by Maci Dillon
We had been dating for fourteen months when we moved in together, but it seemed like years. Being eleven years Will’s junior, I was surprised by his family and friends’ acceptance and quickly became a part of their world. I loved my life and the freedom he allowed me.
The past few months, especially, had brought us incredible joy with the promise of much more to come. On my left hand, I proudly wore Will’s promise of forever. I would never forget the night he proposed. It was unexpected and wrapped in the kind of romance I had come to believe only happened in movies.
Ocean breezes whistled through the trees onto the semi-enclosed deck. The sun setting behind us, the ocean directly before us, and an exquisite seafood cuisine laid out in front of us at one of the Sunshine Coast’s most elite five-star restaurants. The waiter appeared to refill our wine glasses. “Is there anything else I may get for you, sir? Madam?”
Will quietly ushered him away and tucked some bills into the slip of his waiter’s apron. “That will be all, thank you, Sanjeet.” The small Indian man nodded and scurried away.
“It’s beautiful here, Will. You’ve spoiled me again.” I smiled at him, appreciating the effort he always puts into our dates. Staying in the resort next door, Will made the perfect choice with Agape’s. I loved dining by the ocean with direct access from our table to the beach—our own private oasis. It was blissfully beautiful. “I’m looking forward to a moonlit stroll along the beach when we’re done here,” I admitted.
Cracking open the sweet, juicy crab to share, Will brought a small piece of the succulent meat to my mouth. “And you will get your wish, little one. But first, I have plans for you.”
I licked my lip and savored the flavor of the fresh crab. “Oh?” I asked, my interest piqued.
“If tonight isn’t the greatest night of your life, I’ve done it all wrong,” Will added as he picked up his glass of wine and prompted me to do the same.
It was easy to reassure him. “Every night with you is the greatest night of my life, Will. You could never disappoint.”
“It makes me incredibly happy to know that.” He raised his glass to mine in a toast. “Here’s to us, Chloe. A great love and a happily ever after.” We clinked our glasses.
“To us, forever,” I added as we sipped our wine in unison.
We continued to devour our meal until most of the seafood platters were demolished, and we were both uncomfortably full.
A gentleman in a suit stopped by our table and whispered something in Will’s ear. He nodded in thanks and stood to offer me his hand. “Come, little one, it’s time to walk.” A smile lit up his eyes as I tucked my hand inside his.
Reaching the step at the edge of the sand, Will bent over to remove my strappy gold sandals from my feet. Gently, he caressed each of my feet as he released them one by one into the cool silkiness of the sand. He quickly slid out of his, and hand in hand, we walked toward the water. The moon sparkled brightly above the horizon, highlighting the crest of each wave.
My hair whipped wildly in different directions as I broke from Will’s grip and started to run along the water’s edge. I held my knee-length, olive sun dress high above my knees to avoid getting it wet. Will chased after me as the splash from each of his steps reached further up the backs of my legs, chilling me.
I slowed to a stop when I glimpsed a flicker of candles on the beach a little way ahead. “Will, we should turn back,” I said and pointed toward the candlelight. “I don’t want to interrupt someone’s special moment.”
Will laughed and without warning, picked me up. He cradled me in his arms like a feather-light baby and walked directly toward the open but seemingly private area.
“What if I told you this was to be our special moment, Chloe?”
My eyes widened as I took in the surroundings as we moved closer. Candles encased by tall glass pillars were laid out in a large circle around a double outdoor sofa and a small, round table draped with a white cloth. A myriad of chocolate-covered desserts were displayed on the table with two glasses and a wine cooler in the center. A golden heart perched beside it was surrounded in red rose petals, and a blanket was arranged in the middle of the area, covered with pillows and cushions of various sizes.
Exquisite.
“Oh my God, Will,” I whispered in disbelief. “You organized this for us?”
“You deserved it, little one,” he replied as he placed a kiss on the top of my head before he lowered me to the ground. He walked to the table and poured a glass of wine for each of us. He handed one to me and declared, “A piece of paradise for the love of my life.”
My mouth fell open, but I was insanely lost for words. We toasted again and sampled the wine, one of the richest sauvignon blancs I’d ever tasted.
Will placed our glasses behind him on the table, stood before me, and cupped my face in his hands.
“You, Chloe, are the most amazing woman I have ever met. From the first moment I met you, I wanted you. Needed you.”
Tears of joy welled in my eyes, and my heart burst at the seams. Will released my face, took my hand, and lowered himself before me until he rested on one knee.
Oh. My. God. He isn’t?
Fuck yes, he is!
“You instantly became the missing piece of me, Chloe. All my dreams, my goals, my desires in life came alive when you entered my world. There has never been a moment of doubt you are the one for me. My one and only.”
A tear escaped, and its warmth caressed my skin as I stood intrigued by the most amazing man before me. While he kneeled on the sand, he reached into the pocket of his jeans, soaked from the knee down. My body shook with nerves.
The feeling of joy washed over me like the sea breeze. “Will,” I whispered, bringing my free hand to cover my mouth, my excitement too much to contain as he exposed a small pouch.
