The Redemption (36 page)

In the garden, I hadn’t noticed how frail my mom has become. Out there she fooled me by the way she held my arm. The change in her is more obvious now just a few short hours later.

“Would you like to come, Rochelle?” she asks.

Rochelle’s eyes target me, asking the question again, silently between us this time. “I think you should stay. I’m not sure how long this will take. You can rest up for tonight.”

“What’s tonight?”

“I have big plans in store for us.”

“In that case, I’ll take a nap, so I can enjoy these
big
plans.”

My mother clears her throat as she passes us. “Save that kind of talk to when your mother is out of the room.” She laughs, but stops and turns toward me. “Follow your heart…” Her eyes land on Rochelle, and she says, “I’m very glad to have seen you again.”

Rochelle smiles. “It was really nice to see you again as well.”

“My apologies, Mr. Caggiano,” the lawyer speaks directly to Gage. “I can’t proceed with you in the room since the will is confidential and only allowed to be read to the beneficiaries.”

Gage’s mouth is hanging open. The shock of being told our father was not his makes his face go red with anger.

I reach over toward him, but he stands up. “What the fuck?” Staring at my mom, he says, “You were a whore and I’m the bastard who has to suffer for it.”

I stand abruptly, at the ready if I need to kick his ass. One more comment like that and he’s going down.

“Gage,” my mom starts.

He pulls the door open. “I don’t want to hear it.” The wall takes the brunt of the impact when the door hits it.

The time seemed to pass in an orderly reading of a list, one item at a time. When it was all said and done, the car ride was silent as my mother and I returned to the house. After settling my plans for later with a few phone calls and staff help, I awoke my sleeping beauty with a kiss. Her eyes slowly blinking open and happy to see me. “How did it go?”

“Well.”

“That’s good,” she whispers.

“I want to take you somewhere.”

She nods and then sits up, rubbing her eyes. “Are jeans okay or do I need to change?”

“Never change. You’re gorgeous just how you are.”

We walk from the back of the house down the large steps to the crushed granite path. Rochelle smiles, which causes my own. I veer to the left, off the path, and through a grouping of pink flowers, taking her on a short cut. We’re both careful not to crush any as we hop over the bushes. Her laughter draws me to look her way, her beauty captivating my heart entirely.

I’m nervous for some reason, but I keep guiding her. A few more steps and she’ll see it. She stops, another smile gracing her stunning face. The greenhouse is ahead, trees and tall bushes making for a dramatic presentation. The front is covered in a vine of Purple flowers and the entrance is lit by the setting sun, making it more magical, even to me.

“Dex, it’s even prettier in person than from the window upstairs.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I walk forward and open the door for her. Following her inside, I let the door close on its own. Moving to the other side of the center row of plants, I copy her slow, but steady pace as she admires the flowers blooming all around. I don’t bother with the flowers and admire her instead.

She says, “This is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”

“My grandfather let the gardener do whatever he wanted. This was the gardener’s private sanctuary.”

“It’s where he kept the good stuff.”

“Yeah, it’s where he kept the good stuff.”

I hear a small gasp and look over at her. She says, “Dex, did you do this?”

The table for two is draped in linens and set with the finest china and crystal. A vase of pink flowers is in the center. “I arranged it. Does that count?”

“Yes,” she says, nodding. “That totally counts. It’s beautiful. Are we having dinner out here?”

“I thought you might like it.”

“I do. So much.” She comes to me, wrapping her arms around my middle and resting her cheek on my chest as we both look at the display before us.

It wasn’t meant to be a big deal, but somehow I realize at the same moment Rochelle does, this is a very big deal. And I’m not talking about the dinner or the little touches, or the surprises I still have in store for her. Being here with her, like this, is a big deal.

“Champagne?” I ask. I feel her nod against me and when she holds me a little tighter, I embrace her fully. “You okay?”

“More than okay. Thank you for doing this. I’m really touched.”

“C’mon before you get me all sentimental too.” I grab the champagne and pop the cork. After pouring her a glass, I set it on the table and pull her chair out, wanting to impress her. When I sit across from her, we toast, “To good times and even better company. Cheers.”

Dinner is served in three courses. I want us satisfied but not stuffed. There’s more planned for the evening ahead. After dessert, the table is cleared by the staff and the champagne bottle is replaced with a bottle of wine. With our glasses in hand, I escort her to the back part of the greenhouse where the heat sensitive and specialty plants are kept. I open the door and as we walk under the arbor, I spin her around, keeping her back to the surprise. “I wanted to thank you for coming here.” Before she can say anything, I kiss her, then slide my tongue down her neck, stopping to suck just enough to taste, but not enough to leave a mark. “You taste edible.”

A small moan escapes her before she whispers, “Are you wooing me, Mr. Caggiano?” I can tell she’s succumbing as her hands glide roughly over my shirt and stomach. She has a thing for my abs I’ve discovered. I do extra sit-ups just for her.

“Trying my hardest.”

“You don’t have to try that hard. I’m already pretty smitten.”

