say as I bend down to pick up her purse.

She nods, holding up her finger to me as we make our way to get in line to board the plane.

“Are you sure?” she asks, still on the phone. “She wouldn’t eat that yesterday.” She informs our neighbor of her puppy.

I shake my head, looking over at Micah. He and Holly laugh.

“She wanted to bring her,” I say quietly. “She actually called to check how much it would cost to fly her there this morning,” I explain to them. “I told her she did not need to come, that she was just fine with the neighbors.”

Just then, Tate walks up to stand behind us in line. I hold back a sigh. I was hoping he would miss the plane.

“Slade,” he greets, nodding his head.

“Tate,” I reply with a dead tone.

Holly gives me a hateful look and then turns to look at Tate. “Merry Christmas, Tate,” she says happily.

“Merry Christmas, Holly.”

“What did you do today?” she asks, stepping over to him.

“I slept in,” Is all he says.

I feel an instant pain of guilt as Angel’s words from last night come to mind about him not having any family here. I know how hard that must be for him.

I turn back around to face him. “Have you ever been to Ney York City?” I ask, trying to sound nice.

He shakes his head.

“Is that why you insisted on coming?” I smile tightly.

“Something like that.” Then he looks down to Angel and my guilt is gone. What does he plan on doing? Is he going to try to get her to say no to my proposal?

“She is doing great,” Angel confirms, getting my attention and hanging up her phone.

“Good.” I wrap an arm around her. “Guess what?” I whisper, leaning down to her ear.

“What?”

“We’re going to New York.”

“Yep.” She bounces up and down.

They announce that they are ready for us to board the plane and I pat my pocket, making sure that her engagement ring is still there. I don’t know what I’m more nervous about—her saying yes, or me losing it.

We board the plane and take our seats. I hand Angel my phone and she shuts it off along with hers before she places them both in her purse.

“I hope I packed everything.” She sighs, laying her head back against the headrest.

“I don’t think you forgot anything. You packed five bags for fuck’s sake.” I give a chuckle.

“Holy shit?” Micah says from across from us. “Five bags? How many of those bags are yours?” he asks, nodding toward me.

I look to Angel. “How many of those are mine?” I honestly have no idea what all she packed for me.

“Two,” she answers simply. “Has anyone heard from Courtney or Josh?” she questions, looking down to her watch.

“Not that I know of,” Holly answers.

“They better hurry up,” I say. This isn’t like Josh. He is never late.

A female voice comes over the intercom to notify us that we are going to be leaving in the next five minutes.

Then I hear Josh before he and Courtney come into view. “I told you we didn’t have time for that,” he scolds her harshly.

“And I believe I told you to make time for it!” she fires back.

“Pushing it a little close aren’t you guys?” Micah asks.

“Yeah, I’ve been saying that for the last two hours,” Josh complains, shoving a carry-on bag into the overhead compartment.

A flight attendant walks up to help him when she realizes his aggressiveness is not going to make it fit.

“Excuse me.” Courtney raises her hand to the flight attendant. “I need a Vodka and water,” she states.

“I’m sorry, miss, you will have to wait to order until we are up in the air. A flight attendant will come by and take your drink orders.” She walks away.

I smile over at Angel as she tries not to laugh at Courtney needing a drink. “This should be a fun flight,” she says sarcastically.

I wrap my arm around her and bring her close to me as I kiss her on her hair. “Take a nap, Angel. You need it after how late we stayed up last night.” I wiggle my eyebrows.

She releases a sigh and places her head on my shoulder. “That sounds like a good plan.”

*****

SAMANTHA

“Wow, look at that building,” Courtney exclaims, pointing to the tallest building I have ever seen.

“Damn, could you imagine having an office on the top floor? That would be awesome,” Micah states, bending his head all the way back and looking up to the top of the building.

I nod my head in agreement as I wrap my jacket tighter around myself. “You cold, Angel?” Slade asks, putting an arm around me and pulling me close.

I bob my head as my teeth chatter.

“Here.” He opens the side of his jacket and lets me snuggle up against him.

“It’s going to be hard to walk like this,” I say, pushing away from him. “I’m fine. We are almost back to the hotel.” We arrived last night, and then had dinner in the hotel restaurant before heading to bed to rest up for our busy trip.

We have been out all day and still only saw a little bit of New York. We’ve walked some, but had a car service for the most part of our day. We had the car drop us off for a late lunch and after decided to walk to the hotel. It is only a block from the restaurant and here you can walk faster than the traffic moves.

“I wanna go in there.” Courtney points to a store with nothing but purses in the display window.

We all dart into the store and I smile when I feel the heat hit my face. “I’m going to see if they have a restroom,” I say, looking at Slade.

“Okay. We will be right here,” he states, before turning to talk to his mother and father.

“I’ll go with you,” Holly suggests, following behind me.

“Excuse me. Where are your restrooms?” I ask a woman as she places purses neatly on a shelf.

“All the way to the back of the store on the left,” she informs us, a friendly smile on her face.

“Thank you,” I say, heading in the direction she pointed.

Holly and I walk into the restroom and I hear my phone ringing in my back pocket. I pull it out and answer.

“Hello?”

“Miss Hall. This is Officer White. I just wanted to inform you that Jeremy has pled guilty. Meaning we won’t need you to testify.”

That’s great! “Thank you. Glad to hear that.” I smile and nod to Holly as she looks at me confused.

“No problem. You have a good day,” he says before he hangs up.

