He listened to the shower being turned off and waited impatiently. He could have gone and showered with Holly, but there was something he’d had to prepare, something special. Every second’s delay was killing him, but he knew he couldn’t rush this.

When the door to his ensuite bathroom finally opened, Holly stepped out, wrapped only in a towel that reached from the top of her breasts to barely the apex of her thighs.

Paul propped himself up on his elbow and watched her approach. Her golden hair was wet at the tips, and her skin glistened invitingly.

“You made me wait,” he complained softly. “You know what that means?”

She approached with catlike grace. “What does it mean?”

“It means you’ll have to appease me.”

“How?”

“I think a little striptease would do the trick,” he suggested, and motioned to the towel.

Holly took a few steps closer, then stopped only a yard away from the bed. “But haven’t you already seen everything there is to see?”

“Have you never watched a movie more than once? A movie you really, really like?”

“I see,” she murmured. She pulled at the end of the towel she’d tucked in the top and slid the fabric down a few inches, just enough so he could see the swells of her breasts and her pretty cleavage, but not far enough to see her nipples.

“You’re a tease.” Paul grabbed the bed sheet that covered his lower half and pulled it aside, revealing his naked body. “Maybe I should tease you too.” He glanced down to his groin, where his cock was already rising. Then he wrapped his hand around the hard flesh and tugged on it, giving it a firm stroke.

His eyes locked with Holly’s. “Now show me a little more,” he demanded, and dropped his gaze to where she held onto the towel.

Her hands loosened the towel further, sliding it down until her nipples popped free. They stood erect like brave little soldiers. He couldn’t help but lick his lips and give his cock another firm stroke.

“More.”

The towel dropped to her navel, then it slid over her hips and fell to the floor. His eyes feasted on her nakedness as Holly stood before him, not moving, simply allowing him to enjoy the view.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of looking at you,” Paul confessed.

“Well, in that case, why don’t we kill two birds with one stone? You’ll get to look at me and I’ll get to feel you.” She crossed the remaining distance with two steps, then lowered herself over him, straddling him.

The moist hair guarding her sex brushed against his cock. “I like the way you think.” He brought his hand to her backside and pressed her more firmly onto him.

“Are you gonna talk all night?”

Paul grinned. “That wasn’t the plan, no.”

Her eyes sparkled. “Then what was the plan?”

Paul turned his head and motioned to the bedside table. “Why don’t you get us a condom from the top drawer and find out?”

“Don’t you think it’s a little too late for condoms? That would be like shutting the barn door after the horses ran off.”

He suppressed the urge to laugh at her comparison. But it was essential that she reach for a condom tonight. “Just do it.” He gave her a slap on her bottom. “Or I’m going to have to punish you.”

Finally Holly bent toward the bedside table and opened the drawer. When he felt her hesitate, his heart beat in excitement. He was sure Holly would be able to hear it, it was beating so loudly in his ears.

“Paul,” she murmured.

“Well, aren’t you gonna take it out?”

She reached into the drawer. Paul didn’t watch what she pulled out, but looked at her face instead, when she turned back to him. He knew what would be in her hand, because he’d put it there less than an hour earlier. It had burned a hole in his jacket pocket all the way from Montauk.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll get you a different one. We can go shopping tomorrow morning and you can choose whatever you want.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Oh, Paul.”

He reached for her hand and took the ring she was holding. It was a simple solitaire diamond set in gold to match her hair. “Will you marry me?”

“Do you mean that?” Holly asked, her voice all choked up.

Paul brushed a knuckle over her cheek. “What’s it look like, baby? Of course I mean it. Now what do you say?”

Holly nodded. “Yes. I say yes.”

Excitement coursed through him as he slid the ring onto her finger and pulled her face down to his for a kiss. “I love you,” he murmured before he captured her lips and kissed her.