Predestined Hearts

by Kelly Elliott

  Lifting the corner of my mouth, I barely smiled. “And telling her I dismissed Lucy is going to be one of the greatest pleasures, since telling her I was carrying your child.”

  Danny’s laughter boomed throughout the carriage. It moved through my body and covered it like a warm blanket. “You naughty girl.”

  Lifting my eyebrow, I whispered, “I believe that is one thing you admire about me, Mr. Stowe.”

  Moving over and sitting next to me, Danny pushed his hand up my dress and found his way to my wet sex. “One of the many, many things I admire about you, Mrs. Stowe.”

  It didn’t take long before I was lying in the seat of our carriage while my husband had his wicked way with me.

  THEY GOT MARRIED. Sophia’s pregnant. They got married. Sophia’s pregnant. Where’s Devlin fitting in to all of this? What is the baby’s name? I racked my brain trying to recall anything Aunt Leelyn had said. The fact I had read graphic sex to Gael failed to register with me.

  “Ashlin, you still with me?”

  Gael’s voice brought me out of my stunned silence. “Yeah, I am. I’m … they’re ... I’m …”

  A sickening thought occurred to me before I could finish and my brain tried to assimilate answers to all my questions. Throwing the covers off, I started downstairs quickly, not finishing my jumbled thoughts.

  Gael responded, not realizing I was on a mission and thinking I was as stunned as he was. Little did he know there was a deep concern that I was afraid to voice, even mentally, at this point until I saw what the genealogy program said.

  “I was not expecting that. But, I did like hearing you read the naughty parts.” His words didn’t register with me as I kept thinking. They got married. Sophia’s pregnant. They got married. Sophia’s pregnant. Where’s Devlin fit in to all of this? What is the baby’s name?

  “Ashlin, did you hear me?”

  “What?” I sounded slightly breathless as I took the stairs two at a time.

  Gael’s voice changed to more concern. “You sound like your jogging. What are you doing?”

  “I’m headed downstairs. I need to see something on my Aunt Leelyn’s genealogy program.” My socks were slippery on the wood stairs.

  “We could keep reading.”

  I nearly slid into the door frame as I rushed into the office. “No, I need to look at this closely. What if we really are related, Gael? Sophia’s pregnant. Oh, what if—”

  Gael cut me off. “Hey, we’re not. We both had different great-great-great-grandparents.”

  “What if we got it wrong or this is a misunderstanding? Sophia’s pregnant. What if somehow it was Daniel and Sophia’s daughter listed in the lineage?” The thought I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge verbalized itself and a knot formed in my stomach.

  Gael was silent for a second as my words sunk in before he responded, “Ashlin, don’t think like that. We’re not. We can’t be.” His words sounded strained.

  The thought of the happiness I had found being yanked away had my heart palpitating in fear. I wouldn’t be able to watch Gael be with someone else if we were family. There was no way. Please. Please. Please don’t let us be related. The nervous pulse of my heart could be felt in my fingertips.

  The creak of the chair sounded as I sat and moved the mouse to awaken the computer. “I know, Gael. I’m checking.”

  Clicking on the genealogy program, it came alive. Quickly, I opened the section Sophia would be in. My Aunt Leelyn could recite all of the information by memory.

  As I remembered, Devlin Covington the Third and Sophia Marie Montgomery were listed together. There was no date. There was a small red cross and I clicked on it; indicating there was more information. Daniel Gael Stowe and Sophia Marie Montgomery appeared also with no dates. What I hadn’t noticed before was there was an additional green cross on Daniel and Sophia’s name. I hovered on it and gasped.

  “Ashlin, the suspense is killing me. What did you find out?”

  I heaved out a sigh of relief. “I don’t think we’re related. They did have a child named Joselyn Marie Stowe. Thank goodness, it’s not Annabelle which was Devlin and Sophia’s daughter. Oh Gael, we aren’t related.” I sunk back into the chair, drained from the adrenaline rush.

  Gael let out a sigh, too. “I feel the same way, sweetheart. I’m in serious need of you. Knowing, there was a chance we wouldn’t be able to be together has me wanting you now.”

