Chapter 45

Richie watched as she opened the box, wondering if he had made the right decision. The conversation they had had the other night had him thinking about marriage again. Something he hadn't been sure he wanted. Her reaction and response had told him that she was as unsure as he was. They loved each other but were both shaky about the next step. He had told her someday, but the more time he spent thinking about his future, the more he knew he wanted someday to be soon.

Faith's eyes widened as she opened the box and then she felt a pang of disappointment. It wasn't a ring. Richie watched her expression, noting the fleeting bit of disappointment in her eyes as she smiled at him. There was a pair of ruby and diamond earrings in the box. They were heart shaped drops set in gold and they matched the necklace he had given her the week before.

As Faith as about to say something their waiter appeared to take their order. They were going to share the grilled portobello mushroom appetizer and Faith ordered the lamb tenderloin while Richie decided on the filet. The waiter left and once again they were alone.

She still hadn't said anything to him. "Faith, what's wrong, don't you like them?" She reached for his hand across the table. "They're beautiful Richie. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed. The party yesterday, the spa, a new dress, new shoes - Manolos - I don't think all my shoes together are worth as much as these, dinner and now these gorgeous earrings. I feel like a broken record over here, but I don't know what else to say except thank you. Thank you for all of it." He squeezed her hand, "I am glad you like the earrings. As for the rest, I just wanted to make your birthday special for you. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Faith looked at him, his eyes intent on her, "no I guess not, but a girl could get used to being treated like this." He brought her hand to his lips, "I would treat you like this everyday if you would let me." Before they could continue their conversation their food arrived. They enjoyed their meal and shared a creme brulee for dessert.

When they got back to the car Richie turned to Faith, "feel like a walk?" She nodded her head, "sure." He drove for a bit and they ended up at the beach where they had first met and where they had walked after the charity benefit. Richie grabbed a blanket from the trunk and, after removing their shoes, strolled hand in hand down the sand. Richie stopped at a semi-secluded spot not too far from where they had left the car and spread the blanket out. "Have a seat" he told Faith as he settled himself on the blanket. She wondered what he was up to.

After a few quiet minutes Richie took her hand, "Faith" she turned and looked at him, in the moonlight she could see his brown eyes shining, "do you know how happy you have made me?" She reached out with her free hand and stroked his cheek, "probably not as happy as you have made me." He smiled and turned his head to kiss the palm of her hand before taking it in his. He opened his mouth to say something to her and then stopped. Usually so sure of himself, he was finding it difficult to come up with the right words to tell her how he felt.

"Riche?"

He looked at her, the moonlight giving her a ethereal-like quality. "I love you." She smiled at him, "I love you too." He gripped her hands a little tighter. "I have been thinking a lot about what we talked about the other night after we told the girls about the baby. Do you remember?" She nodded her head and he continued. "I thought I wanted to wait but now I know I don't. You have brought laughter and love back into my life, making me feel whole again. I hadn't thought I would feel like this again. Tonight I was going to ask you to just move into my house and live with me, but I want more. I have enjoyed having you and Hannah at my house. I want to know that when I am away that you will be there when I get back. I want to wake in the morning adn see you lying there next to me. I want to go to sleep at night holding you close. I want to do more than just share my home with you Faith, I want you to share everything." He let go of one of her hands and reached into his pocket. He turned to face her, she could see his love for her in his eyes, "will you marry me?" He held his hand out to her and she caught the glint of a stone in the moonlight.

Through her tears she could make out that it wasn't a diamond, but that didn't matter to her. The only thing that mattered was the man sitting with her, the man that had stolen her heart. She reached out and touched the ring, but didn't take it from him. "Richie, how did you know? He looked at her, confused, "how did I know what?" She sniffled before going on, "when I walked into the living room today and saw you and the girls I realized that I didn't want to wait either. You said I brought laughter and love back into your life, well you did the same for me and Hannah. You brought light into all the dark places in my life. She ran a hand over her stomach, "we made a life together." She paused to take a breath before continuing. "I love you and I want us to be a family Richie. Yes, I will marry you."

He took her left hand and slid the ring on. "I know it's not a diamond and if you want one we can get you one." Faith wiped her face with her hand and looked down at the ring. It was a pear-shaped ruby with channel set diamonds set in yellow gold. She looked up at him, "it's perfect. I love it." He gathered her in his arms then, his mouth seeking hers. His kisses stirred her and Faith's hands wandered up and down his back, slowly working their way around to his front and across his chest slipping inside his shirt to caress the smooth tanned skin.

Richie's hands were busy lightly stroking the bare skin of her shoulders and up and down her arms. She shivered under his expert touch, wanting more. She felt his hands go for the zipper on her dress and she stopped him, "Richie?" He looked around and then back at her, "it's all right, no one can see us here."

She looked around and, realizing he was right, opened the buttons on his shirt and pressed opened mouth kisses to his chest. He groaned at the feel of her mouth on him. His hands made quick work of the zipper of her dress and he slid the straps off her arms, letting it fall to her waist. He pressed her back from him and gently laid her back on the blanket, sliding the dress from her. His gaze roamed over her, pausing at the scrap of lace she called underwear and down the length of her legs. Her skin shimmered in the moonlight and he could see her tremble under his gaze. "Are you cold?" he whispered as he let his fingers sweep lightly over her. She locked her gaze on his, "no, I'm not cold." He lowered his mouth, meeting hers in a fiery kiss.

He pulled his mouth from hers, she cried out at the loss. He trailed kisses down her neck, dipping his tongue into the hollow between her neck and shoulder, earning a sigh and a moan from her. Faith reached and struggled to get his shirt off him. Richie sat up and helped her slide it off his arms. Her hands traveled over him, roaming to his belt. She stroked him lightly as she released the belt and opened his pants. She slid them down his legs and off, kissing her way back up. She ran her tongue up and down the hard length of him. "Faith!" She stopped and looked up at him, he pulled her up and laid her back on the blanket.

Richie watched her as his hands roamed over her, teasing the hardened tips of her breasts, sliding his hand lower, finding her wet and ready for him. As he slid two fingers into her, her eyes drifted closed. "Faith, look at me." She forced herself to open her eyes as he continued to torment her with his fingers. "Richie" she was close, "I.. ahh..". His thumb found her clit and she was lost. "Richie!" She bucked against his hand as she came, her eyes never leaving his. As she started to come down he settled himself between her legs and slid into her slowly. She brought her legs up, tilting her hips so he slid in a bit deeper. "Oh God Richie." He started to move, keeping his pace slow, driving them both to the edge. He dipped his head and kissed her, "Faith?" "Now Richie, now!" He moved faster, harder, when he felt her come around him, he gave himself over, gave her everything.

They lay, tangled together, slowly catching their breath. When Faith could talk she turned her head to look at Richie, "I love you." He kissed her lightly, "I love you too." They lay there cuddled together for a few minutes more. "We should probably go" she told him. "Yeah, let's go home."