**Kayci**
Oh my God. Did that just happen? I just sat there on my couch in a daze. I could barely hear A.J. and Jess discussing something and Nick occasionally adding his two cents. Brian's words just rang through my head...through my entire body. I couldn't believe it. I noticed Nick's hand on my arm and I could feel his arm around my shoulders. I grabbed his hand and pulled his arm tighter around me and I pushed back into him. He took the hint and wrapped his other arm around me. I felt safe now. Safe from everything. Even Brian. How could he do this? He couldn't have kept it to himself?
I stopped those thoughts and reverted them back to Nick. I wanted to be in his arms forever. The other night when he couldn't sleep, I was up all night thinking about what it would be like to marry him. But of course, I don't think he's ready to get that serious right now. Men never are.
"Kayci," he whispered to me, breaking my thought pattern. "Can we take a walk, please?"
"Sure." We stood up and walked out the back door. We left our sandals on the deck and walked down to the beach. The water was very calm and it was really dark out. The only light we had was from the moon. "Something important?"
"Extremely."
I gave him a strange look and he turned away from my gaze. "So..."
"I-I...well, I-"
"Chill out. What's wrong? Is it about Brian?"
"No."
"Do you want to talk?" I guess I said the magic words. He stopped. He turned to face me. He took my hands in his and dropped to the sand. What was he doing?
"Kayci, baby...I love you so much. So much that it hurts. I can't bear the thought of living my life with out you there every second. You're the one that I picture the rest of my life with." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box that had been on my nightstand yesterday. He opened it. Oh my God. I stared down into a huge, gorgeous diamond ring. Oh my God...oh my God.
"Will you marry me?" He took out the ring and gently slipped it on my left hand. I looked down at it and then at him. His eyes were so sincere, and his expression was of pure love and anticipation. I felt a warm tear slide down my face. His hand slowly moved towards my face and he wiped the tear away. I grabbed his hand and held it against my face. I wanted him to feel the movement of my face when I gave him my answer. This was a complete no-brainer question. I nodded my head. How could I possibly say no to him? I had waited for this day for so long.
"Yes." I couldn't help my laughter nor my smile as I saw his face. He jumped up and hugged me so tightly.
"Oh my God, I love you," he said. He said it with such force that it sent a chill up my spine.
"I love you, too."
"Let's celebrate," he whispered into my ear.
"Should we go tell the others?"
"Not tonight." He moved to look into my eyes and I felt so lost within them. "I want to prove to you how much I love you." I didn't get a chance to reply. He swept me up into his arms and started for the house.
**Nick**
I didn't want to give her a chance to reply so I swept her into my arms, where we both knew she belonged. I carried her through the living room and I glanced back at Jess. I smiled and nodded my head. Jess gave me a thumbs up. I proceeded to her bedroom which I guess could now be called our bedroom. The room was dark but the moon through the window acted as a nightlight...I guess...and I had all the light that I needed. I gently laid her down on the bed and leaned over her and kissed her.
"Nick," she whispered, "it's been so long."
"I only want to prove my love to you. We don't have to if-" She put her fingers over my mouth.
"I love you. And I do want to prove it to you once again." I mean, I didn't want her to feel obligated or anything. If she wasn't comfortable, I wanted to know. She reached up and grabbed my shirt collar and pulled me in for a kiss. I kissed her as hard as I could...without hurting her of course. Her hands roamed up the back of my shirt...on my skin. Her touch...it was so amazing. A wave of chills went up through my body. She gently lifted my shirt over my head. As always, she looked into my eyes and brushed my hair off of my face. I bent down and kissed her neck while unbuttoning her shirt. God, I love this girl.
I got the last button undone and I pushed the shirt from her shoulders. Her hands washed over my chest and my stomach and then played with the edge of my jeans. I dropped my head to her chest a pressed my lips over her heart. I could feel the pulsing of it...keeping her alive...for me. She unbuttoned my jeans and I slowly shook out of them. I had been smart this morning and I had put on her favorite pair of my boxers.
"Nick, you wore the green silk ones. My favorite." What can I say? They are pretty comfortable.
My thoughts stopped and returned back to her. Her hands glided over my boxers again and again. I reached underneath her back and unclipped her bra. I had gone over how to unclip it in my head...I'm glad I did. These damn things are tricky!
I slowly slid it off and laid it to rest on the floor. I kissed down her stomach and then slowly slid off her remaining clothes. I sat on my knees and straddled her legs. I looked her up and down. "You are so beautiful."
