by Christy Dilg
Her words make me angry; angry at the bastard who made her feel this way, and angry that I didn't find her sooner to stop all this pain.
"Sapphire, the problem was never you, baby. It was always him. He thought he was missing something in his life, but really he was just too dumb to realize how perfect his life already was. You are beautiful, funny, smart and sexy as hell. I think power blinded him to the beauty who stood before him every day." I try and comfort her. Words will never be enough to take away the damage that is already done.
"Do you think you will ever start hating me like that?" Her voice is a low whisper.
"No! I will promise you this. Not a day or second will go by that I will ever make you feel anything but beautiful and cherished," I promise.
She stands and walks over to the bar and sits down in front of her food. I watch her looking at it in deep thought.
"Please eat, Sapphire, and know that no matter what happens in this life, I will love only you forever. You could go bald and your teeth could fall out and I'd still find you sexy as hell." I grin.
She rolls her eyes but finally lets out that giggle I love to hear. I join her with a plate and as we eat breakfast, I tell her what I have planned for us over the next few days. She gets as bouncy as a five-year-old when I tell her she is going to meet Hunter Hudson. He set me up with backstage passes and front row seats to the concert.
"I've always wanted to go to Atlanta. Hell, I've always wanted to go anywhere that wasn't home," she explains in a giddy voice.
I decide now is the perfect time to ask her about meeting her parents and if she would be interested in meeting mine. It is the next step into our relationship and it's time to meet the parents and get her divorce finalized. Mine were finally finalized, but there wasn't anyone trying to save the marriage, so it went pretty fast. I have a feeling Michael is going to fight it for as long as he can. I start telling her about my parents and how they are owners of several hotel chains around the country. They don't own the one we live in, but they do have several in the city. I don't like to use my parents' name as a free pass, so I pretty much keep everything on the down low when it comes to getting a hotel.
Sometimes, like in this instance, the person booking my room recognizes the name and insists I get the better room so we could have a nice view of the city. I don't argue since I want Laney to see everything as beautiful as she is.
"So, you don't think your parents hate me already?" she asks.
"I know they were mad at me for the divorce, but that doesn't have anything to do with you, Sapphire." I try to assure her.
"I would love to meet your parents, but I will need to do some shopping first," she nervously murmurs.
I offer my clothing services, but she politely turns down my services and opts for Sierra and Callie's instead.
"Oh a girls' day!" I say with a little sadness to my voice, but I can't contain my laughter. She slaps me on the arm.
"You know, one day there is going to be a big bruise there from all the slaps you give me," I say just before I reach my hand down to tickle her.
I found the good spot to get her out of this funk she is in this morning. I love this laugh more than her smile if that is even possible. The kids come home and I take this chance to take Kaleb out surfing while the girls are getting things ready for the Atlanta trip. I really like this kid and over the past weeks we have really bonded over surfing and I am teaching him how to play golf, which he has picked up really well. Kaleb expresses his interest in surfing the most and how he would really like to go pro. I need to look into this and see if there is anything I can do to help him with his dream. I make note of it in my phone and head out to the waves.
Kaleb sits on his board and looks like he needs to talk. I paddle out to him and sit up on mine next to his.
"What's up?" I ask.
"You care about her, I mean really care about my mom?" he questions me.
"Yes, I do very much. More than anyone I have ever known," I answer back.
"Why did you leave your wife?" he asks.
I explain to him how our parents were about the baby. I told him that even though we said over and over that it was a one night mistake, they still made us feel guilty enough to finally agree to marriage. It was the worst mistake for both of us. It took away too many years of our lives that could have been spent looking for our soul mates.
"Your mom is my soul mate. This is where I want to be for the rest of my life. I promise I will never harm your mother. Ever!" I tell him again. He finally looks like I reassured him; I can see that he seems more relaxed. We both paddle to shore to catch the wave.
Laney's POV
I can't believe I am going to Atlanta to see Hunter Hudson and staying in a luxury hotel with this sexy man. My first time on a plane and he is already spoiling me with first class seats. When we land, a tall, gray haired man in a dark suit greets us. He is holding a sign that says "Welcome, Laney" on it. We get into a black SUV and ride to the hotel. Pulling in, I notice the building is covered in mirrored glass that has stunning reflections of its surroundings. We walk into a white floored lobby with very modern architecture. Chance goes up the white check-in desk and gets the keys to our room. The doorman gets our luggage and places it on one of those rolling carts and waits to show us our room. Chance walks back to me and hands the doorman one of the keys. We get to room 1218 and the doorman opens the door and lets us walk in first.
The room has a connecting window that goes from one side to the other that opened up to show to awesome view of Atlanta. There is a small brown couch and table in the corner with a long desk that also serves as a TV table and a huge white king sized bed in the middle. I am new to the area, and when I look out the window, I notice this huge silver looking mountain.
