Forbidden Forever

by Christy Dilg

  I set it back on the nightstand. A new flower arrangement is on the nightstand next to what looks like my side of the bed. It is full of beautiful white lilies, roses, baby breath, and big pink Gerber daisies. A card is sitting next to it so I carefully sit on the bed and in his words, it reads..."My treasure, my love, I want you to feel this is your home now because I am hoping in time you will decide to stay with me forever here or anywhere you would like to create our home together. I will live my life proving my love for you and making sure you always feel 100% wanted." I smile and set the card down and stand up slowly, wrapping my arms around him, careful not to flinch so he doesn't make me lay down.

  Looking up into his deep ocean blue eyes, I smile. "Baby, I want to live with you here, now, and anywhere."

  His sexy as hell wicked grin is back on his face and he leans down to reach my lips, pressing softly and passionately against them. I feel the love in his caress and the need we both have for the intimate moment we are sharing. "Fuck, six weeks is going to give me the worse case of blue balls anyone has ever seen," he frustratingly says.

  I giggle at his frustration and playfully slap him on the arm. "Baby, there are other ways I can help with that."

  "I'll take you up on that later when I know you are feeling up to it. Let's go slow; we have a lifetime to go." He helps me get into the bed and I know he won't be playing with me just yet, but, man, when he does, it's going to be good.

  I lay down on my side of my new bed, in my new home, as Chance wraps himself carefully around me. His strong arms hold me close to his hard chest and as his legs entwine themselves between mine, my eyes grow heavy from the medication and I drift off to sleep. I can feel his presence on me; however, I hear something in the distance that isn't him or the kids. It is a familiar voice, but much angrier than I've ever heard before. I open my eyes and listen to see if I am imagining what I heard.

  "Laney Collins, open this fucking door before I break it down and come get you." He is yelling from outside of the condo. He is banging on the door and screaming. If he doesn't quit yelling someone is going to call the cops. Good. It serves him right for everything he has done. "I don't care about your fucking pussy boyfriend that you are fucking, you belong to me and you are coming home. You'd think after I beat your ass the first time that you would know I mean business. Open this damn door, you whore," he continues to yell.

  He threatens, and fear overcomes me. I look and see Chance is still sleeping, how can he sleep through this? I shake him and he doesn't move. If I didn't know any better I would think he was drugged by his lack of movement. I get out of the bed and walk around the condo to see if Callie or Kaleb is back. Nothing! Michael is still banging outside the door and screaming horrible things at me. It isn't anything I haven't heard before except he knows I am with someone and his voice is so angry. Unlike the times he cussed me before, it's almost like there is nothing left for him to be good for, so the devil is unleashed. I run into the kitchen and look for a knife. I open every drawer and nothing, not one single sharp object in the entire kitchen. I run back to the bedroom and yell at Chance for him to wake up. I check to see if he is breathing, and he is. Why won't he wake up? I shake him and call his name. Nothing!

  Panic is taking over and I am at a loss for what to do. I run to the balcony doors but they are screwed shut. I pull and pull until my arms are throbbing from the pain. There is nothing left to do. I am out of options so I walk to the door. I stand in front of it and scream back to him. "Michael, please leave me alone! We are not good for each other. Please go away. We are over." He is quiet. I count 1, 2, 3, and take a deep breath, hoping he has left, but before I can get to 4, the door kicks open and I jump up and gasp air in my lungs. Trying desperately to catch my breath, I open my eyes and Chance is next to me with a concerned look on his face as I wake up from my nightmare.

  "It's just a bad dream, baby. Nothing bad is going to happen to you again. I am here to protect you always." He tries to calm me down.

  He brushes my hair from my forehead, sliding his hand down to my cheek and pulls me close to him.

  "Everyone has their own treasure and you are mine. I wish I could take away the fear and pain. I don't have the power to do that, but I do have the power to make you feel loved from now until eternity," he whispers to me.

