25
Tack
We spent a few days working to help remove downed trees, pick up foliage and clean the pool area. In those moments, I realized I didn’t know as much about Juliet as I thought. She was obviously hardworking and dedicated, but I should have remembered how hard she worked alongside me when we built the boat. I gained a new appreciation for her because others adored her. She was amazing with the locals, offering a comforting touch or hug of support. She didn’t complain about lifting a hand or handing out food. Without refrigeration, we started offering what we could to those nearest the resort. There was only so much the few of us at Redemption could eat.
“You’re amazing,” I said to her as she fell across my bed. We were in my private rooms, and I looked forward to all the things we would do here. She rolled to her back and looked up at me.
“You’re pretty awesome, too,” she said, smiling slowly at me. There was something in her eyes, an intensity in that violet color, and I knew nothing in the world would be more important to me than having her always look at me with that look.
“I love you,” I said, as I reached for her ankles, stroking up her shins. Her lids closed, and she groaned.
“That feels nice,” she said, letting her arms stretch across the bed. I tugged at her ankle, and her eyes sprang open.
“You didn’t answer me,” I said sheepishly, wanting to hear the words from her. She sat upward and reached for my jaw.
“Yes, I did.” She smiled slowly. “I said that feels nice. You loving me feels nice to me.”
“I still want to hear it.” I pressed forward and kissed her. “Every day,” I added.
“I love you every day.” She giggled, and I bit her lip, holding her laughter.
“Funny,” I teased, but all joking aside, I meant what I said. Every day from this day forward I wanted to hear her tell me she loved me, and I wanted to tell her the same thing.
+ +
“I’m staying longer,” I heard her tell Miller once cell service was restored. She’d stayed an additional week. It pleased me, but I wished I could hear what Miller said on the other end of the conversation.
“I know I’ve never not been there, but I think you can handle it a little bit longer without me, right? They need me here.” There was a pause and she added, “I need to be here with him.”
Miller must have responded and then she said, “I don’t know where it’s going, but I like where it’s at. Isn’t that enough?”
She laughed after another short pause. I liked her laughter, but my heart pinched that it came easily to her with him. Her shoulders slumped as she faced toward the window. I leaned against the entrance to the bedroom, waiting for her.
“I don’t have any resentments, Miller. You know that. It took a long time, but I can’t live with that constant hatred. It was too much bitterness.”
I stood upright, my arms slipping to my sides. I didn’t want her to resent me, although I could not blame her. What had happened would never be forgotten. It would always be there between us, but I didn’t want it to divide us. I wanted nothing more than for us to be together.
“I love you, too, Miller. Talk soon.”
She hung up and leaned her head forward onto the glass. She stood like that for only a moment before standing straighter, spinning, and stopping when she saw me.
Her eyes squinted. “Eavesdropping?”
“Curious,” I said, stepping forward.
“That killed the cat,” she teased, the crease between her brow lessening.
“This cat wants to make it up to you,” I said, holding out a hand for her and she walked to me. She smiled up at me, a playful gleam to her eyes. “Come with me.”
She laughed, her head tilting. “I’ll go anywhere you lead.”
It was just what I needed to hear.
+ +
We held hands as we walked to the boat launch. While it wasn’t foreign to hold a woman’s hand, it felt different walking with her. It was as if I’d never done it before, and yet as if I’d done it every day of my life with her.
“How’s Miller?” I asked.
“He’s fine.” I squeezed her hand, hinting I didn’t believe her. “He’s worried. But he doesn’t need to be, right?” Her hesitation made me step in front of her.
“He doesn’t need to worry and neither do you. There’s going to be more changes when we return to Baltimore, but we’ll tackle them together. Different but the same,” I repeated my new motto.
“We’re going back to Baltimore?”
“Yes, I need to get back as well.”
“But I thought you were based in Virginia.”
“Corbin Industries is. Calliope is in Baltimore, remember?” I’d already told her these things.
“Why?” She looked up at me, squinting in the blossoming sunshine. It was nice to see the blue sky overhead, no more gray clouds lingering.
“My Mouse disappeared there, and I was trying to find her.”
“I wasn’t hiding.” She bit her lip as her mouth curled.
“You weren’t easy to find, either,” I added, cursing once again that she had tried to find me and the security of Corbin Industries kept her out. She stepped toward me, and I opened my arms to envelop her.
