I gently take her chin in my hand and tip her head up, forcing her eyes to come to mine.
The chaos in her eyes clears and her eyes focus on mine.
“I love you, Cooper. You are my L’amour vrai,” she says, as a tear rolls down her cheek.
I lower my head and softly press my lips to hers. I move my hand from her chin to the side of her face and palm her cheek, as I deepen the kiss and wipe the tears away with my thumb. The gentle waves splash at our ankles, as I tip her head to the side and run my hand through her hair. Sadie rests her weight on both of our legs, letting us know she’s there.
I soften the kiss, pull away, and place my forehead on hers.
“I love you, too, Kate Mason,” I say.
She wraps her arms around my back and rests her head on my shoulder. We turn around and face the setting sun, then watch as it dips below the horizon.
We walk to my house and quickly feed Sadie, then walk back to River’s house and climb the stairs to the back deck, holding each other close.
At the top, Kate looks toward River’s house and calls, “Good night, River.”
“Good night, Kate,” he returns softly, then closes the door.
Sadie walks to Kate’s closed pool house door and gently paws at it. I open the door, then she runs inside and disappears down the hallway.
“I’ll come back early in the morning,” I tell Kate.
Kate looks up at me, as the moonlight casts a beautiful glow over her cheeks.
“Stay,” she says, pulling me into the pool house, then she drops her shoes just inside the door.
Without flipping on any lights, she leads me through her house and into her bedroom. Sadie is already on the bed, but to my surprise, she’s laying at the foot of the bed and not taking up her usual two-thirds.
As Kate stands in front of me, I run my hands up and down the back of her arms. I unbutton her shirt, then gently slide it over her shoulders and down her arms, revealing a cropped, lace tank top underneath. I unbutton her shorts, then send them to the floor. I kiss her temple, then trail my lips down her cheek. She tilts her head to the side, as I drag my lips down her neck to the top of her shoulder.
I squeeze her hand, then walk to her side of the bed and turn back the covers. She climbs in, scoots over, then pats her hand in front of her with a smile. I remove my shoes, pull my shirt over my head, drop my pants, then slide in next to her on my back. She lifts up, then lays on my shoulder on her side, then drapes her leg over mine.
I run my hand through her hair and rest my cheek on the top of her head.
After a few minutes, I ask, “Did you want your headphones?”
When she doesn’t answer, I lift up to look at her. She has a peaceful look on her face, a small smile on her lips, and her eyes are closed as she sleeps.
The next seven days are spent in this exact way, with her safe and sound in my arms. She’s now completely healed from all of her external injuries. Her stitches in her head have been removed and the cuts on her hands have healed. Now only time can heal the internal injuries.
Saturday morning I wake up to an empty bed. I heft my legs over the side of the bed, then stand up and slip my pants on. The smell of fresh coffee pulls me out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. There’s a clean, empty cup sitting next to a brewed pot of coffee. I pour myself a cup, then lean my ass against the counter and take a much needed sip.
I scan the front room, then look out the door. I see Kate and Sadie on the deck, both in some sort of yoga position. I walk to the door and take a closer look. Kate is sitting cross-legged with her back perfectly straight and her hands pressed together in front of her. Sadie is sitting on the backs of her rear legs, sitting straight up with her paws together in front of her face. Who knew my dog knows yoga?
I stand there and watch them as I finish my cup of coffee. When it’s empty, I walk back to the kitchen and refill it. The front door opens, and Sadie and Kate walk back inside. Her face lights up with a beautiful smile when she sees me in the kitchen.
Kate walks over to me, grabs onto my unbuckled belt and pulls it through the loops of my pants, then walks out of the kitchen, through the house, and into her bedroom.
I cock my head to the side with a grin, set down my coffee cup, and follow her to her room.
Inside, I hear the shower running in the bathroom. My belt is thrown on top of the bed and the bathroom door is cracked open. Sadie follows me into the bedroom, climbs on the bed, and curls into a ball in the center and closes her eyes.
