"Thanks for coming. I hope you had fun." Billie said to Ezra on the drive home.
"Yes. I did. How could I not? I was with the most exciting and gorgeous woman on the planet." Ezra said, kissing her hand.
"Lies. Lies and flattery. But I'll take it." Billie said. She was tipsy and tired, resting her head on Ezra's shoulder.
"Your friend, Gabriel. He seemed upset, leaving like he did." Ezra said.
"Yeah well, he gave me some speech about how I only like controlling men. He's just the kind of man that wants all the women to want him. And I wasn't falling at his faded leather clad feet the way he wanted me to. Too bad." Billie said. Ezra felt his throat tighten. This guy was going to be a problem. Even if he wasn't worried or intimidated by him, he knew Billie valued him as a friend. The guy had some balls, he would give him that. But now he had Billie. He found someone he could trust. That he could share his life with. No one, not her piece of shit ex or her jealous jilted friend would be allowed to stand in the way of that. He would make sure of it.
"Let's sleep in tomorrow." Billie said, closing her eyes.
"All day in bed with you? Absolutely." Ezra said, kissing her head.
***************************
"She fell asleep quickly." Andrew said, handing Ezra a cup of coffee.
"Yes. And I miss her already. Tell me, what did you find?" He asked.
"We know his home in Indiana sold. The money went into an account at a chase bank in Texas. Houston. No withdrawals yet. As far as we know, he's in Texas. No change of address yet. Nothing new." Andrew said.
"When will Paul return?"
"Tomorrow evening, sir." Andrew said.
"Good. Make sure he knows that we need to beef up security. I want two more men hired for the house. Also, get what you can on this Gabriel friend of Billie's. Something isn't right about him."
"Yes sir." Andrew said.
"Thank you. Now, to join my slumbering beauty. Have a good night."
"You as well, sir."
Ezra crawled into bed and Billie snuggled against him, mumbling something in her sleep. He held her in his arms and breathed in the clean floral scent of her hair. Home. She smelled like home. Felt like home.
"I want to marry you." He whispered. He knew she was fast asleep and couldn't hear him. But he said it anyway, for him. For his heart. Because he felt it. So when he said it out loud to her again, he would be used to the way it sounded.
*****************************
He woke up to her on top of him, kissing him and moving her naked body against his. "Good morning, bell'uomo." She whispered into his ear, driving him to an instant erection.
He growled and kissed her, rolling her over onto her back, spreading her legs with his.
He kissed her neck and ran his hands down her throat and to her left breast, cupping it and grinding against her. Her soft moans drove him mad as he bit down on the soft skin of her throat.
"Ahhh." She moaned again. He freed himself from his clothes and thrust himself inside of her, wasting not one more moment.
"Ezra." She cooed into his ear. He looked into her eyes and he thrust into her again and again, waiting for her to reach her peak before he exploded into her, filling her with every bit of his climax, kissing her gently and staying on top of her until their breathing calmed. "I love you." He said breathlessly, falling beside her and pulling her into his arms.
"Always." She said. It wasn't a question, but an agreeing statement.
They lay there, naked and intertwined for a long while.
"What time is it?" Ezra asked.
"Seven in the morning."
"Hey. I thought we were sleeping in?" He laughed, tickling her.
"Yeah well, I lied." She said, pushing him away.
"The only lie that you'll get away with." He said with a smile. He rolled on top of her and looked into her eyes.
"I want you again." He said. She opened her legs and wrapped them around his waist.
"Then have me." She said.
And he entered her with a gentle thrust, she didn't have to tell him twice.