“I like you smitten,” I whisper. “Turn around.”

The queen size bed is on a platform angled in the corner. The sheets a pale green, the comforter white. Mosquito netting is draped around with flowers hanging down. Cynthia did a great job making this happen.

With a hand covering her mouth that’s dropped open in awe, Rochelle quickly closes it and says, “Do we get to sleep out here tonight?”

“If you want.”

“I definitely want to. It’s like a fairytale come to life. Dex,” she says, her excitement getting the best of her. “I can’t believe you did this. You gave me Neverland, again.” She takes my hand and does this little sway of her hips. “I’m liking this romancing business.” Signaling toward the bed, she adds, “I’m feeling like going to bed early. Wanna join—Oh my God! Are those butterflies?” Rochelle chases an orange and black butterfly until it lands and a yellow one flutters by, grabbing her attention. “Dex! They’re everywhere. Look around on the plants. Butterflies.”

I smile, enjoying seeing her so happy, flirtatious, and excited. Running up to me, she grabs me hard, her arms tight around my neck. “You did this. You did all of this for me?”

“I did. It’s all for you.”

“I’m going to spend all night showing you how grateful I am to have you in my life.” She kisses me and it’s not gentle.

“Ms. Floros, I could get used to this kind of gratitude on a regular basis.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.”

“Neither have you,” I say, holding her steady in my sights.

“You don’t even know what you do to me.” Another kiss lands on my lips as she holds me by my shirt to her. “Make love to me, Dex. I want you.”

The darkness outside and the plants along the walls protect us from outside prying eyes. “Take your clothes off and show me how much you want me.”

Her eyes are sultry, the challenge tempting her. Moving across the room, I turn the lights down, the glow of the candles adding to the mood. The shadowed butterflies still fly about and I lie on the bed, getting comfortable.

Keeping her eyes on me, she takes her shirt over her head and drops it on a chair nearby. Her fingers toy with her jeans like she’s toying with me. My cock is hard and getting harder from watching her before she even takes her shoes off. She turns around and bends over, giving me a full view of her fantastic ass as she takes her jeans down. The lace thong is a tease just like her. My palm rubs over my dick and I decide to give myself some more room to grow by unfastening my jeans.

Her arms reach around her back and she undoes the clasp of her bra with ease, letting it hang while she takes one strap and then the other down her arms. She turns back around, not hiding, but smirking and confident. Lifting the netting, she joins me on the bed by crawling up my body and pushing my shirt up as she goes. “Take
your
clothes off, Dex. Show me how much you want
me
,” she says, repeating my earlier demand.

Like her, I strip my clothes off, but without the production, then kneel down in front of her. Slowly, I run my hands up her soft skin. When my fingertips reach her panties, I start to descend, taking them with me. I press my lips to the inside of her thigh. This time sucking hard, wanting her marked as mine. Her fingers find the top of my head and she rubs them through my hair. Moving to her pussy, I mimic her by moving my tongue around her clit, her back arching as her body lowers, bringing her closer. I slide my hands under her ass, gripping her hips and licking, taunting, and fucking harder, eliciting the sexiest moans I’ve ever heard.

My hair is tugged and I inhale her while driving her mad with pleasure. She squirms and I hold on tighter until I hear her breathing stagger and her body starts to tighten. With her head tilted back, her mouth wide open, she comes with desperate moans as her body is overwhelmed and tremors.

“Dex!” Her back falls flat against the mattress and her breath returns, her thighs easing around my head. I place one more kiss on her pussy before I slide up next to her. Her lids are heavy and a smile resides on her face. “It’s been a while,” she says, as if I’m judging her.

“It’s been a while for both of us.” I roll over so I’m resting on her bare chest, our bodies aligned. She kisses me, then I whisper, “I haven’t been with anyone except you in almost a year.”

She kisses me again this time lingering on my lips. “I’ve not been with anyone else in the last three.”

My heart starts racing as I take in her words, her confession, and her commitment. Hovering over her, I feel the need to release my own confession, but this time not running away from fear of rejection. I say, “I love you.”

Her eyes stay locked on mine and she says, “I love you too.”

Pushing inside, her eyes close as her warmth engulfs me. I close my eyes and begin moving. The soft skin of her hand finds the rough surface of my face and she caresses. “Open your eyes, Dex.” Her words are uneven like our breathing.

When I lift my lids, I finally see the love I’ve waited for what feels like a lifetime. It lies in the depths of her amber eyes. A jolt of reality restarts my heart to make every beat count from this moment on. Her nails scrape lightly up my back setting every nerve on fire and I start thrusting, all my energy put into the act.

Rochelle squirms, taking all I give and giving all she has, her desire a turn on and her confidence sexy. “God, Dex. You feel so good.”

“You feel better.” My words are slurred from the haze I’m under. My body moves of its own accord, sensations and frustrations building deep inside. Her body drives me for more, making me want to steal her soul like she’s stolen mine. “Fuck. I’m gonna come soon.”