  Desire curled within me. “I can’t wait. I’ve missed you. Those Fraisiers better be out of this world.”

  He chuckled. “I hope so, too. After hearing you read those parts with Daniel and Sophia, I’m going to be hard thinking about you all through class today.”

  “You liked that. Maybe I’ll have to do it more often. It wasn’t as embarrassing as I thought it would be. You’ll have to be really good to get me to do it again.” I bit my lip at the obvious flirty line.

  “I’ll be good.” There was a knock at the door. “Hold on, Ashlin. Let me see who it is.” There was talking on the other end. The phone was muffled and I was unable to make out any of the words before he came back on the line. “I’ve got to head down. Chef François wants to meet with me. I’ll call when I can.”

  “Bye, Gael.”

  “Bye ...” he paused. “Ashlin.”

  The phone went dead and I wondered if he was going to say something else instead. Feeling drained, I slunk upstairs and tucked myself into bed.

  What would we have done if we had been related? There wasn’t an acceptable answer I was able to come up with. Harris was worth dealing with to have Gael.

  Gael.

  In two days, we were going to be together in every way possible.

  One more day until Gael was home. Evening was quickly approaching. I hadn’t heard from him since early this morning at five. There was another full day of cooking and there wouldn’t be a chance to talk.

  Microwaving a Lean Cuisine meal, I tried to quell the excitement for what tomorrow would bring. The food popped and sizzled under the cellophane wrap and my mouth watered. I was starving and this was the extent to my cooking abilities. The phone vibrated and danced on the counter. Gael’s name showed and an involuntary smile spread across my lips.

  “Hey, you’ve had a long day. How was it?”

  He yawned. “It was long, but I get to see you tomorrow. I have to make this quick, but have a favor to ask you. The restaurant needs a bottle of wine from my house that’s a special request for an eight o’clock reservation. Would you mind going out to get it? If not, I can see if my mom could go.”

  “No, no, no. I’ll go. It’ll give me something to do. I was about to eat a Lean Cuisine meal, but I’ll reheat it when I get home.” I heard a groan on the other end of the line. “Why are you groaning like that?”

  He groaned again. “Ashlin, Lean Cuisine is like a curse word to me. I cannot believe you are eating that when you have a restaurant at your disposal. Do not eat that.”

  His obvious dislike for microwave meals had me giggling. “Come on. It’s nutritious and yummy. And it only takes four to seven minutes to have a completely balanced meal.”

  “Please throw that away. I’ll have something waiting for you at the restaurant when you give them the wine...”

  I looked at the container. “But it’s yummy turkey with mashed potatoes and dressing. It’s so good. I live on these when I’m at home. You’d probably die knowing how many I’ve eaten over the last two weeks.”

  “Seriously, Ashlin. You’re causing me a coronary. Get your cute ass to my house. I’ll have something good waiting for you at the restaurant.”

  I was practically in tears as I laughed. “Okay, okay, okay. I won’t eat it. I’ll get something from the restaurant. But, beware if I ever cook for you, this could be on the menu. What kind of wine am I looking for?”

  Chucking, he responded, “You will not see that touch my lips. I’m going to educate you on proper food. The wine is a Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanee. Thanks, sweetheart. I owe you.”

>   All the possibilities of how Gael could educate me popped into my head. My hormones were in overdrive … again. “Yes, you do. I’ll make you pay up tomorrow. Let me get my shoes on and I’ll head that way.”

  “Okay, I’ll call you back to make sure everything went okay. Thanks again.”

  “Anytime.”

  We hung up and I proceeded to grab my Aunt Leelyn’s car keys. Forty minutes later, I pulled up in the driveway of Gael’s house.

  Getting out of the car, I stopped and watched the moss sway in the evening breeze. My eyes traveled to place on the tree that had Daniel and Sophia’s initials carved into it. Seeing how strong their love had been brought a smile to my face. The mystery behind how Devlin fit in the picture still loomed in the back of my mind, but Sophia and Daniel would find their way through the storm. I was sure of it.

