Her strong reaction drove me absolutely crazy. I was overcome with lust for her. It was primal. It was raw. It was us.
“Fuck,” Amy groaned, her hands knotting into the sheet on the floor. “I want you inside me, Derek. I need you inside of me. Please. Now. Fuck me. I need—”
She was interrupted by her own moan as I suddenly thrust myself inside of her, unable to contain my desire any longer. Immediately, I fell into a fast, almost brutal pace that had both of us moaning loudly.
While fucking her from behind, I continued slapping her ass with one hand. With the other, I reached forward and grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her head back. Her front was pressed completely against the floor, while her back was arched perfectly, her ass in the air, providing an angle that was hitting just right.
“You’re so fucking tight,” I grunted, my full length buried. “You feel so good, baby.”
Loving her like this, rough and unrestrained on the floor, was thrilling. My paint-covered hands ran over her body, eager to take her all in. I wanted her, all of her, to be mine.
I stood up and pulled her with me, pushing her up against the wall before entering her again. My body trapped her in place, so that she was pressed completely against me, her body trembling with pleasure.
Our passion was potent. The sexual tension between us built up—fighting, making up, hours studying her naked body. Fucking her now was like a storm finally breaking. It was intense.
I came hard and without warning, that sublime pressure bursting in my core and seizing my body, running through my blood like electrical currents. I thrust hard into her and held her as tightly against me as I could, until the pleasure pulsed and faded into my bones.
Letting Amy go, I fell on the wall next to her. We each took a moment to catch our breath and calm our shaking bodies.
“Wow,” Amy finally said, her voice airy.
“Yeah.”
“I liked that.”
I smiled. “Me too.”
I started pulling on my clothes. When I turned around, I saw Amy staring at the painting, her expression unreadable. I stuttered, nervous.
“I, I know it’s not… realistic. It’s more interpretive,” I tried to explain.
“This is how you see me?” she breathed, brushing her hand on the edge of the canvas. I moved beside her.
“Yeah,” I said. “At least, how I imagined it coming out. I’m not sure I got my mental picture onto the canvas very well.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice cracking.
“It’s you. You are.”
“I mean… you turned me into a… a garden. A forest. Alive and growing, lustrous and… and beautiful. I’ve never seen myself like this. Never.”
I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the back of her head.
“Well,” I said, “I do.”
Chapter 17
Amy
I got called into work early this morning—apparently it’s a ‘business emergency.’ I wish I could have gotten out of it, but they need me. I’d much rather spend the day with you. I’ll be back this evening, as soon as I can escape. I left you the keys to one of my father’s vehicles and you still have my card, so you’re not stuck. Enjoy your day, beautiful, and I’ll see you tonight.
-Derek
Derek left the note on the bathroom mirror for me to find when I woke up. I read over it a couple of times, trying to contain my disappointment. It wasn’t fair for me to want to have him to myself. But I only had one week with him, so even a single day was precious.
Even if I had more time with him— even if I had an infinite amount of time with him— one day without him was one day lacking.
Still, I was determined not to waste the day. I took a quick shower and got dressed in one of the more casual outfits that Charlotte had given me. It was still more elegant than anything I had ever owned. When I was ready for the day, I made my way downstairs.
Derek’s father was in the sitting room by himself, sipping coffee and reading a newspaper. I knocked on the door to alert him of my presence. He looked up, and immediately a smile spread on his withered face.
“Amelia,” he said, setting his cup down. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Walter,” I said, smiling as I entered the room.
“Do you have time to have a cup of coffee with me?” he asked hopefully.
“Of course!” I responded. “Derek had something pressing at work, so I’m on my own for the day.”
“Work? I thought he’d taken some of his vacation time.”
“He did,” I said. “Apparently it was an emergency.”
Walter sighed. “That boy and his work. I’ve never met anyone with a more industrious spirit. He spends all his time at the damned firm. He’s letting his life pass him by.”
His concerns surprised me, so I prodded a little.
“It seems to me that he’s taking after you.”
“Me? Of course he is. I spent my whole life in that building, and you know what? I hated it. It ruined all my marriages, ruined my relationships with everyone in my family. I’m proud of my work, I won’t lie. I was successful. I was good at it. Derek is too. But he ought to learn from my mistakes, and spend a little more time living—especially when he has someone like you to spend his days with.”
The strained relationship between Derek and his father was making sense to me now that I’d had a chance to get to know the two men. Derek had watched his father and yearned for his approval, so he tried to be just like him. Walter, however, only wanted his son to live a better, fuller life than he had. It was a misunderstanding the whole time.
“I think,” I said, choosing my words carefully. After all, this was their relationship, and I should keep my nose out of it. “I think he is. I think he will.”
“I know I snapped at him last week,” Walter said. “About the family ordeal. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so harsh, but I wanted him to get it into that thick skull of his, to understand what is really important in this life.” He counted on his fingers. “Family and honesty. I had neither.”
