Silent Music

by Aisling Magic

  I see you everywhere

  in unnecessary smiles,

  in pointless sighs,

  in wandering daydreams

  I love the words coming from her.

  Yes, spend this life with me,

  But my favorite place to be seen

  Is in your eyes.

  My favorite smile is on your lips

  My favorite sigh is when you think of me

  My favorite daydream is when you’re in it

  And we’re so ruining this song for Greg!

  She chuckles. My eyes catch the colorful tattoo she recently got on the back of her neck. The tattoo is a black semicolon where the dot breaks out and colorful phoenixes fly up her neck. I guess she needed this tattoo. It represents her so well. Unable to resist, I brush my lips on the sensitive skin.

  “Your stubble tickles.” She squirms.

  I do it again and again, loving her wiggles. “I love this one. Best tattoo you got,” I say, my finger tracing the phoenixes up her neck.

  “I agree,” she says and tries to turn around. I close the notepad and place it on the grass and turn her so that she’s still on my lap but facing me. Phoenix lays a kiss on my nose and whispers, “Only you …”

  These words never fail to inflate my chest. Phoenix’s only you is equal to I love you for me. “Love you too,” I whisper, brushing my thumb over the scar on the side of her neck. “You’re not wearing makeup today?”

  Phoenix shakes her head. “There’s nothing to hide anymore.”

  Her answer makes me feel better because she knows that I love her scars and all. My head leans down on its own to plant kisses on her scar. Her content breath is all the encouragement that I need. She cranes her neck, giving me better access and says, “I love when you do that.”

  I smile. Brushing my tongue on the spot where her neck meets her shoulder. “I love when you love when I do that.”

  Her chuckles morph into moans, and I slip my hand under her top. My other hand caresses her cheek, and I trail my finger around her lips. “Here,” I whisper.

  “What?”

  My index finger stops, and my thumb rubs her lower lip slowly. “A smile,” I say. “Always wear it.” Her lips soften into a smile, but then she goes quiet. “What’s the matter?” I ask.

  “Sometimes …” she says, curling her fingers under my chin, urging me to look at her. “Sometimes, I feel like the word love isn’t enough to describe what I feel for you.”

  I inhale. “Tell me how you’d describe it then,” I ask, bringing both my hands to her waist.

  Vulnerable eyes peer into mine. “It’s like the sunrise—but the one that rises only for us. Like the first raindrop dedicated to us. Like the fragrance of flowers at first bloom. Like the way music touches us and evokes a thousand memories, and for each one, it’s different. Like watching the waves play with the reef, calling to me and each one whispering your name. Like two hearts beating as one. Like that blissful music which dances in silence. All those feeling mixed together—all at once. This is what I feel for you.”

  God, I love this woman so hard.

  Ignoring the wetness of my lashes, I touch my forehead to hers. “Yeah, a four-letter word cannot amass all those feeling,” I agree huskily.

  She smiles and shakes her head, blinking her misty eyes. “This is what I feel, and I just want it to be enough for this lifetime.”

  I cup her face in my hands and make it a point to look deep in her eyes. “I’ll take this every day, every second, every moment. Our story didn't start that day in the park. It starts now. And it'll last our lifetime. It'll last for the rest of time..”

  Long after the world goes silent.

  THE END

  A LETTER OF THANKS

  Wow…you’ve made it—you’ve read the journey of Phoenix and Kai and you’re still reading...That’s so amazing.

  Silent Music wouldn’t have reached your hands had it not been for these amazing people who helped to get the story of Phoenix and Kai ready so that it’s readable.

  To my Ma and Pa—THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

  Jennifer Roberts-Hall—I’ll be honest, any other editor would’ve abandoned me, but you stood by my side during these two years and I LOVE YOU FOR THIS.

  Then, I’m sending the sweetest kiss to the lovely Kim Bailey. Sweetheart, you have an amazing heart and had it not been for you, this book would still be somewhere on my laptop, collecting dust. You believed in me even after reading my crappy first draft *lol*. I will never be able to thank you enough.

  A huge shout-out to my beta readers. Ladies, thank you so much for being such an important part of my debut. Kim, how do you manage to be such an awesome beta/alpha reader—I’m amazed and I’m keeping you forever. Allison, thank you for being so helpful and for spotting that plot hole in the climax plus helping me fix it. Barb, thank you for being courageous and agreeing to beta read this newbie’s book. Stéphanie, thank you for your dedication toward Silent Music; I was so lucky to have you as my beta— your feedback made this one better. Pavlina, I couldn’t believe that I had you on my beta team. Thank you for everything.

  Judy Proofreading—thank you for making this book squeaky clean!

  Kate Stewart—you’re one of the sweetest person I know. Lots of kisses and hugs for being here for me.

  Christie (Smokin’ Hot Book Blog) and Sophie (Sophie’s Reading Corner)—Thank you. Your kindness warmed my heart.

  Lots of love to the Piano Guys for creating such inspiring music. I couldn’t possibly write a word without your music blasting from my earplugs.

  Last, a big thanks to you for picking the book of this newbie and being a part of Phoenix and Kai’s journey. All I hope is that Silent Music managed to bring a smile on your face.

  With love,

  Aisling Magic

  ABOUT AISLING MAGIC

  Aisling Magic is a twenty-something author who can either be found writing about people falling in love or has her nose buried in a book well past her bedtime. She enjoys chocolate, cello music, rainy nights, long drives, traveling the world, and Chris Hemsworth.

  About her books: She writes romance stories with a hint of humor. Her heroines may not always be sexy, but are strong, her heroes may not always be the alpha but are dedicated and the families in her stories may not always be related by blood but are all bonded by heart. Aisling likes to pretend she’s the most badass character in her novels but in the real world, she doesn’t even go to the toilet at night without lighting up the house.

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