by Pamela Ann
Fifteen minutes later, Emma came out, tugging a big piece of luggage along. She was dressed in a distressed jean skirt, plain white tee and some strappy, bright yellow wedge espadrilles.
“If we were playing hide and seek in the dark and you were wearing those, I’d find you in no time.” I smirked at her before walking towards her and taking the luggage from her hold.
She playfully punched my arm. “Hey, at least they aren’t neon orange.”
My wardrobe consisted of shades of black, white, gray, blue and a little of in-between. “Come along, brighty. Your chariot awaits.”
Emma kept to herself until we pulled into traffic. “Where to?” She glanced at me before looking out the window.
“I was thinking, if you want that is, that we should stop by and say hi to Angela. Trista mentioned something about her looking forward to seeing you, so I’m sure she’d appreciate it if you’d pop in and say hello for a bit,” I said, shifting gears before glancing at her. “What do you think?”
Emma was all smiles. “I think that’s a brilliant idea, babe. Angela will pee in her pants when she sees you.”
“Oh yeah?” I’m sure Emma had told her a lot of interesting stories about me.
“Hell. Yes. Dude.” She winked at me, reaching for my hand as we drove towards the hospital with some help from her since I had no idea where the place was located.
The second I parked at the hospital, Emma was out of the car, giddy like I’d never seen her before.
“Geez, I guess I should be making a lot of hospital visits so I could make you this happy, huh?” Slinging my arm around her shoulder, I lightly tickled her on her ribs, making her squeal some more.
“Stop,” she begged, half laughing. “You’ll know what I mean when you see her expression, babe.” She stood on her tiptoes to kiss me on the cheek. “You’ll see.” Her voice held a lot of promise.
And an hour and a half later, I knew what she meant by that.
Angela was this sweet kid who shrieked like the hospital was on fire the moment she saw me enter her room. I forgot how good it felt to do volunteer visits like I used to do it back in the day when my schedule wasn’t all that busy.
We played a game of scrabble and then she asked Emma to do pigtails in her hair while she and I talked about how fun it was making films.
It was surprising how a kid her age didn’t run out of questions, I mean—those things even happen to reporters—but not on ten-year-old girls they don’t.
The longer I spent time with her and Emma, the more it showed the type of relationship they had. Emma seemed quite attached to her. Angela even referred to her as her “big sis”.
Trista actually dropped by to say hi. The changes I saw with her now, compared to the woman she was last year, were a vast difference. It was amazing what the power of love could do to a person.
It made all the difference.
Love was the source of everything. If you gave it time to grow and let it flourish, it would be worth everything. It was funny how some people mistook love for a lot of things. Love was not about selfishness, unkindness, nor was it about envy. If one didn’t know the true nature of love, one would not appreciate its beauty, its power, its presence.
At the end of the day, we strived to become whole. I sure wasn’t a man who lived life empty.
Looking over at Emma, who was giggling at what Angela was whispering into her ear, it was easy to see that she was going to be a great mother. She cared for this little girl. The more I looked at the duo, the more my heart accelerated because the picture of Emma pregnant with my child was permanently taking residence in my head.
When Emma announced that it was time to leave, Angela released a melancholy sigh. Moving towards her, I bent over and gave her a big hug. In my arms, she felt so little; too frail and very much fragile. It made me want to hold her longer, feeling out of sorts because this tiny thing seemed so upbeat given the situation. Older people could learn a thing or two from her.
“Take good care of yourself and rest up.”
Angela gave me a toothy grin. “If you guys ever get married and have a little girl, will you guys name your daughter after me?”
Her question seemed to throw me off for a few beats, but I immediately recovered and pasted a large smile before giving her a high five. “Definitely. I want her to be as charming as you are.”
“I would really love that, you know.”
I smiled, waving, before I walked towards the door, waiting for Emma to say her goodbyes as well. “I’ll try to come by again when I get back from Vancouver.”