  Love conquered all. Didn’t it? I refused to answer that question any other way but yes. If the answer was no, I feared for what that meant when it came to Harris trying to ruin any chance I had with Gael.

  The key slid into the door easily. I opened it and entered. The house looked undisturbed. Lights were on, which I knew were from the timers Gael had set to give the impression someone was here. Glancing in the living room before heading to the kitchen, I saw the couch Gael and I cuddled on as he read to me.

  Being here reminded me of him and made my body yearn to feel his touch again. My fingers touched my mouth at the thought of his lips on mine. A faint fire smell permeated my nose. I’m sure he built many fires and I loved the residual smell it left, only adding to the feeling of home.

  Focus, Ashlin. Focus.

  Turning, I headed to the kitchen to where I remembered the wine refrigerator being. Sophia and Daniel had spent their honeymoon here and were going to make a life on the island with their baby. To have someone’s child growing within you must be an incredible feeling. I longed to have that experience and be there for someone unconditionally, unlike my father.

  My child would know that they were enough—that I loved them with my whole heart, regardless if my own was shattered.

  Shaking the thoughts from my head, I opened the small fridge and saw a note in Gael’s handwriting.

  My feet felt like they were encased in concrete, unable to move. Gael isn’t due back until tomorrow. Could it be? Is he back early?

  Finally, my feet connected with my mind and I searched for the flowers as I made my way to the front of the house. About to head into the living room, I glanced up the stairs and saw calla lilies placed up the steps. A candle burned on a dark-brown table at the top landing.

  Hurriedly, I climbed to the top of the stairs. Another calla lily laid on a piece of paper with writing on it. My name caught my attention on the note.

  Running my fingers over the note, excitement sprung through me. Gael’s room was the first on the right. Ready to give myself to Gael, I turned and saw three more flowers leading to his door. This was something that happened in storybooks and I wanted to pinch myself that it was real.

  Hurriedly, I picked up all three flowers before entering his room. A fire crackled in the fireplace and I realized that had been the smell I had recognized when I had first entered. Sporadically, candles were placed and lit. To the right, Gael stood in jeans and a lightweight green sweater. My memory had not done him justice. In the low light, his dark hair was disheveled. At the same time, we smiled.

  My heart came alive and soared.

  Gael approached me and before I could say anything, his lips were on mine as his hands came to the sides of my face. Tingles rippled across the surface of my skin where he touched me. His tongue sought entry and I granted it, needing more of him. There was no restraint with our need for each other.

  I moaned into his mouth as he held me like I was a dream.

  He pushed back slightly. “I missed you. I’ve thought about you every second of every day. And now I have you back in my arms.”

  “I’ve missed you, too. I can’t believe you’re holding me again.”

  His mouth consumed mine, but this time there was more passion and fire.

  Gael took a step back and I whimpered at the loss of contact. “Don’t let go of me.”

  “Sweetheart, I want to savor every moment while we bare ourselves to each other. This will be forever etched in my mind as one of the greatest experiences I’ll ever have, Ashlin. Having you is a dream come true.”

  I gasped at his words. “No one has ever made me feel as special as you do with words alone.”

  “I’m going to make you feel special with my body, too, Ashlin. I’m going to worship you.” His words were serious as he looked at me with tenderness. His eyes blazed with desire.

  A nervous excitement came over me as we sat at the precipice of our relationship changing. Not able to express what I wanted to say, my shaking fingers went to the hem of my sweater and brought it over my head, leaving me in my lace black bra that showed my nipples. Gael’s eyes widened. Kicking off my ballet flats, I pushed down my leggings to reveal a matching pair of underwear. There was an unexplainable wantonness that came over me, not caring about my brazen side coming to the surface before Gael had removed anything.

  “You’re the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever seen.” His words were reverent as he stared at me with unmasked appreciation.

  My hair was down and I nervously intertwined the strands between my fingers. It had been awhile since I had been with anyone, and even then, sex had been robotic and unemotional. The connection with Gael was more than I’d felt with anyone else.

