He rolls his eyes and looks to Jonas for a moment through squinted eyes. Jonas raises his eyebrows at him not sure what he wants from him. Seeming to be satisfied "So where did you go?"
"To Kates gallery."
"NO! You went without me? I'm so jelly right now. I heard it’s a total mind fuck this year."
"Yeah that's one way to put it.'' I say. It is actually a pretty accurate description.
"It was definitely an experience worth having." Jonas says as he looks down at me smiling.
Spence and Janessa look at each other and giggle like school girls. I can't help but grin at them.
"I'm just glad you made it back in time for the show. Oh, and that you didn't get mauled or kidnapped or whatever." He waves his hands in the air and his sequin bell sleeves catch the sunlight. "Better get back, don't want to miss my entrance." he spins on his heel and sways his hips as he makes his way back to the dressing tent.
"We should get comfy for the show. I can go get snacks and drinks, what do you want?" I ask both of them.
"I'll come with you, Jonas can get our spot set up nice for us." Janessa says as she links her arm with mine and pulls me off.
I look back to see him with a huge grin shaking his head as he picks up the blanket to lay out. He looks up as he is crouched down flattening the blanket, my heart skips a beat when our eyes meet.
"So?"
She pulls me out of a lovely daydream that was about to form in my mind. "So, what?"
"How was your time alone? Are you ready to admit you have feelings for him yet?"
"Look, it's not that simple. There are more factors than just him and I." I am saddened by the thought. “Besides he lives in another country so what good would it do for me to get attached?”
"Spencer told me about your mother, please don't be mad at him. I just had to know what was wrong with you. I don't understand why it is so important to her that you be with that jerk. What does she get out of it?"
I close my eyes and shake my head trying to get the thoughts out. "I don't know, maybe she wants to be sure I don't embarrass her. It has always been important to her that I marry into a wealthy family, like the one she came from. She married for love and when my dad died she lost it. She gave up her family and fortune to be with him and now he's gone." I can feel a tear stinging my eye as I think about my dad.
"She has been trying to get back to where she was before she met him. This new guy will be her third marriage after my dad, and he is loaded. She wants me to fit into that world, but I don't. I never will."
She looks at me with such sadness, but before she can respond it is our turn to order.
Chapter 12
Jonas
I watch her as she stands in line with my baby sister, I am glad that Nessa likes her. It would be awkward if two of the most important women in my life did not get along. I have a good feeling my parents will welcome her with open arms. I have already told my mother about her. She has faith that what is meant to be will be.
I can't explain the way Ember makes me feel, words just would not do it justice. I look into those big golden brown eyes and get lost every time. She makes my heart beat double time, everything about her makes me smile. She is my soulmate, of that I am sure. Never been more sure of anything in my life. I want so badly to tell her, but I am terrified she will reject me. I just wish I could read her better, I never know what she is really thinking. She is so guarded all of the time.
Then there is that worthless boyfriend of hers. What does she see in him, I can't seem to wrap my head around it. She is perfect in every way and he is a disrespectful prick that treats her like she is a piece of trash. The first time I met her I knew she was meant for me, then he walked up and took it all away from me. The day at the fair it took everything I had to control the urge to put his face in the ground. I could see how hard he was holding her, I wouldn't be surprised if he left his hand print. Then at the museum he had the nerve to look at my sister with that sick look in his eyes. If Nessa hadn't told me to calm down I would have made a mess of him. Next time I really don't think I will be able to hold back.
Surely, she has to know she deserves better than that. I will show her what a real man is, what love is and how happy she can be. She will be mine, maybe not now but soon. I feel in my soul.
I cannot help but grin as she starts walking back. It is midday and the sun is hot, I see the sheen of sweat on her glinting in the sunlight. Her messy ponytail blowing in the breeze along with her long dress. I can't wait to see what is under it. Not that it is the only thing I care about, but I have been dreaming about her body on top of mine, I want to see the real thing.