Angela waved both of her hands. “It was nice meeting you. If I don’t see you again, I just want you to know that this was the best gift ever. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I smiled back, though I was a little confused as we exited her room.
We quietly made our way towards the elevator, into the cart, out of it, both deep in thought as we walked towards where I parked my car.
My mind swirled with questions; one particularly stood out among the rest. Pausing, I glanced sideways, frowning. “Em, what did she mean when she said if I don’t see you again? It might seem odd, but Angela sounded like she meant something else other than the obvious.”
Emma’s face immediately shadowed with sadness. “If she doesn’t survive…”
Of course, why hadn’t I thought of that? Maybe because she was ten-years-old and kids that age weren’t supposed to have to think about death? “Oh—” I blew a long, stressed whistle out. “Wow. She’s too young to even think like that.”
“You’ll be surprised how depressing and sad it is when they talk about it. They’re kids, for crying out loud. They’re supposed to be playing, painting nails, watching movies and spending time with their friends; not battling a disease for survival.”
It was one thing for a grown person going through something so life altering, but seeing a child go through it was beyond heart-breaking. It simply broke you.
Emma was attached to Angela, that much had become obvious. The two had bonded for a short period of time, and seeing the fear and pain in her eyes made me reach out to her and kiss her forehead. I wanted to make the sadness go away and reassure her that everything was going to be fine. “She’s an amazing, tough kid with a great spirit. With you by her side as her cheerleader, she’ll make it.
“You’re doing a marvelous thing here.” I placed my finger on her chin, tilting it so our gazes would meet. Her eyes held moisture in them, making me somehow helpless. “I’m so proud of what you’re doing, Emma. You’re not in this because you’re obligated to make a difference, you’re really doing it because your heart aches for it.” I made a mental note to call my lawyer to make the children’s hospital’s cancer ward to be in a part of my yearly charity donations. This one held meaning because it was close to Emma’s heart.
Emma sighed, burying her head in my chest, sniffing. She stayed there awhile as I held her until her worries subsided and she got herself together. We could stay here for as long as she wanted, I didn’t mind at all.
After a good minute, she lifted her face off my chest, looking at me with love in her eyes. “Ready to head home?”
I gazed at the woman who had captured my entire existence for a long moment, realizing that yes, I was definitely ready. “I am,” I responded, smiling.
~B~
It had been about almost a year since we left Aspasia filming Blasphemous, and I had reached a point where I knew what I wanted in life.
Emma yawned, stretching after she ravished the entire portion of double chocolate cake. “I missed this,” she sighed, staring at the stars before glancing at me. “And I’ve definitely missed you.”
She had just started school again, and I had been busy with work. We hadn’t seen each other in two weeks, and yet, it felt like I hadn’t seen her in a lifetime. “Good to know I’ve been missed.” It was more than good. In fact, I was relieved. A part of me was actually terrified that she might up and leave me b
ecause the going was getting tough…and it was getting tougher by the day.
Greece. Filming. Carter. Break-up. Jealousy. Heartbreak. Blasphemous. Nikki. Carter again. Getting back together…and now, we’d come back to where we’d both begun getting to know each other. My patio, stargazing, talking and sharing stories while we spent some quality time together.
The past months had been shitload after shitload of volatile trials. Even after Nikki, the woman who I had a fling with during filming and the consequences that had come after it—Emma was still by my side.
She loved me, I knew that, but even if the entire world knew about our relationship, Carter hadn’t withdrawn his interest in her. In fact, it was only last week that I heard him say he loved her while we were on a video call. You see, Emma was in the kitchen when everyone flooded in from his recent game, and the dick hadn’t cared that Emma was talking to her boyfriend because he daringly went straight to her and kissed her on the cheek before saying those three words, while I was there, witnessing it all happen.
