Marry Me

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2019 by Alexandria Bishop

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer quoting brief passages for review purposes only.

  Cover Design by Mischievous Designs

  Cover Photo from Peopleimages.com

  Edited by Editing by C Marie

  Proofread by My Brother’s Editor

  Formatted by AB Formatting

  To Thomas Rhett

  Without your song Marry Me, this book would have never happened.

  Thank you for making me feel ALL the feels.

  Contents

  Playlist

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Dating in the Dark

  FREE BOOK

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Alexandria Bishop

  Playlist

  Listen to the entire playlist on YouTube!

  “Marry Me” Thomas Rhett

  “Love Me Like You Do” (Cover) Alex Gaskarth

  “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (Cover) twenty one pilots

  “All of Me” John Legend

  “Perfect” Ed Sheeran

  “For the First Time” The Script

  “Dancing on My Own” Calum Scott

  “Can I Be Him” James Arthur

  “Iris” Goo Goo Dolls

  “Let Her Go” Passenger

  “Won’t Go Home Without You” Maroon 5

  “Marry Me” (Cover) Elle Mears

  “Dancing on my Own” (Cover) Allie Sherlock

  “Iris” (Cover) Sleeping with Sirens

  “Love Me Like You Do” Ellie Goulding

  Chapter One

  Giselle

  Get back in your car.

  Turn around and don’t look back.

  I repeat the words over and over in my head, so much so that they start to feel like a weight rolling around on my tongue. Always the stubborn one, I ignore my better judgment and press the button on the key fob, locking my car behind me. My five-inch Louboutins click-clack on the pavement with each steady step as I get closer to my destination.

  The leers from the different men I pass are something I’ve grown accustomed to, and they go unnoticed as I quickly make my way to the back of the store. I move robotically as if I’ve done this a million times, but the truth is I’ve never actually been here before.

  I push down the guilt nagging at the back of my mind, the guilt of the promise I made and broke so many years ago. That doesn’t change the fact that I’ve thought about and even dreamed of it. My sense of self-preservation has prevented me from making the move my heart wanted me to—until tonight, that is.

  As I move down the hallway, my movements echo all around me, getting me closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s almost poetic, coming in here for the first time and instantly feeling at home while at the same time knowing I’m about to say goodbye. I move into the intimate space and everything looks so familiar.

  He really and truly did it.

  The room is laid out exactly as he described it to me when we were kids. The huge bar with the ceiling-high shelves of liquor, most of which are bottles of gin. The large mirror behind the bottles and the crushed red velvet cushioned booths lining the subway tiled walls. All the way down to the vintage claw-foot tub right in the middle of the room.

  I laughed at him, said it would be silly to have a bathtub in the middle of a bar, and yet it works here. Of course, I should have never doubted him. It seems like everything Anders does turns to gold.

  My breath catches in the back of my throat as I stay hidden back in the shadows, watching. It feels a little voyeuristic and weird, but I can’t move from my spot. Everything around me floats away, and I don’t even acknowledge the man who almost crashes into me as he zooms past, headed toward the bar, the same place my focus has been locked onto.

  He’s here.

  I don’t know what I expected when I planned on coming here, but I’m happy I at least get to say goodbye, even if I don’t say it to his face. Anders wears the biggest grin as he flips liquor bottles in the air while he mixes up a drink. He looks completely at home and in his element, acting like Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail. Not everyone could pull off the antics, but judging by the women seated at the bar hanging on his every movement, it’s working pretty damn perfect for him. No wonder he makes a killing here and was able to open his restaurant as well.

  I won’t even let myself think about the fact that I am staring the hardest. From the tightness in his arms as his muscles strain against the button-up shirt every time he whips around to the fedora resting on the top of his head—the one I picked out for him all those years ago, the one he’s never let go of—that look is one hundred percent working for him. I stand here watching him like a creepy stalker for a few moments longer, programming everything about him into my memory—even though it was branded there the first time we met—before turning around and heading back the way I came.

  No matter how badly I wish things could be different between us, I know that will never be a possibility. He made himself very clear on the beach when we were just kids, saying he would never pursue anything with me and ruin his friendship with his best friend and my older brother, Marek.

  It’s been seventeen years and he has always stood by that proclamation. I’m not about to convince myself that things are suddenly going to change now.

  After all this time.

  I make it halfway down the hallway then realize I’m not alone. I stop dead in my tracks, and I don’t even have to turn around to know it’s him.

  I force myself to stay looking forward even as his voice pulls me back. “What are you doing here, Giselle?”

