“When I went to my parents’ tonight my mother was so angry at my dad. All because he never told her about some girl he dated in high school. And while what you kept from me was a bit more serious than some silly high school romance, it doesn’t change that I was being equally stubborn. And when I heard her say such horrible things about my dad, I saw myself in her and that was a horrific realization.” I buried my face into his chest. “I don’t want to be my mother, Robert.”
He lifted my face and wiped tears from my cheeks that I hadn’t realized were there. “You’re not your mother, Sky. You’re an amazing, beautiful, intelligent woman with the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. If you can forgive this messed up guy in front of you, I think that proves you’re nothing like her.”
And then he was kissing me again. And then we talked some more. I told him I loved him, and he reciprocated the feelings completely. We moved into the living room, sitting close on the couch, wrapped around each other, never wanting to let go. Naturally, things began to heat up. Robert’s kisses became more frantic. My hands became more demanding.
But in the back of my mind, his earlier words were nagging at me. I had made him feel shame for who he was. That didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t accept all parts of him. That he had nothing to feel ashamed of.
Just as Robert went to take my shirt off, I stopped him, covering his hand with mine. “Wait.”
Robert sat back, looking worried again. “What is it? Have I done something wrong?”
I hated that he immediately thought the problem was with him.
“No, not at all. But I was thinking…” I bit down on my bottom lip and gave him what I hoped was a sultry look. “I’d like you to dance for me.”
Robert seemed confused. “You want me to dance for you?”
I nodded. “Pretend I’ve just paid you a lot of money. What kind of show would you give me?”
Robert’s face contorted in pain. “I don’t want you to look at me like that, Skylar. Like a cheap whore—”
“I don’t look at you like that!” I exclaimed, grabbing his face, and kissing him on the mouth. “Robert, I love you. So much. I just want you to feel comfortable sharing all sides of your life with me. Even this. I know you shut down the website, but that just means I get to be your sole audience.” I grinned, running a hand down his chest. “I want you to dance for me, Robert. Because all of this—” I cupped him through his trousers, and he closed his eyes on a groan. “This is all mine.”
“How can I ever say no to that?” He kissed me then got to his feet. He grabbed his phone and a few seconds later the pulsing beat of dance music came from the small speaker. He put the phone down on the coffee table, pushing it back, giving himself room. “You’re sure about this?” he asked, clearly needing my validation.
“Oh yeah. I’m so ready,” I cooed, leaning back on my couch, already feeling hot and bothered and he hadn’t even started yet.
Robert slowly started moving to the music. Slow, undulating movements that I followed with my eyes. I thought it would be slightly awkward having him dance for me, but it wasn’t. It was the hottest thing I had ever experienced.
With practiced fingers, he unbuttoned his shirt. Achingly slow, he took it off until he was dancing in only his trousers. I took the time to appreciate the sight of him. His sculpted body was the stuff of every woman’s fantasy. He was perfect. And he was mine.
He came over and dropped down to his knees, sliding along my lap, pressing himself against me. He gave me a sexy grin as he turned around and ground his ass against my crotch. I felt myself getting wet and I went to touch him. He pinned my hands to the couch. “If you want to do this the right way, you can’t touch,” he scolded with a laugh.
“Fine,” I pouted. He kissed my nose and danced back to the center of the room.
Next, he removed his pants, sliding them down his thighs seductively. I was positively on fire just by watching him. He was good at this. Really good. He danced for the rest of the song in only his boxer briefs, shaking his ass and thrusting his hips in time with the music. Then the tempo changed to something slower, more erotic. Staring me straight in the eyes, he began to take down his boxers.
I swallowed, my tongue thick.
Once he was naked he undulated to the music and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He was beautiful. Like a Greek god. All muscle and sinew. My fingers ached to touch him, but I did as I was told.
Then, all while looking at me, he grabbed his cock and started stroking it. Up and down.
“Touch yourself,” he rasped as he began to pump more rapidly.
I unbuttoned my jeans and reached into my underwear, finding myself drenched. “I want you to fuck yourself with your fingers, Sky. I want to watch you come,” Robert groaned, fisting his cock.
We stared at each other, moaning in unison as we masturbated. It was the single most erotic experience of my life. And when I came, he did too.
“Jesus,” I sighed, my legs jelly.
Robert cleaned himself up and joined me on the couch, pulling me into his arms. “Did you like it?” he asked, sounding unsure.
I turned in his arms and kissed him. “Fucking hell, it was incredible.”
I felt Robert relax and then he began to kiss me again. “Shall we go to the bedroom?” he asked against my mouth.
“Absolutely.”
“I love you, Skylar. Thank you for accepting me,” Robert said, his eyes suddenly full.
“You don’t have to thank me. I love you, Rob. I love every part of you. I’m only sorry you ever doubted that.”
Robert lifted me into his arms and carried me to my bedroom where he laid me down and worshiped my body all night long.
And as we drifted off to sleep I knew that he was mine forever.
Doubt would never shadow my heart again.