"Nick, I've missed you so badly. I want you. I love you."
She slowly slid her fingers underneath my boxers and pulled them off. I slowly lowered myself down over her, making sure to keep my weight on my arms. She looked so small compared to the large frame of my body. My entire body ached for her...craved her. She closed her eyes as I slowly entered her, making us one. God, the feeling is undescribable. She moaned my name loudly. My heart skipped a couple of beats when she did. To hear the pleasure that I caused her and to know the pleasure that she caused me...I had to say it again. "I love you."
"I-I love you, too," she gasped. She wrapped her arms tightly around me and pulled me to her.
**Kayci**
I felt something brushing against my forehead. I slightly cracked open my eyes and sunlight filled my eyes. I shut them, rubbed them and then rolled over. When I opened my eyes this time, I was staring into Nick's face and he was gently brushing his fingertips across my forehead. It just made me smile. "Hey."
"G' morning." He smiled back. God, he was gorgeous.
"How long have you been awake?"
He turned around and looked at the clock. He turned back to me and cuddled up closer. "About an hour. I've just been watching you sleep. You're so beautiful when you sleep." I could feel my cheeks burning. He leaned forward and brushed his lips across mine...of course I wanted more. We had been so hungry for each other last night. I was better than it's ever been...so to speak. We've only made love about three times previous to last night...but last night was so...incredible, so...intense. We were hungry for hours.
I lifted my left hand and admired the ring. "Nick, you have no idea how long I've wanted to wear your ring. I get chills at the thought of being called your wife." It was true. I got butterflies everytime I thought about it.
"I can't wait to be your husband. My God, am I dreaming? Did you really say that you'd marry me?" I pulled the covers up close to me and gave him a look. I pressed my nose up to his.
"Why would you ever think I would say otherwise? I never want to be without you." He stuck out his lips and pressed them to mine. Underneath the covers, he wrapped his arms around my skin. I got chills.
"I was just nervous...I guess."
"You know you never have to be nervous with me."
He looked at me for a minute and then let his hands roam around me. Of course I was going to let him...I couldn't get enough of him. "You have the softest skin."
I melted. I love him so much. Now I understand when he says he loves me so much it hurts. Whenever someone says his name, I get butterflies. I don't know why. I guess that love will do that to you.
**Brian**
Jess, A.J. and I had crashed at Kayci's house again last night and we were waiting for her to wake up so she could make us breakfast. I don't even know why I stayed here last night. I should have left the second after I told Nick and Kayci that I loved her. A.J. was complaining that there was nothing on television when all of a sudden, we heard a door open and a fit of giggles. I looked up to see Nick carrying Kayci into the room. "What are you guys doing?"
"We're practicing!" Kayci practically squealed. She held up one of her hands. Oh my God. My heart just about stopped. Nick put her down. "We're getting married!"
Jessica jumped up and screamed. "Oh my God!" She ran over and hugged them both. "Congratulations!" She poked Nick's stomach. "This is such a surprise!" I had a feeling that Jess already knew about this.
A.J. jumped up and hugged them, too. "You guys, that's great! Now where's breakfast?"
"A.J., that's not nice," I said. I stood up and slowly gave Kayci and Nick a hug. "I'm so happy for you two. I really mean that...all feelings aside."
Kayci put her arm around Nick. "Thanks Brian," she said. "It means a lot."
"Yeah. Thanks Frick."
"Anytime, Frack."
Kayci ran over to A.J. and put him into a head lock. "We just got engaged so how about you make us breakfast?"
"Okay," A.J. replied.
Kayci jumped back and looked stunned. "Okay?"
A.J. grinned. He lounged for her and put her into a head lock. "Fooled you!"
"Nick! Help me!" she screamed and laughed. A.J. started dragging her towards the kitchen.
Nick laughed and ran after them yelling: "A.J.! Let go of my woman!" And then the room was silent. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Jessica.
"You okay, Brian?"
"I just love her so much." I had told Jess everything last night when A.J. had gone to the bathroom.
"I know, Brian. I couldn't tell you that they had gotten engaged last night. I knew they'd want to tell everyone."
"How did you know?"
"He came to me for advice and when he carried her in from the beach, he nodded and smiled at me and I...knew."
"God, listening to them last night...making love...was hard. Hearing what he does for her...it's just the way they moaned...it should have been me. God, I wish they weren't in love."
"I think it's sweet. They love each other so much that they prove it in such powerful ways. But Brian...they are in love. You have to accept that."
"I know I just...can't."