Undeniably You

by Jewel E. Ann

  “And you’re okay with her spending the night with them?”

  I reach over and brush Ocean’s hair out of her eyes. “No, but I don’t have much of a choice. After all, she’s going to be doing it in the near future anyway.”

  “So what are you going to do while all this is going on?”

  I laugh. “That’s the fun part. Apparently, Emma’s rich family is putting me up in a nice hotel and even throwing in some fancy spa treatments for me and a friend of my choosing. So what do you say friend?”

  “Uh … heck yeah, I’ll go live it up on someone else’s tab.” Avery’s grin is enormous. “You think room service is included?”

  I grin. “Well, I’m not giving them my credit card number so I’d say yes. Food, champagne … whatever we want.”

  “Watch out world, the Montgomery sisters are going to get hammered!”

  I shake my head.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  August 2nd, 2013

  We’re a few block’s from Lautner’s dad’s house. I’d like to say that my anxiety over Lautner and Emma stealing Ocean has subsided, but it hasn’t. The overnight part is what has me worried. She could wet the bed, have a bad dream and be crying for me. What if she gets sick like she did at my wedding?

  “Knock it off,” Avery says with a smirk on her face.

  “What?” I reply with a quick sideways glance.

  “Stop obsessing.”

  “What—I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My voice jumps an octave.

  “I can hear the cogs turning in your head. You’re worried about leaving her and who’s going to cut up her food tonight, and what if she doesn’t get a bedtime story. Tomorrow she could get sick or scared or stolen by her father and his new bride.”

  “Pfft … you think you know me but … that … no … not even close.”

  “Lying like a rug, Sam … lying like a rug.” She laughs as we pull into the drive. “Want me to come with you?”

  I roll my eyes as I open my door. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m a big girl. I can do this.”

  After getting Ocean out of her seat, I sling her two bags over my shoulder and walk her up to the door. It’s like I’m leaving her off at camp.

  Don’t cry … don’t cry.

  “Ocean!” James answers the door with such excitement to see his granddaughter. “Sydney, nice to see you too.”

  I smile. “Where’s Lautner?” I try to sound casual, like it doesn’t matter and I’m not sure why it does.

  “He and the groomsmen are still out golfing, but they should be back soon. I offered to stay back to be here for Ocean. He wanted to but I told him it would be wrong for the groom to miss his own golf outing with the guys.”

  “Oh, okay …. um …”

  James pats me on the shoulder. “She’ll be fine. I’ll guard her with my life.”

  I blink back the tears and swallow hard with a hesitant nod. “Come here, baby girl. Give me a hug and kiss.”

  Ocean hugs me and a little too willingly walks into the house.

  “So, you’ll call me after the reception and I’ll pick her up here?”

  “You bet. We’ll see you tomorrow.” He goes to shut the door.

  “And you have my cell phone number?”

  “Got it.”

  The door closes and I know I’m going to receive a ration of crap from Avery for my pathetic watery eyes, but she can just kiss my ass.

  *

  “Holy Crap! This is where we’re staying?” Avery gasps as we pull up to the valet parking.

  “Close your mouth. You’re embarrassing me.” I laugh, getting out of my Jeep.

  The valet greets me as if I just pulled up in a Bentley. Nice!

  Check-in is simple because everything has been handled ahead of time. I wonder if it’s a distraction. Keep the deranged Sydney preoccupied so she doesn’t show up at the wedding and ruin everything. Looking around at the posh surroundings, I inwardly smile. For the first time in my life, my craziness pays off.

  “Would you look at this?” Avery runs over to the windows as we enter the room.

  I dig in my purse to tip the bellboy, but he holds up his hand. “It’s all been taken care of, ma’am.”

  “Thank you.” I smile.

  It’s not a room, it’s a luxury suite larger than the house I rented from Dane.

  “Get over here, now!” Avery calls.

  French doors open to a massive private balcony overlooking the bay and part of the city. “Not bad.”

  “Not bad? Okay, Miss I’ve-traveled-the-world, but for those of us who haven’t, let me tell you this is unbelievable.”

