The Darkest Days (Torn Apart Book 2)

by Pressley James

  She didn’t breathe again until he swept her up in his arms. Broken, devastated, they held onto each other as they sank to the ground.

  ***

  Three weeks passed.

  They were spent with her attending grief counseling and delving into her past. Back at Widow’s Pointe, they’d settled back into normalcy. Yet, still, in the dark hours of the night, sometimes, she’d wake up screaming and Sebastian fought to chase her demons away.

  But, today, things seemed right with the world, she smiled, carrying the glasses of punch on the tray, for today they were celebrating Meghan’s eighth birthday. She swerved before giggling as the unruly girls ran around her and then headed for the bar. After placing it down, she turned around.

  Having a pool party had been a brilliant idea, she smiled again, and her heart turned over at the sight of Meghan’s mega-watt smile as she played in the pool with her friends.

  “You okay?” Rosa asked, once reaching the counter with a tray of food. “You looked as if you were a thousand miles away.”

  “I suppose I was,” she sighed with a contented smile. “I was just thinking about how happy Meghan is.”

  Rosa patted her hand. “It’s all because of you and Sebastian. Her happiness is due to the both of you.” Then, her concern turned to her. “What about you?”

  Her brows knitted with a confused frown. “What about me?”

  “I know that you’ve been attending counseling and everything. How’s that going?”

  “Some of my memories are more vivid than others,” she admitted. “But, I’m remembering the most important things. Sebastian and I paid my uncle a visit last week, and I wish that I could say that he was getting better. But, it’d be wrong.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Rosa said, squeezing her hand. “God is in control of his destiny now. He will handle it to his greatest abilities.”

  “I know,” she agreed. “I’m also worried about Sebastian. Since everything happened with Victor, he’s been holding back.” Her face flamed hot. “He hasn’t made love to me in weeks.”

  Rosa had her own embarrassed flush. “I certainly wouldn’t worry about him not wanting you. I’ve seen the way that he looks at you, and heaven knows that I’ve heard the two of you making enough sounds and racket around this house when you go at it.”

  She couldn’t stay her helpless giggles. “I know that we aren’t that loud.”

  “Pssst,” Rosa said playfully, raising a brow. “Trust me you are.”

  “Where is Sebastian anyway?” she asked, smiling as she passed a glass of punch to one of Meghan’s friends.

  “When I left the kitchen earlier, he was on his way to the study.”

  She wiped her hands on the hand towel. “Do you think that you can handle things here for a few minutes while I go and find him?”

  Rosa nodded. “Take your time. Besides, the other ladies will be around to help out. Now, go.”

  “Thank you, you’re a Godsend,” she said, hugging her fast.

  As Rosa had proposed, he was in the study. His back was turned to the door as she entered, and his thoughts were evidently heavy as he stared out the window. Like usual, the very sight of him thrilled her, she thought, appreciating how well the blank tank top and white board shorts fit his body.

  “Hey,” Sebastian murmured, whirling around to face her. But, still, he didn’t move away from the window. “Has all the excitement downstairs done you in?”

  Watching him, she twisted the lock. “I was hoping that I’d find my own brand of excitement up here, and you’re just the man to give it to me.”

  “Is that so?” he asked huskily. “Maybe we should find out.”

  A dangerous gleam shone in his eyes as she crossed the room. With her every step, she dropped an article of clothing. First, the wrap came off, the bikini top came next, and the bikini bottoms followed. By the time she reached him behind the desk, she was completely nude.

  Grabbing hold of him, she pulled him in for a deep kiss, and didn’t allow him the opportunity to think of anything else but her.

  Their kiss ignited fire, and all the weeks of their suppressed desire burst free. Breathing harshly, he whipped the tank top over his head before removing the rest and then grabbed hold of her again. They both gasped in pleasure at the feel of their naked flesh, and the heat between them was hotter than the flaming Georgian sun. Filling his hands with her hair, he kissed her hard, so much so that she lost her breath. But, she met each thrust of his tongue with an eagerness that couldn’t be staved.

  She held onto him as he placed her on the desk, and he cursed under his breath while shoving paperwork and other items to the floor.

  As he stepped closer to her, she opened her thighs in invitation, and she dispelled a deep moan as he entered her. “Sebastian,” she gasped, breathing against his nape. “Please make love to me.”

  He drove into her hard.

  She rode his every thrust.

  Soon, their harsh breathing and breathless cries filled the study. Their pace was fast and frantic, yet, they still couldn’t get enough.

  She begged and pleaded.

  He fought to appease.

  Along the sensual horizon, they found the paradise that waited. They both cried out in ecstasy as they claimed it.

  When they came back to themselves, he lifted her in his arms. She stared at him lovingly as he crossed the room. As he took a seat on the leather sofa, he pulled her naked form onto his lap.

