This chapter picks up at the end of Rick and Cassie's mini Christmas vacation. I hope it lives up to the expectations of those of you who have continued to read this long story. I'll add my normal reminder to practice safe sex even though my characters have been in a committed relationship for many chapters now. I hope anyone who takes the time to read this latest installment will enjoy it and I welcome your comments, good or bad, at the end.
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The excitement of the past few days had kept me awake long into the night. After each wonderful day with Cassie's parents we made love in her room at night. Holding her in my arms until she fell asleep I'd lay awake with a huge grin on my face wondering how much better life could possibly get. I was treated like a welcomed member of the Dumont family now. It filled me with relief and made Cassie so happy she hadn't stopped smiling in three days. When it came time for us to drive home to Vancouver, a city that felt more like home now than southern California ever would again, we left with hugs and a promise from her parents to join us for dinner on the coming weekend.
Cassie made a joke about the bags under my eyes and convinced me to let her drive. I knew she was tired too but when she got it in her mind that she needed to take care of someone she loved it was useless to argue with her. With the radio off her gentle, soothing voice urged me to close my eyes and tilt my seat back to get comfortable. The last thing I saw before closing my eyes was her vibrant blue eyes and the loved filled expression on her beautiful face. She sang to me softly making me smile as I imagined her easing our baby to sleep with a soothing lullaby in her sweet sounding voice. Her endearing, girlish giggle made me whisper my love for her before I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
I dreamed of asking her to marry me. We were already married of course but for everything that I loved and cherished about our secret ceremony there was something lacking in it. A second marriage was something we'd discussed many times. We both wanted it although it would never marginalize what was the happiest day of lives up until now. Even though she knew it was coming, I wanted to surprise her with a proposal and help plan the wedding of her dreams, one that would having everything our first one had and all the things it was missing too.
Over the past few months I'd spent at least a few minutes each day thinking about how to ask her to marry me. There was absolutely no fear of her turning me down obviously but trying to come up with something a girl as special as Cassie deserved was a different kind of pressure. If she knew how much time I spent agonizing over the issue, she'd call me silly and agree to marry me again on the spot. Nothing short of the best was good enough for her in mind and that evening as I napped in our car a handful of muddled images from my dream stuck in my mind. Over the next few months they would come to consume me as I tried to make sense of what seemed like the perfect plan in the moments after I woke up. The sun was bright and high in the sky, with no sign of precipitation and it felt like it would never rain again even though it always rained in Vancouver. There was an image of a familiar black velvet box that swelled in size as its color turned a rich chocolate shade. Inside there was a ring that captured the essence of her brilliant blue eyes. Finally, there was an empty field surrounding us but always out of the corner of my eye I could see a house of shifting proportions.
"We're home Dickie," Cassie whispered into my ear.
"Already?" I asked as I blinked my eyes open.
"Yes already," she said shifting her body until she was sitting on my lap in perfect position for a passionate kiss. "You were wearing my favorite smile the whole ride home. What were you dreaming about?" she asked. I knew but already the details were leaving me as I raced to hold onto them.
"I think you know," I said with my best bedroom eyes in order to keep my dreams of a marriage proposal a secret.
"I was hoping that was it," she said wiggling her sexy ass in my lap. "I couldn't keep my eyes off you. You made me so wet my panties are soaked."
"Does Lei have work tonight?" I asked in a hopeful voice.
"Yes," she said kissing me desperately.
"Do you want to go upstairs then?" I asked with a coy smile.
"Oh God yes," she said opening the car door to get out, tugging my hand even before I'd undone my seat belt.
"We may as well bring our luggage," I said stopping at the trunk. There was something in her smile as she handed me the keys but I didn't realize it was a smirk of victory until I found the trunk empty. "Care to explain this?" I asked in a pathetic attempt at a stern voice.
"Sure. When we got home the man I love with all my heart was sleeping peacefully after wearing himself out to give me the best Christmas ever. Instead of waking him up right away I brought our things upstairs and let him sleep," she said in soft voice.
"Am I supposed to let you get away with this?" I asked.
"I already have," she said kissing the momentary scowl of defeat right off my face.