by Luma Rose
Tilting my head, I give him a disbelieving look. “You’re really going to let me take the lead?”
He leans in and places a chaste kiss on my lips. “Only if you win.” Then he grins and walks back to the foyer, where our bags are.
As I watch his retreating form, I can’t help but think of how quickly this man is becoming the center of my universe. Old me would have questioned it and come up with a million reasons why it wasn’t real. New me refuses to let myself ruin what’s happening between us.
Garrin ends up winning the race down the slope, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m more than happy to let him have me any which way he wants me. And the way he wants me that night is naked on all fours on top of the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace.
We ski again on Saturday morning until early afternoon, then decide to head back to his place to relax. He decided to call a chef in to prepare dinner for us, and once we’re showered and clothed, he leaves me to go check on how dinner is coming. I decide to use the opportunity to call my dad and see how he’s doing.
The phone only rings twice before my mom answers.
“Hey, Mom, how’s it going?” I ask.
“Hi, honey. Things are good. How’s your weekend so far?”
I sit down on the edge of the bed. “Wonderful. Garrin’s place is gorgeous and I forgot how much I love skiing.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” It’s not hard to hear the happiness in her voice. “Why are you calling if you’re having so much fun?”
“Just wanted to check on Dad.” I run my hand along the comforter beneath me. “Is he there? Can I talk to him?”
There’s a beat of silence before my mom speaks again. “Actually, honey, he just fell asleep. I don’t want to wake him. You know how much those treatments take out of him. He needs the rest.”
I frown at the reminder. All he does is sleep these days, but she’s right. Sleep helps his body to heal.
“Oh, okay. Well, can you tell him I called when he wakes up?”
“Of course I will. Now you go enjoy the rest of your weekend. We’ll see you Sunday evening.”
“All right. Love you.”
“Love you too, honey. Remember—grab on with both hands and don’t let go.”
She hangs up, and I sit there for a minute, taking in her words. I realize that’s what I’m doing by being here this weekend and allowing myself to fall for Garrin, and I vow to keep doing it.
Garrin steps back into the room. “The chef said dinner will be a little more than an hour. I thought maybe I could take you to the lookout and show you the view from the other side of the property.”
“That would be wonderful.” I stand.
Garrin eyes the phone in my hand. “Everything okay?”
I step into him and wrap my arms around his waist. “Perfect.”
Since Garrin’s property is so expansive, he ends up taking us over to the other side of his acreage on a snowmobile. It’s sunny, and blue skies hang overhead, the temperature hovering a little over zero, so I only wear my winter coat and boots, hat and gloves. He does the same. It still feels somewhat odd to see him dressed so casually but I’m getting used to it.
I hold on tight to his waist as he winds us through the trees, the wind whipping the ends of my hair behind me like a flag on a flagpole. He’s going fast, but I feel safe nonetheless, and I lean in and rest my cheek on his back, watching the scenery whip past us.
When he pulls the snowmobile to a stop, he allows me to get off first. Once we’re off, he takes my hand and leads me a few hundred yards to the edge of a lookout. There are some chairs there facing the view that has to be one of the best that I’ve seen in all my time in Colorado. A mountain range stretches out far in the distance and the valley below is dotted with snow and a few places where the earth below pokes through. The blue sky meets the white-topped mountains at the horizon, but it feels like I can see to the ends of the earth.
Garrin comes up behind me and pulls me back into him, resting his arms around my waist. He nuzzles the top of my head with his face, and I sink into him, breathing in the fresh air and the heavenly view. I never would have thought I’d be here, this happy and content with a man I’ve fallen in love with. And Garrin no less.
The thought runs through my mind and I don’t panic at the realization that I love Garrin, much to my own surprise. Instead I bask in it. In the feel of his strong arms wrapped around me, in the knowledge that he knows and empathizes with what I’m going through with my dad, in the understanding that though he’s not perfect, I fully believe that he would never intentionally hurt me like he did in the past.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful,” I say.
“I have.” I look over my shoulder to see him gazing down at me, his eyes full of emotion.
I knock him with my shoulder behind me. “Stop.”
“I’m serious.” He drops his arms and stands at my side, taking my hands in his and turning me so we’re facing each other. “Isla, the time I’ve spent with you has been the best of my life. I know I wasn’t exactly thrilled when you returned, but if I’d known then what I know now, I would have welcomed you with open arms. You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever known—both inside and out. Your intelligence, your compassion, your strength, your body… it all turns me on. You make me want to be a better person.” He squeezes my hands in his.
“Garrin…” I trail off because I don’t know what to say. There are too many emotions swimming through my body, and I don’t know how to verbalize what I’m feeling. But if I had to narrow it down to one word, it would be joy.
“You soften me. At first, I thought that was a bad thing, but now I know it’s exactly what I need. You’ll never let me become him. I need you with me, always, so I can love and protect you. I was drawn to you back in high school and it’s no different now. I’m not willing to let you walk out of my life again.”
