Better Unwed Than Dead by Laura Rosemont Page A

thirty
years old you’d never been on a roller coaster, yet you grew up
across the bay from the coaster capital of the world. I took you on
Millennium Force and as the train careened around the turns and
over the dips, you screamed out that you loved me.” He ground his
knuckle against her clit and then slipped his middle finger inside
her.
    Julia whimpered in pleasure, but could not
resist arguing. “I didn’t mean to say I loved you. I meant to say I
loved this, ‘this’ being the ride. But once I said it, you wouldn’t
let me take it back…Ah! Yes, right there.” She arched her back off
the rock and lifted her hips with the motion of his hand, fingers
searching blindly under his black t-shirt to grip at the muscles in
his lower back.
    “Have you ever regretted that I wouldn’t let
you take it back?”
    “Wha—oh, Nick, yeah, like that….”
    Nick sighed. “Now I’m kind of regretting I
couldn’t keep my hands off you for a few minutes. I’m trying to
have a serious conversation with you, and you’re not
following.”
    Julia opened her eyes and glared. “Focus on
one thing at a time, buddy. Finish what you started here then we’ll
talk.”
    He grinned at her bossy tone and glanced
around, making sure they were still alone before throwing one leg
over hers. Unable to resist, he ground his throbbing cock against
her hipbone, pressing his lips to hers while increasing the
pressure and speed of his hand to just the way she liked. Her
primal cry of pleasure came quick, and was swallowed by his
kiss.
    Recovering from the flaming hot orgasm, Julia
reached for Nick’s zipper, but he stopped her before she could work
it down.
    “No?”
    “No.” He gestured to a couple with three
young kids and a golden retriever heading their way.
    “Later then, at home, I owe you big time.”
Julia winked. “I had no idea that’s what you had in mind when you
suggested a picnic, but you’re definitely planning all our outings
this summer, and every summer from here on out.” She straightened
her sundress and rolled onto her belly.
    Reaching for the basket, she tried not
noticing Nick casually licking his fingers clean, fearing she’d end
up re-aroused and have to cut their picnic short so she could take
him home and pounce.
    “Well?” he asked.
    “Well what?”
    “Have you ever regretted that I wouldn’t let
you take back telling me you loved me?”
    Julia looked at him like he was crazy. “Hell
no,” she said with certainty, popping a grape into her mouth.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, bar none.”
    “Good.” Nick quickly stood and pulled her up
as well, sitting her on the jutting rock shelves behind them. He
fell to one knee. “Julia Ellery, will you marry me?” He looked up
from the sparkling diamond ring pulled from his pocket to Julia’s
stunned expression. He expected an answer in the affirmative. After
all, they’d been living together since the fall and the honeymoon
phase of their relationship was still going strong. He treated her
like a treasure and knew she found him exceptionally handsome with
his dark hair and dark eyes.
    Speechless for a long moment, Julia finally
found her voice. "Nick, I—I love you! I absolutely adore you and
couldn't ask for a more wonderful man." She faltered when his face
lit up like Christmas. "But I cannot marry you. I really, really
don't dare.” Her tone shifted from apologetic to crisp, “You
already know that."
    Nick rocked back as if she'd slapped him.
Julia felt as if she had, even though she’d given him fair warning
about her inability to wed soon after they’d started dating. She
couldn’t fathom why he would even ask now. Despite her bewilderment
and mild annoyance, tears stung her eyes. Both their gazes fell to
the open jewelry box in his hand.
    "Julia--"
    "Nick, you know we can't risk marriage. I
couldn't stand losing you. I thought you understood." Even as she
made the profession, she felt a terrible stab of longing. It