He was messing with my brain and confidence, and no matter how much I tried to push the worry aside—it remained there, taunting me. Emma, of course, apologized for his behavior, but it wasn’t her place to do that and I told her so.
Normally, I’d have gone ballistic and I was. Inside, I was raging with fury. Yet, I had to keep my temper in check, stretching my limits to understand “his situation” because he was in love with my woman.
There wasn’t a day that passed that I didn’t regret letting Emma go. Those eight months alone were barren, but what was worse was that it practically drove Emma back to him…and me having a fling. It was a gargantuan mistake that was weighing heavily on my chest, knowing that Nikki was going to milk every damn opportunity to drive a wedge between Emma and me.
The unfortunate events had been rolling with unstoppable force. Even with all this worry, there was stress added by my parents, hectic work schedule…one thing remained the same.
I was in love with Emma. Even more so now.
Not a day had passed that my love hadn’t grown. Our love was one of my life’s goals to nourish and I would die trying to make sure that it remained that way.
Reaching out for the remote, I switched it on to play sounds of nature—the sound of the waves in particular. The one sound we’d heard all summer long where we fell in love, deeply and irrevocably, with each other.
When I heard her sigh in contentment, I got up from the rattan lounge chair and rounded my way towards her.
Happiness ignited inside me as I watched her relaxed form. To this day, Emma still managed to take my breath away. Eyes bright, heart so full of life, I looked down on her face with love and affection.
“Dance with me.” My hand reached out, offering it to her.
She gave me a look of remembrance of our night together when I’d asked her to dance after she’d gotten back from London. With a loving smile, she got up, took charge and led us next to the fireplace. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she gave me a passionate kiss, breaking it only to whisper softly against my lips, “I remember it just like it was yesterday.”
Greece was marked in our hearts. It was our place. The land where our hearts would forever call home.
“Close your eyes, my love,” I softly demanded, kissing the tip of her nose. “Don’t open them until I tell you.” When she did as I asked, I pressed my check against hers, closing my own as we both were transported back in time. “Listen to my heart; it still and only will ever beat for you. We’ve come a long way, but I just want you to know that I’m the same man you fell in love with, the same man who held you as we danced in the moonlight.” Her heart rapidly thudded against my chest. “With each passing day, my love for you only ever increases. Times are changing. Our trials aren’t going away soon, but you must know one thing, you can always count on me to be your man.” Kissing her cheek before I softly kissed her parted lips, I whispered, “Happy anniversary, Emma.”
She gasped, “Oh, God! I forgot.”
I knew she did…but I hadn’t…I’d been waiting for this day. “Open your eyes.”
Her eyes widened when she found me on one knee, holding out a ring. I was smiling at her, so full of love; I could combust with it all. Yet, instead of smiles, she was on the verge of tears. Beside herself with joy or fear, I couldn’t tell which.
“Against all odds, you and I are still standing here, fighting to be together. Your bravery to stand beside me amidst all this gutting chaos touches me to no end. I had never doubted your love for me because I feel it each time your gaze catches mine.” I swallowed the lump of nervousness that was stuck in my throat. “I’ve come to a full circle, Emma, and that circle starts and ends with you. I want to keep you… forever, with you by my side, fighting against all the odds as my wife. I want to be forever yours. Eternally make you mine, but as your husband. Your partner. Your heart… and your home.”
“Bass—” She sniffed, big fat tears rolling off her face. “I love you so much!” She knelt with me, capturing my lips with fervent kisses. “Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!”
Chapter 9
Emma
My heart was swelling with so much bliss. Bass proposing to me, asking me to be his wife—his home—I was consumed by effervescent happiness. I was laughing, crying and screaming all at once. My eyes were so blurry with tears that I couldn’t even see him sliding the princess-cut diamond rock on my finger.
“I love you, Emma Anderson.”
I was sniffing and grinning while he wiped my tears away with his thumbs, smiling down at me with such tenderness in his eyes. I knew this guy was going to love me forever because not even Carter looked at me like I was the most beautiful, sacred, precious thing that he’d ever seen.
