What Happens Tomorrow (21 page)

He playfully taps the end of my nose. “First things first,” he teases with a sexy wink. “I’m gonna cook my beautiful girlfriend a romantic dinner.”

Tease.

AFTER AN AMAZING dinner, we relax in the hot tub. The heat from the water leaves me feeling unbelievably relaxed. A cool breeze blows in off the ocean; just the right amount of cool to keep the hot tub from feeling too overwhelmingly hot. The chilled glass of crisp chardonnay Tyler poured us as we climbed into the water finishes off a perfect evening.

I lounge next to him, glass of wine in one of his hands while his opposite arm stretches out on the edge of the hot tub behind me. Leaning over, he kisses the side of my head. “This is the life, isn’t it?” he says with a sigh. “Relaxing in the hot tub with an unbelievable view of the beach and ocean, and enjoying it all with the woman who has stolen my heart.”

Kissing the side of my head one more time, he slowly pulls away. The contentment and adoration in his eyes are both clearly visible. “Can I ask you something?” His voice sounds a little more serious than it did a moment ago.

“Of course. You can ask me anything, always. You know that.”

“Are you really as happy right now as I am?”

I wasn’t sure what he was going to ask, but this definitely wasn’t it. I relax the back of my head against his shoulder and take another sip of my wine. “I am. God, Tyler, for once in I don’t know how long, I really am. This place…it’s so beautiful, so peaceful. I still can’t believe we’re really here.”

His wine glass clinks as he sets it down on the edge of the hot tub, then he reaches over and removes the glass from my hand, placing it next to his. He turns to me, cupping my face in his hands as his fingers caress my cheeks. I lean my head into his hands, reveling in the feel of his skin against mine. His eyes never leave mine as he leans in and kisses me.

At first, his lips are tender but firm against mine, then tilting his head, he deepens the kiss as his tongue pushes past my lips. Finding what he is seeking, his tongue rhythmically strokes against mine, sending a charge of electricity surging through my entire body. His tongue skillfully runs across my lower lip and before I know it I’m completely lost in this kiss.

Nothing else matters except right here. Right now.

When he pulls his lips from mine, I feel drunk from the toe curling kiss. Still cupping my face, he affectionally runs a thumb along my bottom lip. “I love you so much, baby.”

I close my eyes as I feel his words deep in my heart. Each time he tells me he loves me, a piece of the puzzle is found, making my heart whole.

“If you think you’re ready, I want to spend tonight showing you how much I love you, my beautiful girl.”

I don’t know what to say. I’ve wanted this for so long but now that it’s about to become reality…

As if sensing my anxiety, he tilts my chin up and forces me to look at him.“Look at me. If you’re not ready, tell me, okay? I never want you to do anything you aren’t ready to do.” He moves his face so close that we’re nose to nose as he gently brushes his hand across my cheek. “I promise, it’s okay if you’re not ready.”

I close my eyes again as I breathe in his familiar scent. He smells of chlorine, cologne … and Tyler. I find it comforting and intoxicating.

Home.

The evening has been perfect. We’re together in this beautiful romantic location and I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be with Tyler for the first time. I’m nervous as hell, but my god, I want him so bad it hurts.

Come on, Brooke. What are you waiting for? You love him and he loves you. It’s time.
Slowly, I open my eyes and look to the handsome man before me. He takes my breath away. “I want this, Tyler. I want you.”

No sooner have the words left my mouth that he lifts me onto his lap, crushing his lips to mine. He’s never kissed me this passionately before. It’s just on the verge of painful and I love how alive it makes me feel. Without warning, he pulls away and lifts me off of his lap as he climbs out of the water.

I ache to have his lips back on mine.

I’m about to climb out of the hot tub when he grabs me by the waist and hoists me out of the water. He lovingly wraps a towel around my shoulders, then one around his waist as he leads me into the house. His arms wrap tightly around my waist as he runs gentle kisses down the back of my neck and a low moan escapes my throat as I feel the electricity course through my body. I can’t take much more of this.

We walk into the living room and I see a large, fluffy, sky-blue comforter laid out by the fireplace with four large billowy pillows placed at the head of the comforter; it looks so inviting. There are rose petals running from the entrance to the living room all the way along the outline of the comforter.

When did he do this?

I turn to look at him with a questioning brow and a mischievous look spreads across his face as he shrugs, giving me one of his signature sexy smirks. “While you were getting changed I did a little setting up. Do you like it?” He releases me from his arms to light the candles that run along the length of the fireplace hearth.

“I…I don’t know what to say. You did all of this for me?” My voice is shaky as the familiar sting of tears threatens my eyes. My heart is so full of love right now.

As he lights the last candle, he pads his way back over to me, taking me in his arms and pulling me tightly against his warm body. He lowers his face to mine and playfully rubs our noses together. “I did this for us. I want this night to be special, a night neither of us will forget.”

I close my eyes and gently shake my head, trying to ward off the tears that threaten to spill. He’s done it. This incredible man has removed the very last brick from my wall. He’s released my heart from it’s lonely prison, and now it will forever belong to him

“Look at me, baby.” Slowly, I open my eyes, damp with tears. “I love you with all my heart and soul, Brooke. I think I always have and I know I always will,” he confesses, leaning his forehead against mine.

I reach up on my toes and kiss him…hard. The need to be close to him has never been stronger. I can no longer hold back the feelings I have for this man who saved my heart.

Who saved me.

Effortlessly, he picks me up in his arms, our lips never parting as he carefully lowers us onto the blanket. Gently, he lays me down, then carefully lowers his body until he’s resting on top of mine. I feel his desire for me press against my thigh. As I’m freed from my towel, he pulls his lips away, slowly sliding his body down as he kisses and nips his way down from my neck to my shoulder. Without warning he stops, propping himself up on an elbow while running his other hand across my stomach.

