7. Sterling

I lean backin my chair, the cool leather squeaking slightly in the quiet of my office. Ginni insisted on going to work to tie up some loose ends, so I figured I"d do the same. But if I"m being honest, I"m not getting a damn thing done. My mind keeps drifting, consumed by thoughts of her.

Sullivan sits across from me, going on and on about the new ride we"ve been working on, completely oblivious to my wandering thoughts. I"m only catching snippets here and there. Something about the hydraulic system specs, the dimensions for structural supports—important stuff, I know, but my head is somewhere else.

"...ensuring the safety harnesses meet the latest industry standards," Sullivan says, his eyes still glued to his laptop. He"s in full geek-out mode, and normally, I"d be paying close attention to business, but today is a bust.

I nod absently, hoping it"s at the right moments. I know I should focus, but every time I try, my thoughts veer back to Ginni. Her laugh, the way she scrunches her nose when she"s deep in thought, the way her luscious body melts against mine—it all plays in a loop in my mind.

The door swings open suddenly, breaking my semi-trance, and Adam strolls in with his trademark grin. "Sterling, Sullivan, how's the hard work going?" he asks, with that unmistakable energy that seems endless.

"We"re going over the specs for the new ride," I say, gesturing vaguely to the scattered blueprints. "Well, Sullivan is. I"m not much help today."

Sullivan finally looks up from his laptop and glares at me. "I knew you were being way too goddamn agreeable."

Adam leans against the doorframe and glances at Sullivan. "You"ll fry your brain if you keep this up." Then he glances over at me. "And Sterling is miles away, not listening to a thing you're saying, so why don't we cut out a little early? A little birdy told me that the Park Avenue Bar in Silver Spoon Falls is going all out for the playoffs. We can go check it out and see what all the fuss is about."

Sullivan looks up from his laptop, eyes flashing with a hint of amusement. "Why not? It's not like my brother is here to work anyway."

"Exactly," Adam retorts. "Sterling definitely needs something. Look at him; he's practically drooling and Ginni isn't even here."

I flip him off while my plan comes together in my mind. "I think it"s a great idea. I"m going to pick up Ginni and bring her with me."

Sullivan"s eyes narrow suspiciously. "What are you up to?"

I plaster an innocent expression on my face. "Who, me?"

"Yes, you," Sullivan replies drily, giving me a once-over. "Meeting Ginni has scrambled your brain."

"You have no fucking idea," I grumble more to myself than anyone else.

While Sullivan packs up all his shit, I text my girl.

Me

Sullivan and Adam are going to watch the NBA playoffs at the Park Avenue Bar. They invited us. Would you like to go?

Fate

I'm not much of a sports fan, but you go and have a good time.

Me

Please come with me. I promise to make it worth your while.

Fate

How can I refuse?

Me

That's my girl. I'll pick you up in an hour.

Fate

Can we make it an hour and a half? I need to run home and freshen up and change.

Me

You're perfect the way you are.

Fate

OMG. You just melted my panties.

Reading her message, I can mentally picture the slight pink blush creeping up her neck as she sends the racy text.

Me

Just wait until later and I'll melt a lot more than that.

Fate

Can we skip the night out and get right to that?

Me

Nope. I want to take your gorgeous ass out before I spend the night worshiping you.

Fate

I can't argue with those plans.

Me

I'll see you soon.

My little Fateis goddamn perfect in every way, and I'm ready to tie her gorgeous little ass to me for life. Adam's impromptu invitation is the ideal chance to make sure all the gossips in this nosy town know it. I pat my pocket to ensure the engagement ring is still there, running through my plan one more time to make sure I haven't overlooked anything.

Now that I've met the girl who owns me, heart and soul, I don't plan to let the grass grow under my feet.

Ginniand I step into the Park Avenue Bar, the noise level hitting us like a wave. The place is packed, buzzing with excitement and energy. It's the last round of NBA playoff games, and the atmosphere crackles with anticipation. Every screen in the bar is tuned to the game, already in the throes of pre-game coverage.

