My name passes her lips multiple times as I try to show her with my body how much I love her and how she owns every single part of me. Every whispered name gives me another reason to breathe, another reason to be exactly who she wants and needs.
“I love you, Seth,” she whimpers, a single tear falling from her eye. It’s these moments with her that my heart feels like it’s going to explode from how much I love her. Her hips reach up to meet mine and we both ride the emotions that are devouring us until we’re both at the highest point of pleasure and come together. I hold her tightly as my body tenses, and her fingernails scratch my back as she shakes underneath me.
I brace myself over her and kiss her lips, cheeks, jaw, neck, and throat. I can’t get enough of her.
“You’re so gorgeous,” I murmur. I bring my mouth back to hers and kiss her softly. “Welcome home, Pussy Cat.”
Chapter 29
Josie
“Is that everything?” Seth asks, wrapping his arms around my stomach and kissing my neck.
I look around the empty apartment and finally let it sink in that this will no longer be a place I call home. Getting this place meant so much to me a couple years ago, but now it’s kind of a relief to see it go. There’s too many old memories that I don’t want to remember, and I’m ready to say goodbye.
“I think so.” I turn around in his arm and hold onto his shoulders. Even sweaty and tired from moving all day, Seth still looks incredibly handsome. “I’ll do one last run through in a minute.”
“Are you procrastinating?” she asks narrowing his eyes, playfully. “Having second thoughts?”
“No way. Never been so sure of anything in my life.” I stand on my tip toes and kiss him.
“Good… I really would have hated to tie you up and kidnap you.” I laugh against his mouth, pull back, and raise my eyebrows.
“Really?”
“No, that’s a fucking lie. I would love to tie you up,” he says seductively, bringing his mouth back down to my neck. I move away and cringe.
“I’m sweaty and gross… don’t do that.” He rolls his eyes and grabs my ass, pulling back to him.
“What the fuck do I care about that, Jos?” He tries to go for my neck again, but I pull out of his reach.
“Just wait ‘til I take a shower.” He lets out an aggravated groan but stops trying to kiss me.
“Fine. I’ll take this last box down to your car. Hurry up and check one more time.”
He walks out the door, and I slowly walk through every room to make sure I didn’t leave anything, and to say goodbye to that part of my life. I had everything packed and ready to go a couple weeks ago, so all my belongings had been ready for the move. I look in my closet one last time, and something catches my eye.
In the back corner, right underneath the note Blake left for me when he painted my room, there’s a small rectangular tin container. I look at the words I had forgotten about, I love you ALWAYS, Jo. I had thought it was so sweet at the time, and it was, but now it doesn’t have the same effect on me. I pick up the tin and see a note attached to the top.
I want to tell myself to leave it, knowing that it’s most likely something I don’t want to open, but the nosey part of me is too intrigued to resist. I open the note, and my fears are confirmed. Blake must still have a key to the apartment and dropped it off.
In case you ever forget how much I loved you. –Blake
Fuck! Why couldn’t I have just walked back out of the closet?
“You done?” I hear Seth calling into my room. I shove the small tin into my back pocket and decide that I’ll tell Seth later. I won’t open it.
“Yep,” I say as I walk out of my closet. One look at my man is all it takes for me to forget about that strange note and look forward to our future.
We walk down to our cars, and he opens my door for me.
“Did you switch your mail over to the new house?” he asks.
“Um, nah… I use the internet to pay all the bills, so I have no need to.”
“Okay,” he kisses the top of my head. “Go home and take a shower. I’ve got to do something real quick, so I’ll meet you at your Dad’s for dinner, okay?”
“Okay.” I grin up at him and give him one last kiss before I leave.
I put the tin in my bedside table when I get to the house, ready to forget I ever saw it. Then, I get ready for dinner tonight.
I never thought I’d ever feel so happy in my life.
Chapter 30
Seth
I pull up to the cemetery and take a deep breath before I get out of my truck. I grab the daisies I brought with me, and start toward Will’s grave.
Josie’s only come a few times to see her dad. I think it’s too hard for her. I’ve come a couple times with Tony, but this is the first time I’ve come by myself.
I squat down in front of his tombstone and place the flowers in the metal vase. I run my hands through my hair and lean my elbows on my thighs, reverent as I kneel in the solemn setting and in front of a man I respected immensely. It’s a beautiful day. It’s the beginning of March, but it already feels like spring.
“She misses you.” I know he can’t hear me, but it brings a little comfort to talk anyway. “She’s so strong, but she thinks about you a lot.”
I take a moment and reflect on everything Will and I talked about when I was away. I miss him, too.
“We all wish you were here for this,” I say into the empty air. A light gust of wind hits me as I speak, which makes me feel like maybe he actually can hear this. I take one last deep breath and stand up to leave. “Wish me luck.”
Chapter 31
Josie
It’s dark outside by the time I get to my dad’s house for dinner.
Which makes the sight even stranger when I get out of my car. Seth’s truck is here, but there are no lights on in the house. I walk up to the front door tentatively, but go in anyway. I turn on the lights and call for my dad and Seth, but no one answers.