“I promise to love you for eternity, to treat you as my queen, to treasure and nurture you with all I am. I give my entire self to you, Chloe.” Will opened the satin pouch and poured its contents into the palm of his hand.
A large, two carat, square-cut diamond shined in the moonlight. I gasped, again lost for words. He took the ring between his fingers and reached for my left hand.
“The greatest gift you could ever give me, Chloe, is your love in return. To trust me with your entire self… today, tomorrow, and forever.” He positioned the ring over the tip of my wedding-ring finger and continued, “Make me the happiest man alive. Say you’ll marry me, Chloe.”
“Yes, Will, yes!”
He barely pushed the ring onto my finger before I fell to the sand and crashed into him, kissing the man of my dreams, my forever, through tears of sheer love and joy.
We intended to wait until I turned twenty-one next September before we tied the knot, a date still to be confirmed. There was no hurry, we had the world at our feet and eternity on our side, but we wanted a baby. Not right now, but within the next few years.
Recently, we’d been busy planning our New Zealand cruise for my twentieth birthday in three weeks and our engagement party scheduled for Valentine’s Day. Five months to create the perfect party—a night to remember.
Extra work commitments after winning the National Intern of the Year award also kept me on my toes. I worked for the advertising agency where I completed my work experience in high school.
There was never a dull moment in our lives.
“I love you, little one,” Will whispered in my ear as the audience at the fence turned to make their way to the betting ring or bar, now the race was over.
A photographer walked toward us and requested to take our picture for the local paper. We embraced the opportunity to show off our love to the public. “What names shall we print with the photo, Mr. Jamieson?” He pulled out his notepad to record our information after he captured the photo.
“Will Jamieson and Chloe Lee, soon to be Jamieson,” Will offered proudly.
The photographer smiled and nodded. “Congratulations to you both.” And off he wandere
d into the crowd.
Will grabbed my hand and led me toward a semi-hidden corridor at the secluded end of the establishment. “I can’t wait until tonight,” he told me as I followed willingly.
He slammed my back against the wall and covered my body with his much larger frame when we found a spot hidden from wandering eyes. “The reminder of your soon-to-be name makes my cock so fucking hard for you, Chloe,” he growled.
He possessed my mouth unapologetically, devoured my whimpers, and with precision, slipped his hand beneath my dress to pull my panties to the side.
Panting with need and oblivious to anyone who might walk past and spot us, I happily spread my legs to allow him to work his magic. I would never deny him.
He owned me—mind, body, and soul. And he knew it.
Two fingers deep inside my soaking pussy, I ground myself against his hand. Heated kisses trailed across my neck to my collarbone and made their way to the tops of my breasts, and drove me wild.
My moans grew louder until he claimed my mouth and passionately assaulted my tongue.
In less than sixty seconds of heavenly bliss, I exploded around his fingers, pulled at the short lengths of his dark hair, and sucked at his tongue as I rode out my orgasm.
This man can take me anywhere, and the result would always be the same.
I’ll never get enough of him.
Swaying in a moment of ecstasy, I unbuckled his belt to release the top button on his jeans. The tightly stretched denim hinted at his urgent need for a release too.
“Fuck, little one. You’re so goddamn beautiful,” Will whispered into the cusp of my neck.
The pocket of his shirt started to vibrate, but he ignored it or didn’t register the interruption as I took out his cock and began to stroke it. When the ringing started again only seconds later, I grabbed the phone and handed it to him. I slowly slid down the wall, so I was crouched before him. Will watched with raw hunger in his eyes as I rested my ass on my heels to avoid marking my bare knees on the concrete floor.
I teased the tip of his cock with my tongue, his groan made my core wetter. “Answer it, Will.” The phone still buzzed in his hand. He groaned in annoyance and flicked open the phone. “Jamie, what’s up?” He breathed heavily into the phone as I took him deep in my mouth.
I vaguely detected Jamie laughing on the other end. “You, I’m guessing. Leave the poor woman alone for thirty minutes, would ‘ya? Get your ass here. It’s your turn to buy drinks, and we’re thirsty fuckers.”
Will grunted, slammed the phone shut, and clutched my head while he guided himself in and out of my mouth with perfect, even strokes.
Our sexual appetite for each other was no secret.
Even if we’d wanted to, we couldn’t hide it.
We were in love and weren’t about to apologize for it.
Will was my drug.
His moans grew louder, and his hold on my head became tighter. He was close. I tasted his pre-cum as I flicked my tongue seductively in and out of the small opening at the tip. I pumped my fist up his length as I toyed with the head of his cock, licking, sucking until I took him to the back of my throat.
A deep growl rose from his chest, and he began to drive his cock into my mouth at a faster pace. “Fuck, yes, baby, yeah,” Will panted. “I’m gonna blow.” I sucked harder and moaned around his cock until he emptied his load into me. Licking my lips, I glanced at him from beneath hooded eyes.
“So, I heard you’re buying,” I teased.
He chuckled, pulled me upright, helped me realign my outfit, and buckled himself up. Satisfied, for now, we made our way back to our friends at the bar.
How did I get so lucky?
