by Shelly Pratt
‘I am.’
‘Damn, beautiful, don’t you know how much I’ve missed you?’
‘I hope it’s a lot, because I was getting to the point where I was actually considering coming looking for you.’
‘What made you stay put?’ His frown is endearing, his bushy eyebrows reflecting his doubt over my faith in him.
‘You. Your promise made me stay put. I didn’t doubt for a second that you were going to find me, I was just impatient for you to get here,’ I laugh.
‘I know, it was torture for me, too.’ He takes a mental step back, as though his own words have stung him personally.
‘You okay?’
‘Yeah, just a lot happened, you know.’
‘We’ve got a lot to catch up on.’ I glance around him, suddenly wary that we have eyes on us. ‘I take it that you came alone?’
He laughs. ‘You don’t need to worry about Alex, Evie. He won’t be bothering you anymore. I think it’s safe to say that he’s seen the error of his ways.’
I expel the breath I was holding. It’s one thing to believe in your heart’s desires, it’s another to actually hear the words and have them reinforce that belief.
Grayson’s hands fall from my face and slide down my arms so that his fingers can intertwine with mine. The tiny shivers he sends reverberating through me are just a lick of the promise his body intends to unleash on me later. His touch incites me to hurry home so that we can rediscover one another.
‘Let’s get out of here,’ I urge.
‘You don’t need to ask me twice,’ he grins, pleased with the change of direction.
I take his hand and lead him towards the coffee shop where Tomasi is waiting. He’s most surprised when I turn up with Grayson, a full forty minutes ahead of schedule.
‘Evie?’
‘Tomasi, this is my… Grayson, this is Grayson.’ It’s hard to simply classify a man like Grayson as just my boyfriend. It sounds so immature and insignificant. Partner sounds like a couple who are too set in their ways, yet despite years of being with each other, they never tie the knot. Soul mate sounds better, but who in their right mind introduces someone as their soul mate? You don’t know? Yeah, me neither. So for now, Grayson will do.
They shake hands, taking their introduction in their strides. I don’t know it now, but they will become firm friends in the years to come. For now, though, curiosity lingers heavily between them. It’s only when we get in Tomasi’s car that he clicks on that he’s my driver of sorts, not just my friend. He settles heavily against me in the back seat, eager to close any remaining distance between us.
After a brief stop at Grayson’s hotel, we head with all his worldly possessions back to my bungalow, our bungalow, in Mele Bay. Tomasi drops us off, a smile on his face. I know he’s seen my sadness at times and felt helpless to do anything about it, but all that’s changed now. My reason for living just walked back into my life.
While Tomasi drives off down the dusty road, Grayson takes a minute to take in his surroundings. I know how he feels, because I remember standing on the porch the first time I set foot on the property, revelling in the wide expanses of glistening ocean and palm-tree-laden coastline.
‘This is one hell of a view, Evie.’
‘I’m glad you like it, because it’s our home from now on.’
‘You sure you’re ready for such a commitment,’ he asks with a grin.
‘I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.’
‘Let’s start this off properly then, shall we?’
He drops his bags on the porch and chases down the path after me, sweeping me up into his arms effortlessly. He walks with me, solid as a rock over the threshold of our new life. The minute the door closes, all our pent up love for each other spills over.
There is no talking of the man who once threatened to ruin me. There are no questions of what happened while we were apart. That will come later when the fissure of love hasn’t just been blown wide open. For now it is just us, loving each other wholeheartedly and free of constraints.
With the feverish intent of newlyweds, we rip each other’s clothes off without any respite. It’s only as the last item comes off that time slows and we reverse to the slow tantalising dance of our seduction. The skin of our flesh touches hotly as we stand swaying together, charmed by the heady concoction of lust and love swirling in the air. His fingers trail feather-light up and down my back, caressing my buttocks as he reaches to grab me.
I straddle his hips and he moves towards the bed, desperate for more. With every bit of his intention rooted solidly between his legs, he settles warmly between the folds of my pussy, ready to make love to me without any reservation.
His mouth finds mine again and I’m instantly lost in him. There is so much to feel that besides my sense of smell, all my other senses seem to have abandoned me. His earthy, spicy scent lingers as I hold on to his back, urging him to enter me, to fill me whole again.
The tip of his manhood teases at the entrance, just a hint of the promise and so much more. His mouth finds my breasts and I cry out with pleasure as he sucks my nipples hard. But I’m demanding of him. I want his mouth everywhere. I push him down further to trail kisses down my belly towards the apex of my thighs. I’m burning with desire, deep-seated and needing of release.
His tongue flicks out to touch my pussy, delving deep to taste me. I squirm closer to him, wanting more than he can ever give me. He licks me over and over until I can’t stand it anymore; this torment needs to stop or I’m going to lose myself before he even has chance to enter me.
Grabbing a fistful of hair I beg him to stop, needing him to understand that I’m so incredibly close. He knows exactly what I need as he climbs back up my body, ready to overwhelm me in other ways.
Secure under the weight of his body, his mouth finds mine again. We kiss deeply, hungrily, as he slowly slides his erection into me. I want to thrash and buck against him, but he controls the tempo, still ever patient as he slides in and out of me.
I can tell Grayson is getting close. Everything feels that much hotter… swollen. He pushes harder, touching the very core of my soul and out towards the darkest tips where the light only just reaches. We’re chasing the end, frantic to consume all that there is of each other. He moans softly which spurs me on towards ecstasy. His last thrust is my undoing. With him sheathed to the hilt inside of me, I start to climax.
Like a flutter of a butterfly’s wings, I start to shatter around him, taking him on my wave of pleasure whether he likes it or not. He groans against my mouth, coming long and hard inside of me. His lips tear from mine, desperate to catch his breath.
