Love, Again, page 16
Cole squeezed my hand. “It’s been a good day.” We walked along the water’s edge, our feet sinking into the smooth sand. It was almost claylike on the Sound side of the island where we were, but on the north side it felt like sugar. We’d toured the north side where the hotels were, but I liked being away from all the people. We had our own private beach, and it was heaven.
The end of our beach was coming up, so we turned around and headed back toward the house. “Thanksgiving is this week, sunshine. I was wondering if maybe…”
“Maybe what?” I asked. I had a feeling I knew where he was headed.
Gaze serious, he looked down at me and we slowed our pace. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to or not, but since you’ll be with my family for Thanksgiving this year for the first time in a while, I didn’t know if—”
“If I’d make the sweet potato casserole,” I said, finishing his sentence.
He nodded. “It’s okay if you don’t want to.”
Ever since I was thirteen, I’d make the sweet potato casserole for his family Thanksgiving. I’d gotten the recipe from my grandmother many years ago, and had decided to bake it one year. Everyone loved it, and it became a tradition for me. My heart hurt just thinking about it. After I left Oklahoma, I avoided anything and everything having to do with sweet potato casserole.
Cole was about to speak again, but I put a finger over his lips. “I’d love to. It’s been so long since I’ve made one, so I don’t know how good it’s going to taste.”
Cole beamed. “It’ll be fucking amazing. It was my favorite dish for the holidays.”
“I know,” I murmured. That was one of the reasons why I stopped cooking it after I left. It brought back too many memories. “Hopefully I still know the recipe. It’s been years.”
His brows furrowed. “Why’s that? Didn’t you celebrate Thanksgiving while you were gone?”
Swallowing hard, I shook my head. “Not until after I met Emilia. I’ve been spending it with her family. They don’t exactly celebrate it the way we do.”
“Oh yeah?”
A laugh escaped my lips. I still remembered the first time I joined them. When I got to their house, I expected to see the normal Thanksgiving dinner. However, it wasn’t what they had on their table. I laughed again, seeing it all in my head. “They cook spaghetti for Thanksgiving,” I informed him.
His eyes about bugged out of his head. “What the hell’s wrong with them?”
“That’s what I thought at first,” I said, giggling. “But it’s what they’ve always done. Emilia’s going to be shocked when she sees how your family celebrates the holidays.”
Cole agreed with a nod. “It’ll be interesting.
I couldn’t wait to see the look on Emilia’s face when she saw all the food. As much as I loved our beach paradise, I was ready to get home. I missed my house, Emilia, and the town. I’d forgotten how much I loved Oklahoma.
We slowly made it back to the house just as the sunset hit its peak. The sky was filled with pink and orange, the distant clouds a bright shade of lavender. Out of all the sunsets we’d seen, this one was the most beautiful.
I started to sit down on the stone steps by the water, but Cole gripped my hand. “Wait.”
I thought there was something on the steps, like a snake or something, so I jumped back. “What is it?” I shrieked, heart racing.
His laugh echoed across the water. “You’re fine. There’s nothing there.” Taking my hands, he pulled me closer. “I just need to say something.”
The air around him changed, and I could see the seriousness on his face. It wasn’t until he got down on one knee that I realized what was going on. Gasping, I slapped a hand over my mouth, especially when he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.
“Oh my God,” I cried.
Cole held up the shimmering diamond ring and took a deep breath. It wasn’t the same one he’d given me all those years ago. “I know we’ve been down this road before, but this time will be different. We’ve been given a second chance. I don’t want to waste any of it with insecurities or doubts.” He stared right into my eyes. “You’re mine, and I’m yours. Wherever you go, I’ll follow. I’m not going to let anything stand in our way again.”
Tears cascaded down my cheeks. “So what exactly are you saying?”
He slid the ring onto my finger. “I’m saying, Aubrey Reynolds, that I want you to be my wife. We might not have been ready ten years ago, but I know we are now. All it’ll take is a simple yes from you, and you’ll make me the happiest man alive.”
There was nothing in the world I wanted more. “Yes,” I cried, flinging my arms around his neck. He stood and swung me around. “I wanted to be your wife then, and I sure as hell want it even more now.” I kissed him hard, and he held me so tight I could barely breathe. We slowly dropped down to the sand, and he covered me with his body.
“I know we’ve already marked this off your bucket list, but I don’t think I can wait any longer to make love to you.”
I untied my bikini bottoms, and spread my legs wide. “I don’t think I can either.”
Cole watched me like a ravenous animal as I untied my top and tossed it to the side, completely ready for him to take me. His heat-filled gaze roamed over my naked body. “Fuck, you’re killing me.”
Propping myself on my elbows, I bit my lip and watched in fascination as he slowly unbuttoned his swimming trunks, teasing me. The bulge in his pants strained to be let out, and for the life of me I couldn’t wait to feel him inside me. I craved him, needed him. Every day I spent with him only made the yearning worse. There were times I thought I was the ravenous animal.