“When will we leave?”
“Tomorrow,” I answered. We stood holding one another for a moment, and I could feel her hesitation. Returning home wasn’t going to be easy, but we both had to face reality again. I had a plan to assure her things were never going backward.
We continued on until we reached the beach, where I directed us to a boat launch.
“What’s this?” She laughed.
“The maiden voyage,” I announced, reaching down for the stern and pushing the double outrigger forward in the calm bay water.
“Is this…” Her voice faded.
“Vixen 2,” I proclaimed, stepping into the ankle-deep depths. “Come on, first mate. Get in.” With a clap of excitement, she raced for the bow and climbed aboard. She perched on the front seat as I moved the craft forward, feeling pride in building this boat all on my own, and anxious that we were about to take the first cruise in it.
I slipped into her easily and paddled us forward, quickly taking us out to the edge of the cove.
“She’s perfect,” Juliet called over her shoulder, excitement in her tone.
“She’s beautiful,” I replied, implying both my companion and the boat. When we’d made it as far as I risked us going on the first trip, I pulled the oar backward, slowing the craft to float gently with the waves. Juliet shifted so she faced me.
“What are you—” She stopped abruptly as I climbed the length of the skiff to reach her. “You’re going to make us tip,” she squealed, gripping the edge of the boat.
“We can’t tip. It’s a double outrigger. We’re supported by balance on both sides.”
She stopped squirming as I knelt before her on both knees. I reached forward with one hand, cupping her jaw. Her eyes gleamed in the bright sunlight, filled with the anticipation of what would come next. I’d typically kiss her. She licked her lips, waiting for me to descend to them.
“Can I ask you?” The question was reminiscent of asking her for that first kiss. Just one, I had asked then. Forever forward, I wanted all her kisses.
“You can ask me anything.” Her voice was breathy, and if I didn’t have something important to ask, I’d take her in the bottom of this craft, fully taking her breath away.
“Will you marry me?” Startled, she pulled back from my grasp. Her eyes opened wide and her mouth popped open, but no sound escaped. “Mouse?”
Tears sprang to her eyes and confusion struck me. Did I misunderstand? Did she not want this as much as me?
“Mouse?” I questioned again at the same time she said “Yes.” Liquid moistened my eyes in relief. I pulled the ring from my pocket, the one she said was perfect, and I agreed, because it was simple, refined, and delicate, like her.
“Thank you,” I sighed, relief shifting to excitement. Land was too far away, and I instantly wanted her. She giggled as I slipped the ring on her finger. Her brows pinched, thinking my gratitude was in response to her answer.
“Thank you,” I clarified, “for returning to the island. For coming back to me.”
“I love you,” she said, reminding me once again. “I’ll go wherever you lead.”
+ +
We returned to the resort hours later, after enjoying some much-needed time off to sail and swim in the surf. A new happiness surrounded us. I asked the cook if she could make a special dinner to be served in my room, despite the slim pickings of our stock. Supply ships would soon return, but we were still short on several things. Fortunately, champagne had a long shelf life.
Juliet wore a white dress from the clothing shop. Tied just over her breasts, there was a long layer overlapping another, hinting at a deep slit to the material. After toasting to her beauty and sipping champagne to celebrate our day, I spoke.
“Let’s play a game.” I eyed the deep cut of her dress and she watched me over the rim of her fluted glass. She didn’t need to respond. She’d play along. I took the glass from her hands and led her to sit in a chair perpendicular to the couch. Pressing her knees apart, the soft material fell open, slipping over each thigh, exposing a sultry gap in the dress. I knelt at her feet, rubbing my hands slowly under the fabric, searching for skin. Her eyes remained on mine as my fingers climbed. I stopped when I hit a metal clasp.
“If you have on a garter, this game is over.” She reached between her legs and wrapped the material of her dress firmly over each thigh, covering her secret. “Why would you have one on without stockings?”
She simply shrugged. “It’s your game. Is this what you wanted to play?” I blinked at her boldness and chuckled softly.
“No, I wanted to ask another question.” Her brow rose, curious, but she remained quiet. “If you had to pick a new animal to dance to, which would you pick?” Her brows pinched, recalling how Garvey demanded I learn some native ritual of dancing to express what I’d learned from an animal.