Kate’s naked body appears in the sliver of the open door by the shower. She glances at me with a smile, then steps in. I walk into the bathroom, then close the door behind me. Steam from the hot shower quickly fills the room. I drop my pants and boxers, then step into the shower behind Kate. Her back is turned to me with a sight of her beautiful ass. She turns her head and eyes me over her shoulder with those sexy as hell eyes. I press my body against her back and run my hand up her arm, while I gently kiss the back of her shoulder.
She turns around in my arms and immediately her warm, wet lips find mine. I run my hands over her slick body, while she backs up and rests against the shower wall. She grabs my hard dick firm in her hand, and slides her fingers up and down my length. She releases my lips, then slowly kisses down the center of my chest. Her hands splay on either side of my hips, as she continues down my body. With one hand, she grabs my dick and lifts it straight up, then places her tongue on my balls and licks upward. At the tip, her lips wrap firmly around, then sink firmly down to the root.
“Kate,” I whisper, then close my eyes and tip my head back.
As she continues deep throating, I lean slightly forward and rest my clenched fists on the tile wall behind her. Her lips increase pressure and she speeds up the pace. I tip my head down and watch as I disappear in and out of her mouth. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
Every muscle in my body contracts as I grit out through my teeth, “I’m coming.”
Her lips soften and she slows her pace as I pulse inside her mouth. She looks up at me and smiles the sweetest smile. Bending down, I place my hands around her waist and sit her on the bench at the end of the shower. I sink to my knees in front of her and take one of her breasts in my hand, and the other I flatten my tongue over her rock hard nipple. Her head falls to the side as she moans. I wrap my arm low around her back and pull her writhing body tight to mine. She ever so gently rocks her hips into my chest. I work my way to the center of her breasts, then lick down to the dip in her navel. I slowly run my hand down her left leg, massaging as I go. On the way back up, I lift it up and place her foot on top of the bench. I run my other hand down her right leg, lean to the side, and slowly kiss up her leg as I place her heel on top of the bench. She leans back against the tiled wall, as I place my lips on her. She exhales with pleasure, as I flatten my tongue and insert two fingers.
Hot water beats down on my back as she moans with pleasure. I flick my tongue in short, sharp flicks, then long soft swirls all around. Her back arcs off the tile wall, then she firmly grabs the top of my shoulders and comes on my tongue. God, there’s nothing better in this world than Kate coming on my tongue.
Her mews soften and her back relaxes on the tile behind her. I increase pressure on her with my tongue, then remove my fingers and run them up and down her clit. Her eyes fill with lust and lock on mine. I bring my fingers to my mouth and suck on them. Her mouth opens while she brings her hand to the side of her face, then runs it through her wet hair. I remove my fingers from my mouth and place them back inside her. I stiffen my tongue and place it firmly on my fingers, and thrust it inside her. She moans wildly and smacks her hand on the edge of the tile. In rhythm, I continue in and out of her. I remove my tongue and softly place it on her tight little nub, while her insides start to clench around my finger.
She rides out her orgasm, then I remove my fingers and replace them with a soft kiss. She sits up and wraps my head in her arms, tight to her body. She reaches
for the shampoo sitting next to her thigh and squirts some on her open palm. With me on my knees in front of her, she washes my hair. I close my eyes, as she massages the lather down my neck and shoulders. She places her lips on mine and presses her body to mine.
I wrap her legs around my waist, then pick her up and back up into the steaming shower. She rinses my hair, then slides down my body and places her feet on the floor. I peck her lips with a short kiss, then turn her body around in the hot shower. I reach for her shampoo, then lather up her hair. I thread my fingers underneath her hair at the scalp, then run them down the length of her long hair. I set her hair to the side and massage her shoulders.
I tip her slightly backward and let the water rinse the shampoo out of her hair. When all the shampoo is out of her hair, I pour some of her body wash in my palm. I lather her up and let my hands run over every inch of her smooth, slick body. I rinse her off, spending extra time rubbing her sweet ass.
