"Wow... this is beautiful," I said stunned at the view off the patio. All you could see was the ocean with the sound of the waves hitting the shore, "so beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as the woman next to me." Travis smiled while sitting on a two seater swing that overlooks the ocean, I followed and sat next to him. "Look, I just want to say that I didn't say anything about my family's company because I didn't want you to look at me differently. I wanted to wait until you knew my story and knew me before knowing about all of this. This is the first time that I've brought a woman around my family and I just wanted it to be perfect."
"I do not look at you differently. The only thing that has heightened is how proud I am of you. This is an amazing company. It's not about the money... it's about the work you do and how you help people, families, workers. You are helping so many people and you should be proud of yourself too." I said while turning to him.
"It's a good company. It was my father’s company and after he passed, my Uncle took over. When my brothers and I turned eighteen, we became partners with him. We each get 20% which is more than enough. But, it's just a company Anastasia. I don't want this to change anything with us." He looked over at me and started to lean in.
When his lips touched mine, it was everything I ever imagined. A kiss that wasn't fireworks or a stampede of animals in my stomach. It was a kiss that made me feel warm and safe. A kiss that made me feel protected. A kiss that made me feel everything positive in this world. He pulled me closer and kissed me harder.
After we pulled away, we both stood up and leaned over the patio to look out into the ocean.
“Wow, look how calm the water is.” I said softly, afraid of disturbing the peacefulness.
“It is. There’s usually boats out at this time, but for the ball, we blocked it all off.”
“You can do that?” I turned to look at him.
“Yes I can. The water is too beautiful to have engines cause waves.” He smiled as I looked back towards the ocean. “You know what?”
“What?” I asked him but keeping my eyes on the ocean.
“How I used to think this water was so beautiful.” He exhaled.
“It is so beautiful though.”
“I used to think this water was so beautiful, until I saw you drenched in Coca-Cola.” He laughed as I looked at him and laughed loudly.
“You know what?” I repeated his question.
“What?” I turned my body and looked up at him. He mirrored my actions.
“I used to think I was stupid for ever being the way that I am, so scared of this world and being careful with everything I do and touch. I used to think I was so stupid for wanting the things that I want, the things I deserve. Then, I met you and I don’t want to run anymore.” I had tears in my eyes while looking up at him and he pulled me in for a tight hug. My face buried in his chest while his arms wrapped tightly around me.
“You were never stupid, Anastasia. Never. You deserve this world and more.” He told me while still hugging me.
"Travis and Anastasia!" We heard Emma shout. We pulled away and turned around to look at her and Ethan standing there.
"It's time for us to go home!" Ethan shouted down to the patio so we could hear him over the waves hitting the shoreline.
"Home? Why home?" Travis said looking at his watch.
"Oh, Anastasia it's 10:40."
"It's what? We've been out here for 2 hours?" I said wide eyed.
"Yes and Paul has been waiting for us for 40 minutes. We need to get going." He said while grabbing my hand and walking up the stairs.
When we arrived at the house, we all said goodnight to each other. Travis and I went up to his room and as soon as I closed the door, he pulled me in for a kiss. A slow romantic kiss. He licked my bottom lip asking for entrance and I gladly let him in. I felt his fingertips go from my hand and slowly up my arm as he wrapped his other arm around my waist pulling me even closer.
When I least expected it, he spun me around so my back was touching his chest. I inhaled a deep breath. He backed away and swiped my hair to one side while starting to unzip my dress. His fingertips ran down my arm and back up to my shoulders. I turned around to meet his eyes and my hands found their way to his button down shirt. Taking my time, I unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off and his bare torso showed. His abs were covered in tattoos along with his chest and upper arms. I couldn't help but trace my fingers over them. He pulled down my dress so I was standing there with black lace panties and black lace strapless bra. He pulled me closer to pick me up and gently place me on the bed. There I was laying on the bed with him standing on the edge taking in my body. He climbed on top of me and his brows furrowed.
"What?" I asked him while propping myself up on my elbows.
"Anastasia, what happened to you?" Travis asked nervously while running his hand over my stomach.
"Shit... Travis, I got lost in the moment and I just can't do this." I hurriedly said while jumping up and grabbing pajamas and running to the bathroom.
"Anastasia," I heard Travis say while listening to his footsteps outside of the bathroom door. "Please open the door."
"Travis, just please go away."
"No... Tell me what happened. I need you to tell me what happened. Anastasia, were those... burn marks?" He said softly while hearing his head rest on the door.
"Please open up." He pleaded.
"Just forget it! I don't want to talk about it!" I said while throwing my pajamas on.
"You need to tell me what happened. We can talk about this." I opened the door and he backed away and he started following me to the bed. "Wait." He said while gently grabbing my arm so I would turn around to see him.
"I said no!" I yelled while ripping my arm away.
"Travis, leave me alone!"
He put his hands up in defense, "Okay Anastasia. I just want you to know that you can talk to me. You need to talk to me. Especially about this! Was this Liam?! Did he do this to you?" He said while getting angrier.
