Joy's Valentine (4 page)

“Completely worth it,” Eli said cutting her off. He slid the long slender box into her hand and she gasped.

“Jewelry?” she asked staring at the blue box.

“I intentionally set the bar high,” he teased.

“I doubt anyone could top this Valentine’s Day,” muttered Joy.

He tucked a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his own. “No one will ever get a chance to try,” he vowed.

Joy’s eyes widened and she pulled back. “You can’t mean…”

“Marriage is exactly what I mean.”

She shook her head wildly. “It’s way too soon to talk about something like that,” Joy said dropping her gaze again.

“I know,” said Eli deftly undoing the bow around her gift as it sat in her hands. “I haven’t met your family yet. I just want you to know my intentions and that you can be sure I am in love with you.”

“I’m in love with you, too!” Joy exclaimed then clapped a hand over her mouth as if she hadn’t meant to say it.

Eli grinned. “Are you sure you want to say that before you see your present?”

Joy’s laugh turned into a gasp when Eli pulled the top off the box. “Oh…my.”

He pulled the tennis bracelet from its nest and secured it around her wrist. Joy twisted her hand, watching the way the emeralds and diamonds glinted in the moonlight. “It’s beautiful,” she confessed as tears formed.

“No, it’s expensive,” said Eli, “
you’re
beautiful.”

He captured her smile against his lips and used his bulk to lay her on her back. Joy parted her lips, allowing his tongue access to her own. She moaned as his large hands began to explore the contours of her curves. His touch lingered on her bare stomach just before he slipped his hand beneath her camisole and found her breasts. His hand brushed over both pert nipples and she gasped.

Joy’s hands traveled over Eli’s back as he abandoned her mouth to nibble at her neck. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of her pants and tugged them down. She lifted her hips to help him get her thong off without ripping them for a change. Eli captured a nipple between his teeth. Joy gasped at the sharp pain of his bite then began mewling when he licked it. He gave her other nipple the same treatment, trading a lot of pleasure for just a little pain. Her hands fisted in his dark hair as she let her head fall back. The stars above her seemed to wink and didn’t go away when she closed her eyes.

“Eli,” she moaned when his thick fingers entered her pussy. He used his thumb to rub her sensitive clit causing her to choke out his name again. As if coming out of a daze he lifted his head from her breast.

“Shouldn’t we take this inside?” Joy asked when he finally focused on her face.

“Private beach, love,” he said shaking his head.

“Well, don’t you just have all the answers!” she quipped as he moved over her, using his knee to part her legs farther. He made quick work of his belt and jeans; shoving them off with such force they landed clear of the blanket.

He claimed her mouth once again as he lifted her legs to his waist. Joy cried out when he entered her. She took his entire length and groaned loudly when he bottomed out.

Eli felt his body tighten when he was completely inside her. His body wanted to
fuck
her but he’d already done that. This time had to be special, no matter what he wanted physically, he
needed
to make love to Joy. He
needed
to show her that his profession of love wasn’t empty words said just for the sake of a day on the calendar. Eli was in love and now that he’d admitted it, he had to show her.

Eli didn’t move; just used a finger to trace the wings of her secret butterfly tattoo.

Joy couldn’t take it much longer. Eli was torturing her. He was inside her, putting all her nerves on edge then he took his sweet time setting her skin aflame with his wandering hands. “Please, Eli,” she moaned.

His gaze left her body art and found her face again. “I love you,” he whispered before giving in to her pleas and moving in and out of her.

Joy’s hips lifted clear of the blanket to meet his thrusts, driving him even deeper. Eli touched his forehead to hers. His eyes were closed, but she could tell by the tension in his jaw that she wasn’t making it easy for him to go on much longer.

“I love you too, Eli,” Joy whispered. His eyes opened and he smiled. Joy yelped as his hands gripped her hips in order to gain even more depth with each stroke. Within minutes she screamed in the throes of her orgasm.

Eli let out his own primal noise as the spasms in her tight sheath elicited his own release. He felt his body give completely to hers and kissed the curve of her full lips as she came down from her ecstasy. He settled beside her and Joy rolled into his wall of a chest. The thin sheen of sweat on her skin gave her a chill in the night air. He pulled her close and buried his nose in her hair.

“Let’s get dressed and go back to the house,” Eli whispered after a few minutes. He didn’t mind lying naked under the stars, but it was getting late and their flight left the next day. They still had to go back to the condo to get their luggage before heading to the airport.

Joy nodded against his chest. “Okay, just as soon as I’m able to walk again.”

They laughed and spent another hour in whispered conversation before dressing and going back to the house. Joy fished her cell from her purse while Eli got ready for bed. She dialed her voicemail box.

“You have ten new messages,” the female voice informed her.

She shut the phone without listening to any of her messages. She knew for certain that most of them were from her mom, and maybe one from her sister. She also assumed one may be from her best friend Yasmin who had been calling every few days for updates on what was going on between her and Eli. “I’m gonna have hell to pay when I get home,” she mumbled as she turned down the bed.

“What’s that, love?” Eli asked walking out of the bathroom.

“Uh…we’ll soon be on our way home,” Joy said putting on a smile and slipping between the sheets. She didn’t want to burden him with the fact that he’d soon be under the gun of his mother’s disproving glare and incessant questioning. For now, she just wanted to get some sleep. She’d worry about that later.

The End

Destiny Wallace grew up in North Carolina.  She’s been writing stories since the first grade.  After graduating high school, she spent four years in the military.  She currently resides in Florida with her husband and children.

Red Rose Publishing

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