“You have a son,” I said.
“A son. I’m afraid I messed that up too, and I don’t have enough life in me to set it straight.”
He looked so wistful, full of regret.
“It’s not too late,” I said. “I may not have known Derek for as long as you have, but I know enough about him to see how much he cares about you. You’re his father. And you did set him up to have this amazing, wonderful life full of opportunity and luxury that a lot of people would do anything for. You did a lot for him.”
A sad smile appeared on his face. “I tried. I really did. I never looked back. Not until I discovered I was dying. I didn’t always have regrets. But now all I can think of are the should-haves and could-haves… all the things that I messed up.”
I reached forward and squeezed his hand. “Please don’t. If you’d done anything differently, and he were a different person, I might never have met him.”
“You’re right,” he said, sitting back. “I suppose I have done something right, to have you as the mother of my precious grandchild.”
His words felt like a punch to my gut. I didn’t hear the rest of what he was saying as he continued speaking. I was frozen, zoned out, and reeling with guilt.
“So,” Walter said, setting down his cup of coffee. “What are your plans for the day?”
It took me a few moments to respond. “I’m not sure. Any suggestions?” I forced a smile onto my face, hoping he couldn’t see the guilt in my eyes.
“I recommend going to the Cliffside Diner for lunch,” Walter said, nostalgia shining in his voice. “It’s out a ways in the countryside. The drive is beautiful. Lydia, my second wife, Derek’s mother, we used to go there all the time. Every week, at least once. It was her very favorite place. Did they ever have a marvelous peach pie.”
“You should come with me!” I said. “You need to get out of this house for a while.”
He shook his head. “Oh no, dear. I don’t go out.”
“Why not?”
Walter shrugged. “I haven’t in years. It’s more trouble than it’s worth. I’m not much of a people person, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“If you say so.” I sat back, studying him. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course. You’re family. You can ask me anything.”
“What happened to Derek’s mom? I’ve never heard him talk about her, but you mentioned her. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I know it’s personal.”
Walter nodded, looking somber. “It was a long time ago. Derek hadn’t even reached his first birthday before we got a divorce. We’d both been married once before, when we were younger, and we had both waited another decade before looking for love. At the time, we thought we had finally found the one. But love isn’t that simple, as it turns out, and neither one of us were willing to put the effort and energy into it—me especially. After she had Derek, it only got worse. She was frustrated and I was busy. It fell apart, and soon after she took Derek and moved out.”
I sat back, listening quietly as he told the story. I could hear the sorrow in his hoarse voice.
“A few months after that, she got into a car accident. It was a head-on collision. The other driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. Derek was completely unharmed, but she… she was dead before the medics arrived.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
Walter sighed. “Like I said, it was a long time ago. I never told Derek this, but his mother and I were planning on getting back together. We decided that we should be putting him before ourselves and we’d been talking and spending time together, rekindling the love we once shared.”
Even though it had been over thirty years, I could still feel his heartache.
“And Derek doesn’t know?”
“No. He had to grow up without a mother as it was, it wouldn’t be fair to tell him he missed out on a family, too.”
“It’s never too late,” I said, trying to be comforting. “He has one now.”
“Do you think that’s enough?”
“I do,” I said. “I really do.”
* * *
I almost turned around and went back inside when I saw the Rolls Royce that Derek had set me up with. The car had to be more expensive than a house, and it looked like it had never been driven. There wasn’t a single mark on it.
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, I told myself, unlocking it.
I sat in the driver’s seat for a few minutes, enjoying the luxury. It was a beautiful car, almost too beautiful to drive.
I turned the key over, and it hummed to life.
After entering the address into the GPS, I set out. The diner that Walter had suggested was forty-five minutes away. I turned on some folk rock and started down the road.
Walter wasn’t lying when he said the drive was beautiful. It was all hills, grass, and trees. There were no other cars on the country roads. It was a very enjoyable ride that passed quickly.
Before I knew it, I had arrived.
The restaurant was absolutely gorgeous. It was located on the edge of a cliff, and was constructed of wood. It was the only building in sight, so it had a secluded feel that complimented the seaside vibe very well. The smell of the ocean and the whisper of the wind on the tall grass completed the scene beautifully. It was easy to see why Derek’s mother loved it so much.
Since it was a little past the typical lunch time, there were only a few other cars in the parking lot. After carefully parking and inspecting the vehicle for damage, I got out my camera and took a ton of photos, hoping to preserve the allure of the setting.
The interior of the building was somehow even more charming than the exterior. The design embraced the ocean theme, but in a classic, vintage way. The paintings on the wall portrayed images of sailors, ships and abandoned beaches. Everything was made of wood, almost as if we were on an actual boat.
There was a comforting solitude about the place. It was quiet, but warm. Simple and nostalgic, invoking memories of a different time and place.
A hostess greeted me and led me to a small table by the window. I had a perfect view of the ocean and the cloudy sky.
