Chapter 28

Dawson walked into his house, a slow grin spreading across his face when he saw Zoey at the stove cooking breakfast.

“Damn… you’re going to spoil me.” He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I wanted to surprise you,” she leaned into his body, pressing her lips to his.

“Smells good.”

Zoey finished the pancakes and moved them to the table. Sitting down, she smiled as she shoved a forkful of the buttery goodness into her mouth.

Dawson moaned, “Damn woman, these are fucking amazing!”

“So… I thought we could go get my stuff after I meet the contractor.”

“I’ll go with you to meet him. I just need to take a quick shower and change clothes.”

“Ok. I’ll clean up and go get ready myself.” Zoey gathered the dishes and dumped them into the sink.

“Or….” Dawson grabbed her and lifted her off the ground. “We can save water and get ready together.”

Dawson carried her into the bathroom and set her on her feet. He stripped his shirt off and turned on the water as Zoey peeled her clothes off. Once they were both naked, he laced his fingers with hers and tugged her into the stall.

Grabbing her, he fused their bodies together as he dominated her mouth. His rock-hard cock pressed into her belly as she rocked against him. The warm water cascaded over their skin as their bodies became one. Zoey moaned out in ecstasy as Dawson filled her to the brim. Their bodies moved in tandem. The steam of the shower filled the stall as they raced toward their release.

“I can’t get enough of you.” Dawson pressed his lips to the sensitive spot beneath Zoey’s ear.

Zoey flexed her body, her channel clenching around Dawson’s thick member. She couldn’t stop the pleasure taking control. Her orgasm burst out of her, every muscle quivering as she screamed out his name. Dawson grunted out, pounding into her pussy as his cum shot out like a dam breaking.

“Fuck…” Dawson eased her down on the ground and steadied himself against the wall. Zoey giggled, pressing a chaste kiss to his chest.

“Zoey… I know you say you don’t know what you did to deserve me. But baby—you’ve got it backwards. I don’t know what I did to deserve you. Damn, I’m in love with you.” He gathered her into his arms.

“We need to hurry. I’m supposed to meet the contractor soon and give him my answers on renovations.”

“Well, let me get you a towel.” Dawson cut off the water and hopped out. Grabbing a towel, he wrapped Zoey up and dried himself off. She scurried out of the bathroom, leaving Dawson to stare at his reflection.

He couldn’t help but glance into the room Zoey had disappeared into. Dawson knew he didn’t want to be apart from Zoey any more than he had to be. He was unequivocally in love with her.

Dawson stood beside Zoey as she spoke to the contractor. Looking at the remains of her business, he realized how close he’d come to nearly losing her. It made his body shudder.

“Hey,” Zoey put her hand on his back. She’d felt him shake. “You alright?” She quirked an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah—sorry. Just realizing how close I came to losing you when I look at this place.” He tugged her to his side and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“Well, you didn’t.” She shook hands with the contractor and bid him farewell. “So, what do you think?”

“About what?” Dawson stared at the charred structure.

“The remodel?”

“I think it’s going to look great, and I can’t wait to see it.”

“The contractor seems to think he can get it done in six months.”

“Wow, that’s quick.”

“Yeah—until then, I’m going to ramp up my online sales. I hope you don’t mind me turning your spare bedroom into a mini shop.”

“Zoey. It’s your house now too.”

“I mean, I guess.” She blushed.

“I’m serious.”

“I know, Dawson… but the reality is I’m just your girlfriend. It’s still your house.”

“Let’s fix that then.”

“What?” Zoey turned to face him.

“Let’s fix that. Make it your house, too.”

“You’re not making any sense, Dawson.”

“Zoey –when I look at this building, I see how close I came to not having you in my life… and that scares me. It makes me realize how fast things can change.”

Dawson took her hand in his. “I want to wake up with you for the rest of my life. I want you to come and see me at work whenever you get the chance. I want to watch you rebuild this business… but most of all, I want you, Zoey. Marry me. Say you’ll be mine forever.”

Zoey gasped, “Dawson.” She watched as he got down on one knee on the sidewalk.

“Please, Zoey. Marry me. Be my wife. Let me love you until the end of time.”

“Yes,” Zoey’s tears spilled down her face as she squatted in front of him. Cradling his face in her hands, she whispered as she pressed her lips to his, “Yes… I love you, Dawson.”

They stayed there, half kneeling on the sidewalk in one another’s embrace. Dawson finally broke their kiss. “Let’s go.”

He stood, tugging her up with him.

“Where are we going?”

“To the jeweller. We need to get a ring on that finger, so the world knows you’re mine.”

Dawson practically dragged her down the sidewalk, rushing towards the tiny jewellers on the corner. Zoey couldn’t stop laughing as she kept pace with him.

“Slow down, Dawson.”

“I can’t help it… I want everyone to know how much I love you, Zoey.”

Zoey blushed at his words. The reality of her future made her grin stretch across her face. She was going to marry this man. A man who loved her for her and supported her dreams with no question. Zoey tugged his hand, bringing him to a stop outside the shop.

“Dawson,” she gripped his hand in hers, “I don’t need a ring. I just need you.”

“I just need you too, baby. But I need a damn ring on your finger, so every man knows you’re taken. So, let’s do this.”

He pulled open the door, holding it for Zoey to walk in. “I love you, Dawson.”

“And I love you, Zoey. Let’s go start forever.”