  He holds me so close that the fear flows away and I am back to feeling safe. The way this man can make everything better with one single touch is magical. It is time for dinner and Chance brings me a sweet tea and sets up my TV tray table out on the balcony so I can watch the sunset. Callie and Brooke join us as we have leftovers from the taco shop and they fill me in on all the cute guys down by the pool. Brooke has her eye on some boy that has surfer hair and bright blue eyes. What's the word she used to describe him? Umm... oh yeah, bangin! I can't even believe that came out of her mouth. I can't help but laugh hysterically at her term for sexy. Teenagers these days are so creative with terms. I can't get over how well Callie and Chance get along. You would think by watching them that they have known each other forever.

  Kaleb has checked in via text but is still catching the waves. I wish he would open up more but I know he is a boy and they deal with things differently than girls. It is so relaxing not having to worry about making sure everything is perfect. Things are so much more at ease here, and this means I might live longer from lack of stress. When Michael and I first met, we were in high school. I had mad crazy love for him and he loved me, too. I really thought we would be together forever. Things were always so good until he got a new job as the head architect for Fine Designs, Incorporated. From that moment on, he had to have everything perfect. I was already gaining weight and no matter how hard I tried, unless I cut back to one meal a day, the weight just kept coming. I lived in the gym after Callie was born; however, as soon as it came off I'd eat two meals a day and there it was again.

  Chapter 18

  Not long after we had Kaleb, it began to be more difficult to get off the weight. As the years passed, I had tried everything under the sun to get the weight off. Diet pills, injections, calorie counting, starving, exercise shakes, you name it, and I did it. Michael worked all hours and we barely saw each other, but when we did, the comments were cruel and hateful. I was glad when we weren't together. We got married after Callie was born but before Kaleb was born because it seemed like the next step in our relationship. I knew then things were different, but a girl's dream is that she has found her prince and they run off into the sunset together. I truly thought I had found what was good enough for me. Michael has always been a great father but somewhere he started lacking in the husband department. The men he worked for didn't have trophy wives so I wasn't sure why he desperately needed me to be one. There was a woman who worked close by him for many years and I always felt like she was the reason I should look a certain way. Like her: slim, tall, long blonde hair, just the right amount of curves.

  The way they were with each other was enough to make my stomach turn. I stopped visiting him at his office so I didn't have to endure the looks between them or the small flirty touches. He has always denied an affair but I would have bet money on it that there was one. His greatest loves were Callie and Kaleb; from the moment they were born he worshipped them. I think that he would have left me for that perfect woman if it weren't for them. His anger got worse after she left the job for better opportunities. I guess he blames me for not being her, so he took it out on me everyday for the past twelve years. We might have been married for fourteen years but we have been together since high school, eighteen years to be exact.

  Fourteen years of a life that was wonderful in every way, except the man I shared it with. Just goes to show you that you should always follow your gut as well as your heart. I thought it was a hidden secret, but the ones I tried so hard to hide it from were the ones who see it anyway. It doesn't matter anymore about the past; all I see ahead is a future with Chance, and that is a surreal feeling.

  The phone rings and it is the
attorney Chance hired for me to handle the incident. Michael has been released and has been home for several days. He tried calling but I had my attorney tell him to go through him only. He has begged to talk to me through the kids and now he is going through my attorney. What do you say to someone who nearly killed you? The dreams are bad enough that I'm not sure how I will react to hearing his voice. I loved this man once and part of me will always care about him because of our history and our children. Deep down I care, but the top layer is nothing but hate and fear. I did not press charges because of my children and the sadness I see when we talk about their dad. That should be enough for now. I am not ready to face more of the past right now. The future is where I want to stay, in the arms of my true prince charming. I know divorce is next and there is a whole line of paperwork and things such as custody and whose stuff is whose. Chance went back to the office today and Callie is off with Brooke, picking out a new outfit for her date with Blake tonight. Kaleb is on mommy-sitting duty until their return. He has grown so much in the last week and has stepped up to the plate as a son and young man. He really likes staying here with Chance and I can't believe how much they have in common. I guess living on the beach even in a fancy condo is enough to make you feel relaxed instead of living at home with tension as tight as a tightrope about to pop. Kaleb and I are watching "Grown Ups" again, which is probably our sixth time and I swear we both are still laughing.