I walk to meet them halfway purely because I want to be closer to her. They smile and laugh as they walk back to me.
"I got you some more water and chips to snack on, hope that's ok." she smiles sweetly at me, making my heart stop. Those soft pink lips are just begging me to taste them.
"That's perfect, thank you." I take the bottle from her.
Nessa passes by us to our area and makes herself comfortable in one of the chairs not saying a word. I love my sister dearly but at this moment I wish she was elsewhere.
"I suppose we should get comfortable; this show is normally only an hour or so. The queens don't like to wait to get their party on." she walks over to the area I picked out earlier and stands looking as if she is not sure what she wants to do.
I quickly take a seat on the blanket so she can have the chair, but she smiles and sits next to me instead. She is too far away for my liking but close enough for me to take in her sweet minty fragrance. I noticed it the first time we met, and I crave it now.
She lifts her dress up to the middle of her thighs, crossing her ankles and leaning back on her hands. I notice a tail or maybe a snake, I'm not quite sure what the ink is but I am intrigued. She smiles when she catches me looking at her outstretched legs.
"It's an octopus, my favorite sea creature." she pulls the dress down just enough to cover it. No matter, I will see it sooner or later.
Octopus? That explains the stuffed animal she picked at the fair. I find myself wondering how far up her leg it goes, where else it goes. I cannot help but think of it now, I want to touch it, run my fingers over her soft decorative skin.
Suddenly I felt a sting on the back of my head, my sister caught me looking greedily and flicked me like she did when we were small children and I did something she did not like. I turn my head to see her give me the 'behave yourself' look. Of course, she is right to scold me for my very un-gentleman-like behavior.
I sit back leaning on my elbows and avert my attention to the show that has just begun.
∞∞∞
"Oh. My. God. It feels so good to be out of that hot ass costume. I thought I was going to have a heat stroke." Spence says as he drops into the chair behind me.
"Yes, but you looked fabulous!" Ember says dramatically.
"Well did you expect anything less of me? Come on girl."
"You did a wonderful job. I wish I could have been there the night Jonas hosted your show, I was stuck in a meeting with my team in France and Greece." Nessa pouts.
"Yes, I wish I could have been there too, it’s the first show I have ever missed." Ember gives Spencer an apologetic look.
"I know you care about Captain Douchebag's dad so I can't be all that mad. How is the old man by the way?"
She seemed to think about it for a moment before responding. "I have no clue, Kade hasn't said a word about it since that night."
"He probably made the whole thing up just to mess up your night. I really wouldn't put it past him." Spence said spitting venom. It sounds like he really believes that twat would do something like that.
Sam appears with a tray of drinks, pulling me out of my hateful thoughts. "It's 5 O'clock somewhere bitches." he says as he hands out frozen drinks to everyone.
"Don't worry Ems, pina colada for you." he hands her a white drink and everyone else a red one.
&nb
sp; Nessa and I look at her questioning his words.
"Let's just say tequila is not her friend. So, margaritas for the rest of us!" he smiles and raises his glass to the entire group who in turn raise their drinks as well. "To old friends, new lovers and the best damn queens in the world." everyone around cheers, shouts and whistles at him.
"Girl why are you still in that hot ass dress? You need to put that sexy body on display for the whole world to see." he snaps his head from side to side snapping his fingers as he looks Ember up and down.
"Leave her be Sam, you know what that dipshit has done to her head." Spence comes to her defense in the worst way.
She sighs and shakes her head.
"Well I don't see that buzzkill anywhere around, and you know we all love you. Most of us are jealous of that ass of yours, you Brazilian bombshell." he says as his hands trace her amazing figure in the air in front of him, excessively over exaggerating the hips. How I would love to get my hands on those luscious hips.
We all start to crack up, he gives Ember a wink and makes his way back to his makeshift bar under a large tent. Apparently he always brings enough liquor to serve an army.
