The more time I spend with Tawny, the more I fall in love with her. Kissing her, making love to her, holding her, and making her smile have me wanting more of her. It also makes me feel I could do this with Tawny until the day I take my last breath.

And that scares me.

After Alexandra destroyed my heart into a thousand pieces, I never thought I'd see the day of thinking about spending my life with another woman. And here I am, thinking how wonderful it would be to have Tawny by my side forever.

However, the more I feel that way about Tawny, the more it frightens me. And that's my biggest fear right now—losing her.

I know I told myself and others; I wasn't ready to make one of the biggest commitments a man could make, but the more I think about losing Tawny, the more willing I am to ask for her hand—making her mine for the rest of my life.

So, I decided to surprise Tawny with a proposal. When? I don't know, but I can guarantee it will be coming soon, right after I find that perfect ring to accentuate that beautiful finger of hers.

Since coming back from the Dells almost three weeks ago, I've spent numerous days searching for the "one" to pop the question with.

Now I know why I haven't found it.

And it's because the rings I've looked at didn't come from my heart, and they didn't show how I genuinely feel about Tawny. Instead, the diamond rings displayed inside those clear glass counters came from a designer's imagination, looking to sell their thought on what other couples' sacred union should mean to the buyers. Don't get me wrong, they were all beautiful, and I know Tawny would have loved what I picked out, but after everything she has been through, I wanted to give her a ring with meaning, my loyalty to her, and to show how she means the world to me.

After nearly three weeks of looking and ensuring that spending the rest of my life with Tawny was what I truly wanted, I decided to design Tawny's ring. A ring she'll be proud to wear, knowing that it's my promise to love her and only her forever. And one she'll know that came directly from my heart.

So, here I am, at a jeweler, explaining every bit of detail on how I want Tawny's ring to look. And now that I have described exactly what I'm looking for, I'm more than excited to see the final results. And more than anxious to surprise Tawny with my promise to her.

"How long do you think it will take to make the ring?"

"It'll take anywhere from four to eight weeks for the ring to get back to us."

Four to eight weeks. I'm not sure I can wait that long to see the final results. I also don't know if I can wait that long to ask Tawny to be mine for life. But if that's how long it'll take, then so be it. I'll just continue showing her that her life with me will be a life of happiness and one with no regrets.

My fingers drummed the top of the jeweler's desk as I thought about how much longer it would be to propose to Tawny. And since we've only been together for a little over four months, I felt waiting another couple of months to offer her the world wouldn't hurt either. Finally, my fingers stopped moving, and I looked up at the jeweler. "Okay, I guess it is what it is."

"Don't worry; it'll be worth the wait. And I'm sure the love of your life will be more than honored to sport a ring you've designed."

"Knowing Tawny and how her heart works, she will."

I can only hope.

The jeweler stood, extending his hand towards me with a smile. "We'll be in touch."

I took his offer and shook his hand. "Thank you. I will definitely be staying in touch."

Some people feel the only way they'll feel good about life is by getting high from drugs. Not me. I have a better choice that gives me the same feeling they're looking to get. Instead of drugs, I choose to get high on life and only wish to overdose on happiness.

And right now, I'm excited and so fucking high on life; I feel like I'm soaring through the air and into the clouds.

After leaving the jewelry store, all I kept thinking about was how that ring would look and how it would look on Tawny's finger. And I couldn't help but imagine what the look on her face would be for when the day came; I got down on one knee and pleaded for her hand in marriage. I also told myself now was the time to get the situation between Tawny and me straightened out and that I needed to finally admit my part in the infamous nightclub she and her best friend ran into me months ago.

So, I drove to see my attorney, wishing to immediately get things cleared up between Tawny and me.

"I understand you and Miss Kincaid have reconciled, and the two of you have become quite close, but is this still what you want to do?"

"Yes," I insisted. "It's precisely what I want to do."

"I have to ask you this. What if your relationship with Tawny ends? What will you do about what she owes you?"

The room became quiet as I sat in the chair, thinking about Tawny, the accident, and the future I wish to have with her. "She doesn't owe me a penny," I admitted, finally, after a long period of silence.

Randy's face went from looking serious to confused. "What are you talking about? She owes you for the Lamborghini, the hospital bills, and the pain and suffering she caused."

I shook my head, showing him I disagreed. "As I said, she owes me nothing. And to be honest, it's her I owe. So, every fucking penny the courts ordered her to pay is what I should pay her."

Randy's eyebrows formed together. "You're not making any sense. None whatsoever. We went to court over this, Ian. You won; she lost. Tawny caused the accident. She totaled your car; she's the one who caused your hospital stay, along with the pain and suffering you had to deal with after leaving the hospital."