I took my time looking over the menu before settling on salmon and a salad. While I waited, I sipped iced tea and watched out the window, daydreaming. I wondered if Derek had ever been here. It was easily one of the most enchanting places that I had ever stumbled upon—just as he was certainly the most enchanting man I had ever met. He would fit in well here. I knew without a doubt that he would love it as much as I did.
The food was brought out quickly, and it was absolutely delicious. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more.
When I finished, I asked for a slice of peach pie, plus a whole pie, to go. Walter was right, it was irresistible. I planned on bringing him the full pie, so he might remember his little nook of the world.
After paying, I headed out, intent on getting back to the mansion and giving Walter the pie. I was excited, sure I’d come up with a nice treat for the old man. It would put a smile on his face. Something genuine—a brief pleasure, but a solid one.
I set the pie in the passenger seat, and took another long look at the ocean before heading out. I vowed to myself that I would come back to this place as soon as I could, with Derek, or my sister perhaps, even by myself.
I drove back along the snaking roads and twisting hills, feeling—for the first time in a while—completely at peace. There were no doubts haunting my mind. I was happy to be alive.
By the time I saw the truck approaching from the corner of my eye, it was too late.
Chapter 18
Derek
My phone lit up on the table, distracting me from the discussion. I glanced down to see that it was my father calling.
As much as I wanted to answer, I knew the older men would disapprove, rolling their eyes and talking behind my back. The majority of them didn’t think that I was good at my job, at least they thought they would be better at it than I was. I didn’t let it bother me anymore.
Instead of leaving a voicemail, my father immediately called back. And then again after that, which was unusual, as he very rarely called me at all.
“You’ll have to excuse me, gentlemen,” I said, picking up my phone. Sure enough, several of them glared at me as I left the room. “It’s my father. It must be urgent.”
I answered as soon as I was in the privacy of my office.
“Father?”
“Derek. It’s Amy. She’s in the hospital.”
My whole world stopped. I felt dizzy.
“What?” I leaned forward, my hand gripping the edge of the desk. “What happened? Is she okay? What hospital?”
“Clark County. I don’t know anything. It was a car accident. I just received notification from the insurance company about the car. They wouldn’t tell me anything else.” My father sounded just as panicked as I was. “I tried calling her cell phone but it went straight to voicemail.”
“Shit.” I tried to calm down before I started hyperventilating. I’d never felt so distressed in my life. I couldn’t form a thought. A massive, overwhelming cloud of fear consumed me. “Okay. Okay. I’m sure she’s alright. She has to be. Fuck.” My voice stuck in my throat, as the weight of the situation struck me.
“Son,” my father said, suddenly strong and calm. “Listen to me. She’ll be okay. The baby will be okay. You just need to find her.”
His level headedness served to relax me. I needed to be rational right now, not panic. Amy needed me.
“You’re right. I’m headed there now. I’ll try calling her too. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out anything.”
“Alright.” My father paused. “Derek?”
“Yes?”
“I’m proud of you.”
“I…” The comment came out of nowhere, but his voice was strained. The sudden, genuine words raked my heart. “Thank you, dad.”
“I’m proud of you for loving her.”
I didn’t know how to respond.
As soon as my father hung up, I texted Adam to be at the door as soon as he could, then tried calling Amy. Sure enough, her phone didn’t even ring.
I hurried downstairs. Janet looked up from her desk.
“Done already, Mr. Rittsman?”
“There’s been an emergency. It’s Amy and I have to go,” I said, breathless.
Concerned, Janet answered, “Will do, Mr. Rittsman. I hope everything’s okay.”
I nodded at her, before going out the door. I stood there, bouncing on my toes as I waited for Adam to pull up. I wished desperately at that moment that I’d driven myself.
Within ten minutes, Adam pulled up. Before he could get out of the car, I jumped in beside him.
“We need to go to Clark Hospital,” I said urgently. “Amy’s there. She was in a car accident.”
Adam didn’t need any further instruction. He whipped out of the parking lot and sped down the streets, weaving through traffic wherever he could. I gripped my phone in my hands until my knuckles turned white, praying that she would call and let me know that she was okay.
The worst thoughts invaded my mind. Amy, seriously injured. Amy, dead. Amy, gone.
I couldn’t live with that. It was not an option.
Adam worked magic, somehow having me at the hospital within half an hour, a third of the time it would normally take. He hadn’t even completely stopped the car before I opened the door and jumped out, sprinting up the staircase and through the sliding doors.
“Amelia Parker,” I told the receptionist. “I believe she was in a car accident. I need to see her. I need to know she’s okay.”
“Relationship?” the receptionist asked, clearly not understanding how pressing the situation was.
“Goddamn it, is she okay? Just tell me.” I fought back the tears that were threatening. “I’m her—her boyfriend.” I prayed that was a close enough relation that they would let me see her. “Listen, I don’t know what happened. My father called me. I don’t even know if she’s… please, can you help me?”
Royal Engagement Page 77