  I love having one on one time with him, even if it is watching a movie. He has spoken to Michael once and it didn't go over so well so I am not going to push him to forgive his father just yet. I know in time I will probably have to step in and help them heal their relationship since I am the mom and I know that it is the best for my son. Some people think I am crazy for being this way toward Michael after what he has done to me, but I don't want to be like him in any way and if I try to keep the kids from him, that would make me a monster. Michael was always a great father even when he was a lousy husband. Besides, I have the best man in my life who loves me for me and all of my pounds of baggage. I hold a pillow over my abdomen as I laugh, even though the pain isn't as bad anymore.

  After a week of pain, I think it is just habit to think I'm still hurt and I try to be careful with all movements. After the movie, I go out to the balcony and lay on the chaise lounge while Kaleb cleans up from lunch. I lay there thinking about how lucky I am to be alive and here waiting for such a great man to come home for work. I doze off to sleep, hoping to dream of the future.

  * * *

  Six of the longest weeks ever have passed by and my doctor appointment for the follow-up went very well. I got the all clear, which means I can finally get the relief I have been craving since the first day of this nightmare. It is October and the fall beach air is at the perfect temperature for snuggling under a blanket with my man. He walks in the door from the gym downstairs; his skin is glistening with sweat. He sees me staring and walks over to me.

  His wicked grin sweeps across his face and he says, "Baby, I'm going to go take a shower before dinner. I told them we would be there around eight o'clock."

  I melt from the smile and melt from the warmth I feel as his body is so close to mine. He walks off to the shower and I give him just enough time to get in and start to wash himself. I strip and place my clothes on the chair next to the bathroom door. I sneak as quietly as possible into the bathroom and walk over to the shower door. He sees me as I open the door and step in with all my nakedness. I used to be so self-conscious and cover myself up the best I could, but Chance makes me feel beautiful. There are no more thoughts about how big my thighs are or that my boobs sag more than they did when I was sixteen. The only thoughts are about how amazing he makes me feel when he looks 100% at me. His eyes light up when I close the door.

  "I got the all clear from Dr. Shaw today, and I have been thinking about this moment for six weeks," I inform him with my idea of a sexy look.

  The fire in his eyes sizzles and he puts one arm around my backside and pulls me into him. The firm length of him is pressing against me and sends a gush of warmth between my legs. I don't know how much foreplay I can handle before my body caves into the pleasure, but I can't wait to find out. The steam from the shower is fogging up the shower doors and the smoldering heat in his touch is sending my inner sex slave to her knees. My arm drapes across his shoulder as the other one reaches behind his head and pulls his face toward my lips. I slowly lick his bottom lip, pushing my tongue into his wet mouth. He grabs the back of my head and entangles my hair in his hand as he slips his tongue into my mouth meeting mine. My breath quickens and my heart races as he drags his tongue from my mouth to my neck. Lightly kissing, he moves down to my breasts. He takes in one nipple at a time, sucking and lightly tugging with his teeth. I moan in delight as my back arches to bring our bodies closer.

  Six weeks and it feels like the first time we are together. The sight of him in all his glory makes me so wet, and the anticipation from the wait doesn't help either. He lifts me up onto the small ledge where you would normally set the soap. My ass fits just barely enough so I hold onto the bars to keep myself from falling bare ass onto the floor. His hand slips in between my thighs and reaches my sex, stoking back and forth teasingly before sliding his fingers between the folds. He gets on his knees in front of me, which puts him in perfect view of my freshly trimmed sex. He moves forward and his tongue dips into the folds, sending a flow of feelings up to my spine. Pushing my legs apart as I hold on tightly to the bars, I pray I don't fall and ruin this moment.

