Chapter 251 251

Chapter 251 251
Maya

I woke to sunlight on my skin and the ocean doing its thing beyond the open window. I didn't move right away, just lay there with my eyes shut, half asleep and half not wanting to leave whatever dream I'd been having.
Elias's arm was draped across my waist, his chest warm against my back, breath coming slow and steady against my neck. I could feel his heartbeat through my skin and I matched my breathing to it without thinking.
My left hand rested on the pillow. The ring caught a slant of light and threw little sparks across the white sheets, and I stared at it, turning my fingers slightly just to watch.
Memories of last night flooded through my mind and I smiled softly, the butterflies in my stomach fluttering.
Last night's proposal had been one of my long held fantasies. How often had I day dreamed of a moment like that, from the very day I'd met Elias, the waves gently lapping at our bare feet as we stood on a moonlit beach where we declared our love for each other. I'd spent countless days lying on the edge of the pier back at Ashtree Manor, dreaming about it. And last night, Elias brought my fantasy to life and more.
And afterwards, we'd stumbled back up the path to the house, making out along the way like a pair of horny teenagers, and we'd barely made it through the front door before he had the zipper of my dress pulled down and my back against the wall, legs wrapped around his waist.
My neck went hot at the memory. We hadn't been gentle and there had been nothing slow about our lovemaking. Thankfully, everyone had cleared out for the night, or they'd have been treated to the sight and sounds of us having sex on the kitchen counter, on the stairs, and the hallway upstairs before eventually making it to the bedroom. Elias had been insatiable all night and so had I.
I pressed my smile into the pillow, pleasantly sore and aching in all the right places.
Elias stirred beside me and moments later, his arm tightened, pulling me flush against the heat of his body, pressing an openmouthed kiss to the curve of my shoulder. "You're thinking loud enough to wake the dead," he murmured, voice scratchy with sleep.
"I'm admiring my ring." I replied, holding my hand up an wriggling my fingers so the gem could catch the light seeping through the window. "It's gorgeous."
"Mmm." Another kiss to my shoulder, then my neck, then just below my ear and I nearly forgot what I was doing. "Not as gorgeous as the one wearing it."
I laughed. "I don't know if I should be flattered or offended by that corny line. But, when did you buy this?"
"Two days ago....well, techinically, a month ago. I commissioned it from a guy that came highly recommended by my jeweler. He makes unique custom pieces, so it took some time to get it."
"A month?" I exclaimed and rolled over to face him. His hair was wrecked, dark strands everywhere, and his eyes were barely open but there was a wealth of love in them. "But..that means you ordered it just after..."
I trailed off, overwhelmed.
Elias sat up and reached out to cup my chin. "From the moment I knew you were alive, I knew I would move heaven and earth to make you mine again. I love you, Maya Sinclair."
"I love you, Elias." I whispered and leaned in to kiss him. The kiss was slow, tender and overflowing with love and I never wanted to step out of this moment again.
When we moved apart, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, fingers lingering on my cheek. "How are you feeling?"
"Like a woman who got proposed to on a beach and then thoroughly ravished by her fiancé. So pretty good."
His eyes went dark, and his hand slid to my hip, pulling me against him. "Thoroughly? Are you sure he did it properly? I think we'll need to check and make sure."
"Don't start." I put a hand on his chest but didn't push. "Board meeting today, remember?"
I felt him shift. Not much, just enough. His jaw tightened, and that look came into his eyes, the one that meant he was three moves ahead.
"I remember," he said as he relunctantly released me and rolled onto his back with a sigh. He propped his head up with an arm underneath and stared at the ceiling, his mind already far away. "Are you sure you want to do this now? There's no need to rush, you can focus on recovering and the twins. I can handle the pressure from the board just fine."
"I know you can. But I also know its best we tackle this sooner rather than later and put it behind us. What time's the meeting?"
"Two p.m, New York time. That gives us a few hours." He reached out and traced the line of my jaw with his finger. "Are you nervous?"
"I'm not." I replied, and meant it. After all I had been through in the last few months, addressing a group of people via video call was a simple bump in the road. "Margaret's in custody and the shares she stole have been returned to me. Your family and the board can posture all they want, but it doesn't change anything."
He grinned at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he leaned close to kiss me again. "That's my girl. Give em hell."
"You're looking forward to this," I said.
"Oh I am," he admitted, not even trying to hide it. "Can't wait to see the look on Sarah's face when she realises you're still very much a thorn in her flesh."
I laughed, but my mind was already running through the faces that would be on that screen in a few hours. "How do you think they'll take it?"
He considered that, tilting his head back against the pillow. "My grandmother will be shocked first. Genuinely shocked, which doesn't happen often, so that alone will be worth it. Then she'll be furious."
"Sounds about right."
"Sophia will be glad you're back." He smiled warmly at the mention of his step mother. "She's been worried about me and the company, and she'll see this as good news."
He paused, thinking. "Elliot and Evan, though..."
"Not thrilled?"
"Not thrilled," he confirmed. "Elliot will definitely be the most vocal of the lot, trying to figure out what your return means for his position. And Evan will follow Elliot's lead, same as always." He looked at me sideways, a glint in his eye. "I imagine they'll all lose thier collective shit when we get to the second part of our big news."