My balls tingle and tighten.
“Fuck, fuck,” Rebel cries out. “Take me, Dirk, take all of me.”
Fuck.
She’s so needy and hungry. More than I’ve ever seen her before. More than I ever realized she could be.
That’s it, that’s what has changed.
Her.
Me
Us.
She finally sees it.
She finally feels it.
I grab her hips.
I pull out.
I push in.
I take her, everything she offers to me.
She’s raw, open.
Exposed.
I soak it all up.
The power, the passion, the vulnerability she’s laying out for me.
Everything.
I claim it.
Hard, fast, without stopping, until I’m exploding inside her.
I growl out, “Mine!”
That night, I exploded inside her.
Twice in the wheelhouse, and three more times in my quarters.
Three little words sat unspoken, but they hovered between us.
By morning, she was gone.
My heart? Shattered and broken.
My calls and texts went unanswered.
The pain of her leaving me made the pain of the loss of my mother seem like a paper cut. The pain of losing my leg and my friends…a cakewalk.
“I will love you as the sea loves. In gentle waves and in ferocious storms.”
Nick Frederickson
Chapter 27
Skylar
Two Years, 3 months, 15 days later…
* * *
“I’m sorry to interrupt. It’s Randy, he says it’s an emergency. You know I wouldn’t…”
“It’s alright, Dawson. I’ll take it.”
He nods. “Line three.” My private line.
My heart pounds in my chest. Emergencies and Randy are never a good thing.
“Hi Uncle Randy,” I say softly into the phone.
I hear him sniffling on the other end of the line. Panic rises. “Randy, what’s wrong?” My mind immediately goes to Dirk. But it’s June, they’re not on the water.
“Kathleen,” he chokes out.
“Jesus, Randy, what happened?”
“Can you come?”
“Of course, I’ll be there. Is she gone?” I can’t help asking, but I also know that I cannot fly for six hours across the country without at least knowing something.
“It’s not good, Rebs.” I can hear the anguish in his voice.
“I’ll be in the air in two hours. I’ll have my phone, message me if something changes.”
“Thank you,” he breathes.
“Love you,” I tell him.
“Love you, be safe.”
I frown.
Dawson comes back into my office as I hang up.
“I’m leaving,” I tell him. “I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
“What’s going on?” Dawson asks, concern coloring his tone.
“My aunt…” The emotion fills my voice, tears threatening to consume me. “She…it’s not good, Dawson.”
“Go, what can I do?”
“Call Diem, tell him to meet me at the penthouse, if he isn’t already there. Find me a flight—non-stop to Sea-Tac. Get me a car, and I’ll need a hotel room. Go private if you have to. I need to be in the air in two hours or less. Just let me know where Diem needs to go.” I toss my stuff into my bag, including the day’s file folders I haven’t reviewed yet. “I’ll get these signed and have Diem overnight them when we get there,” I tell him.
“No rush, take care of you.”
“Thank you.”
I look around, making sure I have everything. I don’t see anything I’ve missed. “I’m calling Ryleigh, I’ll let you know if I need you to book her a flight from Billings.” We won’t talk about that right now.
“What else?”
“I’ll call you. Go ahead and book the car and hotel for a week. I’ll let you know once I’m there if I need to extend it. Diem may want Scott there too. I don’t…” I take a deep breath and let it out as I say, “I don’t know. I don’t…”
“Go, I got you, you know that.”
I look at him. “Thank you, Dawson.”
“Anytime.”
I grab everything and throw it over my shoulder. I head for Rachel’s office. She’s on the phone but takes in my disheveled state and ends her call. I fill her in on my leaving. She understands and reminds me she’ll be in touch. I leave her office and head for the elevator. Dawson looks softly at me from his desk. I nod as the doors close and pull my phone from my bag.
It chimes with a text from Dawson.
From Dawson: Diem was around the corner, be here in 2 minutes.
To Dawson: Thx
The elevator stops on the bottom floor and I push my way through the lunch thrall of people coming back to work. I see Diem screech to a halt in front of the building. Thank god.
I step out just as he’s rounding the SUV. “We have to hurry,” I tell him. “Dawson is booking flights.”
“He told me,” Diem says as he opens the door.
“Scott?” I ask as he climbs into the front seat.
“We’ll get him out there, let’s just worry about you right now.”
I nod.
In record time, we’re in the elevator to the penthouse. Evan, my doorman, was kind enough to let Diem park the SUV in front of the building after I explained we’d be back down and have to leave right away.
“Diem?” I shout through the house after squaring a few things away.
“Yeah?”
“Are our go-bags still in the SUV?” I holler.
“Yes.”
“Yours?”
“Yes.”
“Good, because we gotta go,” I tell him as I come out of my room with a few things I was able to grab. “Dawson has us on a flight in 90 minutes. JFK.”
Diem’s got a backpack on his shoulder. “Then let’s go.”
“We can get what we need once we’re there, and I know more.”
“That’s fine. I’ll call Scott on the way.”
“Dawson said to let him know when Scott can fly out, and he’ll book for him.”
