“I know it’s only a week but I’m going to miss him so much.” She sniffled into my chest, my heart broke for her sadness.
“How about you drive the Jeep up to get him when we get back? I can take the train to work and grab him from Mom and Dad’s. That way you have him home earlier than the late afternoon it would take me to get him. Sound good?” I asked her, hoping to make her happy because I was letting her take the Jeep.
I felt her head nod into my chest and I gently pulled her back to look into her eyes. “Is something else wrong, baby?” I inquired, not wanting her to slip back into the darkness she was coming out of, finally.
“I’m just tired, I guess. I want to take a shower, curl up on the couch with you, and fall asleep watching some old movie that neither of us cares about.” She smiled up at me.
“I like the sound of that. I’ll shower after you, and you can pick the movie.” I winked at her.
She pulled away from me and walked to the bathroom, an extra little swish in her hips I don’t think she realized she had. It made her sexier than she already was, knowing her confidence in her sexuality was allowing her to become a woman on her terms, and I was the lucky bastard who she trusted enough to be with her.
It was a trust I would never break.
Emerging from the shower a little bit later, she walked into her bedroom with a small towel wrapped around her tiny body, her wet hair cascading down her back. I wanted to follow her into the bedroom and pull the towel from her body, kissing every inch until she screamed out my name.
I wouldn’t make that move until she initiated it. It was hard for me to keep my caveman tendencies under control, but being with Emily taught me patience and understanding on a level I never knew existed. I hoped one day, she would be able to be more spontaneous, allowing me to show her how passion and urgency would open her world to pleasure she couldn’t imagine.
Until that time, I will follow her lead and give her time. She came back into the living room and she was wearing a pair of loose yoga pants and a t-shirt that kept falling off one shoulder. She had pulled her hair into a messy bun, and the smile on her face lit up the room.
I planted a quick kiss on her full lips before retreating to the bathroom to wash the last of the beach off of me. Soaping my body, I willed my cock to go down. Just knowing she was about to be asleep pressed next to me, her body molded to mine, gave it reason to celebrate. I needed to take the edge off, but I didn’t want to be gone from her for too long.
Missing her won out over a quick hand-job so I rinsed off and wrapped a towel around my waist before I went to my room and threw on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. I found Emily curled up on the couch, her Kindle resting on her chest, a small sound coming from her mouth as she slept peacefully.
I gently placed her Kindle on the ottoman and picked up her, her small frame dwarfed in my arms as I carried her to bed. After pulling the covers back, I laid her down, tucking the covers up to her chin and turning the small lamp on my side of the bed on, casting her in a soft light as she slumbered.
Kneeling on the floor next to her, I kissed her on the forehead and silently said a prayer to the good Lord in Heaven for putting this beautiful, fallen angel into my life. I promised him I would care for her, protect her, and love her until I took my lasts breath. Emily was my perfect soulmate and no one in Heaven or Earth could stop me from loving her.
Thursday afternoon was here before we knew it and it was time for us to fly to Chicago. I absolutely hated to fly but it appeared Emily was about to bounce out of her seat. Her excitement was contagious because by the time the plane landed an hour and a half later, everyone seated around us was laughing and visiting with each other.
Emily’s ability to make everyone around her happy was a gift I hoped she never lost. Even when she was sad or angry, she always went out of her way to secure the joy of people around her. As we landed, she peeked out the window, and rambling on about how Chicago was a life list city and how there were a few things she wanted to do while we were here.
I smiled my biggest smile and we walked hand in hand to the baggage carousel, grabbed our luggage, and made our way to the taxi line to wait our turn. It was colder here than it was in Georgia and I was afraid we may need to find a store for some warmer clothes when I saw her shiver from the cold wind.
We finally got a taxi and were headed to the address I handed the driver. Jason had surprised me with a hotel upgrade, wanting Emily and I to have a unique experience while we were in Chicago and allowing a location for us to hold the meetings I had scheduled. Carol had made all the necessary scheduling changes so it was all set up.
