7. Nolan

NOLAN

In forty-four years, I've never slept so soundly. Even in a tent on the hard ground, I wake feeling rested and invigorated for the day ahead.

Another day with her. There's nothing else I want more in this world.

Over the past twenty-four hours, I've gone from fighting as hard as I can against my feelings for Leila to finally accepting the fact that I'm hopelessly in love with her and that there's nothing wrong with that. Sure, it felt wrong. But now I understand that it only felt wrong because I wasn't able to make it right.

I wish I could get David's blessing to be with his daughter. But since I can't, I'm going to do the second best thing and spend every day of the rest of my life making good on my promise to take care of her.

Beside me, Leila stirs as she starts to wake up. She rolls over so that she's finally facing me. I keep my arm draped over her as she sleepily blinks awake.

"Morning," I say, smiling gently at her.

She continues to blink awake. A sweet blush turns her cheeks rosy as she fully wakes up. Can she feel my hard-on? I'm being careful to not press it up against her, but maybe she can sense it anyway.

"Morning," she says quietly. Her eyes drop to my lips, then rise back to my eyes. "How'd you sleep?"

"Great. You?"

She nods. "Same."

I softly trace my fingers on her back. We look at each other for another long moment before I lean in, closing the remaining space between us.

I brush my lips over hers, testing to see how she reacts. Her lips quiver but she doesn't pull back. No. She likes it. She wants it. It's so obvious, written in her eyes.

And so I kiss her, a needful and unhurried first kiss.

She moans softly and shifts closer to me. When her hip pushes up against my stiff cock, I feel and hear her gasp.

"Nolan…" she murmurs.

"Yes, Leila?"

"I…I want…"

But she's interrupted by the distinctive sounds of hikers coming up the trail. We both freeze. The hikers pass, their footsteps and conversation fading as they go on.

"Tell me what you want, Leila," I say.

Her eyes are full of longing. If she says the word, I'll claim her right here, right now. I'll show her exactly how badly I've needed her and make her cry out my name until I can't stand it any longer. I'll fill her sweet little cunt with my seed. I'll seal our fate together, for today and every day after.

"I want you," she says.

Her words unleash a flood of feelings inside me. "I want you, too."

She bites her lip. "Is this real?"

"It's real. I've been trying to resist you, but I can't anymore. It's too fucking difficult."

She laughs—a laugh full of happiness and relief. Tracing her fingers over my chest, she meets my eyes again. Hers are still full of longing, but there's something else in her eyes, too.

"If we're going to do this, I mean, if we're going to sleep together," she says quietly, nervously, "I want it to be perfect."

"What would make it perfect?" I ask.

She smiles. "A nice big bed. Freshly shaved legs."

I can't help but laugh. "Honey, I don't care how smooth your legs are."

"God, it's nice to hear you laugh," she says with a gentle sigh. "Also, I like you calling me that."

"What? Honey?"

"Yes. It's sweet."

"You're sweet."

She leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. My cock throbs, painful with impatient desire, but I maintain self-control.

If she wants our first time together to be perfect, I'll give her the most damn perfect night she could ever wish for.

Our third day of hiking takes us through more challenging terrain, more spectacular mountain views, more alpine meadows and dense forests. But we spend a whole lot more of our time talking than we have over the past few days. We also periodically stop to take in the view together and snap a photo of ourselves in front of the magnificent backdrop. Every time we take a photo, I hold Leila close to me, reveling in the feeling of her curves pressed up against my body.

That afternoon, we're making our way down a slope when we approach an old chapel. Its stone walls are weathered, sunlight gleams off the old stained glass windows, and there's a faded plaque that tells us that the chapel was built centuries ago.

Leila and I are both reverently quiet as we pause to take in the sight. The only sound is birdsong in the distance.

"I wonder how many people have been married here," Leila says, smiling softly as she gazes up at the bell tower.

"Is this the kind of place you'd like?" I ask.

"To get married at?" she asks, still smiling as she looks over at me. "Maybe. It is quite romantic."

I notice that one of her shoelaces has come untied. I kneel down to tie it for her, looping the laces and then double-knotting it for extra security.

"Oh," she says. "Thanks, Nolan."

"I'll double-knot the other one, too," I say.

After I take care of her other hiking boot, I look up, still kneeling before her. And for a moment, it feels like I'm kneeling before her to ask for her hand in marriage. Jesus, I want to ask her to marry me. It's an insane thought, it's too soon, but the thought swells inside me nonetheless.

Thoughts of marriage continue to radiate inside me as we hike away from the chapel and continue our descent into the valley below. Soon we reach a charming village. As we're approaching, a donkey wanders over to greet us.

"Oh my gosh," Leila coos, reaching out to stroke the donkey's head. "Hi, sweetie. You're adorable."

The donkey nuzzles her hand and makes a soft bray of happiness. Leila laughs with delight and looks over at me. "Feel how furry he is, Nolan."

"Hey, buddy," I say, reaching out to pet him. "Thanks for the warm welcome."

"Aw, I wish I could bring you home," Leila says to the friendly creature.

I raise an eyebrow. "You want a pet donkey?"

"Not seriously," Leila says, throwing me a playful eye-roll. "I do want pets, though."

"Ah. A cat? A dog?"

"Maybe one of both."

As we say goodbye to the donkey and head further into the village, the fantasy in my head grows more vivid. I can see the house Leila and I will live in after we get married. The cat lazing on the sunny living room windowsill. The dog sniffing for crumbs under the dining table while we eat meals together. The high chair. The kids' toys scattered everywhere. The framed family photos on the walls…

We've reached an inn that looks like a comfortable place to stay the night. I tell Leila to wait outside, that I'll go in and get us a room.