Wanted

Chapter 37

I went back into the house after walking my parents out, and Rylie was curled up on the couch. I stopped for a minute and just smiled at how peaceful she was. I gently picked her up, and carried her into the bedroom. I put her in bed, and covered her before slipping back out to the living room.

"Hey Seth, can I talk to you for a minute." I asked.

"Yeah, what's up?" He turned on the couch to face me as I started to chew my lip. "Is everything ok?"

I smiled as I nodded, "Yeah. I uh... I have been thinking, lately..." I said as I scratched my head trying to figure out how to say this. "I want to ask Rylie to marry me. I mean, down the road still, but I know I want her, forever." Seth's eyes were huge as he looked back at me. "You are the closest thing she has to family, and I want to know what you think."

A slow smile spread across his face. "I think she would be incredibly lucky to have you. When are you going to ask her?"

"Not for a while. I have an idea of what to do, but It's several months away still." I said.

"It was very sweet to ask me what I thought, but it isn't up to me. She is the one who will make that decision." Seth said.

"I know she lost her parents, but how?" Austin asked.

"Her dad died when she was very young, I think she was 6. He had a heart attack, and wasn't strong enough to make it through surgery." Seth said.

"Her Mom actually passed away just a few years ago from breast cancer." I told him.

"Of course they are both tragic deaths." Austin said, shaking his head.

"I'm going to go to bed. I don't usually have time to talk to you without Rylie, so I wanted to take the opportunity while I had it." I said as I stood up.

"You're everything she needs, Nick." Seth said smiling at me.

"Thank you." I said as I left down the hall to our room.

I closed the door behind me when I stepped into the room. I walked to Rylie's side of the bed and whispered softly, "Do you want to change? You'll be more comfortable."

She undid her belt, and slid her shorts down her legs. I tossed them into the laundry basket. She lifted her shirt off too, handing it to me. I tossed it with the shorts in the laundry and grabbed one of my t-shirts for her. I walked it back to her to put it on, just as she reached behind her back, and unclasped her bra. She handed it to me and reached out for my shirt, but I pulled it back.

I gave her a smirk as my eyes dropped to her perky and hard nipples. She just shrugged, and laid back down, pulling the covers over her shoulders. I dropped my shorts and pulled off my shirt before sliding under the covers next to her. I pulled her into my chest, and wrapped my arm under her body and grasped her butt cheek firmly through the lace underwear she was still wearing.

"Goodnight, Rylie. I love you." I said.

"Night handsome." She said pushing into me closer.

...

Summer passed quickly. We all fell into a rhythm of our new lives. Rylie was doing exceptionally well at work. She has implemented many new practices that keep patients safer, and keep hospital mistakes, and misunderstandings to an absolute minimum.

We were both finding ways to stay in touch while I am at work, and have to stay late or over night during a case. It just so happens that the house next to us went up for sale a couple months ago, and Austin and Seth jumped on the opportunity. Now if we are out, Seth and Rylie bunk together until we are home.