  I grin and nudge her. “I’m kidding. I have seen a lot of the world, but this is still amazing.”

  She turns and skips inside to check out the rest of our palace for the night. I check my watch.

  “We need to get going. We have spa treatments in half an hour,” I call to her.

  She waltzes out of one of the bedrooms, jabbering in her ridiculous British voice. “Ah, yes, we should most certainly participate in a little pampering.”

  I roll my eyes and open the door. “Shall we?”

  We arrive early and fill out our necessary forms while being offered any beverage imaginable. Avery jumps at a glass of champagne, while I opt for iced tea deciding to wait to drown my sorrows in alcohol until after my treatments.

  “So no regrets, right?” she says while we sip our drinks waiting to be taken back.

  “Regrets?” I tilt my head.

  “This weekend. The love of your life is marrying someone else, I’m just saying … no regrets?”

  “I laid it on the line, told him not to marry her, yet, here we are. I don’t know what else he wanted me to say.”

  Avery nods and sips her champagne.

  A young couple exits the spa and stops to look at some of the products on the shelves next to us. He wraps his arm around her and kisses her. “I love you,” he says.

  “I love you,” she returns.

  I smile and try not to stare. How sweet, I think to myself.

  *

  Tomorrow we are scheduled for massages; tonight we’re having manicures and pedicures. Avery goes for wild hot pink polish with glitter. I do sex red on my toenails and a French manicure.

  “Did you bring a cocktail dress for the fancy restaurant here?” Avery asks as our nails are under the heated dryers.

  “Yeah, but it’s probably not fancy enough.”

  “Your eyebrows could use a little touch up. Want me to see if they can fit us in for a quick wax.”

  I shake my head. “My eyebrows are fine. You thin yours out too much. Must be an L.A. thing.”

  “Well I’ll be up in a little bit then, I’m not passing up free treatments.”

  I wave my hand at her as I exit. “Enjoy, don’t be too long or I’m going to dinner without you.”

  As I leave the lobby of the spa, I think back to the couple we saw earlier and my short conversation with Avery.

  Regrets …

  Entering our suite, I set my purse down and dig out my phone.

  Regrets … “Say it …” The couple downstairs …

  I tap the letters on the screen. “What the hell are you doing, Sydney?” I ask still crazy, still taking to myself.

  With one hand I hold my phone, and with the other I mess with my hair.

  “Screw it!” My thumb grazes over the send button and off it goes.

  I toss my phone on the couch, grab my dress and makeup bag, then head in the bathroom. After applying my makeup, I slip into my silver sequined cocktail dress and look in the mirror again.

  “Oh shit! What did I do?” The reality of my impulsive text hits me. I hear the door to the suite shut.

  “Ave … you’re not going to believe what—” I open the bathroom door.

  Oh … dear … God!

  Flowers. Dim lights. Soft music. Lautner.

  He’s about ten feet away wearing a black suit and a titanium tie.
I’ve never seen him dressed up like this. He’s … perfect. Holding up his phone, he shakes his head. “Got your message … finally.”

  My newly applied makeup is in serious danger. There’s a lump in my throat the size of Saturn and it’s making my eyes water … a lot!

  He takes a step closer. “So here’s how this is going to go … I’m going to drain you of all your tears because that’s what I do best, then you’re going to say these three words to me…” he holds up his phone again “…then I’m going to get down on one knee and ask you a very important question. Then you’re going to say yes. After that, I’m going to remove your clothes and make you scream until the Golden Gate Bridge collapses, then we’re going to make slow … passionate … love … for the rest of our lives. Okay?”

  The most painful sob escapes as my tears come so fast I can barely see him, but I manage to nod.

  He takes another step. “Here’s the problem. I don’t know how to live if I’m not loving you. It’s like asking my lungs to expand without air, my heart to beat without blood, my eyes to see without light. It’s just not possible. And yet, you’re so stupid …”

  I laugh and sob at the same time, eyes swollen, nose sniffling.