  There are a million things I want to say to him, and at the same time, there’s nothing I want to say. With my back still facing him, I shrug and simply say, “I’m leaving.”

  “I can see that. Why don’t you at least come have a drink before you go home?” I can hear the smile in his voice when he adds, “Since it took you long enough to come see the place.”

  I swallow my emotions and finally let myself turn around. I wasn’t prepared for the feelings that would hit me upon seeing him up close, and the intensity almost knocks me out. He’s always been gorgeous, even when we were kids, but as an adult, he’s no longer that boy I fell in love with. No, the person standing in front of me is all man, and the clothing he’s wearing pulls tightly in all the right places, not hiding a single thing.

  I take a deep breath and say, “No, you don’t get it. I’m leaving. I didn’t think you’d be here. I wanted to see it at least once before I left.”

  As the final
ity of what I’m saying sinks in, he takes a small step toward me. My head demands I retreat, but my heart won’t let me do it, and I’m frozen in place. He takes that as my response and continues moving forward. With his last hesitant step, he’s standing merely inches away from me.

  He takes the sexy hat off his head, and I finally get a good look into his eyes. The same ones I used to get completely lost in. They’re searching mine for who knows what and he finally asks, “What do you mean you’re leaving? Where are you going?”

  Laughter echoes from the bar at the end of the tunnel up to us, and I’m reminded of where we’re standing. Control of my limbs finally comes back to me and I turn away from him, taking a step to leave and throwing over my shoulder, “You should get back to work. It seemed pretty busy in there.”

  That’s obviously not the answer he’s looking for as Anders’ hand grips down on my shoulder, whipping me around to face him. His eyes are on fire and he nudges me back against the cold concrete, trapping me against the wall. He holds my arms at my sides and when his leg slides between my own, I moan out, enjoying the closeness of him.

  I shouldn’t be turned on right now, but I can’t help my traitorous body and how it’s always reacted to his. I lean into his hand as he brings it up to the side of my face and forces me to look him in the eyes. I’m not prepared for the fierce determination looking back at me. This is a side of Anders I’ve never seen before, and I don’t know whether I should be scared or turned on.

  “Now tell me what you mean by that. Where the hell are you going and why did that sound like a permanent goodbye?”

  He releases his grip on my face, but I dare not defy him when he’s acting like this—although part of me wants to just to see what he’d do. It sends a small thrill through my body, but I let go of my bit of rebelliousness and answer his question. “Paris. I’m going to Paris.” I shrug and then add on, “And that sounded like a goodbye because I only bought a one-way ticket. I need a breather from everything, and I didn’t want a deadline looming for my return.”

  He lets out a string of curses but doesn’t release his hold on my body. At this point, I’m putty in his hands, and I don’t think I’d be able to stand on my own even if I wanted to. The noises from the bar continue echoing in the small hallway we’re occupying, and I’m vaguely aware of the fact that anyone could interrupt us at any given moment.

  I have no idea what he’s thinking, but the last thing I expected was his mouth to slam down on mine. I temporarily freeze as he literally sucks the air out of me. It only takes a moment before I’m right there with him and I curl my hands into his hair, pulling him even closer toward me. He groans into my mouth as I tug lightly on the ends and he deepens the kiss.

  The last time we were wrapped in each other’s arms, we were making out like teenagers, which was pretty fitting because we were teenagers at the time—but this? It’s different and so much more. When we were kids, there was hesitation on both of our parts, but right now his lips are right up against mine, almost painful, almost like if we stop, we’ll ruin the magic between us. My heart is pounding hard in my chest and I can’t help the whimper that slips from my lips as he pushes his body against mine, his arousal evident against my belly.

  I end all thoughts in my brain and savor every minute of this. It might kill me and take me a while to get over it, but if a goodbye kiss is how he wants to let me go, then I’m going to take everything he can give me before we go our separate ways.

  With a pop, he releases my mouth, and Anders growls at me in such an intense way that I don’t respond when he says, “You’re coming home with me, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  Fuck that was hot. I simply nod my head and let him lead me outside. I don’t know what’s waiting for me back at his house, but I’m not about to ask him.

  * * *

  We’ve both been silent since we arrived at Anders’ place. My lone suitcase sits by the front door and the sexual tension in the room is palpable. We stand with five feet between us, and I’m drawn to him. I want this. I’ve always wanted this, but I give him an out anyway. “Are you sure this is a good idea? This isn’t something you’ve ever wanted. I don’t want you making a mistake you’ll regret in the morning.”

  “I’ve been an idiot all these years—don’t remind me of that now.”

  “What’s changed? Suddenly you care? Why now?”