"I may have won in court, but I can't go on living a lie."

"Lie?" he asked, furrowing his brows. "What lie?"

I took a deep breath, raised my hands to my face, and rubbed it before letting all the air I inhaled out. "The lie that it was me who caused the accident."

He looked at me in disbelief and then shook his head. "What? Come on, Ian. You're only saying that because you fell in love with the woman." He pointed his finger at me. "I still remember what you said to me that last day we were in court. About how you would make her life miserable and would then do everything in your power to make her unavailable to other men. So what I'd like to know is, which one is a lie? Are you lying about the accident, your relationship with her, or is it both?"

I sat forward, with my hands folded together on the desk. "I did say I'd make Tawny's life miserable and unavailable to other men, to which I did make her life hell. But doing what I was all changed when I fell in love with her; that part isn't a lie. What the lie is, is the one who caused the accident."

I looked down at my hands. "Remember when I mentioned to you about how I called the courts to work out an agreement that all money Tawny paid I'd take control of instead of having her deal with them? And we opened a separate account to put the money she paid into it?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Well, the truth is. I opened it for Tawny. Not me. That was my way of saving her money for her. Every fucking penny she gave me and what I've taken out of her paychecks went into that account. After seeing where she lived, what she had, and so forth, I felt there was no reason for me to take the money she didn't have away from her. And you know as well as I that I have the cash to get back what I've lost; she didn't or doesn't. So, with that said. I will ask that you put that account in her name. I would also like you to deposit this," I said, removing an envelope from the inside of my jacket pocket and handing it to him. "That, too, needs to go into the account."

Randy took the envelope from my hand, opened it, and removed the check. Then he looked at me. "That's the amount she owes you."

"No, it's the amount I owe her. The courts are already aware that what she owes is paid off. All I need is for that account to be in her name, with paperwork providing proof it's hers, along with the amount in that account."

He stared at the check, blowing air out of his mouth.

"Don't worry, you'll get the rest of the money I owe you, but after you do this for me."

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"Of course, I do. It's the right thing to do, especially since that's what's been heavily weighing on my mind since remembering the entire accident a couple of months back. I want to blame my ex for the accident since Alexandra messaged me, saying our wedding was off. But that I can't do either. It was my fault for looking at my phone instead of what I should have been doing, driving. And I'm honest when I say this, but everything Tawny claimed and fought in court was correct."

Randy combed his fingers through his ebony-colored hair. "You do know that if you and Tawny were to break up and want to hurt you and your reputation, as you did to her, she could turn around and sue you for libel."

"Tawny isn't like that. She would never do such a thing. Besides, she wouldn't sue me since everything the court ordered her to pay is in that account."

I leaned back in the chair, crossing my arms against my chest. "How about the other thing I asked you to do a few weeks back? How is that coming along?"

Randy spun his chair around, stood, then walked to the filing cabinet. He removed a file, then walked back over and set it down in front of me. "The paperwork came in earlier this morning. All she needs to do now is to sign it."

I reached for the file, then opened it and looked over each written piece of document. Then, seeing how all looked good, I closed the file, handed it back to Randy, and smiled. "Excellent. She'll be fucking thrilled."

"Again, I will say, I hope you know what you're doing."

I stood, adjusting my tie. "I know exactly what I'm doing. Anyway, now that we've gotten this all cleared up, I better hurry and get my ass out of here before Tawny thinks I stood her up." I reached across his desk, shaking Randy's hand. "Thank you for everything. Please call me after you have everything switched to her name."

"Will do. And good luck with your proposal to Miss Kincaid."

"That won't be for another month or two, but thank you, anyway."

***

"You're in an awfully good mood this evening. Should I be worried?" Tawny asked, looking bothered as we entered the restaurant.

Before opening the second set of doors, I stopped, then stepped in front of her, cupping either side of her face, smiling like I had won the lottery. "I'm in a good mood because of you."

Her face scrunched, looking confused. "Me? What did I do?"

I pressed my lips to hers.

"Don't ask what you did. Because you've done a lot, way more than you even realize."

"Oh? How so?"

I twisted my wrist towards me to look at the time; seeing we had about ten more minutes until our reservation, I continued. "First of all, you inspired me to want to change who I was becoming and to be a better man. But I'm in a good mood because you look sexy as fuck and that it's I who have the honor of dining with you tonight. Not to mention, I'm thrilled to show you off and call you mine. Not just tonight, but every day, every night, and everywhere we go together."

She looked down, then up, grinning ear to ear. "Would you like me to model this for you, too?"