  “How could you ever think I would love someone the way I love you?” He takes a step closer, reaching into the inside of his jacket, pulls out a hankie and blots my face one gentle pat at a time. “You obviously didn’t hear me the first time so I’ll say it again.”

  He smiles. “Are you ready?”

  I nod and sniffle.

  “I. Love. You. Period. It’s a goddamn soul-shattering love that will never ever be matched. My love for you is unapologetic and forever.” He puts his hankie back in his pocket and cradles my face.

  Blue irises.

  “I love you … only you … always you … forever you.” He reaches in his pocket and pulls out his phone showing my text on his screen. “Are you done crying?” He smirks.

  Sniffling, I nod and smile.

  “Good, your turn.” He wiggles his phone a few times before sliding it back in his pocket.

  “Laut—”

  “Uh, uh …” He shakes his head and puts his finger to my lips. “Three words, Syd, that’s all I want to hear.” He slides his finger off my lips and presses a chaste kiss to them.

  In this moment I’ve discovered a truth that I never thought I would believe. Fate is a real, undeniable force and not all fairytales are fictional.

  “I love you.” I’ve never put so much emotion into three simple words.

  A lifetime of happiness shines from his smile and beautiful blue irises. I can’t believe it took me so long to say those words.

  He drops to one knee, reaches into his other jacket pocket and pulls out a ring. “My mom gave me her diamond ring before she died.” He releases his own rebel tears with a deep swallow. “She told me to give it to the girl who captured my soul.” He closes his eyes while I brush my thumbs over the tears running down his cheeks. “I didn’t give this ring to Emma.”

  Our eyes meet and he doesn’t have to say anymore. There’s nothing left to say. He just said it all.

  “Sydney Ann Montgomery, love of my life, keeper of my soul, mother of the most angelic baby girl ever to grace this Earth … will you marry me?”

  “Where is my baby gir—”

  “Sydney! One word, baby. I told you how this was going to go.”

  I giggle and hold out my left hand. “Yes!”

  He slides the ring on my finger then kisses it.

  “Where’s my sister? Where’s Ocean? Why aren’t you—”

  He silences me in the only way he knows how. As I relax and surrender to his silencing demand, he releases my lips. Looking down at my bare feet he bites his bottom lip. “What do your shoes look like that you brought to wear with this?” He skims his hands down my hips.

  “Silver stilettos, why?” I sniffle.

  “Put them on.”

  “Why? Are we—”

  “Put. Them. On.” He interrupts with a firm voice but a sly grin tugs at his lips.

  I roll my eyes, dig the shoes out of my suitcase, and slip them on. They have a four inch heel and look like something a pole dancer would wear. I only wear them when I go out with Avery.

  He’s standing by the glass balcony doors. My eyes meet his sexy, heated gaze. Are we going to sit out on the balcony? Why do I have to wear these for that? He crooks his finger at me. I follow his silent request. Standing in front of him, he explores my body with his eyes as he shrugs off his suit jacket.

  “Are we staying in? I ask as he loosens his tie.

  He nods.

  I continue to watch him remove his shirt while I wet my lips.

  “Are you taking off all your clothes?” My words are breathy.

  He nods.

  I chew the inside of my cheek and fiddle with my hair while thinking about my stilettos. “We’re going to do something kinky, aren’t we?”

  He grins as he removes his boxer briefs. I gasp as he stands before me naked and very aroused. Taking a glance out the window first, I look back at him with wide eyes.

  “No one can see us.” He smirks, turning me around and unzipping my dress. My strapless little number falls to the floor and I’m left with just my black thong and silver stilettos.

  “Step out.”

  I step out of my dress. He grabs my hands and places them flat on the window.

  “Spread your legs.”

  “When did you become so kinky?” I look back at him.

  He brushes my hair to one side, exposing my neck and running his tongue along it, then continues down my back with open-mouth kisses. “Says the girl who pleasured herself in front of me,” he mumbles over my skin.

  There it is … the smile. I feel him smile against my skin and it makes me tingle all over.

