CHAPTER 23

Nothing had ever been more perfect than kissing Skye in the bath when she still tasted like rain and tears.

He wanted to kiss her until the tears were forgotten and the rain stopped. For a while tonight he had thought he wouldn’t ever taste her lips again. He had thought being a dick for three days had cost him the love of his life.

He needed to show Skye what she meant to him. He wanted to make love to her until the doubts all left her mind, and currently he wasn’t in a position to do much more than kissing and fondling.

“Come on, out you get.”

“But…”

Skye’s eyes were heavy with desire, and Garret smiled cockily. “I’ll wash you later,” he said before slipping out behind her.

He grabbed a towel from a box he noticed in the hallway and held it out to Skye before grabbing one for himself. “I hope you’ve made the bed?”

Skye laughed a happy sound after the tears of before. “Suki’s first rule of moving. You always make your bed first.”

“Great, remind me to thank her in a week.”

“Why a week?” Skye asked as she stepped past Garret and started towards the bedroom.

Garret gave her a cheeky slap on her ass, as she swung around he felt his charm and sense of humor return after a two year holiday. “Cause I don’t plan on letting you out until then.”

Skye laughed again as she dropped the towel and walked naked towards the window to close the drapes.

Garret felt his breath catch at her nudity. Strong shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist before expanding again to the soft curves of her hips. Her legs were smooth and tanned and flawless to his love struck eyes. Her hair, almost a glossy black from the water hung in strands down her back. The humor and laughter disappeared as he watched her turn around.

She was his.

Garret walked towards her like a tiger towards his prey. Determined and focused. He ran his hands over her breasts, the flat planes of her abdomen until they rested on her hips. “You’re beautiful.”

Skye laughed and turned away from him shyly. Didn’t she believe him? Didn’t she realize how appealing she was? “Skye look at me.” He turned her chin so she looked him in the eye. “You’re beautiful, smart, sexy and only mine.” A hesitant smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You better start getting used to hearing it; I intend to tell you every day until you believe me.”

Garret felt the air thicken and crackle with tension as he pulled her towards the bed. He slowly lay her down before dropping his towel and getting onto the bed next to her. Skye’s eyes were wide with anticipation, but Garret appreciated her letting him take the lead. He wanted to prove how he felt to her.

He propped himself up on his one elbow before he used his other hand to trail over her naked body with his forefinger. Watching her breath hitch as he ran it along her collarbone, her nipples tauten as he circled around it, her stomach muscles contracting as he traced a line to the apex of her thighs.

As he reached her already moist and swollen folds, it was Garret’s breath that hitched. She was so wet and so ready for him. He wanted nothing more than to plunge into her until he had no coherent thoughts left in his brain, but tonight was different. He was going to take his time.

Skye bucked under his hand as he teased the folds further open, knowing what she wanted, he pressed the heel of his hand against her clit, causing a shudder to run through her.

“Garret!” She moaned his name and his heart swelled with love.

He moved over her slowly, feeling a grin tugging at his mouth. Nudging her legs open with his own, he poised himself over her.

“Shit, I haven’t got protection.” He could’ve kicked himself. He had wanted to hope when he went in search of her, but never had he thought she would accept his apology.

He felt Skye’s hand touch his cheeks, and found her emerald pixie eyes gazing up at him.

“You don’t need it. I’m safe if you are.” Her voice was soft, but flowed over him as he realized she trusted him.

“I’m safe.” Garret said as he nudged her legs apart, opening her to him. He found her eyes watching him in anticipation. “You know this will be my first time without a raincoat?”

Skye smiled at him, he could swear he saw love in her eyes but didn’t want to count on it. “Mine too.”

As he slipped into her warm wet channel, skin to skin, Garret held his breath. The sensation was overwhelming. He felt as her muscles contracted and released, accepting him and expanding to accommodate him. Once he reached his hilt he smiled before leaning down and kissing her, holding his hips still. “I love you.”

“Garret.” Her voice hitched, but her eyes didn’t stray from his. “I love you too.”

A sigh of relief escaped his chest as he pulled out of her and thrust to the hilt. Before he could help himself the words had left his mouth. “You’re mine.”

Skye smiled at him wickedly. “And you’re mine.”

A calmness settled over Garret, he knew tonight was different. It was the connecting of souls, no fervent mating, or apology or anger, just pure love. He could envision his soul becoming one with hers, and knew he would never be the same again. He withdrew and thrust again, hard. Skye cried out his name and he felt her vagina start to clench around his stiff cock.

He plunged again and again, reaching the hilt every time. He could feel Skye’s thighs quiver and plunged again, this time taking her mouth with the same fervency. The moment their tongues met the world exploded.

He saw nothing but the iridescent light from their love in his mind, knowing that he had met his match. He would spend the rest of his life honoring and cherishing this woman.

They would make it work. He would trust her as she gave him no reason not to, and he would support her. She was already part of him, and Garret knew deep down he was part of her.

“Thanks guys.” Garret said as he slipped the delivery guy a twenty. He walked back into his house in the Hamptons and realized it had been over three months since he bought it and more than two months since he’d been fool enough to believe he could live without Skye. Ever since that night in the rain, all had been right with his world. He had a beautiful girl who he loved, but more importantly, trusted. Skye had proved to be loads of fun when her anxiety was under control, whether they were out at a bar or picking out furniture Garret looked forward to hearing her laugh.