  Barely above a whisper, I responded, “Thank you.”

  Gael dragged his shirt over his head to reveal a lean muscular body that had my fingers reaching out to trace the ridges of his abs. The muscles underneath my touch shuddered. His fists were clenched to his sides and I looked into his eyes. “You can touch me, Gael.”

  “I can’t.” His voice was strained and he swallowed hard. “If I touch you, I won’t be able to stop myself from ripping your lingerie off and taking you. I want you more than I’ve wanted anything else.”

  Hearing that there was a chance my lingerie could be ripped off took my libido into overdrive. My fingers trailed down to his pants and I unbuttoned them and slid the zipper down one tine at a time. As my knuckles grazed the bulge, I could feel his hardness.

  Needing the distance before I ripped off his clothes, I stood back. “I think I’ve reached the limit of my willpower, too.”

  Gael slide off his pants. The blue boxers clung to his muscular thighs. Not touching me was only causing the sexual tension to curl deliciously around us. It had my sex pulsing for him to touch it. Unclasping my bra from the front, I dropped my hands to my sides and let it fall down my arms. I could feel the tips hardening on my breasts as he stared while wetting his lips.

  “I’m going to touch every inch of your body, Ashlin.”

  “Please.”

  Being with Gael, I put all my insecurities aside as I slid my panties down, showing him every part of me—flaws and all.

  His breathing became labored. “Most beautiful sight I have ever seen. You’re perfect, Ashlin. Every inch of you is pure perfection.”

  In that moment, I felt beautiful.

  He took his boxers down and his hardened length sprung free. Without thinking, my filter forgot to work in that second. “Oh my. He definitely had his Wheaties this morning.”

  Gael laughed. “I like that response.”

  I blushed and Gael walked up to me. “Your nipples blush when you’re embarrassed. It’s sexy as hell.”

  The pads of his fingers brushed over my nipples and I arched in response, my head falling back. Lips tickled my neck as they lightly sucked the exposed skin. Feeling Gael’s body move further away from mine, I stepped with him until he stopped. The kisses had moved to my jawline and the touch on my beaded tips had turned to more of a pinching and rolling sensation.

  My body felt lit up with pleasure. Turning, he gently laid me down on the bed and
stared down at me. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.”

  “Gael, please. I feel the same way, but I need to be yours completely.” My body hummed to have him claim me as he had talked about. It wasn’t a want, but a need on a cellular level.

  Fingers trailed up the apex of my thigh, to the cleft of my sex that throbbed in anticipation. Light touches tickled along the edge and my body arched, wanting to feel him inside.

  Gael hovered above me as his positioned his mouth above my nipple.

  “Please, I need more. So much more.”

  At my wish, his fingers entered me and his mouth descended on my nipple. My body or mouth couldn’t hide the pleasure as he teased me to the edge only to back off slightly. I needed an orgasm.

  Against my wet nipple, his breath tickled as he said, “You’re close, sweetheart. I can feel you. I’m learning you. Your body is in tune with mine and responds. As soon as you orgasm, I’m taking you, Ashlin.”

  I willed my orgasm to surface quickly, wanting to feel a piece of him within me, giving him a piece of myself forever. Pressure from his thumb came to my clit and Gael leaned up as he looked into my eyes as the euphoric feeling of my orgasm danced across my skin like a sensual electricity that liquefied my insides.

  While I laid in a boneless heap on Gael’s bed, he grabbed a condom. One day we would be without barriers and I longed for when we were to that point in our relationship. Skin on skin, I imagined, was one of the most intimate things a couple could do, and I wanted to experience it with Gael. As Gael positioned himself between me, my hands grabbed his arms.

  The tip of his dick touched my opening. I could feel the muscles within me tense, beckoning Gael to push in. Gael came down and teased my mouth with his tongue as his dick grazed against my clit, which caused small bucking motions from me to gain friction.

  As he softened the kiss, leaving me breathless, he pushed in. Never leaving my eyes, I felt him stretch my inner walls as I accommodated his size while feeling the claim of his body over mine. I felt possessed.