They can teach you things you’d never see, he said, and I thought of The Little Prince “What is important is that which cannot be seen.” I could not see love, but I felt it when I was near Juliet.
“I’ll start,” I said, sitting back on my ankles and rubbing up her thighs, temptingly close to that hidden lingerie. “I learned from a vixen, that friendship is important. Being responsible for another is more gratifying than being responsible for only me. That I must learn to appreciate and ask permission, not just take.” She stared at me as my hands stilled at her knees. I pressed up, leaned forward and kissed her. Then I crossed to the couch and sat, perching my arm on the rest. She watched me, and I could see the wheels spinning behind the beautiful violet eyes.
“Are you still seeking redemption?” she asked, looking over at me, the loose material to her dress slipping over one thigh, exposing what I considered she was wearing. The clasp to a garter belt dangling against her inner thigh—white, pristine, and tempting me to do sinful things.
“I am. And I will, for the rest of my life.”
“Is that why you want to marry me?” She sat comfortably in the chair, the distance too far from me.
“No, I want to marry you because I love you. I want to be wild with you.” The comment made her smile, and she stood slowly. Seduction personified, she was an island goddess as she took the short step to stand between my knees.
“Well,” she began, flipping her loose hair over one shoulder and straddling her thighs over mine. “I learned from a snake, that as dangerous as he can seem, he is only trying to survive. He doesn’t wish to be a lone creature. Despite his bite, he has a soft side.” She sat on my lap, the dress parting, exposing the high-waisted ribbon to a sheer garter and the lacy covering over a part of her I treasured. “A snake has taught me that I don’t want to be alone any longer, and if I care for him, he will care about me.”
“I care about everything connected to you,” I said, reaching up for her jaw as she settled over the length straining at my zipper. She slipped back, and a purr rolled from her throat.
“I know,” she whispered, lowering to kiss me. “I trust you.” The words meant more than her love, and in an instant, my mouth crushed hers. I flipped her to her back, spreading her wide against the cushions as I rubbed against her. The dress peeled open, proving the slit rose as high as the tie at her breasts. With a tug it was loosened, and she lay under me, lacy underthings in virginal white. Breasts hardly covered in a demi-bra were ripe for my taking as her nipples poked over the top ruffle.
“Holy shit,” I hissed, staring down at her. My mouth watered, not knowing where to start. She was a delicacy, and I wanted to ravish her. I tugged down the barely-there cups of her bra, forcing her breasts up in the air, nipples already at attention. My mouth lowered to one, sucking on it as I fumbled with my belt. I sat up, and the sharp snap of leather removed from the loops startled her.
“I’d never hurt you,” I said, lowering again to her.
“I know that,” she said, peering up to me with innocent, willing eyes. My fingers slipped aside the lacy nothingness covering her heat, and I slid one inside her, listening to her breath hitch.
“You’re going to be my wife,” I stated, as my finger slipped deeper, feeling the warmth of her surrounding me before dragging back to tease the spot that would push her over the edge.
“Yes, I am.” Her fingers reached greedily for my neck, but I remained perched above her, looking down at where I entered her with my fingers. I unzipped my pants, pushing them to my hips to expose I wore nothing underneath. She gasped as her delicate fingers reached for my dick. Tugging gently, I leapt in her palm.
“We’re going to leave all this on,” I said, admiring her skimpy attire, the dress splayed under her, draping over the couch. I slipped the panties to the side and thrust into her. Balancing above her, with one knee on the couch and the other extended to the floor, I watched as I entered her over and over again. Her white lace contrasted with my black pants only removed to my thighs. She was pure goodness, but I was not evil. I was only a man—a man who wanted a woman. My thrusts increased, and she met me with equal haste. I fell forward as her hands reached for my ass, forcing me into her. She didn’t speak, but the pressure of her fingers told me—harder, faster, deeper. I’d never get deep enough.
“Mouse,” I hissed, warning her I was close, the euphoria of the day mixing with this moment. I reached between us, stroking at her as I pummeled into her. Her signs were present—a soft gasp, a hard clench, thighs stiffening around mine. “That’s it, baby. Take it from me.”
She burst with my name on her lips, and I responded by filling her, pulsing inside her, relishing the heat. A thought crossed my mind that she was in a better position to hold my seed. I silently prayed for a family one day.