"I'd rather you model for me naked." I winked. "But that's all right. I've been checking it out since we left my place, anyway. Plus, it's time we check-in."

Tawny turned towards the door, and as I reached for the door handle, she said something that instantly hardened my dick. "After dinner. Let's go back to your place. That way, I can model for you, naked, all while wearing these red high heels. Does that sound like a plan?"

I opened the door for her, and then, as we headed to the hostess station, I made sure to hide the bulge in my pants while leaning to her ear, quietly saying, "You're trying to give me blue balls again, aren't you?"

I noticed her cheek rising. Of course, she'll say no to fuck with me, but I know better. It's exactly what she wants to do.

"No, I wouldn't do that."

"Liar."

She's looking for fun tonight. Which only means she will do or say stuff that'll earn her to get disciplined.

I've got her all figured out.

The hostess immediately walked us to our table, where Isaac and Andrew were seated. Tawny leaned to me, whispering, "Did you know they were going to be here?"

I turned my head her way. "I sure did," I happily responded. I pulled out a chair for her, and then after she sat, I kissed her cheek. "I forgot to mention the other reason that helped put me in the mood I'm in. But they're here to give you some good news."

"It's nice to see you again," Andrew said Isaac, repeating the same and shaking her hand. "I take it Ian never mentioned you'll be meeting with us tonight?"

Tawny looked at me, then at Andrew. "No, he never said anything."

The guys laughed. "Typical Ian. He's always full of surprises," Isaac teased.

"We won't stay long; that way, you two can still enjoy your night out," Isaac said, looking over at Andrew. "Right?"

"Unless they want us to stay," Andrew said, looking at Tawny. I immediately noticed how he looked at her and didn't like it. So, I quickly hinted that Andrew better back off by giving him the evil glare while clearing my throat. Thankfully, he got the hint. "Anyway, Ian mentioned he was taking you here tonight, and we felt that this would be the perfect place to congratulate you on your newfound success."

"Success?" Tawny questioned.

"A week ago, your paintings were distributed throughout the country, and they were an instant hit amongst art lovers," Isaac enlightened while handing her a portfolio.

Tawny quickly opened it and looked at each page as Isaac enlightened her. "Those are all the locations where your painting sold and where art dealers are asking for more copies. We also included some of the pictures art museums had sent us, showing where you can find your painting. You did, however, manage to sell a copy five times more than the listing price."

Tawny's eyes widened as she looked up. "Five times? To who?"

"We have no idea. But whoever it was, that person wanted your painting badly." Isaac said.

Jefferson Thomas. I'll bet everyone here it was him.

"We have a couple of checks here to give you. The first one is the advance per the contract you signed. And the other check is the profit you made as of yesterday."

"I'm already profiting? How? I thought I don't make a profit until I've sold enough copies to cover the check advance?"

They laughed, and I couldn't help but laugh with them. Then, not wanting to embarrass Tawny, knowing she hasn't quite comprehended how this works, I leaned to Tawny's ear, explaining it all to her.

"Wow, this is..." she quietly said, in awe.

I covered her hands when I saw them shaking and moved my mouth to hers, kissing them with a smile. "Congratulations, sugar lips, you're now the famous artist you've wished to become."

"Before we leave the two of you be, I have to ask if you've created any more paintings?" Isaac asked, finishing off his glass of water.

"I have, yes. A few of them, actually," Tawny admitted, surprising me. And now, I cannot wait to see those paintings.

"Great! If possible, we'd like to see those paintings as soon as, let's say, Monday morning. Will that work?"

She looked at me. "I'll have to go back up north to get them. They're in my closet."

I turned to Isaac and Andrew. "We'll be there first thing in the morning."

I was more than excited for Tawny. She earned this moment, and now more than ever, I cannot wait to surprise her with what I'll be giving up so that she can have what she's always wanted. Another dream she's had since grade school.

With all the excitement, instead of Tawny filling her belly with food, she wanted to celebrate, filling her stomach with the good ole bubbly—champagne. After her third glass of sparkling wine, she insisted we leave and that we head straight to my place to continue celebrating.

The moment I opened my front door and Tawny stepped inside, she grabbed my hand, pulled me in, then slammed the door closed and shoved me against it. Then, while lowering to her knees, she unzipped my pants, then aggressively pulled down my pants, breathing, "Don't you dare try stopping me."

And just like that. Tawny's mouth was wrapped around my cock, cleaning my rifle like never before. Long slow licks from tip to bottom, her tongue teasing the head of my dick before deep throating, causing me to lose track of where we were and who I was as her moans vibrated against my hardened shaft.