I feel Ginni"s hand tighten in mine as we navigate through the crowd, making our way toward the back corner where Sullivan and Adam have claimed a table.

"There they are," I say, spotting Sullivan"s head over the throng. He already looks bored.

Adam, on the other hand, is on his feet, waving us down with his usual exuberance. "Sterling! Ginni! Over here!"

We weave through the crowded space, exchanging greetings with curious faces, and I have no doubt the Silver Spoon Falls grapevine is already buzzing.

"Hey, finally!" Adam exclaims as we reach the table.

He reaches to pull Ginni in for a hug, but I step between them. "Touch my woman and I'll break your arms."

"Damn," Adam says, blinking several times before glancing over at Sullivan. "He's got it bad."

Sullivan smirks, looking between Ginni and me. "He's never been good at sharing."

"And I'm not about to start now," I growl, wrapping my arm protectively around Ginni and pulling her close.

At the next table, two middle-aged women watch us with rapt fascination. "It's the reporter and the billionaire we read about in the Silver Spoon Single Serve this morning," one of them gasps. "I love this town."

"I know." The fifty-ish redhead chuckles. "It's better than reading romance books."

"If you say so." The first one shrugs and turns back to stare at us.

Adam rolls his eyes, ignoring the nosy duo at the table next to us. "You guys took your sweet time getting here."

"Parking was a nightmare," I explain, as Ginni and I slide into the booth. It's not exactly the truth. When she opened her door earlier wearing tight-ass jeans and a fitted Lakers t-shirt, I pushed her back into the apartment to give her a taste of what I have planned later.

Sullivan looks up, giving us a nod. "Glad you made it. Are you ready for this game? It's gonna be intense."

"Definitely," I say, though my mind isn't entirely on the game. It's on the gorgeous woman I plan to tie to me for life.

The waitress appears, and we order a round of drinks and appetizers. Ginni leans into me, her warmth a calming presence. "This place is crazy tonight," she says, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yeah, it is," I reply, smiling down at her. "We have a tradition," I explain. "We like to make little bets on the games."

"Here we fucking go again," Sullivan mumbles under his breath as Adam's eyes light up.

"What do you want to bet?" Adam rubs his hands together, already anticipating his win.

"I'm not betting with you," I tell Adam without breaking eye contact with my little love. "Why don't we make a little bet?" I ask Ginni.

"What kind of bet?" her eyes narrow slightly.

"If the Lakers win, we'll get married at the courthouse here in Silver Spoon Falls." I ignore everyone around us, waiting to see how my little love responds.

"And if they lose?" she asks cautiously.

"Then we fly to Las Vegas and get married in one of those little chapels on the strip."

"What kind of bet is that?" Adam complains. "The outcome is the same?"

I stare into my little love's eyes. "It's the best kind. A win-win for me."

My heart pounds away as I take a deep breath and drop to one knee, pulling the ring box from my pocket. The noise of the bar fades into the background as I look up at her, everything I feel for her shining in my eyes. "Ginni, I know it's only been a short time, but I've never been more certain of anything in my life. You make every day better just by being you. I love you more than life itself. Will you marry me?"

Her hand flies to her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes. For a moment, everything hangs in the balance, and then she nods, a joyful sob escaping her lips. "Yes, Sterling, yes!" The bar noise rushes back in as she pulls me to my feet and into a tight embrace. "I love you, too," she whispers against my ear as I slip the ring onto her finger, feeling a surge of happiness and relief. Adam and Sullivan are on their feet, cheering and clapping.

"Congratulations!" Adam yells, pulling us both into a massive bear hug, and I let him get away with touching her this once since we're celebrating.

Sullivan smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "About time, Sterling."

"See. I told you so. It's the water in town that causes all this lovey dovey stuff," the redhead at the table hisses to her friend loud enough for everyone around us to hear.

I lean close to Ginni's ear and whisper, "Why don't we go back to our place and celebrate?"

"What about the game and the bet?"