  The water pours down his face as he looks up at me enjoying the pleasure of his tongue and lips on me. Holy fuck, this is insanely turning me on. He grabs a hold of my ass and pulls me closer as he sucks on my clit and glides his tongue up and down my sex. His tongue's movement is sending me over the edge with every motion. He slides his tongue in and out, adding his fingers to the mix and taking my body to new levels of ecstasy. I can't control the release any longer and I come apart. He lifts me off the soap bar and turns me to face the wall. My hands are over my head and he slips his cock into my slick sex. He grabs my breast with one hand and my hip with the other and takes me with all of his length. Moving his hips up and down, sliding in and out, his breath is in my hair and I can feel him shake as he reaches his climax.

  "Words can't describe how good you feel to me," Chance whispers in my ear.

  He turns me around and sweetly kisses me. I can taste the saltiness from my sex but I don't care because I love kissing this man. He gets the lavender scented body wash and rubs it between his palms before massaging it down my body. The way his hand is caressing every curve, every inch of me is turning me to mush. My head leans back as he rinses off the sudsy bubbles then gently kisses my neck. I giggle from the tickling sensation from his scruff on his face. He slaps my ass and pulls me closer and playfully rubs his scruff on my cheeks. I squirm and try to get away but his arms are around me and deep down, I don't want them to let me go. I'd never put up too much of a fight to get away. This is where I want to be every second I can. As the water gets colder we both decide it's time to get out and get ready for our night out with our friends.

  Chapter 19

  We are going to a karaoke bar near the pier with Sierra and John. John is the nurse who was assigned to my room at the hospital. Sierra and John hit it off while I was healing, and swapped numbers. Sierra is really smitten over him and has gushed about him every visit the past six weeks. It is so cute, and in all honesty, I know exactly how she feels because Chance definitely boils my bubbles. I put on a pair of dark washed denim jeans and a vintage Aerosmith concert shirt. I mean I have to dress the part; it is a karaoke bar called Mouth and we all know Steven Tyler has a fabulous pair of lips. My hair is full of waves and my lips are glossed with Victoria Secret sparkle flashy lip gloss. I walk out to see Chance in his faded jeans and black AC/DC T-shirt and his hair relaxed, just slightly hanging above his eyes.

  He stares his usual stare when I walk into the room an
d smiles that sensational wicked grin, all while saying in his deep voice, "Damn, baby, you look smokin!"

  I roll my eyes and bashfully smile. "Chance, you look pretty damn hot yourself and I can't wait to get home to prove how hot I am." I bat my eyes to tease him.

  We head to the parking garage and he throws his leg around his bike, then pats the seat all while handing me my helmet. I strap on the helmet and swing my leg over the seat, wrapping myself tightly around him. I love the way his body fits so nicely between my legs. This damn bike will literally be the death of me. When he cranks it, the vibrations send sensations down my thighs and I squeeze him tightly as we ride. One movement and I will come apart; damn, this is going to be a long night. I could have spent the entire day in bed but Sierra wanted me to get out of the house, so we agreed to go. Besides, I have wanted to go to Mouth for so long. I have heard all about it and I love music. And what's more fun than watching people makes fools of themselves when they are too drunk to sing, or think they can actually sing?

  The sign is a huge pair of lips with the words MOUTH Karaoke Bar & Grill lit up on it. The name is perfect since it is a karaoke bar and the fact that they serve food. Chance says the food is amazing and he eats there regularly. Sierra and I have never been, so we are both looking forward to trying something new. Chance parks the bike and helps me with my helmet. Still straddling the bike, I poke my ass out a little and teasing, say, "Hey, sexy, don't you want to take me right here, right now?"