"Are mountains silver?" I ask Chance.
"That is Stone Mountain. I am going to take you there tomorrow. You will love it," he tells me excitedly.
"Oh, wow! I can't wait to go. You are too good to me," I gush.
Chapter 22
Chance tips the doorman so he will leave. We sit on the couch and Chance goes over what he has planned for our mini vacation. Tonight is dinner at Escorpion tequila bar and cantina downtown and then we will go to the Fox Theatre for the concert. I still cannot believe we are going to a concert in Atlanta. We go take shower and get ready for dinner. I put on a dark washed pair of jeans, a sequined tank top layered by a dark brown cover up, and a pair of brown cowboy boots and my new brown bling belt Callie made me buy when she was picking out my concert outfit. I decide to curl my hair again and put on a cute brown headband that is threaded with pink string to complete the look. I step out and see Chance looking as yummy as ever in his ripped jeans that fit perfectly around his firm ass, a dark brown button up, and his motorcycle boots.
Fuck me now! Please! I let out a little breath when I see him. A smile stretches across his face like when he sees me as it always does. This warms my soul every time.
"You look remarkable, Sapphire." He smiles at me.
He has a box in his hands, one of those beautiful light blue boxes with a white bow tied around it. I roll my eyes, remembering when I told him how one day I wanted to go there and just shop. Now I have a key ring and whatever I am going to see when I open this box.
"Chance, you don't have to buy me things. I love you without the gifts," I express to him.
"I know, Sapphire. I don't buy them for you. I buy them so I can see you open them," he says with a wicked grin.
I think my goofiness turns him on. I grab the box and undo the bow, remove the lid, and there in the box is a silver bracelet with the most beautiful tiara charm.
"This is so you will always know you are my princess and every day you allow me to be your prince, I will treat you like one," he murmurs.
I swing my arms around him and pull him close to me. "Thank you, it's beautiful. I love you," I say as I release him and hold out my arm so he can put the bracelet on my wrist.
He brush
es his finger over my wrist before letting me go. "I love you, too," he expresses.
The same sweet old man picks us up at the hotel and takes us to Escorpion. The building features a huge colorful metal scorpion on the side. Inside, the chairs have cow print backing and the walls have old rustic wood board in different shades. If I lived here and food is good I could easily see it as one of my favorite places to go to. We get a seat in a booth toward the back of the room. I order water so I can hydrate myself for later tonight. I always drink when I go to concerts and sometimes I get a little out of hand. I order the Flautas and Chance orders the grilled Baja fish tacos.
As we wait, the live DJ plays music and people get up and dance. Chance stands up and holds his hand out for me to dance with him. I take his hand and we start swaying to the music. Feeling his hands on me in this sexual but totally not sex related way is so fucking hot. I can imagine his hands under my clothes and his lips on my neck driving me fucking crazy. I swear there is something about him that sends my body into horny mode with one thought. I like it though. I smile to myself and press my body into his and his knee slides just slightly between my legs and we move into the rhythm of the music.
"I am so fucking hard right now," he whispers in my ear.
"I'm so fucking wet right now," I whisper back.
We both look into each other's eyes, and I pull his head to me so I can taste his lips. Remembering we are in a restaurant, I pull back and lead him back to the table.
"I think we are safer across from each other in this booth for the time being," I jokingly tell him.
He rolls his eyes at me and it takes all I have not to pounce on him. Is there anything this man does that doesn't turn me on? Our food arrives and it is carefully placed on the plate and I know it is Mexican food, but it looks so elegant. The food is amazing and it's not so fancy that it's inedible. We finish our meal and get back in the SUV to go to the Fox theatre. When we pull up, the building reminds me of something that you see in the movies from around the 1950's. The sign is lit up with the words FOX and the marquee is lit up showing Hunter Hudson in big letters. I can feel the excitement rushing through my body.
Chance grabs my hand and we step out of the SUV. We go up to the box office and Chance shows his ID to the attendant and he is handed an envelope that has our tickets and a lanyard with backstage passes. I am so excited I want to jump up and down until all my energy runs out. They let us in early and usher us backstage to meet the one and only Hunter Hudson. I feel like someone just told me I won the lottery. Butterflies aren't having a party this time; they are throwing a full-blown rave in my stomach. Hunter has his own dressing room and his name is in big shiny letters on the door. A bodyguard is outside the door with a clipboard that I assume are the list of names who can bother Hunter. Chance, with all his confidence, walks over to him and says, "Chance Turner and Laney Collins." The extremely big man looks down at the clipboard and knocks on the door.
Hunter must have said something because the man opens the door and waves us in. Holy Fuck, I am going to pass out before I even get through the door. Breathe, Laney. Breathe! I take a deep breath and let it out just before we come face to face with Hunter. I pause, star struck. He holds out his hand to me.
