Part 31 (1/2)

”Three or four hours might be what we do when we've been together for a while. But now we've gotta make up for lost time.”

Callie wrapped her arms around Regan's shoulders and kissed her, relis.h.i.+ng the still novel experience. ”This is the best day of a pretty awesome life. But I can't wait for tomorrow 'cause I know every day will be better with you by my side.”

Regan placed a long, tender kiss on Callie's lips, then gazed into her eyes, letting the feeling build. Then she took a deep breath, cleared her throat and said, ”I want to marry you.”

Callie blinked, eyes opening wide. ”You want to marry me?”

”Yes, I want to marry you. I can't imagine my life without you. I want to tell everybody I love what you mean to me.”

”Get married,” Callie said, as though she were testing out how it sounded. ”Married.”

Regan jumped out of bed and dashed for her bag where she rooted around, grasped something and ran back to bed. She took a steadying breath while she fumbled under the covers. ”I'm so glad you came to Boston. And I'm so glad we were the first state to legalize marriage between women. Isn't Ma.s.sachusetts wonderful?”

Callie nodded slowly. ”Yeah...it's the best place on earth. What are you hiding there?”

Regan's hand slipped out of the covers and held up an emerald ring set in gold. ”Will you marry me?”

Tears welled up in Callie's eyes and she clutched Regan, holding on tightly. ”Yes, yes. I'll marry you right this minute.”

With trembling hands, Regan slipped the ring onto her finger, then kissed it tenderly.

”It's so beautiful. How did you know I'd love it?”

”You've told me you like Delaney's, but that you liked emeralds better than diamonds. I pay attention to every word you say.” She knew she was gazing at her with a lovestruck expression, and that's just what she wanted. Callie needed to know what was in her heart. They kissed, gently, almost chastely.

When they broke apart, Regan gazed at her for a moment, marveling at her beauty. Callie grasped her face with both hands and began to kiss her in earnest. Her kisses were full and warm and covered Regan's lips completely, making her want more and more. After just a few moments, Regan could feel the desire burning in her heart, as insistent as any physical need she'd ever had. This was what true love felt like. There wasn't a doubt in her mind or in her body. She was Callie's.

Long moments later, they broke apart. ”Did you say you'd marry me?” Regan asked lazily.

”Yes, yes, yes, yes. I'll marry you.”

”That's good. Because I'd have to kill myself if I couldn't have you now.”

”You've got me,” Callie pledged, wiping away a few tears as they formed. ”Forever.”

Two Months Later Callie and Regan sat on a bench in front of a cafe on Commercial Street in Provincetown. The day was lovely, warm and dry. They'd been on a run, and were still in their running clothes. Callie reached over and tucked a few hairs behind Regan's ear. ”I really made you work for your lunch, didn't I? Your hair couldn't stay in its ponytail.”

”I think I did just fine.” Regan leaned hard against the bench, stretching her arms straight in the air as she performed some of the unique exercises she indulged in after running. ”One of these days I'm gonna beat you, and then you'll know how it feels to see me in the distance.”

Leaning over to drape herself across Regan's lap Callie batted her eyes seductively. ”That'd be great. I'd love to be behind you, watching your adorable b.u.t.t. You know, sometimes I hold back just so I can leer at you.”

”But you always find a way to pull out another gear and dust me.”

Giggling, Callie sat up and flipped her hair over her shoulders. ”I can see your b.u.t.t at home.”

”You know, it was just a year ago that we were here, watching people walk down the street. I remember not being able to look at other women because I was mesmerized by the sun s.h.i.+ning on your hair.”

With a bright grin, Callie patted her cheek. ”And now you can't look at other women because I'd strangle you.”

Regan's grin matched hers. ”That's pretty harsh. Not to mention unfair.” Whatever chart measured cuteness didn't have a number high enough for how Regan looked when she played like this. ”Your last lover could have s.e.x with other women. I can't even know they exist.” Being able to tease each other about their exes was new. It was still a little touchy, but it felt healthy to toy around these possibly dangerous topics.

She leaned forward and cupped Regan's face in her hands. They were just a couple of inches from each other and Callie could see so many flecks of color in Regan's eyes she almost lost track of what she wanted to say. ”It's perfectly fair. Marina could have had s.e.x with my mom at ten and come home and be perfectly normal at noon. You, on the other hand...” She had to have a quick kiss. Lips that luscious couldn't be ignored for long. ”Would feel guilty about looking at another woman's body for more than two seconds. When you feel guilty you behave differently. So...no checking out chicks for you.” Another longer kiss followed, and she couldn't make herself pull away. Being close to Regan's sweet face was always a treat, and being able to kiss her openly was extra special.

”Is that really the reason?”

”Of course not. First off, I'd never tell you what you can or can't do. I just want you to know that if you looked at another woman it would slay me.” Just thinking about it made her feel like she'd choke up.

”No worries.” The certainty in Regan's eyes was enough. It spoke volumes. ”How about you?”

”How about me what?” She'd forgotten what they were talking about. All she could concentrate on were Regan's tantalizing eyes.

”Can you look at other women? What's your rule?”

”Oh.” She pulled away, flipping her runaway hair back again. ”I've got the best looking woman in the world in my bed every night. I have no interest in looking at the runners up.”

Regan took her hand and squeezed it against her chest. ”So...should I be worried if I ever catch you looking?”

”That's a laugh. The only thing I look at is the clock to check when you're coming home. I start at about three and keep doing it every two minutes until you finally hit the front porch.”

”I love that you come to the door to meet me every night. It makes me so happy.”