Epilogue
Skylar
One year later
“We’re going to be late,” I shouted into the bathroom.
“I’m almost ready.” Robert peeked his head around the shower curtain and gave me a saucy grin. “Unless you want to join me, then we might be a little late.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
I walked over to him and kissed him. He made as if to pull me into the shower and I squealed, escaping his grasp. “Don’t you dare, Jenkins.” I wagged my finger in his direction. “Seriously though, Meg will have a fit if we’re late to Clara’s christening.”
“You’re the one who kept me naked all morning,” Rob reminded me. My belly grew warm at the memory of how we spent hours in our bed, not coming up for air.
Even after a year together I still couldn’t get enough of him. I wondered if I’d always have this desperate desire to be with him all the time. I looked down at the gorgeous diamond ring on my left hand and knew, without a doubt, I would. I expected to feel these butterflies for the rest of my life.
Once Robert was out of the shower and dressed, we loaded Edgar up in the back of the car so we could drop him off at Mr. Sheehan’s.
“You look gorgeous,” Robert murmured as he pulled me close, kissing me deeply.
“You look pretty awesome yourself,” I replied, smacking him on the butt as he went around to the driver’s side. My best friend had given birth two months ago to her and Adam’s second child. Today was baby Clara’s christening and all of our friends would be there. I hadn’t told any of them that Robert had proposed, mostly because he had only asked last night. But I knew the massive rock on my hand would give it away.
We pulled up in front of Mr. Sheehan’s house. He came out to greet us, opening his arms to my dog. “Howdy neighbors!” he called out.
“Hey there, Charles,” Robert said. He and Mr. Sheehan had gotten quite friendly since Robert had moved in six months ago. He had taken to calling the older man by his given name. I couldn’t do it. He’d always be Mr. Sheehan to me.
A few minutes later we were on our way to the church in town. “Do you think we should have an e
ngagement party?” I asked.
“You know our friends love any excuse to have a party. I say, why not,” Robert exclaimed with a smile. He grinned a lot these days. “Mom’s looking forward to seeing the ring for herself this weekend. She’s only seen it in pictures,” he went on.
“I can’t wait to see her and Sam. I think we should have both of them down for Christmas this year instead of going to them,” I suggested. “Jill too if she’s comfortable with it.”
Sam was still with his girlfriend, but she continued to be very shy, though she was warming up slowly.
Robert took my hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.” He turned down a street and drove slowly past his old house. The ‘For Sale’ sign had been replaced with one that read ‘Sold.’
We knew almost immediately after we got back together that we wanted to move in together, but there was the question of whose house. We continued to keep our own places for the first six months when it got to a point that we couldn’t stand it any longer.
Robert was the one who insisted he sell his and we stay in my house.
“But yours is bigger,” I said, though inwardly I was overjoyed. I loved my house. I had put so much love into it that the thought of selling was painful.
“Sure, it’s bigger, but it’s just a house to me. Your house is special to you. It means something. And I love it. It’s perfect for us. And for Edgar,” Robert reasoned.
“Only if you’re sure.”
“I’m completely sure. I’ll make a tidy profit now that the house prices have gone up so much in town,” Robert went on.
He was right. Property in Southport had shot up with the opening of the new shops and restaurants in the development Tiffany Hardwell used to own. She had to sell it to settle her massive tax bill to the government once her shady dealings finally came out. She had avoided jail time but instead had to sell off most of her properties, including the Carmichael house in Southport.
I had been worried that now that Robert couldn’t dangle her tax evasion over her head, she’d share with the world what she knew about Robert. Because even though he had come clean with Adam and Jeremy, he still didn’t want everyone to know how he used to earn money.
Robert hadn’t been concerned. “I don’t think we have to worry about her. She’s got bigger fish to fry.”
It seemed he was right. We hadn’t heard a peep from her.
“Are you still okay going to Dad’s this weekend for dinner?” I asked him as we pulled up out front of the church.
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it,” Robert assured me. “We have plans to watch the football game. I’m bringing my famous nachos.”
“You two are ridiculous.” I rolled my eyes but inwardly I was delighted. My parents had finally separated, and their divorce was due to be finalized in the next couple of months. My dad had moved into his own apartment downtown and my mom had packed up and left town.
I received a text from her now and then but honestly, I didn’t miss her. It felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. And Robert and my dad got on like a house on fire.
Robert took my hand as we walked up to the church. He checked his watch. “Look at that, right on time.”
“For Adam, this is late,” I reminded him.
We walked into the back of the church to find all of our friends already there and seated. Adam and Meg were at the front with the priest, holding baby Clara with Tyler hugging Adam’s leg. Whitney went and took the little boy’s hand and led him back to the pew where she was sitting with Kyle and Katie.
Jeremy and Lena were in the pew behind them with their two daughters Daisy and Anya. Lena saw us as we came in and waved us over. We walked down the aisle and slid into the pew next to them. Lena reached over and hugged me. “You were dangerously close to being late. Adam has already been asking where you two were,” Lena warned.