“Alright,” he says as we step back into the elevator.
I feel like completely coming apart, but I need to hang on, just for a little while long.
My resolve shatters when my phone lights up with his face.
Dirk
I’ve been pacing the hospital floor for over an hour debating whether or not to call her. I know Randy called her. I was standing right there, but he couldn’t get much out. I almost took the phone from him, but I didn’t want that to be my reintroduction to her.
We haven’t spoken, despite my best efforts, in the two years, three months and fifteen days since she walked off my boat and never looked back.
Two years and I’ve not gone a single hour of a single day without thinking about her.
I finally find the courage to press the talk button.
It rings once.
Twice.
“McKay,” she snaps.
“Rebs?” I breathe.
“Dirk,” she breathes back. “How bad is it?” she asks. Her voice is full of emotion, almost as much as I’d heard that day we sunk the original Bearded Bean.
“It’s bad, Rebs.”
“What happened?”
“She was t-boned. Driver’s side. She’s in surgery, but Skylar?”
“Yeah?” I hear a door shut.
“It’s not good, they don’t think she’ll make it. Rebs, her arm is gone, her leg…” I choke.
“Fuck!” she growls. “I’m on my way. We’re flying non-stop to Sea-Tac if we can get to the airport in time. I can forward you the details when I have them from Dawson.”
I smile at her willingness to send me stuff, but in the same, I’m pissed. Two years, and this is what it takes to bring her back to me. “I’d appreciate th
at. I can pick you up—”
“Not necessary, we’ll have a car. Dawson is working on hotel and car as we speak.”
“Okay,” I say, deflated.
“What hospital?” she asks.
I give her the name of the hospital.
“We’ll be there as soon as we have the car.”
“I’d like to pick you up; Diem can deal with the car.”
She sighs. “Alright, I’ll text you the details.”
Yes. “Thank you, Rebs.”
“Yeah,” she breathes. “Dirk?”
“Yeah, beautiful?” I say before I can stop myself.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
I don’t know if she means about the last two years or Kathleen. Right now, I will take either.
“Keep your phone on WIFI. I will text if there is any news.”
“Thank you. I’ll let you know if we make our flight.”
She hangs up after that.
For the first time in over two years, I feel my heart beating again.
She’s coming.
I’m picking her up.
Seven hours is still a very long time. I try to take a deep breath.
Thirty minutes later
From Rebel: Made it to airport. Will keep you posted.
Followed by her flight information.
Three hours later
To Rebel: Kathleen is out of surgery, in ICU. Prognosis – unknown – extensive brain damage suspected.
From Rebel: I wish I could fly faster. Tell her that I love her and that I’m coming.
To Rebel: I will. Randy is with her now. Skye, he’s a mess.
From Rebel: He loves her so much
To Rebel: Not as much as I love you…
I couldn’t bring myself to send it. The last thing I need right now is her running away from me.
To Rebel: I know
Three hours later…
I’m about to crawl out of my damn skin.
I’m standing just outside the terminal, waiting for her and Diem to come walking through.
I can’t take it anymore.
Kathleen is holding on but she’s slowly spiraling down, and at the request of Randy, I’m to get her there as soon as possible.
I check my watch.
I check the board.
They landed almost 15 minutes ago. They should have come through the door by now. She flew commercial, there’s no way she didn’t fly without first class, no matter the cost of the last-minute ticket.
The sliding doors open briefly, then close. Open again…more people, more people who aren’t her walking through.
I freeze.
I see Diem.
The door closes and opens again.
That’s when I see her—she looks just as stunning today as she did two years ago.
Her head is turned away from me when the doors close. Then they open again.
Whatever warmth I felt at the fact she finally took my phone call, slides out of me like someone dumped ice water over my head. Then my heart rips in two when I see her talking to a woman.
A woman with a baby on her hip. I tell myself she met this woman on the plane…no, they’re not together.
The doors close before I can put a fine point on the scenario playing out in front of me. Then I watch as the woman who’s been the object of my affections and subject of my ire claps her hands together, a big smile on her face, then holds her hands out in an offering.
The doors start to close, then open again as someone approaches.
I get a good look at the little guy in Rebel’s arms.
The math runs wild through my mind.
Two years…
Three months…
Fifteen days…
Minus nine months…
Eighteen months.
As they come through the door, Rebel settles the little guy on her hip.
He smiles widely at her.
She coos at him.
Slow motion. My life plays out like a damn slow-motion movie before me.
Diem nudges Rebel.
Her eyes find mine in an instant.
She stiffens, her steps faltering just a bit.
Then she’s pointing at me, talking to the little one on her hip. His head darts in my direction. A very happy grin on his face. He kind of scoots in her arms so she sets him down.
His little body moves faster than his little legs will carry him as he zig-zags his way toward me. The goofy, happy grin hasn’t left his face.
His hair.
A similar shade to mine.
His grey eyes stare back at me.
My eyes find hers then dart back to him and back up to her.
Her expression sobers. She nods.
