Chapter 50

Finally, resplendent in his black tie and tails, Val held out his arm and escorted her out to the golf cart he'd ordered to take them to the restaurant since she'd have trouble on the crushed shell paths in her heels. She tucked his gift into her microscopic handbag and made herself clear her mind of doubt. It was a beautiful night and she was having an elegant dinner with the man she loved more than anything in the world. Worries could wait for tomorrow.
The food was sublime. While they ate, Val regaled her with stories of his siblings and parents. "I can't wait for you to meet them, Cora. I sincerely hope that we'll still be together when we get back to Charleston."
Cora bit her lip. "I'd like that," she said finally. "Though I'm not sure it's a good idea."
He gave her an enigmatic grin. "It's not only a good idea, it's bloody well magical. But I'll explain more about that later. How's your swordfish?"
No matter what she did, she couldn't get him to elaborate. "Fine. If you're not going to talk to me any more, then you can open your present."
He waggled his eyebrows. "I thought that was back in the room. I seem to remember you offering me a certain...activity for my birthday. If you're still up for trying that anyway."
"Oh, that's part of it. But I wanted something you could unwrap. You've been buying me stuff all day." She handed him the small package from her purse.
Val opened it carefully as if it was precious. When he pulled the key fob from its velvet box, he smoothed his thumb along the engraved surface and bit his lip.
She could swear there was a frog in his throat as he asked, "Are you giving me your heart, Cora?"
Her heart nearly stopped then she nodded. "Yeah. I think I am."
"Well. That makes me feel a lot better about this then." He dropped to one knee as he pulled something from his pocket. "I love you, Corazon Lopez. Will you marry me? I know it's soon, but believe me, I've never been more certain of anything in my life." He opened the small box and held it out.
"Oh. My. Goodness." She looked down at the large ruby sparkling up from the ring box. "It's stunning."
"I know you don't like diamonds." He gazed at her with hope in his expression, as well as all the love she could have ever dreamed of.
Slowly, Cora smiled. It was too soon. It was impulsive and crazy. It was absolutely, irrevocably right. She held out her hand. "You put it on. I'm shaking too much."
"I don't know that I'm any steadier," he said, but he took the ring from the box and slipped it as far as he could onto her left hand. "I love you."
"I love you, Val."
There was a discreet cough as the waiter appeared. "Would anyone care for dessert?" His gaze flickered down to the ring. "Or perhaps some champagne?"
Val looked at Cora and she felt a frisson of heat all the way down her spine.
"Have a bottle of champagne sent to bungalow 214 - within the next five minutes." He tossed down his napkin and pulled Cora to her feet.
As soon as they were out of the restaurant, she took off her stiletto sandals so they could run for their room. She laughed out loud with sheer happiness. "I think I'm having you for dessert."
Back at their bungalow, Val barely got the door closed before he shoved her back against it and kissed her senseless.
"Mine," he growled low in his throat.
"Mine," she agreed, grabbing his head and pulling it down for another kiss. Once his lips were back on hers, she fumbled for his belt and undid the fly of his pants.
Val was right there with her. He rucked up her dress and found out that she wore nothing beneath it. He used a couple of fingers to test her readiness then lifted her, bracing her back against the door. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on to his shoulders as he impaled her, skin to skin.
Another sign that told her she was his one.
That alone was enough to make her come. He swallowed her squeal and pumped into her harder, but he wasn't far behind. Hot splashes of semen filled her pussy as he came.
When she stood on her feet, warm trickles ran down her legs, and all she could think was Yum.
"Here. I don't want to ruin this dress - I have hopes of seeing you in it again." Val carefully eased the satin evening gown over her head and tossed it to the couch. His tux jacket and bowtie followed then he toed off his shoes and stepped out of his pants.
"You okay?" He kissed her cheek and cupped her chin in his hand.
"Never better," she panted, kissing his palm. "I love you. I don't think I'll ever get tired of saying it." She still sagged against the door, but when he took her hand, she followed him, both of them naked, toward the bedroom where a bottle of champagne waited in a silver ice bucket.
"I know I won't. I love you, Cora. More than I've ever loved anyone in my life."