Pulling up to the Ritz-Carlton, Emily swung her head to me, her expressive eyes looking at me full of excitement. She flung herself across the seat into my lap as the taxi driver cleared his throat and I paid for our fare. He got our luggage and handed it to the bellman waiting at the curb as I took Emily’ hand in mine and we walked through the opulent lobby and up to the registration desk.
“Welcome to the Ritz-Carlton. How can I help you today?” The older man asked me, a jovial grin on his face at Emily’s slack-jawed reaction to the lobby and entrance of the historic hotel.
“We have a reservation under Josh Kennedy and MSJ Media.” I replied as I handed him my company ID and driver’s license.
“Absolutely Mr. Kennedy. Let me get you checked in and someone will escort you to your suite.” He responded as he rang a bell and a bellman came and retrieved our luggage, escorting us to the Presidential Suite, located on the top two floors of the hotel.
Emily’s eyes were wide and she released an audible gasp as we arrived at the penthouse and she observed the wall of windows overlooking the Lake and Navy Pier. The room was decorated in whites and golds, a baby grand piano sitting over near the dining area.
She spun in small circles, trying to take it all in when she squealed, making me and the bellman chuckle. She ran over and began to twist herself up the spiral staircase, laughing as she found the second-floor bedroom, a king-size bed with an unobstructed view of the water below.
Leaning over the railing she laughed as she said, “This place is amazing! Are you sure we are supposed to be here?” her hand running the iron railing as she came back down the stairs, the bellman letting himself out with a nod and a smile.
I pulled her into my arms when she was within reach and placed a gentle kiss on her pouty lips, “I’m positive, Jason got the room so we could have meetings here instead of having to travel all over the city and us not get to spend any time together while we were here. This way, we can be finished in little to no time at all, and we have the rest of the trip to explore. It was his way of giving us a vacation while we work.” I placed a kiss on her nose and guided her to the window.
Looking out over the lake, I took Emily into my arms, her back to my front, as we watched the water lap at the shore and the last of the daylight disappear into the inky blackness of the night. I felt her shiver and I spun her around in my arms, placing a kiss on her lips before pulling back.
“Are you ready for dinner?” I asked her, at the same moment her stomach let out a little grumble.
Her face turned a little red but, knowing my girl loved to eat, it took little convincing for her to change into a pair of tight jeans, a black cowl neck sweater, and her knee-high leather boots to head out for dinner. We walked until we stumbled upon a steakhouse that smelled delicious when we walked past. We ducked inside and got a table, ordering a decadent meal of grilled beef, roasted vegetables, and a chocolate mousse that had Emily moaning with every bite.
After we finished our dinner, we strolled the sidewalks, window shopping and enjoying the cool air that seemed to swirl around us with every step, the twinkling lights of the city illuminating the dark sidewalks. Looking over at Emily, I squeezed her hand, gave her a smile, and continued on with our leisurely inspection of the area.
Noticing she kept bringing her hand up to stifle a yawn, I turned our direction and w
e headed back to our hotel. Making our way to the penthouse, Emily tucked herself into my arm and wrapped her hands around my bicep, her grin making my heart skip a beat.
After the door to our room closed, I scooped her up and made my way to the staircase, walking up and placing her on the large bed. Pulling her boots off and placing them on the floor, I urged her to raise her arms so I could remove her sweater.
“I can undress myself.” She yawned into the room, her sleepy eyes letting me know her adrenaline had worn off.
“Let me help you, baby. Lift your butt and I’ll get your pants off, then you can curl up and get some sleep. Do you want one of my shirts to sleep in or did you pack your pajamas?”
“Your shirt.” She mumbled, as I got her pants off and reached over, taking my large shirt off and pulling it over her head.
Removing my pants, I joined her in the large bed, pulling her body against mine, and wrapping my arm across her stomach as we were lulled to sleep by the low hum of the city.