He drops to one knee in the snow and I gasp, my hands falling out of his and to my chest. Garrin reaches into the pocket of his coat and pulls out a small black box. My eyes widen and meet his. He’s so calm and my heart races.
“Isla Flores, I refuse to live the rest of my life without you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He opens the box and sitting inside is a huge cushion-cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds with a thin gold band encrusted with diamonds.
“Oh my God, Garrin. We haven’t been seeing each other that long.”
“I’m in love with you, Isla. I don’t need years to pass to know that. I also know that feeling is not going to change. Do you love me?”
My heart beats a million miles a minute and I struggle to catch my breath. “I do love you.” I drop to my knees in the snow in front of him.
“That’s all I need to know. We wasted so much time apart. Let’s grab ahold of this happiness and love between us and make it permanent. I can’t live without you. I won’t live without you.”
Tears fill my eyes as I rethink my mother’s words about grabbing hold of my happiness with both hands and not letting it go. No, we haven’t been seeing each other that long, but neither had my parents when they got engaged and they’re still madly in love with each other.
“I don’t want to live without you either,” I say, the first tear rolling down my cheek.
“Does that mean you’ll become my wife?” His hopeful expression makes my heart flip- flop.
“I will!” Laughter bubbles up inside of me as Garrin removes my glove and pushes the stunning ring onto my left ring finger. Then he scoots before me on his knees and pulls me in for a kiss.
Our tongues meet and he cups my face as if I’m the most precious thing in the world to him.
He pulls away and locks gazes with me. “I promise I am going to make you happy. I’ll protect you at all costs and treat you like a queen.”
“This is crazy.” I shake my head, still overwhelmed at the sudden turn of events.
“This is love,” he says and l
eans in to kiss me again.
34
Chapter Thirty-four
Garrin
I kicked the chef out as soon as we returned home, anxious to eat and get my fiancée naked.
I’d thought I’d be nervous proposing to Isla, but nothing I said at that lookout was bullshit. I do love her, as scary as it is to think I’m capable of feeling that emotion again. To put someone’s needs above my own. But Isla’s always been that one anomaly for me. As sick as it sounds, I normally would not give a shit if a girl went with my friend. As fucked up as it was, me releasing that tape showed how much I fucking loved her. If I could only shake the vulnerable feeling that accosts me.
Yes, this decision had to come sooner due to my father, but that’s not why Isla is wearing my ring on her finger. That only has to do with my feelings for her. It’s clear to me that I don’t want to be with anyone else. Isla is it for me.
“That was so good. I’m stuffed.” Isla smiles over at me from across the table and sets her napkin down beside her plate.
I’ve gotten to see another side of her this weekend, one I want to see more often. She’s relaxed and carefree, lighthearted and fun. Her dad’s illness is eating away at her, but I’m glad I’m able to remove her from the stress of the situation, even for a short time.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” I push back from the table and walk behind her chair, pulling it out from the table slowly. “Now it’s time for me to enjoy you.”
She accepts my hand and rises from the chair. Without warning, I pick her up, one arm behind her knees, the other across her back.
“Garrin!” She laughs. God, I love that sound. “What are you doing?”
I walk to the stairs. “Taking my bride-to-be to bed so that I can make love to her.”
She looks up at me and places a hand on my cheek. “I like the sound of that.”
“What? Make love?”
Isla shakes her head. “Well, that too. But I was referring to the bride-to-be part.”
I smile down at her as we reach the top of the stairs and I turn right toward the master suite.
“Are we crazy for doing this?” she asks.
There’s real concern in her voice, and though I hate the idea of her doubting us, I understand her concern. We haven’t been seeing each other long. Hell, until Isla, the idea of marriage didn’t even appeal to me. Being stuck with one woman for the rest of my life? Now I can’t imagine not having her in my life.
“Maybe we are crazy. I’m sure some people will say we are. But I’ve never really cared what other people think, and it doesn’t make what’s between us any less real.” I walk us into the master suite and step over to the bed, gently depositing her on top of the mattress.
“You’re right. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. We know what we have.”
“Us against the world, sunshine.”
“Always.”
I crawl up on the bed, lying down on top of her, kissing her neck, her chin, her earlobe, everywhere. She sighs in pleasure while I slowly discard her clothes. Once she’s naked underneath me, I take the pleasure of enjoying her body. My hands run over her soft skin, teasing her nipples and grabbing her ass. My lips coast over the planes of her breasts until I suck her nipple into my mouth and swirl my tongue around the hard nub.
Lowering my body, I stop at the juncture of her thighs and taste her with long, languid strokes of my tongue. Her hand reaches and grasps for me, but I want her to feel cherished and loved tonight, so I take my time building her climax, enjoying every moan and tightening of her fingers in my hair. After she comes on my tongue, I rise to take in her pink cheeks and satisfied smile, chuckling while I strip my own clothes off.
“What are you laughing at?” she asks.
“I’m not laughing at you, really, just enjoying the look on your face after you come. Enjoying the fact that I’m the one who gets to put it there forever now.”