“My god…do you have any idea how beautiful you are? Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted you? How I’ve fantasized about making love to you every single day since the day we first met? I knew I was done for the moment you looked at me with those big, beautiful brown eyes, right after you spilled your coffee all over me. You mean so much to me, and tonight I promise to show you just how much you mean to me.”

His words make me feel like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world, and I smile at the memory. If it hadn’t been for me and my clumsiness we might never have met. But then…Maybe it was fate.

I don’t know what it was that brought us together but I do know there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m ready to give my mind, body and soul over to this man. He already holds as much of my heart as anyone can. I reach over, caressing his cheek. “I love you Tyler, with all my heart. Ty…please…make love to me. I need to feel close to you.”

Linking my arms around his neck, I pull him down until my lips consume his. I kiss him like I’ve never kissed him before, desperate to relay just how deeply I need him…want him. As I’m pulled close against his chest, he unties the back of my bikini top with his free hand, then lifts the top over my head and tosses it to the side. Gently caressing the sensitive skin of my bare back, he pulls his lips from mine, moving them back down my neck. I can’t believe how incredible his warm, bare chest feels against my skin. I don’t remember ever feeling this connected to Matt.

Oh my god, why did I just think about Matt?

What’s wrong with me?

I really am that fucked up.

I break away from our embrace and sit up, pulling my knees up to my chest. Confused, he slowly raises himself up to sit beside me. Tenderly, kissing my shoulder he cautiously questions,

“Hey, what just happened there? Did I do something wrong?”

I slowly shake my head, biting my bottom lip. I’m unsure how to tell him what happened without ruining everything. We’re here in this amazing romantic place, about to make love for the first time, and I think about my dead husband? He won’t take it well. How could he? How could any man? I’d be devastated if the tables were turned.

“Brooke, what is it? I promise, baby, you can tell me anything. If you’re not ready...if this isn’t what you want…we can stop, I promise. I just want you to feel safe.”

I turn to look at him, unsure of what I can say without it sounding bad. “It’s just t-that I was thinking about Matt.”

His eyes close as his head drops to rest on his knees. “Oh.” I hear and feel the sound of pain in his voice.

“It’s not what you think. I…I feel guilty. Not because I’m with you.” I reach over and place a hand on his knee. He needs to feel my touch as much as I need to feel his. “I love you. Please know that. I feel guilty because in all the time that Matt and I were together I never felt as connected to him as I do to you at this very moment. What I feel for you, Tyler…it’s so much deeper, more intense.” Slowly raising his head, he looks at me. “Because although I loved Matt, I love you more, and it just makes me feel like a bad person.”

How do I tell him that I’ve often wondered if this journey was meant to lead me to him? Because really, that’s how I’ve been feeling lately. I loved Matt with all my heart, but I love Tyler with every ounce of my being.

He reaches over, removing my hand from his knee, and slowly lifts it to his mouth, grazing his warm lips against my knuckle as his eyes look deeply into mine. His look feels so incredibly intimate that I swear I can see into his soul.

“You’re my soul mate. I’ve always felt it. It’s the only way I can explain the connection when we first met.”

Without another word, his lips attack mine. He parts my lips with his tongue before running it along my bottom lip. I feel his hand on the back of my head while our teeth clang together as we completely devour each other. Once again, he leans my body down on the comforter, pulling me against him. He runs a free hand slowly down my side, his touch leaving my skin burning and my insides clenching. He moves his lips from mine, trailing kisses down the base of my neck, his lips never leaving my skin until he reaches my breasts. The feel of his hot breath on my bare flesh is almost too much to take

“I need you,” I whisper as I roughly run my fingers through his hair, trying to relay how desperate I am for him.

“Have patience, baby. Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved.” Seconds later, his strong lips wrap around my nipple, and the pleasure is almost too much to take. As he releases his mouth from my breast, he seductively whispers, “Mmmm…better than I ever imagined.”

My body is on the verge of an orgasm and he has barely touched me.

Slowly licking and sucking his way down my body, he reaches the top of my bikini bottoms, playfully tugging the fabric down with his teeth when he abruptly stops his sensual assault.

Oh no.

He’s seen my scar.

I nervously lift my forearm over my face. I’m not sure how to react. He’s only the second man to see what I consider the most sacred part of my body. This is my reminder that Katelin did exist. That she was real.

He looks up into my eyes with soft drooping eyelids, as the corners of his mouth slightly pull downward. Sorrow. He realizes its importance. He touches his lips to my scar, placing a tender lingering kiss as he reverently runs his hand across my stomach. He doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t need to. I feel it in his touch.

I run my fingers through his short golden locks, pulling him up towards me. “Come up here. Please. I need you to kiss me.”

Without another word, his lips are back on mine, slow and consuming, as the back of his fingers tease their way down my hip to the inside of my thigh. And I nearly stop breathing with anticipation. Carefully, he parts my thighs as he runs a single fingertip over my throbbing clit and I arch my back at the sensation. More. He runs his finger to where I crave it the most, taunting me before he slowly pushes it inside. Oh my god! He adds a second finger and rhythmically stokes the tender spot I’ve heard so much about, yet never experienced until now, nearly bringing me to orgasm. As my body begins to clench, he stops.

“The first orgasm you experience with me will not be because of my fingers, baby.”

After what seems like hours of mouths and fingers and kisses we stop. Lying breathless in each other’s arms, he pulls back slightly to look at my face. “Are you sure this is what you want? You’re sure you’re ready?”