The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. I sat up instantly awake and scanning the room for Emily. I heard the water running in the bathroom on the other side of the stairs and I followed the noise, finding her soaking in a large claw-footed tub, her toes and head the only part of her visible through the bubbles.
“Good morning.” I told her as I leaned over and gave her a kiss.
“Good morning. I didn’t mean to wake you.” She sheepishly stated.
“You didn’t wake me. Would you like me to order some breakfast? The first meeting is in two hours so there isn’t time to leave the hotel for food until after lunch.” I watched her swirl her hands through the bubbles, wishing they were gone so I could see her beautiful body clearly.
“That sounds perfect. I’ll be out soon, I promise.” She laughed, as I came over and kissed her on the head.
“Take your time, beautiful.” I told her as I made my way down the stairs and found the phone, ordering fruit, croissants, eggs, bacon, juice, and coffee. I wanted a selection and needed to make sure my girl was eating properly.
Shortly, I heard her walking down the spiral staircase and the sight of her, freshly made up, dressed for the day had my dick growing in my dress pants. I needed to get myself under control before my meeting, and there wasn’t time for any fooling around this morning.
Emily kissed me before sitting down at the table and plating her breakfast. We enjoyed the meal in relative silence before I noticed a small smile on her face.
“What has you smiling so beautifully this morning?”
“I have a surprise for us later this afternoon. Do you think you will be finished by six o’clock?” Her expression indicated some sort of mischief.
“I’ll be done by three. What kind of surprise?” I leaned over and pulled her into my lap, tickling her lightly, her laugh lightening my already elevated attitude.
“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise. We just need to leave by six or we will miss our ticketed time.” She giggled, placing a chaste kiss on my lips.
I placed my hand against the back of her neck and pulled her into me. My kiss forceful and demanding as she allowed me to make love to her mouth. The sound of a knock on the door had me pulling away and her standing from my lap.
I pushed on my throbbing erection, willing it to go down as I walked to the hotel door and opened it to my first meeting. I led them into the living room area and we sat down, jumping into the contract stipulations and program notes.
My meetings stacked one on top of another for the next three hours and when the last one finished, I was ready to leave the room and explore the city. I found Emily asleep on the bed, having given out an hour ago. She had sat through each meeting, taking notes on her phone, and asking questions when they left.
She was showing interest in the project and some of her ideas gave a hint to where she thought we could make improvements or additions to the existing framework. I made a mental note to discuss with Jason about setting up a meeting with her when we returned to talk about her ideas.
Not wanting to wake her, I set my clock for an hour and curled up behind her, drawing her into my arms and allowing sleep to overtake me. I woke up to small kisses on my lips and Emily’s hazel eyes twinkling above me.
“Are you ready to get Tilted?” she asked me, a look of confusion evident on my face.
We made our way to the Hancock building and I still hadn’t told Josh where we were going. It wasn’t often I got to surprise him and I hoped he liked my little adventure. Making our way to the 94th-floor observation deck, the sun was dipping low in the sky, the world at eye level turning shades of pink and grey.
When Josh saw where we were, his face broke out into a huge smile and he picked me up, spinning me around before putting me down and walking over to the ticket counter. I handed the guy the passes I had purchased and looked around, noticing we were the only ones on the observation level as Josh whispered to the attendant.
“Excuse me, but are we the only people here?” I asked the man.
“You’re the last passengers for the day. We are closing it for a private party that starts at nine so you have a little time alone out at the windows. Are you ready to tilt?” he asked, walking us over to the windows, facing the quickly darkening sky.
We both nodded our heads and I placed my hands up at the bars on the sides, planting my feet firmly on the floor. I felt Josh position himself against my back and peered over my shoulder, questioning him with a look.
Whispering in my ear, “The guy told me it was okay for us to share. He is going to give us a few minutes alone so we won’t be interrupted.” Kissing the area behind my ear as the window began to push away from the building, the angle tilting us over the city below.