I toss my boxers to the side of the bed and fit my hips between her thighs.
Isla runs her hands through my hair, bringing me down for a kiss. Our tongues meet, and rather than me taking over as I normally would, we each set the pace. When she pulls back, she looks into my eyes.
“I can’t wait for forever.”
“Me either.”
I push inside her in one long, slow thrust. She’s wet and ready for me and wraps her legs around my waist. Instead of hammering into her, I take my time, setting a consistent pace while I look into her eyes. Neither one of us breaks eye contact, not even when I increase the pace until I’m unable to hold back any longer. Isla’s walls tighten around me and I know she’s close, so I switch my angle up the way she likes, and she comes with a soft cry, somehow keeping her eyes open and locked with mine. Seconds later, I empty into her with a soft plea of her name from my lips.
We catch our breath, and I brush her hair off her face, staring into her eyes. We’re lost in what feels like our own little bubble, and no one better come and pop it. Not until they have to. Eventually, I roll over to my side, bringing her with me to tuck into my side.
“I love you,” she says on a soft whisper, dragging her finger up and down my abdomen.
“Not more than I love you.” I lean in and kiss the top of her head. “How do you think your parents will take the news?”
She’s quiet and contemplative for a minute. I don’t rush her.
“They’ll be surprised at first, maybe a little skeptical, but with time they’ll accept it.”
I suppose that’s the best I can hope for given that I haven’t even met either of them yet.
Isla sighs, one of the many signs that something is on her mind.
“Penny for your thoughts,” I say.
“Just a penny?” She chuckles. “Surely you can afford more than that.”
I smile. “Okay, a Benjamin for your thoughts.”
“I know you don’t have a good relationship with your father, but I was wondering… do you think your mom would have liked me?”
I squeeze her into my side. “I know she would have.”
“Really?” She shifts and looks up at me.
“Really. You remind me of her in a lot of ways. You’re intelligent and compassionate, unselfish, and you often look for the good in people rather than the bad.”
She smiles and places her palm on my cheek. “Garrin Stone, you always know exactly what to say.”
“Hmm, really?” I turn my head and kiss her palm. “What would you say if I told you I was ready for another round?” I waggle my eyebrows.
“I’d say you’re brilliant.” With a laugh she rolls on top of me and straddles my waist.
“I’m glad you think so.” I pull her down for a kiss and we spend the rest of the night celebrating the start of a new chapter.
35
Chapter Thirty-five
Isla
After a magical weekend away, we arrive back in Cherry Creek early on Sunday evening. The past couple of days have been such a whirlwind, and I still can’t believe I’m engaged to Garrin Stone. It feels almost surreal. Surreal but somehow right.
“Will you come in with me?” I ask Garrin when Langley pulls the Rolls-Royce into my driveway. “I want to tell my parents right away, and you should be there.”
“Of course, if that’s what you want.” He raises our clasped hands and places a kiss on my knuckles.
“Great.” I wait as Langley makes his way around the car to open the door and watch Garrin exit. He turns with his hand outstretched and helps me out next.
We hold hands as we step up the walkway, Langley following behind with my bags. I suddenly feel a little nauseous at the prospect of telling my parents I’m engaged, since I have no idea how they will react. They’ve never even met Garrin. My dad doesn’t like his dad. And Garrin never did ask permission from my father.
We all step into the foyer of the home, and Langley deposits my bag to the side.
“Thanks, Langley. I’ll be a bit. You can wait in the car.”
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“Yes, sir.” He nods. “It was wonderful seeing you again, Miss Flores.”
“You too. Thanks for getting the bags,” I call out to his retreating back.
I inhale deeply and raise my chin.
“Nervous?” Garrin gives me a shit-eating grin. Probably because he already told me he has no interest in telling his father about our engagement. Said he will find out in due time through the grapevine and that would be good enough. I don’t really understand the relationship between Garrin and his father, but it’s clear that it’s complicated and strained, so I haven’t pushed him for any more details.
“A little. Let’s get this over with.” I drop his hand and lead him down the large central hall, peeking into the various rooms to find my mom.
We finally come upon her in the library. She’s seated at the piano, plunking out a tune. She’s not as gifted a player as Garrin is, but she’s proficient.
My cheeks heat at the memory of what Garrin did to me on top of that piano, and I know he’s thinking about it too because he looks over at me with a satisfied grin.
Rolling my eyes, I step into the room. My mom must sense us, because she turns and looks over her shoulder at us.
“Hi, Mom.” My attempt at giving her a casual smile fails. I can tell by the way she cocks her head at me. She’s always known when I was up to something.
“Hi, honey. How was your weekend?” she asks.
“Great. Mom, I wanted you to meet Garrin.” I motion in his direction.
She smiles and stands, walking over to us. “It’s wonderful to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” she says, stretching out her hand to shake Garrin’s.
“Great to meet you, Mrs. Flores.” He shakes her hand.
My mom drops his hand and then waves him off. “Please, call me Amelia.”
“Amelia, then.” He nods.
“How’s Dad?” I ask.