  Anders covers the distance between us until he’s standing before me. There’s a hunger in his eyes I’ve never seen before and I kind of like it. His intensity burns, and I know that look will be one I’ll always crave.

  He brings his hand up, cupping the side of my face, and forces me to look into his eyes when he says, “Don’t act that way, Giselle. You know I’ve always cared for you.”

  Cared.

  That’s the keyword there—not love, just care, and it’s not enough. It doesn’t fill the void I know only he can. Which is why I’m leaving in the first place.

  “I know you care for me. I know you love me like a brother would, but you need to let me go. I need to thrive and find myself.”

  He takes a step back and drops his hand away from my face in the process. It was barely there, but already I’m missing it. “A brother? Is that really how you think I feel about you?”

  “What else am I supposed to think? You’ve never given me reason to believe otherwise.”

  Any train of thought I had before is stopped as he moves back into my space. The heat in his eyes is unmistakable as his tongue dips out and runs along his bottom lip. I never thought I would see the look of desire that’s currently on Anders’ face aimed toward me, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.

  A chill travels down my spine, spreading goose bumps across my skin as he blows against my ear. “Once I start, I don’t think I can stop. I’m only going to ask you this one time: do you want to cross that line with me?”

  If I only get one night from him, I’m taking it. I nod my head, but I wait for him to take the lead on this. There’s no reason for us to rush, and I can tell he’s thinking the same way. He places a small kiss right below my ear and travels downward, leaving featherlight touches in his wake. His lips caress my jaw and butterflies build in my stomach with anticipation.

  Before he gets to my lips, he pulls back and says, “For tonight, this is about us. Nothing else matters. We’ll worry about everything else tomorrow. Right now, we’re finally going to give in to what we’ve been fighting for nearly two decades. You got that?”

  The words aren’t there for me to respond with, and for the first time in my life, I don’t say anything. I nod my head as Anders makes the slow descent toward my lips with his own.

  This is actually happening.

  Right here, right now.

  I’ve always made fun of girls who talked about kisses making them feel like fireworks were going off or like electric currents were traveling through their body. It’s just a kiss; there is no power behind that—but now I get it. I really get it. The moment our lips touch, it’s not like it was in the hallway. That was frantic and frenzied. It was completely primal, and we were giving in to our urges without a thought in the world. Now, as our lips morph together, making us one, it’s like a spiritual awakening. It’s electric. It’s powerful. It’s like I found my soulmate and we’re finally becoming one.

  Even thinking that thought makes me feel dumb, but I can’t describe it any other way. This feels right and I’m internally kicking myself for us not acting upon it sooner. I’ve been searching for someone my entire life, and he’s been standing in front of me all this time.

  His hands run down my body and he cups my ass, pulling me flush with him. My legs wrap around his waist and I know he wants this as much as I do. A moan falls from my lips with the close contact and the vibrations of his body against mine as he walks us toward his bedroom.

  This is it.

  I tumble from his arms, and the reality of everything hits me as I bounce on his bed. It’s the
same bed where he sleeps every night, and I’m here with him.

  I don’t get another moment to process the situation before he quickly shucks every item of clothing I’m wearing below the waist, first my booties and then my leather leggings. The noise he releases is almost feral as he finds me completely bare underneath my pants.

  “Just a taste,” he says as he leans forward with his tongue out, running from bottom to top and ending with a swirl over my clit.

  Woah.

  My eyes roll back into my head, but it’s over too soon. I guess he wasn’t lying when he said just a taste. Getting up onto my knees quickly, my fingers go to his pants.

  Naked.

  I need us to be skin to skin, and now.

  Some of the frenzy from earlier builds back up the closer we get to joining our bodies, and the rest of our clothing quickly makes its way to the floor. Then everything slows down as he sheaths himself in the thin piece of rubber. I lie back and slide my body up the bed as he puts his knee down between my legs. He hovers over me and hesitates for a minute—another out. We’re both so afraid to cross that line, but if we don’t, we’ll always wonder What if? I look up into his eyes and slowly nod my head. I give him the okay and with one thrust, he slides in, filling me fully.

  We both moan at the same time as he moves slowly.

  “Faster.”

  I only say the one word, and he takes my permission and runs with it.

  He slides out fully then flips me over, dragging me to the edge of the bed and slamming back into me as I crawl onto all fours. We both cry out at the change of position and how fully he fills me. Anders grips me on either side as he slides out and slams back into me. With each thrust, I’m closer and closer to the edge. I bring one of my hands underneath me, finding my clit and rubbing in quick short circles.