“I love you so, so much,” I said breathlessly before his lips conquered mine. Our kiss melded with the tears, laughter and ultimate bubble of happiness of being engaged to each other had brought.
It seemed a lifetime was how long we stood there kissing. At that moment, I didn’t think it was more possible to feel like I was a part of Bass—coming together not in a sexual aspect, but in a spiritual sense. I was bucket loads in love with the man, and I thought this simply exorcised my insecurity about everything with his proposal. Yes, the old, confident self was emerging and I was truly grateful for that.
It didn’t take long until we were both stripped naked, ready to consummate our new level of trust and love.
My main goal was to please the man that brought me so much love. I was about to get on my knees and please him like he wanted it usually, but he was quick enough to get a hold of my arm and stop me from going south.
“Not tonight—this is not about me, but about us.” His fingers were busy pulling and tugging my aroused nipples while his lips and tongue teased my neck and ear. “Make love to me like you’re giving me your soul, Em. I want to feel you give it to me.”
Bass didn’t do slow loving much, but tonight, it seemed that his goal was to cherish every single part of me. Even in this pace, his cock felt powerful while it adamantly took control of me. The intensity of his gaze and the electrifying way he was making love to me brought tears to my eyes. I wanted to hide it, but those intense blue eyes captured each reaction he evoked in me.
“Emma,” he whispered, sliding in and out of me with precise strokes as his lips left a kiss on each of my lids.
When our eyes met again, we gazed at each other while I bit my bottom lip trying to hold back my moans. My tears trickled to the sides as I let out a moan that bordered on a scream when Bass cupped both of my ass cheeks, spreading me wider, before he started to ground his hips severely. The tip of his dick stroked against my g-spot acutely with harsh intent. My tears were as full blown now as my lip biting was.
“Set it free.” His lips barely brushed against mine, panting wildly as he geared to bring us to a complete exaltation. “Surrender it to me, moro mou,” he gasped, thrusting with fervent ferocity.
My body was
shaking, sweating, aching as I reached for his face, bringing it down to mine before our lips met and sealed our destiny. I sobbed his name while he bellowed mine as we came together. Our complete surrender felt like I was being lit up on fire and being set free at the same time. Never had I known this feeling of being exposed as though all of my layers were shredded off and I had nowhere to hide. I was naked, bared open solely for one man to see what was inside of me. It was raw, primal, and at the same time, I felt the magnitude of the love behind all.
Bass didn’t only make love to me physically—he had also acquired my soul in the process.
There was no part in me that didn’t feel his love. My body had been worshipped. My heart was overflowing with his affection. My soul swelled with his devotion. His name was now emblazoned on me; I simply had no place to hide and cower. Bass simply didn’t plant himself in, he made sure he was rooted deep-within to the point where it would be impossible to yank away.
“Shhh, it’s okay.” He kissed my forehead. His hands brushed the strands of hair that were wet with my sweat away from my forehead.
I was still balling my eyes out for reasons that baffled me. Complete happiness was fizzing in my system, and yet, for the life of me, I couldn’t stop tearing away. “I love you,” I choked up, feeling like an idiot—well, a beloved idiot.
Bass placed my palm against his stampeding heart. “You’re in here, my love. No one will ever take your place. My heart only ever knew you and it will forever stay that way.”
After my tears dried up, we both cuddled and enjoyed the silence enveloped in each other’s embrace.
My thoughts were now zipping in and out of my brain, juggling one after the other, hoping that my engagement wouldn’t bring others pain. I knew it would be wishful thinking, but I just wished that there wouldn’t be a person out there that would wish us ill.
“Babe, would it be okay if we keep the engagement to ourselves for a little bit? I need to figure out a way to tell my friends and family without them freaking out. We haven’t been dating long—I just don’t want to give my dad a heart attack is all.”