I turn the water off, then she grabs a towel and hands it to me. She wraps her hair in a towel and grabs another one for her body. After I’ve dried off, I toss my towel on the counter and take the ends of her towel. I gently dab her skin until she’s dry, then I take the two ends and crash her body on mine. She giggles, then I stop them cold when I take her lips in a hot, passionate kiss.
With a smile on her face, we both get dressed, then with Sadie on our heels, we head out into the family room. As we walk hand in hand, there’s a knock on her door.
“It’s Joss,” Kate says, looking at the door. “She looks worried about something,” she finishes, as we get closer.
“Joss? What’s wrong?” I ask, opening the door.
“Have you seen River this morning?” she asks, her face full of worry.
“No, not yet. Why?” I answer, pulling her into the pool house a few steps.
“He wasn’t home when I woke up. Josh isn’t home either, and Nina has no idea where he went,” she says, nervously.
“Have you tried calling him?” I ask.
“Yes, like fifty times. He’s not picking up, it goes straight to voicemail, same with Josh.”
“Let me try him,” I say, walking toward my purse.
I dig my cell phone out, then dial his number. It doesn’t even ring and immediately goes to voicemail. I end the call and dial Josh. Same thing, his goes straight to voicemail, too. That is odd.
“Nothing?” she asks, walking up behind me.
“They both go straight to voicemail. Maybe something came up at work and they needed to go in real quick,” I say, trying to reassure her. “Have you had any coffee this morning?” I ask, hoping it will calm her down a little bit.
“No,” she answers.
“Let’s go make you some coffee. I’ll call the office and see if anyone is there,” I say, then lead her toward her house.
The wall of doors is half way open and a warm breeze gently blows the sheer curtains in the house. A ruffle of paper sitting on the dining room table catches my eye. I walk over to it and see a rose sitting on top of the piece of paper.
“Joss, did you see this?” I ask, pointing to it.
“See what?” she asks.
She walks over to the table and instantly her worried face relaxes. She picks up the piece of paper and opens it, but then she looks confused.
“What’s wrong? I ask.
“I think it’s written in Braille?” she says, holding it out to me.
I take the piece of paper and sure enough, it’s a note written entirely in Braille. River has had a speech to text program on his computer since the accident. He uses it on a daily basis, and he has a Braille embosser printer that he uses to print out what he needs.
“What does it say?” she asks, looking at the paper, then to me.
“I’m a little rusty on my Braille,” I tell her.
It’s been years since I’ve read it. River used to write me little notes in Braille as kids. It was our secret way of communicating without anyone else knowing what we were saying to each other.
“Well, how am I supposed to read this?” she asks.
“Online!” we both say at the same time.
Joss runs down the hallway and retrieves her laptop from the bedroom, then sets it on the table. She sits down and quickly pulls up a website so she can translate it. Slowly she figures it all out, writes everything down, then reads it out loud.
Joss,
Good morning beautiful. You, Nina, and Kate, all have appointments at the spa at ten. I hope you have a relaxing morning. Your next clue will be handed to you after your morning of pampering.
Love,
River
“What?” Joss says.
“What do you mean, what? It’s a day of pampering! I’m not going to question it,” I say, looking at the clock. “And we better get going! We don’t want to be late,” I finish.
Joss closes her laptop with the cutest grin on her face, then yells up the stairs for Nina.
“Nina! Come on, we’re out of here,” she yells.
“Where are we going? Did you find Josh and River?” she asks from the top of the stairs.
“We’re going to your favorite place! Spa day, courtesy of River!” she returns.
“Hell yeah!” she replies, and races down the stairs.
“Who’s driving?” I ask.
“I’ll drive,” Nina volunteers.
“You guys have a great day together,” Cooper says, walking up to me.
He gives me a kiss, then he opens the front door for us.
Sitting outside the front door is a shiny, black limo and there’s a man wearing a tux standing next to the rear door with a silver platter in his hands.