When Cole finally lowered his shorts, I moaned. I was wet and ready for the taking. He kissed his way up my leg, starting with my ankle, up to my knees, and along my inner thighs where he nipped my tender spots. Once he reached my stomach, he trailed his tongue all the way up until he reached my breasts. He flicked a nipple with his tongue, and I gasped as he pushed a finger inside me.
Groaning, he bit down on my breast. “Damn, you’re so wet.” He licked and sucked on my sensitive nipple, thrusting his fingers inside me. The sensation of both had me screaming out my release. It came so hard and fast that I wasn’t expecting it.
I arched off the sand to give Cole better access. “That felt amazing.”
He shook his head. “That’s nothing compared to the next orgasm I’m going to give you. I almost lost it feeling you clench around my fingers. I like knowing my touch brings you pleasure.”
“It brings more than pleasure,” I said, pushing him off me and onto his back so I could straddle him. “It drives me crazy.” While rubbing my sensitive breasts along his chest, I moved my core over his straining cock, teasing him.
Cole gripped my hips and growled, “I want to be inside you, now.” By the raw look in his eyes, he was about to lose control. It made everything inside of me tighten with need.
I lifted my hips slowly, only letting the tip of him graze my opening, before I gently lowered myself the rest of the way. “Is that better?” I murmured.
He held my hips, rocking me gently back and forth. He filled me completely, stretching me, but I needed more. Digging my nails into his shoulders, I slammed down on him as hard as I could. Cole bucked underneath me and took in a sharp breath. “Fuck, sunshine. What are you doing to me?”
Our lips connected, and I tasted him, loving the feel of his tongue against mine. I couldn’t get enough. My body rocked hard against him, and I could feel his cock straining with the first stage of orgasm. I rode him until the tingling in my core exploded all around me. He gripped my hips harder and bit into my shoulder as he released inside me. The pain from his bite was arousing and made the aftermath of my orgasm that much sweeter as tiny tremors racked my body.
Cole sat up, but kept me right on his lap, our bodies still connected. “I love you so fucking much. I never thought I’d be this happy again.”
“Me either,” I whispered, clinging on to him. “If our family was here right now, I’d be ready to say I do.”
Our lips touched, and he smiled. “We can get married anytime you want. Just name the date.”
I already knew what I wanted to do. It didn’t give me much time, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was that I had him there. “Christmas day,” I said. “That’s when I want to get married. It’ll be the best present ever.”
His eyes glistened. “Christmas day it is then.”
Chapter 24
Aubrey
DUSTY VALLEY, OKLAHOMA
When we landed in Oklahoma, an overwhelming sense of security flooded me. I’d missed my dusty state. Yes, we had tornadoes, dust storms, and no oceans for thousands of miles, but it was my home. I was glad to be back.
“Do Emilia and Bennett know we’re back?” Cole asked.
Grinning wide, I shook my head. “I thought we could surprise them. They think we’re coming in early tomorrow morning.” Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and we were going to surprise everyone about the wedding. However, I knew the moment I saw Emilia I wasn’t going to be able to keep the secret. The cab approached my house and excitement bubbled in my chest. “Hopefully, they’re not busy.”
Cole shook his head, and smiled. “Nobody wants to see that.”
It just so happened they were on the front porch, sitting in the swing. Eyes narrowed, they stared at the cab, clearly confused. They obviously couldn’t see us in the back. When I opened the door and jumped out, Emilia screamed and waved her hands in the air. It’d been two months since I’d seen her, and I barely recognized her. She looked so happy, and full of life. Her long blond hair was in a messy bun, and her face was so angelic without all the makeup she usually wore. Not to mention, she was still in her pink pajama bottoms and matching pink shirt.
“You’re back!” She ran down to me and threw her arms around my neck. “Girl, why didn’t you tell me you were coming in today?”
I hugged her tight. “I wanted it to be a surprise.” Letting her go, I couldn’t help but stare at her. “You look amazing. Something’s different.”
She gave me pose, and winked. “I think I got this whole Oklahoma thing down. I don’t feel like an outsider anymore.”
Bennett hurried down to us and hugged Cole before coming over and swinging me around. “Welcome back! We’re dying to hear everything.”
He let me down and I giggled. “You wouldn’t believe all the things we’ve done.”
“But first, I need your help,” Cole called out, motioning Bennett toward the cab.
While he walked over to Cole, I grabbed one of my bags out of the backseat and flung it over my shoulder. Emilia reached for my hands and froze. She opened her mouth to speak, but then gasped when she felt a ring on my finger. I slapped a hand over her mouth. “Don’t say a word. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”
Eyes wide, she looked down at the ring and let out a muffled cry. “This is so freaking awesome. Let’s go inside. I need to hear this.” We hurried inside while the guys grabbed our bags from the cab. Emilia and I raced upstairs to my room, and she shut the door behind us. She looked like she was about to explode with delight. “There’s so much I have to tell you. I’ve been dying for you to get home.”
“What’s going on? Is it about you and Bennett?” I asked excitedly, tossing my bag onto the bed.
She waved me off. “I’ll tell you that later. Right now, I want to hear about you and Cole.” She lifted my hand and gazed at the ring. “When did he pop the question?”