  “It was awkward.” I sigh as his hands slide around to my breasts.

  “It’s was fucking sexy.” He cups my breasts then pinches my nipples.

  “Ahh …” I arch my back, pushing my breasts farther into his hands and my butt toward him.

  “Baby, you’re so damn sexy.” His cock slides between my legs, rubbing against my thong. “And you’re mine … all mine.”

  Inching his right hand down my stomach, he slips his fingers under the front lacy part of my panties. I tilt my head back next to his as he circles my clit.

  “Lautner …”

  “What is it, baby?”

  “Oh … God!” I cry.

  “I can’t hear you, Syd.” He pinches my nipple harder.

  “Ahh! Lautner!” I yell as he works my nipple and my clitoris.

  He fists the delicate fabric and with one quick jerk my thong disintegrates into a small lace scrap of nothing. Rocking his pelvis, he thrusts into me. My nails scrape against the glass as my knees give a little.

  I look up and watch our reflection in the glass, surprised by how much it turns me on. His hands at my breasts and then moving lower, between my legs. I see him watching us too. Our eyes meet in the glass.

  “Not kinky baby—just—sexy.” His voice is strained and labored with each thrust he makes into me. “My God … I love … every inch … of you.”

  “Lautner!” I yell again, tipping my head back and his expert fingers work me.

  “I’m close … Oh God … so … close!” I cry as he hits every bundle of sexual nerves I have.

  He slams into me harder, more erratic, and I push back against him, tightening around him.

  “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I scream like I’m trying to wake up the city. I convulse around him in wave after wave of glorious sensation. My forehead drops against the window.

  He slams into me one more time. “Sydney! God, that’s so good!” He growls, pouring himself into me while wrapping his arms around me.

  My legs are gone. I’m thankful he has a strong hold on me. He turns me around, picks me up in his loving arms, and carries me to the bed. Pulling down the covers, he lays me on the bed and ea
ses off my shoes, massaging my feet.

  I grin and shake my head. “Sexy my ass … say what you want, that was kinky.”

  He kisses each one of my newly pedicured toes. “Yes, your ass is sexy, and since I’m officially keeping you forever, then we should throw in a little kink every now and then to keep things … unexpected.”

  I hold out my left hand and gaze at my ring. “It’s beautiful. How will your dad feel about me wearing your mother’s ring?”

  He crawls up the bed toward me planting kisses the whole way. “He’s thrilled.”

  I lift my head. “He knows?”

  “Of course.”

  “Hmm … interesting.”

  He kisses me on the lips. It’s slow, almost lazy, like we have all the time in the world. I smile inwardly because it’s just now sinking in that we do. Please don’t let this be a dream and if it is, I never want to wake up.

  I tug his hair and he releases my lips. “I love you.”

  His lottery winner grin reappears. If he smiles that big every time I say it to him, then he’s going to hear it at least a hundred times a day.

  “I love you too.” He rolls me so I’m sprawled on his chest, his face in my hair, his heart at my ear.

  “So …”

  “Here we go, twenty questions.” He chuckles knowingly.

  “Okay, smarty-pants…” I dig my nails into his chest eliciting a slight jump from him “…if you’re so smart, then don’t make me ask, just tell me.”

  “Where to start. Let’s see … Ocean is at my dad’s tonight with … let’s just say family and you’ll find out more tomorrow.”

  I start to lift my head but he puts his hand on it, pressing it back to his chest. “Just listen. The wedding was cancelled two weeks ago right after I last saw you…” He keeps my head pressed firmly to his chest knowing I’m dying to look at him and ask for more details. “…but I think I knew I wasn’t going to marry Emma the moment I found out you hadn’t married Dane. So to answer your next question … I plead temporary insanity for not breaking it off sooner, and I’m quite certain I’d better hang onto my current job because I know a certain chief of staff who will no longer be giving me a glowing recommendation. However, Emma doesn’t hate me. She said she envies what we have and knows she’ll find a guy that looks at her the way I look at you.”