Epilogue

Eight years later…

"Idon't like this, petal," I say as I feel her tug my hand.

"That's only because you're blindfolded," she giggles, and I almost trip as I take another step towards her.

"Of course it is!"

"Come on, let me be in control one time."

She asks so sweetly that I sigh and give in. We both know how this is going to end up, but I'm going to let her have her fun for now.

Suddenly I hear the door open and I can feel sunshine on my face.

"Okay, Ava, what the hell are you doing?" I say as she leads me into the back yard.

"Look, you're always the one to be romantic. You've spent our entire relationship giving me what I want and making my dreams come true."

"That's my job," I say quizzically. What else does she expect? "But if you don't tell me what is going on I'm going to take this blindfold off."

"You will not! I've spent months trying to plan this out and you are not about to ruin it." Her grip tightens on my hand as we walk out into the grass. "Just one more second."

I sigh and try to be patient as she moves around behind me. I feel her finger undoing the knot at the back of my head and she tells me to keep my eyes closed. The material slips free and she moves back around to my front and I can almost hear how excited she is.

"Okay, open your eyes!" she shouts, and I do as I'm told.

"Ava, what did you do?" I say, my eyes widening in shock.

"Surprise!" She's bouncing on her toes as she points to the hot-air balloon that"s parked in our backyard.

"How?" is all I can manage to say as the team of people all hold on to ropes to keep it in place.

"I called around. I wanted to do something big for you and it just kind of snowballed from there." She twists her fingers together and looks nervous. "You don't like it?"

The look in her eyes nearly breaks my heart and I force myself to smile as big as I can. I wrap my arms around her and scoop her up as I kiss her cheeks. "Of course I love it. This is the most romantic thing ever."

I don"t mention that I'm terrified of heights and that I really hope we're just going to look at it and not get inside. I can't break her heart and it seems she's got it set on this. She tugs my arm towards the basket and I realize we are indeed getting in it and lifting off the ground. I feel my heart racing, but for her I can do anything. So instead of keeping my feet planted I follow her into the basket below the giant balloon.

"Isn't this amazing?" she asks excitedly as the operators come over and help us in and then lock it closed. "I've always thought this was just the most romantic thing ever."

"Sure, I can see that," I say, gripping the edge with sweaty hands as the people holding the ropes stand back.

"We're going to be holding on to you guys the whole time, so enjoy your time and just radio us when you're ready to come down."

I glance behind me to see there's a little bench in here, with a picnic basket and a walkie talkie on top of it. Oh god, this isn't just a quick up and down, she wants to have lunch here.

"I packed all your favorites," Ava says as she snuggles close to me. "I thought we could watch the sun set."

"Isn't that in, like, four hours?" I say, noting the sun still shining bright in the sky.

"I bet we can see all the way to your mom's house. I know the kids would have loved this, but I thought it would be special with just the two of us."

The balloon begins to lift us up and my heart starts to race. I keep telling myself to breathe and that this is for Ava. I can do this for her.

"Oh wow, isn't it just beautiful." I swallow as I feel a chill run down my back. "Lucas?" she says, and I realize I've closed my eyes. "Baby, are you okay? You look a little pale."

"I'm good. I think I need to sit down." I open my eyes to find the little seat and it's then I realize we are up in the air and over our house. We can, in fact, see all the way to my mom"s and my stomach does a little flip.

"Here, let me help." I hear her move the picnic basket out of the way and I take a seat. It's better, but I can still see forever in front of us and my brain knows that I'm off the ground. "Baby, are you afraid of heights?"

I swallow hard and nod slightly as I squeeze her hand. "It's fine, this is so romantic." But even as I say the words I can hear myself forcing them.

For a second I'm terrified I've ruined her day, but when I look up I see her covering her mouth with her hand and her shoulders shaking.

"Are you laughing at me?" I say, my eyebrows pulling together.

Her face turns red as she shakes it, but then a bubble of laughter spills out of her. "I'm sorry, it's not funny, but it kind of is."

"How so?" I say defiantly.

"Because you've been my big strong protector this whole time but secretly you're terrified of heights. And I wanted to do something big and romantic and I go and rent a hot-air balloon. The one thing you would absolutely hate. I mean, come on, Lucas. That's pretty damn funny."

I feel myself begin to smile as she slips into my lap and straddles me. Having her in my arms goes a long way to relax me, and when I feel her hand snake down between us and cup my cock, all thoughts of being in the sky are long gone.

"I think I know a way to get you over this fear," she says as she pulls her dress up.

My cock is hard and ready as she undoes my jeans and takes me in her hand. Just a few quick pumps to tease me before she pulls her panties to the side and slides me into her wet folds.

Once I'm surrounded in her, there's nothing and no one else. The rest of the world disappears and I'm narrowed to the feeling of her in my arms.

I tug down the front of her dress until her breast is free and I can suck on her nipple. She rolls her hips to ride me as I thrust into her from below. It's hot and dirty and for some reason my fear and her seeing me vulnerable have turned us both on.

I'm desperate for her like I didn't just fuck her hours ago in our shower. My cock is swelling and her pussy so soft and warm. She squeezes me tight as she grinds her clit onto me and I feel her body tense. She arches her back and just as she goes off, she takes me over the edge with her.

My cock empties inside her as she moans and pulses around me. The combined release coats me and spreads between us, and I sigh in contentment.

"I was right," she says with a smug look on her face.

"You were." I thrust my cock into her again and smile at her. "Now I just need you to do that for the next four hours and I'll be totally fine."

She laughs as she moves on me and leans in close. "Deal."

"I love you," I say, kissing her lips softly.

"I love you, too," she answers as we float among the clouds and drift off into our forever.

THE END!