While we still and settle into the aftermath, I know that this is only the beginning.
There is no containing this kind of love affair. It’s one that will last the ages. It is one that, even after we’re long gone, it will continue on as a legacy through our children and grandchildren, showing that love, real love can continue through time as just a whisper of what was once there, once felt, once experienced.
‘I love you,’ he says.
‘I love you,’ I whisper, never meaning those three words more in my entire life.
Epilogue
LETTERS
Dear Jean,
I know you must be wondering how I’m getting along, and while I’m not much for words, I can tell you that I’ve never been happier.
It’s funny how you start making the right decisions and then everything else starts falling into place. We have a life here, although I can’t tell you yet where that is. One day, soon, I promise.
I’m finally making a living doing what I love. It seems the tourists here quite like my artwork, which is a blessing because, let’s be honest, I was never going to get rich pulling coffees now, was I?
Evie is not the same girl who used to visit your little deli. She’s relaxed, content and… free. It changes a person, as I’m sure you know. I’m so glad I got to be the one to save her, to be her every
thing. I wouldn’t change a single thing that has happened, because I know that I wouldn’t have been able to bear it if she’d remained subjugated in the living hell she was trapped in.
I know everyone deserves second chances—I’m just thankful that ours is together.
Missing you is not something I counted on. You’ve been such a big part of my life for so long that I didn’t realise how ingrained in my life you had become. I want to say thank you, because without your love I’d probably be dead and buried by now. You helped me overcome my own demons and showed me that life is always worth living. I miss you, you know?
One day soon I hope you’ll be able to visit. Which island? Well, start guessing, because the view from where I’m sitting is worth the imagination.
Love, Grayson.
***
Dear Dad,
I’m sure by now you’re wondering what’s happened to me. I truly feel regret about not telling you first of my whereabouts, but to be honest, I don’t think you’ve earned the right to know. You may find that harsh coming from your only daughter, your only child, but I feel my indifference is nothing compared to the way in which you disregarded what was right for me when you signed me over to Alex.
I never told you, but I saw the contract. I saw your favour, and it wasn’t me. There are no words to tell you how shattered I was, how cut to the bone you made me feel. My only consolation is that one day, I might begin to understand. Maybe one day I’ll be able to forgive. Never forget, but move on in a way where we can all start to heal.
It’s hard for me to believe that you sold me out for money. I say this because finally, on my own terms, I’ve found a man who loves me just as much as I do him. Do you know what I know about this man? I would give every single worldly possession up just to be with him—every last cent. I can only imagine that if we ever had children these feelings would increase tenfold. I can’t imagine manipulating and orchestrating a marriage just to save a dynasty fraught with bad debts and gambling—I just can’t.
I’m sure in the beginning, like me, you were seduced by him. I just have to ask, didn’t you ever think about what kind of character would be motivated by buying his way into another person’s life?
I know these are all questions that will go unanswered for now. It is just torment for all of us until I feel ready to reconcile. I know I have some blame in all of this and that it’s not your fault entirely. I often wonder just how much pressure I put you under while growing up to have all the things other children desired. Was I too much; was I too needy? I guess I need to learn to forgive myself first before I can let you in.
Despite the fact that our relationship is in tatters, I want you to know I’m happy. I’m okay. For the first time in my life, I’m really doing just fine.
I’m not sure you’ll find any comfort in any of this, but perhaps it’s a start, a way of opening the door of communication so that we can all start to heal. I have faith that there will be a day when all of this will seem like a vague, distant memory. One where we can look back and see we’ve all learned something from this, but it won’t define us in the future. I look forward to that day.
Love, Evie.
***
I wait for Evie as she stands on tiptoe, placing the letters in the mail box. This is just the start; a chance to start over; a chance to heal. This is the moment where we fall in love and it’s forever. She turns, smiling at me, completely open to all the love I have to give her. I know, without a doubt, that the sun will never set on our relationship. She takes my hand in hers and we walk off together, ready to seize our second chance with both hands.
THE END
For all the latest information with regards to book releases, please visit
http://shellypratt.net
OTHER NOVELS BY THIS AUTHOR:
RUINED
RUINING ANGEL (Novella)
RUINING THEM (RELEASING 2014)
SANCTUARY OF MINE
BELOVED SOUL
THE DRAGON WITH TICKLISH FEET
NOVELS UNDER THE STEVIE HARLOW PSEUDONYM:
TIERS
OBSESSION
SWITCH
RAVEN
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to Emily Dawson for our wonderful editing partnership. Each book is not the end, it’s just goodbye for now.
A huge thank you to my husband and kids. I have never felt more loved, appreciated or thankful to have you guys in my life. It means a lot when a husband can so selflessly let you pursue your dreams ahead of their own.
Kerri ‘Batman’ Williams. What can I say? You epitomise to me what friendship really is. You’re staunch, loyal and unwavering when it comes to making me ‘commit’. Thank you for persisting, because whether I knew it or not, I needed you.
To the mums from my kids’ school – your friendship throughout this last year has been a blessing. Thank you for your generosity, advice and moral support. You were the ones who made me feel like I’m ‘home’.
To the rest of my family and friends—virtual or present, readers and fellow authors, bloggers and social media whores—I thank you. You know that without your unyielding support that I wouldn’t be doing what I love.
A big, HUGE thank you to Jennifer and the girls from Love Between The Sheets book blog. Your professionalism, enthusiasm and passion for books is very much appreciated. I’m humbled you dedicate your precious time to promoting and cheerleading indie authors.
Many thanks to Allyson from Black Firefly Productions for your speedy and professional proofreading skills.