“Jeremy pled guilty. Which means we don’t have to go to court. Meaning it stays our little secret.” I breathe a sigh of relief, placing my phone back in my pocket.

She gives me a big grin. “Serves him right.”

“Come on. Let’s go to the bathroom and get out of here before the guys come looking for us.”

*****

I pull the pretty silver sequins dress off the hanger and slide it over my head before I sit down on the bed. I then slip each foot into a black high-heel. I stand and walk over to the mirror.

I check over my smoky eyes and nude lipstick. I give a small smile to myself. We have had an awesome time here in New York. Slade has been a good sport and taken me to every single place I have wanted to go, from restaurants to shopping. Last night he took me to Rockefeller Center. It was like something out of a dream. The snow, the lights, it all took my breath away. Everyone ice-skated. I think we all spent more time falling than we did actually skating, and Vivian has the pictures to prove it.

I’m having the time of my life, yet when I look at myself in the mirror all I see is a frown. I keep wanting to call…well, anyone. I love that everyone got to come. Well, everyone except Missy. I’ve been sending her pics, and the girls and I have been calling her and putting her on speakerphone so she can be part of the fun. I have found myself several times wanting to call my mother to tell her how beautiful it is here. How much the city is decorated as if it’s a winter wonderland.

It’s been three months since she passed and it feels like a lifetime ago.

“Wow.”

I turn away from the mirror to find Slade standing in the doorway to the bedroom of our suite.

“You like it?” I spin around with my arms out to my sides.

He takes a step closer to me. “You look absolutely gorgeous,” he says in awe, as his baby blue eyes scan me up and down.

I give him a smile and look over at the messed up bed that we occupied about an hour ago.

“That dress. It looks fantastic on you.”

“Wanna take it off of me?” I ask, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

He comes to stand in front of me. He reaches out and traces the dip at the top of my dress with the pad of his finger as he slowly makes his way across my breasts. Once done, his hand finds its way to the base of my neck where he slips it into my hair.

I stand up and look up at him. “Why you being so quiet?” He’s been acting that way all day.

He stays silent, his eyes roaming all over my face and then down my body as his hand runs through my hair. “I love you so much.”

“How much?” I ask with a smile.

He leans down and gives me a soft kiss, before resting his forehead against mine. “More than anything, Angel. I love you more than anything in this world.”

It’s crazy how much you can love a person. I thought I knew love with Jax, but I didn’t have a clue about what love was. The love I feel for Slade is so strong that sometimes I think I’m dreaming.

“That’s how much I love you,” I whisper. “You’re my world.”

He gives me a little smile. “And you’re my forever.” He kisses me softly on the lips, but a knock on our hotel door interrupts us.

“I’ll get it.” He pulls away and walks out of our room.

I head into the living and look out the floor-to-ceiling windows here in our hotel suite on the 19
th
floor at the Plaza hotel—overlooking Times Square. The city looks beautiful from up here.

“Hello, dear. You look lovely.” I spin around to see Vivian enter the room.

“Hello, Vivian, you look gorgeous, as always.”

The rest of the group walks into the room and we all say our hellos and give hugs.

“Finally, pushing it a little close aren’t you?” Slade says, a little snappy to Josh. This reaction from him causes me to furrow my brow.

“It’s not that late. We still have ten minutes.” I check the time on the watch Slade gave me for Christmas, noting that he must be talking about when the ball drops. I smile as I admire the watch. It’s so beautiful. It’s a silver chain band with a pink face surrounded with diamonds. He had Josh make it for me. I have learned that he is very good when it comes to presents.

We all gather next to the window overlooking Times Square. I feel Slade come up behind me. I turn to face him and my smile drops off my face.

“Baby, are you okay?” He looks like he’s about to get sick at any second.

“I’m fine.” He gives a grin but it’s shaky.

“Are you feeling okay? Do you need to sit down?” I put my hand on his arm to steady him. He looks like he’s about to fall over.

He nods his head, and then changes his mind and shakes it really fast. “No. I’ll be fine.”

He reaches down and takes both of my hands in his.

“Angel, I know that this has been a hard year for you. I’m sorry for everything you’ve had to endure, but I’m glad I was by your side along the way.”

“Me too,” I say happily

“Angel.” He takes a deep breath. “You saved me. I never knew I was lost, but from the moment I heard your sweet voice over the phone, I just knew you were special. You were meant for me. My life before you was meaningless. Life since I met you….” He sighs. “My life with you has meaning and promise. Meanings I want us to learn together, and promises I want to keep. Angel, you are my meaning to live and I promise to fight for us, no matter how hard our life gets. Cause life without you….” He closes his eyes as if in pain. “It would be unbearable.” He opens his eyes. “I’m in love with you, Angel.”

He very slowly goes down on one knee and produces a box out of his pocket. Before I can put two and two together, he opens it, but I can’t pull my eyes away from his to look at the box.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, because without you, nothing feels important. I love you more than I ever knew was possible. I want you to be my wife. Marry me, Angel?”

My heart is pounding in my chest and my vision is getting blurry. I know this man loves me and I know I love him enough to give my life for him. And he is right. He is the most important person in my life.

“Yes. I’ll marry you,” I practically scream with joy.

He slips the ring on my finger and then stands, embracing me. He picks me up, spinning me around as we laugh, and I can hear the girls crying and the guys cheering. He sets me down, grabs my face, and gives me a hard kiss. I pull away and finally get a chance to look at the ring. I gasp.