The Baker

Chapter 53

Ben smiled like a loon, as he watched the ring on Cassie's left hand reflect the sunlight that was still high up in the sky. The hand was resting on his chest, as her head was on his shoulder, and he didn't have the heart to wake her up yet. They got back a little past noon, made love twice, got something to eat, made love in the kitchen, and then went back to bed to do it three more times, and here they are. 

They had fallen asleep at some point, with Ben waking up just now and smiling like a loon. He can't believe she said yes! He's been preparing for the worst these past couple weeks, which is why he's been so moody lately. Rumors and everything be damned because he is engaged to the love of his life!

He sighed contently and ran his hand lightly up and down her arm, before settling it on the hand that rested on his chest. He ran his thumb over the ring and thought back to how he spent hours trying to pick the perfect one. He must have had the poor young man at the shop take out over a hundred rings. 

Once he saw this one a few times, he knew it would be perfect for her. It wasn't too small, but a decent size with three diamonds on it; two small ones on either side of a bit larger one. The band was silver and thick, but not too thick. It wasn't flashy or annoying, but it was enough to make him feel like he spoiled her a bit and that made him happy. 

Either way, he's just happy that she said yes! 

After the ring shifted a bit on her finger from his thumb, she started to stir awake. He smiled and watched as she did her usual wake up routine, that he's pretty sure she has no idea she does. First, she did her mini stretch (that she only does when she's curled up next to him, other than that she goes all out), then she shifted on to her back and arched it to let it crack and pop (and giving Ben an eyeful of her breasts that was making his mouth water), and then she finally turned back to her previous position and fluttered open her blue eyes, looking into his. 

Ben's heart almost exploded in that moment because he realized he gets to watch her do this everyday for the rest of his life. Anyone else might think that will grow old, but he knows it never will. He's very much looking forward to it. 

"Afternoon, my beautiful girl," he said, while taking her hand on his chest. She smiled sleepily up at him and murmured, "Afternoon, sexiest fiancé in the world." Ben laughed and brought her hand up to his lips, kissing each finger, before leaning down and capturing her lips in a kiss. 

He parted from the kiss, but kept their lips just centimeters apart. "Think you can manage to walk enough to get ready for dinner?" He asked with a sly smile. He knows that she knows what he met and it earned him a light smack to the arm. 

"Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Cumberbatch," she teased, while starting to get up. She actually did feel a slight burn in her thighs, but she didn't show it. Ben simply put his hands behind his head and watched as she made her way to the bathroom with absolutely no trace of clothing on. 

"Get used to it, Mrs. Cumberbatch," he teased back, "you've got the rest of your life to deal with this." Cassie stopped and looked at him with a smile. She walked back over to the bed and leaned down to kiss his forehead. "I'm looking forward to it," she told him, before making her way back to the bathroom. 

He cannot wait to get this started. 

**

"Shit, I still haven't called mum," Ben told Cassie, as they waited for their table to be ready in a fancy shmancy restaurant that Ben had booked for them a while ago. "She's probably still waiting up with dad. She was over the moon when I told her I was going to ask you and made me promise to call her as soon as you gave me an answer." 

Cassie laughed, "Well, we were a little occupied when we got back to the house. Besides, I haven't called my mom either. Actually, I have to call the whole damn family! But I have to call Leo first. When we were teenagers, we made a pact to one another that if either of us were going to get married, we'd tell one another first."