  “Wow, that was wonderful,” she murmured, rubbing a finger across his lip. “It always amazes me that I only want you more as time passes.”

  “I totally agree,” he said huskily, nipping the tender digit with gentleness as it grazed his bottom lip. “I’ll never stop wanting you nor will I ever get enough.”

  “Then why haven’t you made love to me until now?” she whispered, trying not to let her hurt show.

  “Baby, I wanted to give you time. I didn’t want to rush you into things. With all the stuff that happened with Santini, I didn’t want to add to your troubles.”

  “You could never add to my troubles,” she said shyly. “You’re everything to me.”

  “And you are everything to me.”

  He pulled her close, only to kiss her with a tenderness that made her melt.

  She smiled into his eyes. “I love you.”

  “And I love you,” he murmured, and his green eyes simmered with something else.

  “Tell me what’s wrong,” she implored, and her voice softened. “I know that something his. You’ve been hiding out and avoiding me all day, it seems.”

  He stared deeply into her eyes. “I’ve just been trying to figure things out.”

  She caressed his face gently. “Like what?”

  “I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you that I want to spend my life with you,” he said huskily. “Not a day, not six weeks, but a lifetime. I know that I’m fucked up in a lot of ways. But, the one honest thing that I can offer you is my abiding love.”

  Her heart flip-flopped. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “I’m saying that I want to marry you. I want you to be my wife.” He framed her face in his large hands. “So, now, I’m asking you, Ms. Vanessa Mitchell, will you be my wife and continue this unprecedented and unpredictable journey with me?”

  “Yes!” she squealed, hurling herself at him. “Yes, yes, yes!”

  “Fuck yeah,” he grinned roguishly. “I’m finally getting the girl.” Then, his green gazed simmered with fire. “Why don’t we celebrate the good news?”

  “Why don’t we?” she whispered.

  Breathless, she moved in for the kiss.

  A half-hour later, giddy, they both returned to the pool side. Sebastian took a careful perch in one of the lounge chairs and conversed with the sole male who’d attended. As she rolled the birthday cake close to the counter, she caught Rosa’s eyes. Across the way, she mouthed silently, ‘we’re getting married’, and she could tell that the w
oman was elated.

  She returned her attention to the task at hand. “Come on everybody, it’s time for the birthday cake.”

  Smiling, she watched as the horde of young girls raced for the oblong table, and of course, Meghan was leading the charge. Their chatter and bubbly behaviors were infectious and she found herself enjoying them all.

  Once they were all seated with Meghan sitting at the head of the table, Sebastian joined her side, and they all sang the birthday song. The flames of the lit candles seemed to sway as she placed on the table before Meghan.

  “Go ahead, Poppet, make a wish,” Sebastian murmured, squatting down beside her, and smiled.

  Meghan looked at her father shyly and then looked at her. “While I make my wish, will you both hold my hand?”

  “Sure,” they both agreed simultaneously.

  Standing on opposites sides of Meghan, they clasped her tiny hand in theirs. Closing her eyes tight, Meghan filled her mouth with air and blew the candles out, and everyone clapped as she did so.

  The occasion was joyful, and their moods were light. When cake, punch, chips, and other goodies had been consumed by the crowd, they moved to the presents. With each one, they clapped and cheered when the birthday prize was revealed.

  Standing side by side, they watched together as Meghan opened the last gift.

  She gave him a gentle nudge. “Sebastian, let’s tell her now.”

  “Great minds think alike, don’t they?” he grinned wolfishly. “I just had the same idea.”

  Clasping her hand in his, he pulled along with him as he moved to Meghan’s side. “Excuse me, everyone,” Sebastian said, looking at the crowd. “We have a very personal gift to give to Meghan, and I hope that she likes it.”

  “But, Daddy, you don’t have no big ‘ol box,” Meghan murmured, looking up at him wide-eyed, and then looked at her confusedly. “Nessa doesn’t have nothing in her hand either.”

  “Poppet, we’re seriously going to have to work on those double negatives that you’re using,” he teased with a wink, and then squatted down beside her. “Maybe you can help me out. How can I possibly put Vanessa in a big ‘ol box like you’re proposing?”

  “Why are you putting Nessa in a box?” Meghan frowned, and then, her eyes rounded big with pure hope. “Is Nessa my present? Is she going to stay with us forever?”

  Smiling tearfully, she hugged Meghan to her as kneeled down. “What your father is trying to tell you is this. We’re getting married.”

  “Yes!” Meghan squealed, raising her thin arms in the air triumphantly. “My birthday wish came true after all!”

  Together, all of three of them embraced.

  Amidst the applause, her eyes clung to his.

  And they both understood one thing.

  Perhaps, there was such a thing as happily ever after, after all.