"I'm going to get ready for bed. Why don't you pour the champagne?" She'd hidden her new nightgown in the bathroom earlier, so she slipped in there and cleaned up before donning the tantalizing lingerie. Pausing before she went back into the bedroom, she looked down at the ring on her finger.
If this was a dream, she never wanted it to end.
Val poured two glasses and waited impatiently for Cora to come out of the bathroom. He also had a bottle of lube out of the cupboard and warming over a candle.
This was the best birthday ever.
When Cora walked out of the bathroom in a few wisps of red satin and black lace, he almost swallowed his tongue. Stricken mute at the sensuality she projected, he simply handed her a champagne flute and lifted his own in salute.
"To us," she said.
"To love," he managed. After they each took a swallow, he added, "Christ, you're fucking beautiful, Cora. Do I get to see the piercing now?"
Her laugh was warm and sweet. "Yep. But why is there a bandage on your shoulder?"
He grinned. "I didn't think it was fair for you to get pierced without me having something painful done. So I got this." He peeled back the bandage to show her the tattoo. Clearly visible, even with the skin around it an angry pink, was a red and black Celtic knot in the shape of a heart.
She kissed the air a millimeter above the heart. "I love it." In one more drink, she drained her glass then climbed onto the bed, which someone had thoughtfully turned down. "Now for you to see." She spread her knees with her hands, giving him a view of the split crotch of her dinky panties. Peeking out of her neat little strip of curls was the ruby heart dangle.
He couldn't resist bending in and tickling it with his tongue then pulled back. "Sorry. It probably hurts, doesn't it?"
"Not much. But for what I had in mind for tonight, it won't get much of a workout anyway." In one lithe move, she rolled to her knees and pulled a couple pillows under her arms for support. "Rip the undies off. The side ties are really flimsy."
"I'd rather just untie the bow on my present," he said. With a quick flick on each side, the panties were gone, and her little pink rosebud of an ass pointed up at him. "You sure about this?"
"Hell yes." She wiggled her ass at him, and he reached for the lube. He used his fingers to make sure she was slick then rolled on a lubricated condom as well.
Slowly, carefully he pushed inside. The tight ring of her sphincter gripped him tighter than anything he'd ever experienced, and he had to grit his teeth to keep from coming before he was even all the way in. Never mind that he'd just exploded in her pussy. He was hard as concrete again already.
"Yes, that feels good, Val. Deeper." It seemed Cora wasn't going to let him change his mind. He eased himself all the way in and held himself there for just a while. Then he started to move.
Nothing had ever felt better. He used his hands to play with her nipples, mindful of her tender clit. Right before he peaked though, Cora reached down and pressed against her own nub, triggering a climax that made her body milk his aching cock with powerful spasms. He shattered, giving in to an orgasm that left him limp as overcooked pasta.
Eventually he pulled out and managed to get them both into the bathtub with fresh glasses of champagne.
"I think we should get married tomorrow," he told her. "Compu-Cupid arranged the paperwork. All we have to do is go to the courthouse on St. Thomas."
"Tomorrow? Here? What about your family? Don't you want them to be at the wedding?" She turned startled brown eyes to look at him.
"We'll renew our vows in Charleston for our family and friends. But I think the actual wedding should be here - just the two of us on equal ground."
"Okay." A little later she asked, "Aren't you a little creeped out about Compu-Cupid? It is awfully coincidental."
Val sighed. Time for the full confession. "There are some things you have to understand about my family," he began.
Cora listened in silence as he explained about the Holiday family magic.
"I swear, it doesn't force anything - it just gives us a chance when the right person comes along. And it doesn't mean we have to have kids. I'm cool with waiting or even with not having any at all if you prefer."
"I think I might like one or two - just not right way," she said carefully, as if she were testing out the words. "We'll figure it out. Together." After a little laugh, she added, "Though I hope you don't mind a cat."
"I can live with Ringo. My loft has plenty of room for him."
"Good, because my place belongs to Marla anyway." She leaned back against him. "Tomorrow would be perfect. My birthday is the day after, so it will give us a three-day celebration every year."
He laughed. "I can't believe I never asked about your birthday. We're going to have some spectacular celebrations for the next fifty years or so, aren't we?"
She kissed him hard. "I intend to celebrate every single day. I love you."
"You are my heart, mi corazon."
After that, they quit bothering to talk at all.

End Part 3