“It’s Skylar’s fault,” Robert teased, nudging me with his shoulder.
Jeremy gave us a wide smile. “I bet I know what you two were up to.”
Lena smacked his arm. “Not in front of the kids, Wyatt,” she hissed.
Her husband looked properly mollified. “Sorry, babe.” He kissed her sweetly but then gave us another wolfish grin.
Robert shook his head.
“Oh my god!” Lena gasped, lifting my hand. “Jeremy, would you get a load of that ring!” She held up my hand, tilting it this way and that in the light, the diamond glinting madly.
“So, you finally did it. You’ve been agonizing over it for months now.” Jeremy patted Rob on the back.
“Well done, Jenkins. That’s a fine piece of jewelry,” Web commented, turning around in his seat. “Congrats, you two.”
“This is wonderful news, Sky,” Whitney beamed, leaning back, and hugging me.
“What’s going on? What are we missing?” Meg asked, appearing at the end of the pew.
“Robert and Skylar are engaged!” Lena exclaimed, lifting my hand even higher for Meg and Adam to see.
“Oh my god, Sky! That’s so wonderful!” Then she glared at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I only just asked her last night, Meg. And we didn’t want to take away from Clara’s big day,” Robert interjected.
“Oh, nonsense. This just makes the day even better!” Meg smiled. “This makes me so happy.” She started to get teary, dabbing at her eyes.
“Sweetheart, don’t cry,” Adam soothed, hugging her tightly with one arm while holding Clara in the other.
Meg gave us all a watery smile. “I’m just so happy having you all here.” She beamed at her friends and her and Adam’s parents who were in the front row. “We’ve all come so far and look at us. All here together.”
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Come here, Skylar Murphy, I want to hug you.”
Grumbling, I got out of the pew and let my best friend embrace me. Adam and Kyle soon joined us, the four of us huddled together with the way we always had been. My best friends.
“Okay, we need to start this thing,” Adam said after a few minutes and I noticed that even he was looking a little teary-eyed.
I sat back down beside Robert, who put his arm around me, holding me close. “I love you,” he whispered against my temple as he kissed me.
I felt full and complete with the man I loved by my side and surrounded by my friends, who were my family. I was a lucky woman to have so much in my life.
As I watched my oldest and dearest friends stand at the front of the church with their infant daughter, I knew that life would have its ups and downs, but this connection—this love—was infinite.
“I love you too,” I whispered back to Robert. I looked down at the ring on my finger and knew that this was only the beginning.
Because a story like ours was forever.
The End
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Prologue
Meghan
Ten years ago
Young love was meant to be beautiful.
It was a stomach full of butterflies.
It was secret moments stolen between shy glances.
It was soft touches that led to passionate first kisses.
Falling in love was supposed to feel perfect.
Too bad I decided to fall in love with my best friend.
**
“Ugh, I hate dressing up,” I complained as my sister Whitney tied my hair into a complicated updo. She gave the strands a yank, and I winced. “Are you trying to make me bald,” I griped, my eyes watering.
&
nbsp; Whitney rolled her eyes. “Stop whining; you’ll look beautiful.” She tucked an intricate braid into the bun at the nape of my neck.
I blew out a noisy breath that was equal parts exasperation and anxiety. I stared at my reflection in the mirror as Whitney carefully placed a dozen or so bobby pins all over my head. I was wearing a knee-length sleeveless green dress that flared slightly from the hip. The color complements my dark red hair perfectly. It was a gorgeous chiffon material that made me feel incredibly fancy. I loved the way it floated around my body. The bodice was scalloped and embroidered with tiny beads. It showed just enough cleavage without making me look slutty.
So even though I grumbled and huffed with irritation at all the primping and styling, a part of me loved every girlie second of it. I loved feeling pretty and desirable.
Particularly when I hoped to make a certain person finally see me as something other than Meghan Galloway, softball captain, and all-around tomboy.
Maybe, just maybe, this dress would do the trick.
“All done,” Whitney announced, standing back with a satisfied expression.
I stood up, shook out the skirt of my dress, and faced the new me in the mirror.
And damn, she did not disappoint.
I put a hand on my hip and turned from side to side, taking in my sister’s handiwork. Whitney was a whole eighteen months older than me and going to the community college down the road. She hated school, but she loved fashion and makeup. And every single feminine thing that I loathed and detested.
Except this once.
Because I looked freaking awesome.
Dare I say, even attractive?
It wasn’t an adjective I usually ascribed to myself. Not that I thought I was ugly. I wasn’t the kind of girl that moaned and cried about my weight or my looks. My self-esteem was just fine; thank you very much. Mostly because I took very little stock in what other people thought about me.
I never applied makeup. I typically wore my thick, red hair in a ponytail. And my normal uniform consisted of my favorite pair of faded jeans, an assorted collection of graphic tees, and my most comfortable pair of battered Chuck Taylors.
Say You're Mine: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Southport Love Stories Book 4) Page 24