“Last night,” I replied. “We were watching the sunset. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
“I bet,” she said, sighing happily. “It’s about time you married the boy. Bennett told me everything about your past with Cole.”
She sat down on the bed, and I joined her, groaning at the thought. “Not one of my finest moments. I never should’ve left him.”
Her smile faded. “Yeah, but you never would’ve met me if you hadn’t. It was meant for you to leave, and find your way back.”
I believed that too. “You’re right,” I agreed. “It’s crazy, but it all worked out. We’re getting married on Christmas day.”
Squealing, she clapped her hands. “It’s going to be so beautiful. You can have Christmas trees and all the twinkling lights and ornaments as your wedding decorations.”
I nodded. “All I’ll need next to me is my maid of honor. You wouldn’t happen to know who I could ask, do you?” I winked at her, and her mouth flew open.
Eyes glistening, she waved her hands near her face to keep from crying. “Are you seriously asking me?”
“Yes,” I said, and laughed. “I would love for you to be my maid of honor. What do you say?”
The tears fell down her face, and she tackled me on the bed. “Hell yeah. I’d be honored.” But then she gasped and helped me up. “What about the movie? You have to give the producer an answer in two days. Are you going to direct it or stay here?”
With a big smile on my face, I reached into my bag and pulled out three of the books I got from that author signing in St. Louis. Gaze narrowed, she looked at the books, clearly confused. “What are these?”
I tapped the novels. “These are the books I fell in love with while on my journey.” I picked up my favorite and ran a hand over the cover. “This one would be amazing on screen. I can see it all in my head.”
She slapped a hand over her mouth. “Holy shit, are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”
“Yep,” I said, feeling the excitement well up in my chest.
“Does Cole know?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I want it to be a surprise. I’ve been working on everything in silence. I plan on telling him tomorrow night.”
Emilia squeezed my hands. “This will be huge, Aubrey. If anyone can do it, it’d be you.”
“Thanks. I truly hope so.” It was going to be a life changer, that was for sure.
Chapter 25
Cole
“Damn. My brother’s finally going to tie the knot.” Bennett slapped me on the back and smiled. “I’m happy for you.”
We carried the bags inside, and could hear the girls squealing upstairs. Bennett chuckled and shook his head. “Guess Aubrey spilled the news to Em.”
“Sounds like it,” I said, loving the sound of Aubrey’s laugh. I nodded back toward the door. “Come on, let’s go outside.”
Bennett followed me out onto the front porch. “When are you guys going to do it?” he asked.
I turned around and faced him. “Christmas day. I was kind of hoping you’d be my best man.”
Bennett burst out laughing and grabbed me in a bear hug. “Fuck yeah, I will.”
“Thanks, brother. I know it might seem a little sudden after all these years, but…”
Bennett let me go, his face serious. “Not at all, man. When you love someone, it’s hard not to be with them. You and Aubrey were meant to be together.”
His words caught me off guard, almost like he was trying to tell me something. “Since when did you become the sentimental type?”
He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. “I don’t know, Cole.” He nodded toward Aubrey’s room where Emilia was, and kept his gaze there. “She’s done something to me. I love her.”
“Does she love you?” I asked.
A smile spread across his face, and he looked right into my eyes, but that grin slowly disappeared. “She does. We’ve spent every single day together after you and Aubrey left. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“But she’s getting ready to leave, isn’t she?”
He nodded. “She asked me to come with her to California while she films the new movie.”
“Damn. Are you ready for that kind of exposure?”
“I think so,” he said, shrugging a little unsurely. “I’m not used to the red carpet or the paparazzi, but I know I want to be with her.”
“Same here,” I confessed. “When we were in Turks and Caicos, there were some people who knew who Aubrey was. It’s strange seeing people go crazy over her, and she’s the one behind the screen. I can’t imagine what it’s like for someone like Emilia whose face is in the movies.”
Bennett’s jaw clenched. “Yeah, I’m having issues with men sending Emilia their fucking dick pics, and asking her out all the time. It pisses me off. Not to mention, when she does her movies, she’ll be making out with other actors.”
That was why I was glad Aubrey was behind the camera. “What does Emilia say about it all?”
He huffed. “That it’s her job to kiss other actors sometimes. She assures me that none of it means anything.”
“And the dick pics?” I asked.
“Her agent usually sorts her emails, but occasionally some slip through. I’m afraid that I’ll kick some guy’s ass for touching her, and then it’ll cause bad press.”
“She’s a celebrity, brother. You’re going to have to watch your actions. People are going to do stupid shit to get her attention. All you have to do is ignore it, and trust that she loves you enough not to hurt you.” I liked Emilia, but there was a trend with A-list celebrities. Most of them weren’t happily married. There was always some kind of cheating or scandalous shit going on.
“She does love me. That I know for certain. There’s a just another problem through.”
“What?” I said.
“The movie she’s starring in is the same movie that Aubrey might be directing if she takes the job.” With a heavy sigh, he ran a hand down his face. “If Aubrey takes it, I know you’ll go with her.” I recognized the look on his face. It was the same look I had ten years ago when I let Aubrey go when I didn’t want to. Bennett had responsibilities in Oklahoma, just like I did.