"I don't give a flying fig what happens in the game. I win no matter what." I take her soft hand in mine and turn to Sullivan and Adam. "We're heading out and I'm taking tomorrow off."

Adam calls something behind us, but I can't hear him over the loud cheering and noise.

The driveover to my penthouse normally takes about five minutes, but tonight, it seems to take forever. "How's your story going?" I ask Ginni, attempting to distract us both from the sexual tension filling the truck.

"I decided to change the scope of my story." She fidgets, drawing my attention to the tight t-shirt stretched across her luscious tits. My cock turns to stone behind my zipper, and I force myself to ignore the discomfort while she explains, "I'm going to write about how down to earth and giving the wealthy residents in Silver Spoon Falls are, but I"m reserving Elyse"s idea about Billionaires Gone Bad for later."

"Let me know if you need any help digging up information," I tell her as I pull into the underground garage.

"Thank you." She smiles at me, and I barely resist the urge to fuck her gorgeous little ass right here in the parking garage.

"Anything for you." I open her door and reach for her hand. "I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy."

"Then take me upstairs and have your way with me." She slides her hand down the front of my jeans and gives my cock a little squeeze. My eyes roll back in my head as I fight the urge to come from her touch alone.

It only takes me a few moments to get her gorgeous ass up to my apartment.

"You're goddamn perfect." I drag her soft body against mine and run my tongue along the seam of her pouty lips.

Our tongues tangle as her luscious body melts against mine. My cock hardens as I walk her backward into my bedroom. She pulls her sweet lips away and winks. "I have plans for you."

"I'm all yours." I lean over and gently nibble on her earlobe.

"Yes, you are." She nibbles on the side of my neck, sending sparks shooting down my spine, and then drops to her knees. "I've been dying to do this." She winks up at me before making quick work of unhooking my belt and jeans. When she slides her soft hand around my cock, I lean back against the wall and lock my knees to remain standing.

My mind goes blank when she leans forward and runs her silky tongue around the head of my cock. "Fuck," I groan as she wraps her lips around my cock before sucking it deep.

I dig my fingers into her curly hair and watch as she slowly backs off then sucks my cock back between her juicy lips. When she swallows, drawing my cock deep in her throat, I almost come.

"As much as I love what you're doing, I'm not coming down your throat until I've knocked your little ass up." I step back and rip my t-shirt over my head before kicking my jeans the rest of the way off.

She steps back and slowly undresses, giving me a show that turns my cock to stone. "God, you're fucking perfect." I slowly run my finger around one of her pink nipples.

I run my tongue around her nipple before sucking it into my mouth. She reaches between us and wraps her soft hand around my cock. As I kiss my way across her chest to give her other nipple the same attention, she slides her hand up and down, running her thumb across the head.

A shiver runs through my body as I fight not to come. She sits back on the bed and watches as I stroke my hard cock. "Spread your legs and show me how wet you are," I growl and drop to my knees on the side of the bed as she slowly slides her silky legs apart.

I spread her lips open and slip my tongue into her sweet pussy.

Her delicious taste blasts through me as I devour her sweet cunt until she comes screaming my name.

I crawl up her trembling body, leaving kisses along the way.

"I love you, Fate." I kiss her soft lips and press my cock just inside her wet opening.

"I love you, too," she breathes out. "Now get to knocking me up."

I lift her leg and slide my arm under it, and then thrust deep into her sweet pussy. She"s so wet and tight. Her inner walls stretch, allowing my cock to slide deeper.

Picking up speed, I pull almost all the way out before surging forward over and over again until an orgasm starts teasing the base of my spine.

She drags her nails down my back, and I have to count backward from one hundred to keep from coming. When I reach between us to press my thumb against her clit, she comes screaming my name as her silky pussy clenches tight around my cock, dragging me over the edge with her.

"Wow," she whispers against the side of my throat as I drop down to the bed and pull her luscious body into my arms.

I run my hand slowly up and down her back as my eyes drift shut. I'm just about to fall asleep when she whispers, "I wonder who won tonight?"

"I did." I smile and pull her tighter against me. I'm one lucky motherfucker.