“It’s not like we wouldn’t have discovered these things if you weren’t leaving.” This time I let my chuckle break over the line.
“You find my pain amusing?” he bit out, using my words against me.
“Yes, Rhys, I do, but only because I know it’s killing you not to order me around. Though I’m sure if you wanted to order my pussy around right now, and you said it just the right way, I might not have a choice.”
I let the invitation sink in. I was testing him, and with his groan, I knew he had passed.
“I know better. I will give you what you want. I would’ve given it to you anyway because I want it, too.”
“Then we agree,” I said, hopeful.
“You aren’t giving me much of a choice, but yes,” he said grudgingly. “You’re punishing me.”
“Maybe...a little,” I said truthfully.
“I had every intention of telling you. I never meant to hurt you.”
“I want to believe you, Rhys.”
“You will…and, Violet, you are going to pay for every single fucking hard-on I get in the next week.”
“Make it RED,” I said sweetly then hung up. Minutes later, after my suitcase was zipped, I got a text.
RHYS: Just come back to me.
The tears fell and I wiped them away. There was no need for them. This wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.
Molly’s parents had agreed to let me pay for a week, at my insistence. It was the only way I would agree to stay. I’d left Savannah withou
t seeing Rhys, because if I had, I wouldn’t be standing at the entrance of the most breathtaking villa in the Caymans. The house was large, a two-story stucco with a Spanish style roof that sat oceanfront. The views in every room held me captive for minutes at a time as I walked around the house. The windows were all open, offering a panoramic view of the property, making it feel almost as if it existed within a tropical rain forest. A mosaic of dark blue and aqua tiles lay at my feet and spread from corner to corner. I chose the largest bedroom with a huge, king-sized canopy bed and the best view of the water. It was magnificent. I unpacked quickly, getting the burden off my shoulders so I could go put my toes in the sand. The breeze was warm, light. I put on a large hat to shade the newly unveiled scars on my neck and face to protect them from the beaming sun, then made my way out onto the sand from the back porch. I took in a deep breath as I listened to the lulling of the waves. Peace was what I felt here. It was what I longed for, what I needed.
This is the life, Vi.
I spent the day rubbing on sunscreen and reading my first book in months. I kept the book clean, keeping to the rules Rhys had set early on in our relationship. When the sun set and I had soaked in as much soft, white sand and aqua blue water as I could get, I went into the house, realizing I had nothing to eat. After freshening up, I called a cab and made my way to a local restaurant the cabbie suggested. It was there, sipping a mango margarita, that I sent my first text.
VIOLET: It’s so beautiful here. The longer I’m here, the more I know it was the right thing to do. I’m just missing one thing.
RHYS: I come with a party of two.
VIOLET: I know. You can join Bryce if you like.
RHYS: Cute. What did you do today?
VIOLET: I spent it by the water.
RHYS: What color is your bikini?
VIOLET: Red.
RHYS: My favorite. I can picture you there.
VIOLET: No need to.
I sent him the selfie I had taken and a few others of the water and the house. I waited forever for his response.
RHYS: Do you have any idea how hard it is to tote a baby around with a hard-on!
I burst out laughing as my plate was served and apologized to him quickly.