“Good morning, ladies,” he says, opening the car door. “Mimosas for everyone,” he says, lowering the tray.
Joss and Nina quickly exchange looks, then they look at me.
“Do you have a virgin one?” Nina asks, quietly.
“You mean just orange juice?” I ask, confused.
“Uh . . . yes,” she answers, looking at Joss.
My eyes go big, as I intake a quick breath when I realize what’s going on. Nina’s pregnant! Oh my God! Nina’s pregnant! My eyes travel down to her belly, then back up to her eyes. She nods her head yes, then places her hand over her flat stomach. I smile a warm smile at her. She smiles at me, then Joss takes a mimosa and gets into the limo.
“I’ll take hers,” I say, then take a drink in each hand and get in the car.
Nina gets in behind me, then the chauffeur closes the door. Joss opens the mini refrigerator and takes out the orange juice. She fills a champagne flute, then hands it to Nina with a smile.
We head downtown, and we’re delivered to the front door of a posh spa. Inside, we’re each greeted to a personal specialist, then whisked away and pampered. Our bodies are massaged, our faces have been detoxed, and our fingers and toes painted. Now we’re all sitting side-by-side in salon chairs, as each of our hairdressers puts the final touches on our washed, cut, and styled hair.
The chauffeur reappears, walks over to Joss, and hands her another letter.
“What’s it say?” Nina asks, excitedly.
“Is it written in Braille again?” I ask.
“No, it’s in Josh’s handwriting. It says our next stop is at the place of our first date,” she says with a smile.
“How fun is this!” I say.
We stand from our chairs, admire each others gorgeous hair, then load back into the limo.
The car heads down the busy downtown streets, but then starts to head out of the city.
“Where was your first date, Joss?” I ask confused, because to me it looks like we’re heading back home.
“Home,” she confirms with the sweetest, most content smile on her face.
The driver stops in front of River’s house, then opens the car door. He opens the front door and we walk inside to a quiet house. I’m confused because there’s no food on the table. Joss walks straight through the house and folds open the
back wall of doors. Sitting in the center of the back deck is a beautiful table, set with fine linens and a gorgeous flower centerpiece. Nina and I follow her outside and take our seats at the table. Maddy appears from out of nowhere wearing her catering uniform and pours wine into each of our glasses. She smiles, then goes back into the house to retrieve the first course. Joss quickly stands up, reaches across the table and downs Nina’s glass of wine, then sits back down before Maddy can see her. We all giggle, then Maddy comes back outside carrying plates.
She eyes us suspiciously, then places our plates in front of us. She sees Nina’s empty wine glass, then grabs the bottle to refill it.
Nina places her hand on the top of the wine glass and says, “Oh, I’m good, thank you. One glass is my limit.”
Over the next hour and a half, Maddy brings out a total of five courses. The last course is chocolate covered strawberries. She sets mine and Nina’s in front of us, then places a plate with a note in front of Joss.
She shoves aside the beautiful, large, chocolate covered berries and opens the note.
“What’s it say?” I ask, wiggling my fingers, dying to know.
“It says, I hope you’ve enjoyed your day. In each of your rooms you will find an outfit. Please put them on and find me on the . . .” she says, but stops. “I don’t know how to say these words,” she says, holding the note out to me.
“L’amour vrai,” I read in a whisper.
“What’s that mean?” Joss asks.
I sit back in my chair and smile. In my head, I always see my dad’s smile and his lips moving as he says those two beautiful words to my mother.
“Kate, what does that mean?” Joss asks again, impatiently.
I haven’t thought about my dad’s yacht in years. We never really used it much, that I remember. I think I’ve only been on it once, maybe twice. I honestly thought it had been sold over the years.
“KATE!” Joss yells.
“It’s a yacht my dad bought for my mom,” I finally answer.
“You guys have a yacht?” she asks, surprised.
Maddy returns to the table wearing a beautiful evening gown and an even more beautiful smile.
I Hear...Love (A Different Road #2) Page 16