Now that I don’t have to hide my feelings, now that I’m free to love him this way, I can’t wait. When he’d divulged that his reason for avoiding me this past year was because of his growing feelings for me, I was on top of the moon. And he’d assured me that no one, not his family, not Rene, not even me, was going to stop him from having me from now on, and no one could come between us.
That’s why I’m not worried about where he went, even if he went to see her. I looked down at my ring and felt that pull in my tummy. He’s mine, he’s really mine, and no one can take him away from me. I closed my eyes for a little bit when the jet lag set in and was so off on the clouds.
GARRICK
She was asleep in my office when I returned to the penthouse. I touched the square velvet box in my pocket as I stood over her looking down. My heart still aches with phantom grief at the thought of her not being here, of all that I could’ve lost.
I knelt by her side while she was still asleep and slid the ring onto her finger, pleased to finally see it there. She came awake at the feel of the heavy metal being placed around her finger, her eyes sleep warm, and that infectious smile she always saves or me spread across her face as she saw me there. “You’re back.”
Her voice was sultry smooth in a way I’d never heard it before; in fact, a lot of things in the last few days have been new to both of us, as to be expected, I guess. Still, it was strange seeing this wonderful creature that I’ve loved for so long in a whole new light. Like, did she always have that look in her eyes when she looked at me before?
Did my pulse always quicken in just this way at the sight and scent of her? It’s as if we’d flipped a switch and gone from one reality to the next without any glitches. She finally looked at the ring and sat up in surprise. “Grandma’s ring!”
“Yes, you like it?”
“You know I do. I’ve always liked this ring and the stories behind it.” And there were plenty. The thing was over two hundred years old and was one of the first made by this particular designer who was all the rage back then.
“I sat on the couch next to her, and she automatically leaned into me. Not the first time she’s done this, but it was different this time. There were no longer any barriers between us. I wonder how long it’s going to take before I stop comparing. I still find myself at odd times of the day wondering if this is real if she was really mine now.
“Isn’t the family going to be upset that you gave this to me?”
“Who else would I give it to if not my wife? And besides, it’s nobody’s business but mine. Let’s go for a swim.” I helped her up and took her into the master suite, which was the only bedroom on this floor. There were two other floors, each with two bedrooms each and a complete bespoke dwelling of seven thousand square feet and a rooftop infinity pool with a panoramic view of the city.
“I didn’t bring my suit.”
“You don’t need one.” We were high enough, and it was late enough that we’d have more than enough privacy for our evening swim. With each piece of clothing she removed, I was there to lick or kiss her bare skin as it became exposed.
By the time we made it upstairs, I was hard as a rock. Her body, which she’s been moaning over since she was a teenager for all the wrong reasons, has this sort of pull on me that I cannot explain. As someone who was into one body type, my whole existence cannot for the life of me explain why her much curvier body makes me harder than I’ve ever been for anyone else.
I’ve been in her more in the last five days than I’ve been with Rene in the last year. I’d told myself that my growing lack of interest stemmed from both of us being busy with our jobs. But now I think that maybe subconsciously, I knew that this day was coming and was making a slow but sure exit.
Whatever the case, I don’t remember ever fucking anyone as hard or as often as I have with Madeline. Even when I’ve fallen asleep from exhaustion while she lays beside me limp and spent, I still wake up just a few hours later for more. And now I’d invited her to swim in the heated pool to relax after the last few days of wear and tear on her body, and now I want to wear and tear her again. Pathetic!