Their nights together were filled with passion, slow caresses and fervent touches, depending on the mood.

He walked into his house and could still smell the faint trace of Skye’s perfume that had taken residence in his home, just like she had taken residence in his heart. His gaze travelled over the expanse of the living room and the ocean beyond. This was once an empty blue room, now had oversized white couches, a dark wood coffee table, and just like Skye suggested on her first visit to the house, a photo of driftwood hanging over the fireplace. She had been right about that.

As he walked through the house Garret realized that over the past few weeks with Skye’s help he had turned the Hamptons house more into a home than his apartment in the city. The white couches had been the final delivery. His house was perfect; exactly what he wanted but didn’t know how to achieve. It only needed one more thing, but he was working on that too.

Little trinkets of washed up glass were placed strategically through the house catching the light and bringing a little whimsy to it. As he walked into which was now known as ‘the nook’ he couldn’t help but smile. Skye had been right about this too. He had found someone who specializes in books to stock the shelves with everything from rare editions to the latest bestsellers. He thought back to the Sunday before with reverence as he sat down in his corner.

Autumn had arrived and had bought a howling wind with it. After making them each a warm cup of cocoa, Garret had suggested they try out the new nook. Each taking a book and settling in their corner they had started to read in silence. Soon the air was crackling with sexual tension. Garret watched as Skye slowly crossed her legs, watching him as she wet her lips with her tongue. Garret reciprocated by reaching into his pocket for his lip balm and slowly rubbing it onto his lips before sucking it off his lips. Not much reading was done after that.

He had been spending more and more time in South Hampton, giving his managers more responsibility. He was hoping that by the time the New Year rolled around, if all his plans fell into place tonight, he would only be staying in Manhattan two nights a week.

He heard Skye’s car pull up and waited for her. Excitement thrummed through his veins, when would he get used to the fact that she was his?

“Hellooo!” Skye called out as she stepped inside. He waited for her to reach the living room. As her eyes travelled over the white couches Garret knew he could wait for his hello. “Garret! You didn’t tell me they were coming today! It’s beautiful.”

“Well I started thinking they weren’t. They were supposed to be here early morning, it’s almost six pm.”

“That doesn’t matter. They’re here. They’re just perfect.” Skye’s face lit up with excitement as she ran towards him throwing herself in his arms. “Thank you for letting me choose them.”

Garret grinned, if this was all it took to make her happy she could make all the decor decisions for the rest of their lives. “You chose right.”

Skye wrinkled her cute little nose. “I was, wasn’t I?”

Pulling her close, Garret kissed her deeply. She had become his own private drug; the more he had the more he wanted. He couldn’t seem to get enough of Skye Lawrence.

Skye pulled away holding up a bag. “I bought pizza; I didn’t feel like cooking tonight.”

Garret smiled secretively. He took the bag from her, placed it in the kitchen, and walked back to her single-mindedly. “Let’s take a walk on the beach.”

“All right, but let me just grab my coat, it’s getting cooler every night.” Skye popped into the closest guest bedroom where she kept a few jackets for exactly this purpose. She returned a few seconds later wearing a light blue windbreaker. It was oversized and nearly swallowed her frame, but she looked so adorable in it Garret didn’t mind.

Taking her hand he led her down to the beach where the sun was starting to fade. The cool air greeted them eagerly with a rush of sand against his shoes. They walked quickly towards the wet sand, knowing the sandy wind would be better there.

Hand in hand they walked quietly along the shore. A simple act that had become habit for them whenever Skye arrived at the Beach House.

Garret spent some nights at her apartment, but mostly Skye came here. She loved cooking in the large kitchen.

As the last rays of sun faded the sky transformed into a painting by Monet. Bold colors and soft transitions. Peacock blue flowing into soft purple. Garret’s nerves were twitching with anticipation, he had planned it to be perfect, but he couldn’t plan or wait any longer.

Having Skye with him, on the beach at sunset was perfect enough.

Garret stopped and pulled Skye in front of him before bending down on one knee.

“Skye Lawrence, you’ve made me happier than I ever thought possible. You’ve taught me what real love is and you’ve brought out in me a good man, the type of man I want to be the rest of my life. Will you honor me by sharing it with me? Marry me Skye?” He pulled out the small box that had been burning a hole in his pants since four days before.

Skye’s face lighted up with love and Garret knew what her answer was going to be. He took the simple platinum ring out of the box and glanced at the single 3 carat solitaire diamond before reaching for her hand.

Skye pulled back her hand and softly spoke. “No.” One simple word crashed his whole world.

“What?” Garret asked astonished. Skye’s eyes were shining with tears as Garret felt his heart being torn apart.

“Garret I love you, more than you can ever know. But it’s too soon. I’m not ready for that type of commitment yet.”

“But I’m committed to you; I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Garret asked confused.

“I know, and I feel the same. But can’t we at least wait a few more months?” Skye’s eyes were overflowing now, and he caught the trace of anxiety in her voice. He didn’t want to push her, not on this. This was something she needed to answer freely without doubts.

Garret took a few deep breaths reminding him that they only knew each other for a summer; there was still a lot of time to get married. Giving her a weak smile he asked. “All right, but will you move in with me as a consolation prize?”