I backed away from him, feeling tears pool in my eyes. "Please calm down. Please? I don't want to see you like this. Please just relax." He looked like a different Travis, not the Travis I knew, but the Travis that was in the middle of that circle the day he beat that guy to a pulp.
"Anastasia this isn't acceptable. He did this to you! He will pay for what he did! I'll make him pay!" He yelled while balling his fists.
"Travis stop please. You're scaring me!" I cried out.
He calmed down at my words and his eyes got softer while his hands relaxed. "No no. I would never ever ever do anything to hurt you. I would never lay a hand on a woman Anastasia. Never. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you scared. I am calm now, but I do need you to tell me what these marks are from and what happened." He told me softly while walking towards me. He took a few steps forwards, I took a few steps back. I couldn't help it, it just happened. "Please no. I would never ever hurt you. You are safe with me. I will never let anything bad happen to you ever again. You hear me? You are safe with me."
Chapter 10
"Yes they are." I told him while sitting on the bed.
"Yes what is?" Travis sat down with a confused look.
"Yes they are... burn marks." I fumbled with my fingers, not being able to look up at him.
"Anastasia," Travis sighed while putting his hand on my knee "Did Liam do this to you?"
"Yes... a few times he did but it was mostly my fault. I did things that I shouldn't have. I went out with my friends when he told me not to, I chose studying for a test over seeing him, I even had a beer at a family party that I went to. They were little things like that which I should have known that they would make him mad. I shouldn't have done them, but I did. So him doing this, me getting these marks, was all me. My fault." I told him as a tear fell down my cheek.
"Anastasia, absolutely not! How can you even say that this was your fault? You are not at fault here. You did nothing wrong. Liam, Liam did this. This was all him. How could he h
ave done this to you?" Travis said softly.
"Cattle prod," was all I could manage to get out "He...
he... it was the worst feeling and I knew when it was coming and I couldn't stop him. He was too strong. I fought, I tried to fight each time, but the harder I fought, the more marks I got. If I told anyone what he did, then he told me he'd do it again twice as much." I cried.
"Oh my... Anastasia," Travis said with tears in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry. Come here."
He started moving towards me with open arms, I moved back. "No please, please no," I pleaded "I won't let it happen again. I won't survive it."
"I won't hurt you. Come here, this will never happen to you again. Never! I'm right by your side. He will never hurt you, no one will." He said while moving closer to me and giving me a hug. I fell into his chest as I hugged him back. It was that moment that I needed. I couldn't help but let it all out. Tears of buildup, cries and whimpers that needed to be let out from each burn, each bruise, and each scratch. When one tear came down, the rest followed and I couldn't stop. My body wouldn't let me. He just hugged me tightly until my body went numb from all the stress I put on myself. The weight of the world on my shoulders. I couldn't breathe from the inside. I felt like I was drowning in my tears. Eventually, I got dried up so no more tears could come out and I had no more voice to cry anymore. He picked me up and laid me down in bed, he laid beside me and I rested my head on his chest and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning
I woke up and stretched like my life depended on it. "Good morning Anastasia." Travis rolled over and smiled at me.
"Good morning," I smiled back. "I'm sorry about last night. I didn't know where all of that came from. I didn't know I was holding that much inside and I completely ruined what was supposed to be an amazing night. I'm really sorry." I explained to him while giving him a sympathy look.
"Don't be sorry. Not one bit! I'm glad that you spoke to me about this and told me. You needed to let this all out and the first step to healing, is telling someone what you went through. I just want you to know that nothing bad will ever happen to you again. I'm here and I'm going to keep you safe." He told me while rubbing my back. I just smiled in return.
"I'm going to go shower. I'm in need of a nice long hot shower." I told him while walking into the bathroom.
"Good morning Anastasia" the robotic voice said.
"What would you like to listen to today?" She asked.
"Ummm... maybe the playlist from yesterday?" I questioned myself and before I could answer the question, Taylor Swift started blasting through the speakers around the bathroom and in the shower. "I'll take a long shower too. I'm in need of some relaxation." I spoke out loud.
"Shower set to 45 minutes Anastasia." The robotic voice said.
"Perfect. Thank you." I spoke and realizing that I was speaking to a computerized robotic voice. I looked in the mirror and rolled my eyes. I gasped at the sight of my appearance. My eyes were red and swollen and I had makeup smudged over my eyes. "I look awful."
"That's what a relaxation shower is for." The robotic voice said. I rolled my eyes and stripped down to nothing and went in the shower.
There was water coming out of the many jets on the sides of the shower and the big shower head right in the middle coming straight down like a waterfall. I just stood in the middle, listening to music and thinking about everything I told Travis last night.
~
As the shower shut off and the music stopped playing, I realized that 45 minutes was already up. I got out of the shower and dried myself off and ran a bush through my hair.
"Damnit." I cursed after looking around the bathroom for the clothes I didn't get before I came in here. I walk to the bathroom door and open it to see Travis laying on the bed in his boxers. "Travis, I uh... I need my bag. I kind of forgot clothes." I said while letting out a nervous laugh.
"Sure thing!" He jumped off the bed and grabbed my bag. When I was about to take it from him, he grabbed my hand gently and pulled me so I was out of the bathroom. Still in my towel, I tried to tightly hold my towel shut so he wouldn't see anything.