I felt his thickness pushing into my back, and his lips were nipping at my neck and shoulder as we looked over the landscape.
“I’m sorry it’s not skydiving or an airboat adventure. It’s not as adrenaline packed as you’re probably used to, but I hope you like your surprise.” I turned my head, and he kissed me with an urgency unlike before.
“It’s better than any adrenaline rush I’ve ever had, because I’m experiencing it with you.” His husky voice whispered in my ear, sending chills up and down my body.
I felt him rock his hardness against me as he let go of one of the handles and swept his hand to my waist, pulling me further against him, his hand reaching under my sweater his thumb stroking my stomach. I felt lightning in my veins, electrifying me with each sweep of his hand against me.
I broke the kiss and we turned our attention back toward the glass, the evening lights starting to shine in the city, the buildings rising into the night sky with their dots of illumination showing through their windows. We didn’t speak, just looked out at the city and the amazing drop below us, taking in the breathtaking beauty of Chicago and enjoying our togetherness in silence. A few minutes later, the windows started to pull back into the building and we stepped back, our small adventure over.
We thanked the attendant and made our way back down onto the street level. Walking outside, I noticed snowflakes starting to fall and felt the joy bubbling out of me. I was in a new city with the man I loved, we went on a new adventure, and now it was snowing! I laughed as I looked up into the night sky, the flecks of white floating down and landing on the landscape.
Josh pulled me into a hug before taking my hand and flagging a cab. Getting in, he told the driver to take us to The Bean. Not knowing what he was referring to, I gladly went along for the adventure. Being let out at the giant reflective silver ’bean’ I giggled as we ran, hand-in-hand toward the outdoor art installation.
We took the usual tourist photos, a few selfies, and found a hot dog cart on the edge of the plaza that served us our dinner as we walked through the park that surrounded the attraction. People were out, enjoying the snow falling and the music that filled the air from buskers and street performers.
We made our way back to the hotel after catching a ci
ty tour bus and getting whisked through some of the night stops, mostly clubs and bars. Josh placed his hand on my lower back as we walked through the lobby of the hotel and made our way back to the penthouse.
Walking in, I observed a fire roaring in the fireplace, a bottle of champagne chilling, along with chocolate covered strawberries. Josh looked at me with a smile as he opened the champagne, poured us both a small amount, and handed me a glass. I have had alcohol with Andrew in the past but I wasn’t overly fond of the taste or my reaction to it. I never wanted to lose my head and allow myself to be vulnerable.
With Josh, I threw caution out the window and took a small sip, the bubbles bursting on my tongue as he brought a chocolate strawberry up to my lips and I took a bite, the sweet flavors a perfect complement to the champagne. I took one and rubbed it on his lips before reaching up and licking across his mouth, his tongue reaching out and stroking mine as I placed the strawberry back against his mouth and he took a bite followed by a sip of the bubbly intoxicant.
Hand in hand, we moved to the seating area near the window, the only light in the room was the fire burning brightly, causing the shadows to dance along the walls. Josh sat down and tried to pull me next to him but my mind and body, for the first time ever, were on the same page.
I removed my boots and crawled into Josh’s lap, straddling his lap as I leaned in and gently kissed his lips. Feeling his tongue stroking my lips, I allowed him to penetrate my mouth, the taste of champagne and chocolate adding to the increasing lust inside me. His hand came up and cupped my jaw, his thumb stroking my cheek as we slowly kissed and caressed.
Pulling back, I look at Josh, his eyes glazed over with lust as he gazed upon my face, a smile on his face that lit up the room. I slowly began to unbutton my blouse, his eyes tracking each new piece of skin that became visible. His hand began to trace between my cleavage as I undid the last one and removed my shirt, tossing it across the chaise lounge next to us.
The Soul That Redeems Me (The Forever Mine Series Book 3) Page 15