I crouch down, achieving his level as best I can in my tall state.
“Come here, little man,” I coo, and the little guy runs right into my arms. I scoop him and gently toss him into the air. He lets out a beautiful full belly laugh. I do it again.
“I’ll take him. Why don’t you and Melody go run the errands and get what we need?” Rebel suggests, looking at the woman for confirmation.
The woman nods. “Absolutely, Ms. McKay.” She’s young, maybe mid-twenties.
Not a girlfriend.
“Straight to the hospital?” Diem asks Rebel. She nods to him. Then his eyes meet mine briefly before returning to her. “You’ll be all right?” Again, she doesn’t say anything, just nods. He hands over a car seat. I take in her state and notice she has several bags hanging off a shoulder, including a diaper bag. Diem pulls a suitcase, Melody does too. It’s the same one Rebel had two years ago; it has to be hers.
Her eyes meet mine, and whatever she sees in them satisfies her. “Yup, we’ll be fine.” She smiles at Diem.
“See you later then, keep me posted.” Diem turns to me. “Good to see you again, Mr. Tyler.”
“Likewise,” I tell him.
I settle the little guy at my side, wrapping my arm around him.
Now that we’re alone, for the most part, in the middle of Sea-Tac airport. I glare at her. “Mine?”
“Jax,” she says softly, putting her hand on his back. He looks at her, a similar expression to the one he had when he transferred from the woman’s arms to her.
“Did you ever plan on telling me?” I can’t keep the anger from my voice or the narrowing of my eyes at her.
She looks down, an impish expression on her face. “I…yes, maybe, eventually…” she stammers. “It’s complicated, Dirk. I’m sorry, but I don’t, can’t…”
“It’s not fucking complicated, it’s unfair, Skylar.”
“I never intended for you to find out like this. Xavier, I swear.”
“No, you just intended to keep him from me forever?”
Her eyes meet mine. There’s fear, worry, and tears shimmering. “I—"
“Telling me two years ago would have been fair. Not 27 months later.” I am so angry with her.
Jax moves, reaching for her. She sets the car seat down and holds her hands out for him. “Come here, big man,” she coos sweetly. I reluctantly let him go. She looks at me. “I’ll go find Diem, have him drop—”
“You walked away from me two years ago, Rebel. I won’t let you do it again. Not now, not ever, and not after I’ve just found out I have a son, a nearly two-year-old son,” I emphasize.
“You’re angry, Xavier. Kathleen is dying. I don’t have the energy to get into an argument with you. I fucked up. I know that, but there was no way I was going to leave him in New York.”
I take the car seat from her. “You’ve got to give me a minute here. I need a little time to process this, Skylar. Jesus. Can you give me that?”
She nods slowly, sheepishly.
“Come on,” I say more softly as I lead her and my son toward the parking garage. “If I hadn’t come in and picked you up at the curb, would you have waited for me with him?” I ask as we walk.
“No, I would have found some time to tell you.”<
br />
“I’m not sure I believe that,” I grouse.
She walks with me, though, a step behind. She doesn’t say anything to my comment. I’m not sure what to think right now. I know damn well Randy nor Kathleen knows about this. Randy would have told me months ago. Whether or not it was his story to tell, he knows how fucking miserable I’ve been these last two years. But he never failed to remind me that she was just a plane ride away, so maybe he does know.
“Does Randy or Kathleen know?” I ask point blank.
“No,” she whispers.
Fucking fantastic.
We get to my truck. I unlock it. I look at her, feeling like a complete fucking idiot. “Where does this go?” I ask about the car seat because I have no fucking clue. I have no clue about anything.
“In the middle. I’ll trade with you.” She offers Jax to me. I take him.
“Was your flight okay?” I ask her. I don’t know why, but now that I have him back in my arms, I feel calmer, more in control. Though, I still feel like punching a hole in the side of my truck.
“It was awful, but only because I was freaking out the whole time,” she tells me as she climbs into the truck with the car seat.
Despite two years of nothing—two years of being ignored, and two fucking years of not knowing about my son—my cock hardens watching her move. Pregnancy has done wonders for her. Her beautiful ass is slightly rounder. Her tits are fuller. She looks fucking gorgeous. Being a mom suits her really well. She still has her dreads. They’re longer now. Much the way my hair is. I debated on leaving it down for her, but I’m glad I pulled it back when Jax finds my necklace.
“What ya doin’, little guy?” I ask him, and he shakes his fist with my necklace in it. It jingles, and he smiles a big toothy smile. I can’t help smiling at him. He looks just like I did as a kid. Little curls in his dirty blonde hair. He has my eyes and nose.
“Okay,” Rebel huffs as she climbs back out. “Can you let go of Daddy’s necklace?” she asks Jax and hearing her refer to me as daddy does all kinds of funny things to my insides. Things I haven’t felt in a very, very long time. “Come here, Jaxon.” She says his full name, but I get the impression that while it sounds like my dad’s name, it’s spelled differently, hence the Jax part.
Always Love Me: A Standalone Second Chance Romance Page 21