I sip my margarita and listen to the conversation not really having much to say. I honestly just love listening to her voice, it doesn't matter what she is saying. It is soothing to me, makes me feel happy, like home.
I look at her, catching her eyes on me first. I want her like I have never wanted anything in my life. Not just sex, I just want to be near her, next to her. I want to be with her. Shit this is going to be messy.
"Ok bitches, time to strip into those speedos and stringy thingies. The ocean is calling to us." everyone in the group cheers at Sam as he shouts at the top of his lungs.
Spence is on his feet and shimmying out of his shorts revealing his very short trunks. Janessa takes off her mini dress revealing too much skin for my liking.
"You coming?" Spencer asks Ember.
She nods, "I'll be right behind you."
Spence gives her a crooked look, but decides it's not worth questioning. He takes Janessa by the hand and drags her to the water with him.
Well guess this is it, no more stalling I finally get to see what she has under that dress. I take off my shirt again and toss it to the ground. I catch her eyes on me and it looks like she has to stop herself from reaching out and touching me, as she bits on her lower lip. I stand, offering my hand to help her up. She gladly takes it. I intentionally pull her up fast and hard into my arms, her hands against my bare chest.
"Sorry, I guess I don't know my own strength." I wink and she giggles.
"I don't mind." and the mess has started.
I looked down at her, surprise all over my face. Her eyes darken as I gaze into them.
"Ems, what's taking so...Oh my bad." Sam says as he pursues his lips and sneakers to himself.
She removes her hands from my chest and takes a step back. I want her to remove her dress but she seems to be frozen under my gaze.
"My offer still stands." I bite my bottom lip trying to hold back a smirk.
"And what offer might that be?'
"To help." she gives me a confused look and I chuckles to myself. "Maybe another time then." The disappointment evident in my voice.
She starts to gather the fabric of her long dress in each hand pulling it up her long sexy legs slowly, almost agonizingly slow. She looks terrified, but I can't understand why. Maybe that twat of a boyfriend she has never tells her how perfect she is.
I lick my lip, sigh and turn to look in the direction of the water to give her some privacy.
She pulls the dress over her head and drops it on top of her bag. She stands there, and I’m not sure if she really wants me to look back at her, but the overwhelming urge to be near her wins. She takes a step forward and my head turns back to her. She froze for a moment before I closed the distance between us, taking her hand in mine.
"You are absolutely breathtaking." I placed a gentle kiss on her hand. My eyes never leave hers.
She blushes and pulls at her lips with her teeth trying to keep from giving me that beautiful smile. I make a displeased sound, almost a growl, and place my hand at her chin, slowly running my thumb across her lower lip, pulling it free from her teeth.
She shivers at my touch and I have to focus to control myself. My body is telling me it needs to be closer to her, thankfully my head is clear enough to stop me from wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her to my lips.
I want so badly to look at her body, to see her perfect form, but I can't bear to take my eyes off of hers. Her lip quivers under my touch. My free hand is begging me to touch her, to grab her and pull her closer.
It takes every ounce of control I have to drop my hand from her face. The look in her eyes is dark and full of some deep emotions, her breathing returns to normal and she looks away from me.
"Shall we?'' I ask, nodding toward the water.
She nods and tries to counsel another smile, not very successfully which makes my heart melt.
She releases her long brown hair, causing it to cascade like a waterfall down her back. I watch as it falls down to her waist, strands glow golden in the sunlight. She starts walking toward the rest of the group, I can't help but take her in. My eyes travel up and down her body, that perfect body. Curves like a goddess, Aphrodite herself would be envious of Ember in all her perfection.
She looks over her shoulder to where I stand frozen. She is only a yard away, but I can't seem to get my legs to move. She walks back to me with a sad look in her eyes.
"Are you ok?"