My eyes were fighting to close, but my mind insisted that I watch her worship the gift God had given me. And she praised it well, so well that I was on the verge of giving her an extra shot of calcium by milking her teeth.

I tried prying her up, but all that did was cause her to suck me harder. Becoming a burglar as she robbed every bit of my protein blind.

Tawny's head raised, and the bedroom eyes displayed on her gorgeous face sent waves of electricity, shocking me throughout my body, nearly causing me to collapse. Her mouth curved into a waggish grin, and with her eyes still on me, studying the exhilarated look on my face, she wiped her mouth dry, using the back of her hand.

My hand extended out, offering to help her stand. As she stood, I pointed my finger at her, smiling as I spoke. "You're in big trouble, woman."

She giggled. "What for? All I did was show you how appreciative and thankful I am for having you in my life and for everything you have done for me. Everything that took place tonight would have never happened without your help."

I rested my hands on her hips, then pulled her to, proudly saying, "You're welcome. And I appreciate how you chose to thank me; it felt fucking incredible. But you didn't have to do it the way you did."

"Sure I did," she coquettishly smiled. "I've owed you one of those since we were in the Dells, and tonight, I wasn't about to allow you to stop me. Now that I got that out of my system, I'm ready to continue what I've started."

I don't think so. I know what Tawny's got cooking inside that head of hers, but unbeknownst to her, I've got other plans. "I'm sorry, sugar lips, but there'll be no disciplining in the bedroom tonight. Your smile throughout the night lit up the entire room, and because I love seeing the corners of your mouth turned up, exposing your pearly whites that help cause your eyes to twinkle brightly, I want the bedroom to light up the same way. So, I'm going to do as I did a few weeks back—make love to you."

Tawny's happiness is my happiness. But how she's blown me away with what she does, how she makes me feel, and how every time I look at her, I see the rest of my life in front of my eyes, and that fear I've felt lately of losing her becomes much more unsettling.

The more that unsettling feeling roamed my mind, the harder I tried to keep my focus on only making love to Tawny. But then, once all of our energy expired, I felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere, like there was a storm beginning to brew.

Thinking it was just me being paranoid, I shook it off.

I looked Tawny in the eye, thinking about how our future would be while caressing the side of her face, while she gently ran her fingertips up and down along my backside. Her gentle touch, smile, and the love that showed in her eyes helped ease and relax me. And I couldn't help but confess my honesty. "I love you, Tawny. Please, don't ever forget that."

The upward curving of her lips made me smile. And my grin became much more when she, too, admitted how she felt. "Don't worry. I won't forget. And don't you ever forget that I, too, love you."

Then the unexpected came out of my mouth, surprising me. "Marry me."

Her fingers stopped strolling along my back, and her eyes widened in surprise. Then, after a long moment of silence, her eyes closed while saying, "No."

Fuck...

I lowered my head in shame. The next thing I felt was her finger resting under my chin before lifting it for our eyes to meet. "I say no because you asked me on what I would call an impulsive urge. I love you more than you think I do, but I'm in no rush to get married."

"I understand," I answered sadly. Wishing my mouth would have remained as silent as the room was.

The palms of her soft hands rested on my cheeks. "Hey, I'm not saying that I'll never marry you. I just don't feel we must get married this soon, that's all. But who knows? I'm a woman, and you know as well as I that our minds change constantly," she added, assuring me her mind isn't all that set just yet.

I rolled off her, pulling her with me and nestling her into my arms. "Forget I even said anything. Let's just enjoy the rest of the night by snuggling in each other's arms. Okay?"

***

The last thing I needed to deal with today was how a couple of my employees called in to let Arnie know they couldn't make it to work.

And who does he call to cover the shifts?

Me...

Fucking me.

Arnie insisted that if I didn't cover one of the performers' shifts, the busiest night of the week and our most considerable money-maker area of the nightclub would have to be closed for the evening.

And I'm freaking the fuck out.

I hadn't performed any of these acts since before hooking up with Tawny. And now that I have a woman I'm more than ready to spend the rest of my life with, I'm stuck with a predicament I didn't fucking need.

Not fucking today.

Or ever, for that matter.

Despite my protest, I sat in the dressing room, staring at my attire, while apologizing to Tawny for what I was about to do.

Now I know why I felt a storm coming in. And it's not just some tiny storm; it's one massive storm that'll be producing tornados.

I hesitantly walked to the stage area, and the second my partner came into view, not only did my stomach fall to the ground, but so did my heart.

"IAN!?"

"SKYE!?"

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!!🤞🤞