A year later…
“Brendon, where in the hell are you taking me?” Crystal asked, blindfolded, hands outstretched as she tried to keep her balance in the five-inch heels she wore.
“What part of ‘it’s a surprise’ did you not understand?” he retorted, guiding her by the waist as he stood behind her.
“Ha ha, smart ass,” she muttered, walking slowly despite his guidance.
“Have I mentioned how beautiful you look tonight?” he whispered in her ear.
She shivered as his warm breath caressed her ear and his hands stroked her waist. Crystal had on a sleeveless nude Jovani gown with a deep vee in the front. The backless dress was molded to her curves, as if it had been made with her in mind.
Last week she’d received a huge bouquet of three dozen roses, a box of her favorite chocolate-covered caramels, and a fancy invitation requesting her presence to a night of intrigue. Dress code: formal attire. She’d clutched the card to her chest with one hand and used the other to push Brendon back from where he was underneath his desk, enjoying a nice wet treat, courtesy of her pussy.
Crystal had come to his office to finalize the plans for their tiny home project’s grand opening. He’d made her set an appointment with him for the meeting. Upon entering his office he’d immediately grabbed her around the waist and kissed her as if he hadn’t just seen her a couple of hours before.
The next thing she knew, he’d sat her down on his chair behind his desk and lowered to his knees, raising her skirt up and pulling her panties down. His mouth latched onto her clit and her back arched in the chair, her hands automatically clutching his head, thrusting her sex further into his mouth. Before she could climax, though, his secretary knocked on his door and said she had a delivery for Crystal.
Brendon wouldn’t budge from her clit and Crystal couldn’t form any words. He moved so that he was under the desk, out of eyesight, winking at her as he called for Erica, his assistant, to enter. He then pulled the chair forward so that her upraised skirt wouldn’t be visible and resumed feasting.
Crystal had only had enough time to school her features into the best version of pleasant she could with his mouth working over her womanhood. Luckily, Erica could hardly see her as she walked, in hidden behind the huge bouquet of roses.
“What are you smiling about?” Brendon whispered in her ear.
“Remembering how you went down on me at your office last week,” she moaned, breathing increasing.
“You liked that, baby?” he asked, licking the side of her neck.
A river flowed from her womanhood, soaking the crotch of her panties. “Mmm…” she moaned.
“You wet, baby? You want me to take you back to the limo and take care of you?” he asked, huskily.
Crystal stopped and tried to turn around, ready to rip the blindfold off of her face and drag him back to the limo. Brendon’s grip on her waist prevented her from turning around.
“Breeeenndooonnn,” she whined, stomping her feet, wobbling a little when she slightly lost her balance.
He chuckled darkly in her ear as he steadied her. “Patience, baby, the reward will be everything you could ever imagine, love.”
She grumbled, but kept walking. “You’d better back up all this talk, I know that.”
He swatted her on the bottom, the heat from his palm spreading throughout her body as the sting radiated and went straight to her clit, making her falter again.
“Behave and I’ll definitely reward you. Besides, we’re here,” he said, stopping and moving around to remove her blindfold.
Crystal blinked several times to clear her eyesight, and then her eyes widened.
“Are you serious?” she asked, smiling widely at Brendon and draping her arms around his neck.
He returned her embrace and placed a chaste kiss on her ruby red lips. “You said you wanted to dine here one day, so here we are.”
Here was Dinner in the Sky, a restaurant that seated you at a table and then hoisted you one hundred and fifty feet in the air along with waitstaff and your food. Crystal bounced on the tips of her toes and clasped her hands, looking around.
“Will it be just the two of us?” she asked as they walked into the building.
Crystal received another surprise. Her sisters and their dates were waiting for them, along with one of his former teammates, Albert, and his wife, Corinne.
Crystal walked as fast as she could in the dress and heels and embraced her sisters and their dates, saying hello to Albert and Corinne, both of whom pulled her into warm embraces. Turning to Brendon, she smiled at him, her heart full. She walked back over to him and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you, but what’s all of this for? Are we having a private celebration for the tiny home opening?” she asked him, looking him in his eyes as she caressed his cheek.
An older black gentleman approached and interrupted whatever Brendon was about to say. “Mr. Marks, your table is ready, if you and your guests could please follow me.”
The group followed the man outside and sat at their table, listening to the staff as they instructed them on how to correctly put on their harness. The staff walked around, making sure everyone was safely and correctly strapped in before they got into positions themselves. With a slight lurch, they began to rise slowly and Crystal’s heart lifted, as well, until it was lodged in her throat.
She reached out and grabbed Brendon’s hands, squeezing tightly as she closed her eyes. Maybe telling him this was her dream was a mistake.
“Open your eyes, baby girl, the view of the city is breathtaking,” Brendon murmured in her ear, squeezing her hand.
Crystal opened her eyes and gasped. The scene around her was straight out of a movie. The city lights shined brightly, and the view of the Seraphina River was amazing. They had a bird’s eye view of Springfield below them. The ambience from the candles on the table and the vases of pink and white roses competed with the natural beauty of the sun setting.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked at Brendon, the love of her life. “Thank you, baby, this is amazing.”
He kissed her cheek and then ran the back of his hand across it. “Anything for you, my love.”
The waiters immediately began dispersing their food and everyone chatted as they ate. She had grilled lobster with asparagus and twice baked potatoes. A nice white wine accompanied her meal. Brendon had mahi-mahi over steamed rice with broccoli on the side. The mahi-mahi reminded her of her trip to Zanzibar, and she reflected on how far they had come.
Over the last year, they’d had many disagreements, especially when she refused to move in with him six months into their relationship, but true to their word, they didn’t run away from the difficult conversations. They talked then and there, always being respectful of the other’s opinions and feelings.
She looked around at their family and friends, smiling at how happy everyone looked. When she turned back to Brendon, another surprise waited. While she’d been admiring the scenery and lost in her memories, the wait staff had removed her plate and replaced it with another one, but this one had a black ring box sitting open on it.
Everyone quieted and Crystal’s wide eyes were glued to the large vintage ring that looked to be at least five carats, with a center pear-shaped diamond surrounded by two rows of round diamonds. The white gold band was wrapped with two rows of round diamonds and a row of baguette diamonds in the middle.
Lifting tear-stained eyes to Brendon, Crystal opened and closed her mouth several times, bringing trembling fingers to her lips.
Eyes steady on her., Brendon cupped her cheek. “Crystal Jasmine Harris. I’ve known you since high school and been in love with you since then, I just didn’t know it. We’ve wasted so many years, but I don’t want to waste any more time. I love you today, but not as much as I’ll love you tomorrow. My love for you grows daily, astounding even me at how deep it is. I never knew love could be transformative, but you have transformed me into a better man. You are truly my other half. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, bearing my children, and loving me through sickness and in health, through good times and bad times, until the end of time?”
As he spoke, tears streamed down her face until she was sobbing into his hand. “Yes, Brendon, I will absolutely marry you. You are my very own fairy-tale hero and the owner of my heart.”
Brendon slipped the ring on her finger and sealed their engagement with a kiss as all around the table their family and friends cheered and congratulated them. The wait staff popped bottles of champagne, but the celebrating was lost on Crystal and Brendon as they kissed through it all.
Pulling back, Brendon cupped Crystal’s face. “I love you, baby girl. Always have and always will.”
She smiled back at him. “I love you too, now and forever.”