A Bid For Love Read Online Free PDF

the box that contained the jewelry, the
rose petals she had painstakingly dried and wrapped in bubble wrap,
the lingerie, and other beloved items. Holding her jeweled collar
in her hands, she rubbed her thumbs over it, stroking the smooth
silver, inhaling the slightly acrid scent of the metal. Her
fingertips brushed over the smaller inset jewels, which she and
Ryan had painstakingly selected together, picking out ones that
matched each of their eyes colors.
    Lifting it to her neck, she clasped it and
centered it, so that her name was in front, resting under her chin.
The cold metal heated with the warmth of her skin, settling
comfortably, like it was only yesterday she had worn it for
him.
    Fingers trembling, she reached back into the
box for the letter and lifted it out. The lettering on the envelope
had faded slightly, but she could still make out her name and
address, written in Ryan's precise handwriting. Tracing the letters
with her fingertip, she put off the inevitable until she couldn't
stand it any longer.
    Opening the seal, she pulled the stationary
out and set the envelope back into the box. As she started reading
tears shimmered in her eyes and blazed a heated trail along her
cheeks, but she ignored them. All that mattered were the words on
the page, words that poured from the heart of her beloved.
    As she came to the last line, a sob escaped
her and the letter fluttered to the mattress. Holding her palm
against her heart, she tried to bring her racing emotions under
control, and hadn't noticed the silence of the shower.
    The sound of Ryan's voice had her turning
guiltily, a blush staining her cheeks as she faced him.
    "I still mean it."
    Erika held out her hand for Ryan's, pulling
him down for a kiss, then she laid her face against his chest, his
heartbeat a soothing rhythm as she struggled to control her need
for him.
    Gently, he cupped her chin and tipped her
face up, forcing her to look into his eyes. The love shining back
at her as he traced his fingertip over the engravings in the collar
around her throat caused her chest to tightened, her heart to race.
Throat dry, she swallowed heavily, waiting for him to say something
more, uncertain what to say herself.
    "I still want to marry you. I came home that
day with a ring in my pocket, hoping to claim you for my own, and
then I was going to explain what Cindy had done. I had faith you
would understand why Cindy have been forced to such a rash action,
that you would even support the need for such a deception given
your gentle heart. When I saw the newspaper on the table and you
packing, I didn't know what to do, what to say. I had the evening
planned out perfectly, then things suddenly went to hell.
    "I wanted to do it different this time, but I
guess planning isn't going to work. It's not really our style
anyways. So, forget all the rest of it, will you marry me?"
    Flinging her arms around his neck, Erika held
tight to him, hoping she wouldn't wake up from the dream. "Yes,"
she whispered against his neck, the sound coming out more of a
croak as it slid past her tight throat.
    Pulling back, she looked into his eyes, and
climbed off the bed. Kneeling down before him, she laid her head
against his inner thigh, her mouth a breath away from his cock.
    A flash of gold caught her attention as the
curtains flickered, letting the sunlight in. Looking over Ryan's
thigh, she couldn't help admiring the beauty of the painting
hanging on the wall. Erika felt tears welling in her eyes, tears of
thanks for her grandmother, and her unashamed acceptance of the
breathtaking quality of passion.
    She only wished she had the talent to add a
second painting of her and Ryan, one of this very moment, forever
capturing her complete trust and submission. Almost as if Ryan knew
what she was thinking, a hand dropped to her head and she could
feel it trembling as he brushed the strands of her hair before
trailing down her neck to rest on her collar.
     
     
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    The story is not over