So weird, I think.
I walk to the kitchen, where there is no food prepared and start to get nervous. My heart beats fast and I think of every possible terrible scenario that could have happened. Before I get too overworked, I get a text from Seth telling me to meet him out back.
They must want to eat outside. It’s been really nice today.
I slide open the glass door that leads to the back and I gasp.
The tree in the backyard is covered in twinkle lights so there’s no sight of bark on the tree, and there are pillar candles scattered across the lawn. There’s a large blanket to the side where we used to lay and look up at the stars that has an arrangement of Chinese food, Mexican food, and some other takeout we love.
But the most breathtaking sight is Seth, standing next to the tree, illuminated by the lights and the stars, turning around to face me. He’s wearing old jeans and a fitted black Johnny Cash t-shirt, tattoos and lean muscled arms in full view. His blonde hair is slicked back like it was yesterday, but I like this look better on him than the tux. I love him just like this.
And he smiles at me!
Ah, that smile that gives me butterflies and warms my insides, directed right at me. He looks at me like he’s been waiting his whole life to get a chance to see me.
I walk to him, confused, but completely enthralled. The feeling that’s been nagging at me for weeks attacks my chest full force. I look at him and get lost in his eyes again as this emotion takes over, and I finally realize what I’ve been so hesitant to admit to myself. I stop in my tracks as understanding strikes me. Oh my god. How did it take me this long to figure this out?
It’s him.
He’s exactly who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want the future. I want the wedding. I want the marriage. I want the bickering. I want to take care of him when he’s sick. I want the laughs at three in the morning when we can’t go to sleep. I want the apple pie and whipped cream in the bed. I want the outrageous illegal dates to a playground in the
middle of the night. I want the crazy ass tattoo stories. I want the silly sex, the sweet sex, and the rough sex. I want the babies- the fighting over how to discipline, the laughs, and the memories. I want the nose kisses, the hand holding, the arms wrapped around me every single night.
I want him. I want it all. With him.
I’ve never seen such a clear image of my future before, but I see it all perfectly now. In every image, Seth’s there, consuming me and my life.
I have tears streaming down my cheeks by the time I get to him. I don’t have any idea how I’ll be able to explain the future I want so badly, but he doesn’t seem put off by my crying. He smiles lightly and secures his arms around me. His hand reaches up and wipes my tears away.
“I thought you didn’t do romantic,” I say, voice thick with the intense emotions I feel for him.
“I don’t, Pussy Cat. We used to lay under the stars all the time growing up.” He takes my hand and pulls me to the blanket.
We lay next to each other and look up at the stars. This time when I look at them, I don’t wish for a forever friendship with Seth, I beg for a forever romance with him.
“When I was gone, I still looked up at the stars every single night and thought of you,” he admits, rubbing circles into my hand. I turn my head to look at him, and admire his beautiful profile, lit perfectly in the moonlight. He turns his head to look at me, too, reaching his other hand out to trace my jaw. “I have a secret to tell you,” he whispers.
“What is it?” I whisper back.
“I stopped wishing for us to be best friends when I was fifteen. Instead, I wished every night that you would love me one day.” He tucks my stray hair behind my ear and he looks at me adoringly. “And now you do… so tonight I’m wishing for something different.”
My heart is pounding in my chest. I’m positive he can hear it, but if not, I know he can hear how heavily I’m breathing. Butterflies flutter rapidly in my stomach and I still have tears falling from my eyes.
“Josie, I know that we’ve only been in a relationship for six months, but it only took one second into it for me to know without a doubt that I want you for the rest of my life. I won’t go another minute of my life without you in it. I want you stubborn and I want you happy. I want you angry and I want you laughing. I want the good and the bad and everything in-between, with you. I want to love you for the rest of my time on earth and then eternities more after that. You say I saved your life, but it was you who saved me the moment you told me you loved me.” He leans his head against mine, and looks deeply into my eyes. His blue green depths swallow and consume me. After a minute of increasing energy and love in one look, he finally speaks words that take my breath away.
“Marry me, Josie.”
His words, abundant with longing and love, wash over me beautifully, making me feel loved in the most ultimate way and thrill me to my core. It takes no time at all for me to know exactly what I want.
Get married to Seth Montgomery?
“Absolutely.”
Epilogue
CARMICHAEL & ASSOCIATES
Andrea Carmichael
1658 Greenwench ∙ Dr. Suite 1100 ∙ Wilson, NC 27893
252-259-5438
Tuesday July 1, 2014
Josie Sommers
101 Freemont Ave
Apt 10
Wilson, NC 27893
Re: Josie Sommers v Michael Porter
Dear Josie Sommers,
It has come to our attention by the courts that Mr. Michael Porter is getting an opportunity for parole in one month. Mr. Porter’s legal team has continued to fight the ruling made in 2009, and due to good behavior, he may be able to be released.
I am contacting you because you will be allowed to go to the parole hearing and testify again if you want to ensure that he remain where he is. It is important that you contact us immediately about what courses of action you would like to take on this matter.