Her sadness makes me sad, I can't bear the thought of her being sad or unhappy in any way. I smile "I was just admiring the view." I look down into her sad eyes. "I am sorry, I can't help myself, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. My eyes were being greedy, please forgive me."
Her expression changes and I can see the sadness disappear. She smiles and her cheeks flush pink under her tan skin. She is trying very hard to hold back a smile, I see the struggle and can't help but let out a chuckle. She loses the fight and a stunning smile graces her face.
She takes my hand in hers and leads me, I gladly follow. As we make our way to where Nessa and Spencer are, I try to get a good look at her tattoo. The artist did good, beautiful lines, blending and shading. The arms of the octopus dangle down her thigh and wrap around it, while the head starts on her left buttocks and hip. Her high cut bottoms show off nearly the entire piece, only a small amount covered on the buttocks.
Before I know it, my feet are wet, we have made it to the water in what feels like seconds. She keeps my hand in hers as we wade in, only letting go when we have to swim. There is a floating dock anchored about five yards out, where I see my sister sitting with her feet in the water. She gives me a warm smile and looks to Ember then back to me.
Nessa has always been worried I would never find someone to make me happy. She would then tell me how even if I did she would never be worthy of me, she seems to have changed her mind on that.
When we make it to her she hands me one of the blown up floats and ties it to the dock with a thin rope. It is large enough for two, I smile and nod in thanks. Ember climbs out of the water onto the dock. I watch as the water runs down her, leaving a puddle at her feet. She grabs two bottles of water from a cooler and makes her way to the edge of the dock. She sits for a moment talking to her friends before motioning me to bring the float closer to her.
She carefully makes her way on to the float laying on her stomach with her arms folded under her head. She lays there looking at me, a deliciously sweet smile on her lips. I pull myself up and lie next to her in the same manner. We float away from the dock but only as far as the rope will allow. The music coming from the dock is loud and the crowd sings and talks over it, but here with her I hear nothing but the sound of my heart beating hard in my chest.
I could lay here for the rest of my life staring into her eyes, watching her hair blow in the bre
eze, listening to her soothing voice. She was made for me, and I for her.
"What are you thinking about?" she has a curious look.
"Are you sure you want to know?" I ask, not sure I really want to tell her.
"I do." She leans up on her elbows.
"I was thinking about you." I pause to see if she wants me to continue. Her cheek flush and she smiles shyly.
"Why me?"
"Ever since that night I met you at the gala, you are all I can think of. Thoughts of you consume my every waking thought, every dream." I can see the shock on her face, but I can't tell what she is thinking. Have I scared her?
She bites on her lip for a moment before speaking. "I see." is all she says.
I have said too much, too soon. I feel this overwhelming ache in my chest as she looks away from me.
I don't know how much time has passed when she speaks again. "Do you believe in fate?"
Her question surprises me. "Yes, I do." I hold back afraid to say more than she is ready to hear.
"Why?"
I turn on my side leaning on my elbow, I think for a moment not sure how to answer. "I was raised to believe it. My parents come from two very spiritual parents. I have never thought of the reason for what I believe in, it just is, has always been." should I say more? I am not sure what she wants from me.
"Hmm...What do you want from me?" she looks into my eyes and I can tell she really wants to know.
"Everything."
Chapter 13
Ember
Wow, that is a lot to take in. How can one simple word carry so much weight? My heart is beating so hard and loud it is drowning out my own thoughts. I carefully flip onto my back, trying to distract myself.
He watches me, clearly needing me to respond. I know what I want to say, I want to give him everything, but now is not the time to say it. I have to keep some sort of morals.
Kade drifts into my thoughts, my mother too. It has been months since I have spoken to her, I could just leave him and be done with them both. Maybe I could actually be happy without her in my life. She is the only parent I have left, but I have already disowned her. I wish it had been her instead of my dad. I feel a tear try to escape, but I hold it back so he won’t think he caused it.
Ribbon of Fate: Love or lust? Page 11