Will was everything I had ever dreamed of—charming, witty, sporty, commanding of attention, especially in the bedroom, and deliciously sexy. Most days when I woke, I needed to pinch myself to ensure I wasn’t dreaming.
Our life together was fast-paced. Not long into my second year of college, I was offered an internship at the advertising agency, which allowed me to work full-time and complete my degree part-time by the end of the year.
It was a no-brainer for me. I loved the agency, and the opportunity took a year off my degree. It was my dream job. Some would say everything fell into my lap this year, but I worked hard and earned every achievement.
Will was now the regional property manager at his firm, where he had been working for years and rivaled my father’s success. He often traveled for business, though the trips were typically overnight.
Some couples may have grown apart, but we always made time for each other, and our relationship thrived. Even in the busiest of times, we never failed to reserve the best of ourselves for our intimate moments—a romantic dinner, a surprise weekend getaway, a night of lovemaking under the stars—the memories were endless.
Underneath his tough-guy exterior, he was a true romantic and my forever kind of love.
I was the luckiest woman alive.
Chapter Three
Regret
Fear will pass but regrets last forever ~ Unknown
WILL
Ten Years Ago
What the fuck have I done?
I staggered back into town from the party and fled the scene as soon as I registered my actions. Everyone raced to attend to Chloe when she hit the dirt and didn’t move. Jamie stormed toward me, fierce and unrelenting like wild fire, and landed an uppercut on my jaw before he too raced to Chloe’s side.
“Get the fuck outta here, man!” Jaimie yelled in my direction.
I was terrified.
Not for me, for Chloe.
Her body crumbled lifelessly beneath the impact of my fist. Rage consumed me, and I failed to contain it. It all happened so fast.
The vision of her lying on the gravel, unstirring, made my stomach churn.
I was horrified.
I backed away from the crowd and wiped my swollen and bloodied lip on my shirt collar. I needed space to deal with what had unfolded.
With what I had done.
I fucking hit her!
I can’t make sense of my actions.
Why would I hit her?
Because she and Jamie were engaged in a private conversation? Or because he was the one to hold back her hair while she vomited in the garden?
I wasn’t even aware she’d been feeling unwell. What a selfish prick.
And a fucking jealous cunt, which was why I lashed out. The green-eyed monster wormed its way into my life, and I let it dictate my actions.
I fucking love Chloe.
Nobody, especially her, deserved to be mistreated.
I continued to walk toward town, disorientated.
Confused by the turn of events.
I stared at my knuckles, grazed and covered in Chloe’s blood as I passed under a street light. Fear, guilt, and alcohol mixed with my confusion, my pain, and inner turmoil. I darted to the edge of the long grass and heaved uncontrollably.
My body began to shake, and shock set in.
My heart shattered.
The scream of the sirens as the ambulance raced by me on the highway etched into my soul. I walked for what seemed like hours before I finally found myself at the hospital. I threw my phone into the bushes somewhere along the way, frustrated by the constant calls and messages demanding to know my whereabouts.
With only one local hospital, she wasn’t hard to find. When I reached her room, she was still unconscious, yet to wake to the devastating reality. Doctors and nurses hovered over her assessing the damage, making notes, and ordering tests.
Tubes ran from her arms and nose, and blood-soaked bandages lay beside her where they worked on cleaning up the trauma to her head.
I had done that.
I hurt my little one.
The worst kind of hurt imaginable.
I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window of the emergency room. I was a fucking wreck, but at least I was conscious.
It should have been me lying there in a hospital bed,
not Chloe. I didn’t even recognize myself.
“Will Jamieson?” Uniformed police officers walked toward me from further down the corridor. I acknowledged them with a defeated nod. Behind them stood Jamie, one of my best friends, and his father.
Had they traveled with her in the ambulance?
Jamie’s parents graciously offered to host our engagement party tonight. They owned riverside acreage on the north side of Cedar Ridge, and Chloe loved it out there. It was one of her favorite places to go and unwind when we had nothing going on.
Chloe enjoyed the outdoors and found the sweeping views of the river set against the mountains in the distance to be a place of true serenity. It gutted me, knowing it would never hold the same meaning after tonight.
I stared past the officer calling my name to Jamie, who returned my stare with disgust.
“Will, I’m going to have to ask you to accompany me to the station.”
He couldn’t be fucking serious.
I wasn’t going anywhere.
Chloe needed me.
I needed to be here to make sure she pulled through this okay.
“Later. I need to be with Chloe right now.”
“Sir, not a good idea,” the female officer replied and took a step forward. She might be correct, but unless they were arresting me, I wasn’t moving. “I doubt she’ll want you there when she first wakes up.”
I lift my chin in Jamie’s direction. “I suppose he fucking called you, did he?”
“It was brought to our attention you may have been involved in the incident which brought Chloe here tonight,” the officer stated, ignoring my question. “Mr. Jamieson, we will need to take your statement.”
“Seems you’ve been filled in enough already, not sure what else to tell you,” I remarked rudely and turned back toward Chloe’s room.
The senior constable spoke up for the first time. “It’s protocol for the paramedics to pass on incidents such as these. We need to assess the situation and take your statement. If we deem it a necessary course of action, there may be assault charges brought against you.”