I look forward to talking to you soon.
Sincerely,
Andrea Carmichael
THE END
Acknowledgements
The process of thanking everyone this time around is much different that my first book. I have met so many people who inspire me and encourage me in ways they will never understand.
First and foremost, I have to thank my husband Stephen, who understood my need to lay in bed for hours while I tried to type out this story. He never complained about my lack of parenting, dinner, and other “wifely” duties, and instead gave me every tool possible to make sure I was successful. My daughter, Alexis, I love you to death girlie. You are annoying as hell sometimes, but you inspire me in more ways than you will ever comprehend. I look forward to our snuggle times every day!
Huge thanks to my momma for watching Alexis for me so I could get in a good chunk of writing (and sleep). Thank you to my whole family! Ben, Hayley, Alaina, Bonnie, Jake, Heather, Wayne, Amber, Cindy, Hilary and Timmy. Your support means more to me and encourages me every time I write.
I’ve met a lot of freaking awesome people, and have forged some pretty amazing friendships and I want to thank all of them for being here for me and becoming really great friends of mine.
Echo Reed… girl, I really don’t know what I would do without you. You lift me up when I’m feeling really down about myself and you encourage and inspire my writing when I am doubtful of my own talent. Thank you for creating an awesome blog for me and being the best beta reader I have! Your friendship is extremely special to me…. So don’t fuck it up. (I really don’t want to lose my gossip partner!)
Rebecca Pau… I am so lucky to have a friend like you. Thanks for the dirty pictures while I was writing, because they gave me a good laugh when I needed them. And THANK YOU for making swag and teasers without asking for too many sexual favors in return!
Jamie Carollo… Thank you for being the best supporter I could have ever found. Your encouragement and faith in my writing is what made me not want to give up. I am incredibly grateful for your support and for the awesome blog tour you’ve got in the works! You mean the world to me- as a fan and friend.
HUMONGOUS thank you to my Pussy Cat Street Team! You girls lift me up in more ways than you know. I am so lucky to have your support, and even if we convince no one to read my books, I know I have the best group of friends in all of you! So thanks to them and all the bloggers who have been with me along the way: Gabriella Bieler (Love you so much!), Raquel Auriemma (LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU! Thanks so much for everything you do!), Susan Leggio, Rene Beyer, Amanda Shmolke, Ebony McMillan, Irene Rosa, Caitlyn Flores, Jennifer Newton, Telissa Kuhlman, Mandy Herrera, Retta Rusaw, Mindy Nabors, Shelley Custer, Cynthia DeDear, April Stinson-Scott, Summer Clark, Lisa Seich, Christye Cagle, Julie Bourke, Margaret Smith, Alicia Carmical, Theresa Tunnel, Marie Tudgay, Dawn Cooper, Stacey Hole, Tabitha Holmes, Tana Wheeler (Love you lady!), Kerri McLaughlin, Kristen Hinkle, Desiree Griggs, Cassandra Salamone, Erika Van Eck.
Most importantly, I am incredibly grateful to the readers. I’ve written this story because it speaks to me, but to hear you tell me that it’s spoken to you makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something spectacular in this world. YOU all are most important.
And also, I NEED to thank the blogs that have supported my work through the months. I really would be no where if you didn’t push this book to your readers. Thank you! Between the Covers Reviews, One More Chapter, Secretly Adorkable Readers, A Risque Affair Book Blog, The Biblio-Files: Confessions of a Book Whore, My Kindle Journey, Midwest Book Lover, Book Junky Girls, Angie’s Reading Dungeon, NA Reader Extraordinaire, Ink Berry Books, My Book Inspired Ramblings, AVC Proofreading, MI Bookshelf, Chicks Controlled by Books, The Pleasure of Reading Today, 556 Book Chicks, Lost in Romance Books, Summer’s Book Blog, Roc n’ Read, Six Chicks and their Love of Books, Bad Girl Books, and Her Juicy Reads.
About the Author
Victoria Klahr (pronounced like “Claire”) lives in Elizabeth City, North Carolina with her husband and daughter, S
tephen and Alexis. She loves her chug (Pug/Chihuahua), Bandit, and toddler to pieces. She is a huge and proud book nerd who looks at her bookshelf in admiration daily. When she’s not daydreaming about book boyfriends and fantasizing about being a badass heroine, she’s busy doing schoolwork for her Bachelor’s degree and writing the stories that speak to her in her head. She loves peanut butter with Oreos, good friends, amazing gossip, and a really, really good laugh.
Contact:
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/victoriaklahrauthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7304003.Victoria_Klahr
http://victoriaklahrwrites.blogspot.com/
That’s a Promise
Copyright © Victoria Klahr, 2014
First published 2014
Published by Victoria Klahr
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locals, are entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a database and retrieval system or transmitted in any form or any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the owner of copyright and the above publishers.
Original illustrations/ Photographs by Grace Vang
Cover art design by Samantha Bagood
That’s a Promise
Klahr, Victoria
That's a Lie Page 31