"Travis! What are you doing?!" I shrieked.
"Well, I don't think you'll be needing clothes right now." He said seductively.
Ugh hearing him say that was the sexiest thing ever.
He needs to say stuff like that more often. Oh my Anastasia, what are you doing? Looking at him in his boxers, gives me a view of everything and I can't help but practically drool.
"I would shut your mouth so that blob of spit doesn't fall out." He said laughing.
"Not funny! I just... you oh wow." Was all I could manage to get out? Mentally face palming myself I realized I needed to get my shit together and think of a normal person and what they would say... aaannnnddddd I got nothing.
He walked over to me slowly eyeing me up and down. I couldn't help but hold the towel tighter and rock back and forth on my feet, not knowing what I should do. Once he reached me, one of his arms wrapped around my body and the other one found my neck and he pulled me closer. This wasn't a kiss, it was an electrifying magnetic pull towards each other. We couldn't possible get any closer. His two hands found the back of my thighs and he lifted me up. My legs now wrapped around his waist, my hands in his hair, and my lips on his. He walked me to the bed and placed me gently on it. I made sure to pull the towel tighter around me so nothing would show. He climbed on top of me and took my hands in one of his and put them above my head holding them down gently. His other hand reached the knot I tied so my towel wouldn't fall. He looked at me for approval and I nodded my head.
"I'm going to make you feel so good Anastasia." He said softly while moving my head to the side and kissing my neck. He let go of my hands and moved his hands to my towel and opened it. I couldn't help but cover myself. "Don't hide from me." He whispered. His lips found my collar bone, then he moved to my breasts. He was kissing and licking me until he found my nipple. The swirl of his tongue made me moan as his hand found my other breast.
"Fuck... Travis." I hurried to cover my mouth.
"No no... I want to hear how good I make you feel." He said while removing my hand.
His lips travel from my breasts, to my stomach, kissing every burn mark that he could see on the way down. I tried to cover them but he wouldn't let me. He kisses, licks, and sucks my hips as one of his hands move to my inner thigh.
"Please" I moaned out.
"Please what?" He looked up and smirked "What do you want me to do to you?" He asked.
"Travis please. Don't make me say it." I said huffing and puffing like I was a five year old who didn't get their candy.
"I want you to say it."
"Please please... make me feel good." I rolled off my tongue.
As soon as I said that, his lips got closer and closer. He kissed my scars one last time before he reached my hips then sat up and opened my legs. He moved down the bed and spent no time fooling around. He wrapped his arms around my thighs and his hands landed on my lower stomach. His tongue flicked a very sensitive spot that I didn't even know I had.
"Travis... shit." I moaned out as I tried to squirm myself away. He just held me down tighter so I couldn’t move at all.
His tongue was flicking back and forth, doing circular motions. His tongue was moving up and down towards my opening and then back up. My hands found his hair and I formed fistfuls of it and couldn't help but pull.
"Yes Anastasia." He moaned, which made me moan even more because him moaning made the sensation even better.
"Fuck Travis yes." I gripped his hair tighter because his tongue got faster. "Yes please don't stop don't stop." His tongue kept getting faster and faster. "Please please." He changed what he was doing and started sucking which sent me over the edge. My back arched and I moaned his name over and over again.
That was the first orgasm I've ever had. "Holy fuck Anastasia." He said while moving up the bed and propping himself up on his elbows. He was st
aring at me smiling.
I can't look at him right now. I need time to recover. I'm shaking, literally shaking. I feel my insides jumping out of my body wanting more.
"Travis that was... wow. I’ve never… felt that before." I couldn't get the words out.
"You’ve never had an orgasm?” He asked me and I shook my head. “Well, I’m happy that I’m your first. You are so sexy when you moan my name. Hearing you let yourself go was the most amazing sound I have ever heard. God, you're so fucking beautiful." He smiled.
Chapter 11
Two days later...
September 23, 2018 10:42pm
Here I am, laying down in a bed next to Travis. I told him everything. He knows it all. My life, my bad times, my good times, Liam. We talked all day today. He knows my whole life story. Everything. I never spoke of some things out loud and I told him about it all. Intimacy... is that what you would call it? I honestly don't think there is anything more intimate between two people than trust and vulnerability.
Next morning
"Anastasiaaaaa.. wake upppp." I woke up with Travis whispering in my ear.
"Five more minutes." I said sternly.
"Nope. Get up and get dressed casually, we are going on a date." He said excitedly. I perked right up.
"Where?!" I smiled and jumped out of bed.
"You'll see! Paul will be here in 35 minutes!" Travis got up and got his clothes together, "you take this bathroom and I'll take the bathroom in the room next to mine." "35 minutes?!?!" I yelled at him.
"35 minutes." He chuckled at me while shutting the door.
After I showered and talked with the robotic lady... that’s a sentence I never thought I’d say. I ran the brush through my hair, I put it in a messy bun and threw on some makeup. I got dressed and opened the bathroom door to see Travis sitting on my bed already ready to go.
Eyes For You (Chasing Tomorrow Book 1) Page 5
