Intro | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

| Chapter 5

| Chapter 6

| Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9

You stepped into the sunlight
on bustling Fifth Avenue. It was the first week of October, and first cold
weather of the season had arrived. Pulling your coat collar around your neck,
you threw your purse over your shoulder and set off down the street. After
a busy day of shopping, you were ready for the respite of home, a candle-lit
bath, and a glass of sweet red wine.

The
street felt particularly crowded this afternoon – perhaps it was all the
shopping bags in your hands from a variety of your favorite stores. Thomas had
been busy with an especially messy divorce all the way in Rochester, leaving
you to spend your time doing one of two things – rattling around your empty
apartment, alone with thoughts of babies and families, or getting out of the
house and spending copious amounts of money. Today you were doing the latter,
but fortunately you had a purpose; your mission was to find an enticing set of
lingerie to celebrate Thomas’s return to the City. You’d spent hours in your
favorite boutique trying on every option you could find, even venturing into
colors and styles you didn’t usually go for. Nothing surprised Thomas more
than when you ventured from your comfort zone.

You were just about home when someone hit you, hard on the shoulder, as they hurried
by in the opposite direction. You dropped nearly all of your shopping bags, your hand clutching to the point of impact.

“God!”
you shouted, whirling around, ready to tear into whoever dared to
shoulder-check you, but it was too late. They had vanished into the
crowd. You stood in
the middle of the sidewalk, completely stunned that someone would do
such a
thing. When the pain began to subside, you gathered up your bags. As you
turn
to walk away, you notice you’d been standing in front of a Baby Gap the
whole time.
Curious, and certain no one inside would recognize you, you pulled on
the heavy
glass doors and stepped inside.

---

Every
candle in your apartment was lit, setting the mood for the romantic
dinner you’d planned for Thomas. You ordered the entire meal from his
favorite restaurant
and had them deliver the meal to your apartment – you wanted to spend
the evening completely
alone with your wonderful boyfriend. He had texted you earlier in the
day, letting
you know he would be over around 7, and mentioned something about a
surprise.

{I have a surprise
for you, too, mister.}

You were wearing your new lingerie – a strappy bra with matching panty and garter you got
especially for Thomas’s homecoming. Elastic bands wrapped around your entire
body, from your collar bone down to your thighs. It had been a nightmare to get
into, but once you had it right, you knew Thomas would love it. He’d been
hinting around at tying you up lately, and you were beginning to come
around to the idea.

Just as you finished
setting the table, the doorbell alerted you to Thomas’s arrival. You
practically ran to the door, giving yourself a final check in the mirror
before
answering the door. Red lips, a fresh blow out, Thomas’s favorite heels –
you were ready. You took a deep breath, thrusting your breasts into the
air and
opened the door.

“Hello, handsome,”
you said, barely getting the words out before you were wrapped in Thomas’s
arms. He cradled your head in his hands, holding tight as he dipped you in
one swift motion. He devoured you with deep, passionate kisses. Finally, he
spun you upright, still holding your face in his hands.

“I missed you,
too,” you said with a smile.

“We’ll get to what
you’re wearing in a moment,” he said, looking you up and down, “but my God,
I’ve missed those lips,” Thomas said, once again taking your lips between his.

“You know, we do
have plans this evening, Mister Hiddleston. Unless you’d like to forget it all and
get naked,” you said, hoping for the latter.

Thomas made a
thoughtful face, then stood up and straightened his tie. “No, ma’am. I’ve got
big things planned for us tonight. But perhaps when we return home…” he trailed
off, teasing you with one last, lingering kiss.

At Thomas’s
insistence, you finally tore yourselves apart long enough to eat dinner.
And,
at your own insistence, you put on a few more layers of clothes before
you left. You had no idea where he was taking you and, for once, didn’t
care. The
man you loved was by your side once again, and that was all that
mattered. It
was only when the two of you strolled up to Rockefeller Center that you
could tear your eyes
away from him.

“Thomas, no!”
you said in disbelief.

“Darling, yes,”
he said.

Your emotions
overwhelmed you. It was what the two of you had done on your very first
date, where you had been completely terrified – of skating, of letting
go, and especially of Thomas. This time, you couldn’t be more excited.
You’d opened yourself up to the possibility of love and had been
rewarded tenfold. He took you by the hand and walked to the rental desk,
where brand new skates were waiting for you both.

“Nice to see you
again, Mr. Hiddleston!” the attendant said.

Of course he’s been here to set this up.
Thomas was such a thoughtful man – you couldn’t wait to do everything in
the
world with him. After putting on your skates, the two of you headed for
the ice. There would be
no hesitation this time – you couldn’t wait to get out there. Hand in
hand, you glided onto the rink. It was a brisk evening, just cold enough
for Thomas to hold you close as you skated around. It was only the
first cold snap of the season, but you were
already imagining spending the snowy winter wrapped in his warm embrace.

As the crowd
thinned, it occurred to you that you’d been skating for hours, not
once letting go of each other’s grasp. The last family left the rink, leaving
you and Thomas alone on the ice.

“Look how great
you’re doing, love,” he encouraged. Excited to show him what you could
do, you ventured out on your own for the very first time.

Step. Push. Glide. Step. Push. Glide.

“Ha! Look at that!
I don’t even need you,” you joked.

“You certainly
don’t need me. But I do hope you want me,” he murmured.

“You know
I do,
silly,” you said, reaching back for his hand. When you didn’t find it,
you turned to see where he was – and where he was took your breath away.
You clutched your heart as you saw Thomas W. Hiddleston on one knee, a
diamond ring sparkling in
his hand. You started to cry before he could even begin to speak.

“Darling,
you’re the love of my life,” he began, your tears evoking his own. He
sniffled before continuing. “Would you do me the honor of
becoming my wife?” He looked up at you expectantly, hoping you would
answer
before his heart beat straight out of his chest.

Struggling to
maintain your balance, and your composure, you nodded enthusiastically. “Of
course. Of course!” you squealed. You fell into his arms, holding his cold cheeks in
your hands. You’d never seen this side of him before –  nervous, and uncertain. You kissed him, over
and over, until you were convinced he knew just how much you loved him. Finally,
you sat down on his knee as your attention turned to the ring.

“It’s so
beautiful,” you said. Thomas steadied his trembling hand to slide the vintage
Tiffany ring onto your perfectly manicured finger.

“Perfect fit,” he said.

“Perfect fit,” you agreed, looking into his glistening blue eyes. He was talking about the ring;
you were talking about your future husband. “You’re going to be my husband!” you shouted in disbelief.

He giggled over
your excitement, his nerves finally subsiding. “You’re going to be my wife!” He
looked at the ring on your finger and realized that every decision he’d made in
his life – good and bad – had led him to you. He wrapped his hand around yours and held it close to his heart.

“What do you say
we go home and celebrate, hmm? Pop some champagne and go absolutely crazy on
each other?” he said with a growl.

“Yes, yes!” you said, absolutely giddy.

A newly engaged
couple, the two of you walked back to your apartment, stopping off for a bottle of Dom
Perignon. You made sure to keep Thomas on your right side the entire
time, unable to keep your eyes off the new piece of jewelry on your left hand.
Though you’d been proposed to three times before, you’d never felt like this –
so absolutely certain that a life of happiness and love lay before you. He made
you a better person – changed you in ways you never thought possible, and now
he would change your last name as well.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hiddleston.