"Hi, I am Hunter. You must be Laney. So nice to meet you," he says.
"Hi, I'm Laney. A huge fan and it is so nice to meet you," I utter back. Yep, I'm a big freak. How lame did I just sound? That's right, pretty damn lame.
His room is filled with all kinds of candy, flowers, and cards from the fans I guess. I wonder if he actually looks at any of it. Chance starts a conversation with him about how his life iis now and how he likes all the attention. Hunter seems really down to earth and not into all the extravagant things that being a country singer can lead to. He signs a photo of himself for me and then it is time for him to hit the stage. We get some beer and some sugar coated almonds and go to our seats. Wow! Front row seats! Hunter comes out on stage and starts his song. One of my favorites, "Perfect enough for me." I sing with him word for word and Chance pulls me in front of him as I dance. I love the way he holds me like this. Something about it makes me feel wanted and safe.
After a couple songs, Chance gets us more beer. I don't know how he pulled it off but he was back quicker than I thought he would be. I look at him puzzled. He grins like he knows something I don't.
"How did you get that so fast? Surely, there is a line," I ask.
He is all smiles again and says, "I hired someone to have beer on standby so I just have to walk right over there and get it." He points to a stand near the side wall and gives me a wicked grin.
"Good thinking. I could drink all night and you would miss the show," I joke.
"Callie told me you liked to drink at concerts because it was the only time you let your guard down. So here's to no more walls." He holds up his beer for a toast.
"Here's to no more walls ever again," I add and clink my bottle to his.
My curls have nearly fallen out and its only halfway through the concert. During Hunter's song "Out late" I start moving my hips and grinding into Chance. His hand lightly stokes the lower part of my back and his lips are kissing the nape of my neck. It is like having sex without being naked.
"You look so hot in this light and I wish I was fucking you on stage right now." He tries to whisper, but he basically yells it over the music.
"In front of thousands of people!" I yell back.
The shade of his eyes deepen into more of a midnight blue and the sexy as hell turns into fuck me until I'm sore grin is on his face as he replies back to me.
"I'll fuck you however I can get you, and if we did it on the stage, the crowd would be screaming my name right along with you."
"Yeah, so I just had my first conversation orgasm." I blush as I confess the most embarrassing moment ever.
He grabs me and pulls me close and then picks me up and throws me over his shoulders. I scream for him to put me down but he just starts walking. We reach the backstage entrance that we have passes to and he sets me on my feet and grabs my hand tightly as he ushers me to Hunter's dressing room.
"What are you doing? We are going to get in trouble," I yell, but start laughing halfway through.
"It's my turn," he says as he shuts the door behind him and locks it.
I know he is serious and I start undoing my pants and slide them to my ankles since I am wearing boots. I bend over, holding onto the soft dark red chair in the room. Chance slides his finger up and down my sex just before he pushes himself into me, moving fast and slamming into me at just the right pace. He reaches around and grabs hold of my breast that is covered by my sequined tank top. He grabs my hip as leverage as he eases his length deeper inside me. He reaches the juicy spot and I cum for him.
"Fuck, you feel so good," he whispers just before he starts shaking and releasing himself.
"That was hot!" I breathlessly say.
"You're damn right, Sapphire. You hear that crowd out there screaming my name?"
I can't help but smile at his boyish humor. We make ourselves look presentable again and go to finish watching the rest of the concert. Chance buys me almost everything they have in the merchandise section after the concert and gets Callie and Kaleb shirts, hats, and CD's. He is a crazy, thoughtful, and amazing man. When we get back to the hotel and climb into bed looking out in the city sky, I lean over and tell him thank you.
"Thank you for showing me more than I ever thought was real," I whisper.
He pulls me to him and kisses my forehead. "Thank you for sending me the map to find you," he utters back to me.
Chapter 23
I smile, knowing exactly what that means because he sees me as his treasure finally found after years of searching. I drift off to sleep. I wake up to the second most wonderful intoxicating smell in the world. Starbuck's coffee. Oh yes, this man knows how to please his woman. I open my eyes and see him sitting on the couch, butt ass naked, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. I s
it up in the bed and watch him for a few minutes before he catches me staring.
"See something you like?" he asks, our playful new couple slogan.
I giggle and say, "Oh yes, Starbucks!"
He rolls his eyes and laughs at my joke. He stands up and brings me a newspaper and my Starbucks vanilla double shot latte—with whip cream, of course.
"Drink up, Sapphire. We have a lot planned today." I realize that my makeup has worn off and I hit panic mode. I stop relaxing and run to the bathroom and touch up my face.
Chance yells, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I assure, hoping not to alarm him. The last thing I need is for him to see me looking like this with sleep matted up in my eyes and my hair knotted together. While I am still pulling myself together, Chance talks about our day.