I quietly entered the back of the house, hoping that Aria didn’t hear me. I was waiting for a package from Mr. Michaels to be delivered, and I had insisted that the delivery of such remain quiet and discreet.
As expected, I had been in the house only ten minutes when I spotted Mr. Michaels’ delivery man coming up to the door. Having the opportunity to intercept him before he knocked and alerted Aria was a perfect component to add to the element of surprise I was hoping for. Thinking of an ideal gift to fit this occasion, it was imperative that a twist of shock be added for my plan to conclude successfully.
As I finished my business with the delivery man, I closed the door noisily to alert Aria to my presence in the house.
“Hey, beautiful, are you upstairs?” I called to her.
“Yes, and I’m out of the shower if you’d like to get in,” she answered.
I ascended the stairs, and there stood Aria fixing her hair in the mirror. She saw me in the reflection, and I could see the image of her face break into a look of delight at seeing me. She turned and came to me without hesitation.
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she looked into my eyes. God how I missed her eyes! Those blue pools sucked me in every time.
“I missed you, bear,” she said.
“I thought of you every minute. No bullshit,” I told her, and I gave her a kiss that told her so.
She looked at me with temptation in those eyes.
“Get ready for dinner, Declan, or we won’t make it there at all,” she warned.
I exited the room, making my way to the shower. My girl was correct; if I didn’t keep my distance from her, then we wouldn’t make it to Fresco’s.
“I’m going downstairs to stay away from you, baby,” she laughingly teased, calling out to me as I heard her go down the stairs.
He was dressed in Thom Sweeney and looked as if he stepped out of one of his photo sessions. His suit played up his dark eyes, which were sultry and seductive as he scrupulously examined me from head to toe. TT
“Mmm…Don’t you look ravishing,” Declan said with a grin; then he lifted the back of my hand to his lips and kissed it, which made the most delightful warmth flow throughout my body. He made me blush from head to toe when he did that. “I cleaned up the best I could for you, considering the long flight,” he said.
“Hmmm…I think you pass inspection,” I replied.
I decided to be playful and put my finger to my smiling lips, shifting my eyes from side to side to indicate that he might be rated ‘okay’, but he just laughed at me.
“You’re being a bad girl, Aria,” Declan warned.
“I thought you liked it when I was bad?”
Within seconds, his look turned from playful to sultry. “Aria, keep that up, and we truly won’t make it to our dinner reservations,” he informed me in a husky voice.
I looked up at him playfully, and replied, “Nope, you have to feed me. I had a really tough day.”
With that, he burst into laughter.
“Oh, I’ll just bet you did! C’mon, beautiful, let’s get you something to eat.”
With that, we walked downstairs, and after I reached for my small clutch on the table, Declan and I headed toward the back door of the house to take the car for the short drive to Fresco’s. This romantic dinner was long overdue.
“Beautiful, your chariot awaits,” he said dramatically as he held the door open for me.
I laughed at him acting so gallant, stepped out onto the back porch, and reached my hand up to touch his face. He winked at me, which made me giggle. It was then that I turned. What I saw made me immobile. Sitting in the street was a brand new, show stopping, garnet colored, Ford Mustang Convertible with a big bow on it.
My. Heart. Stopped.
I stared at the beautiful car, left momentarily speechless. Puzzled, I turned my face toward him, still completely clueless.
“Declan, what have you done?”
He had a grin plastered on his face.
“It’s quite simple, baby,” he said to my quizzical look. “You bought me a building…and I bought you a car.”
With that, he scooped me up in his arms and practically ran down the stairs to place me into my splendid Ford Mustang.
He picked up my hand, palm up, dropped the keys into it, and with a wicked look and tone, he said, “Here you go. You can drive.”
Dinner at Fresco’s was wonderful. I’ve always enjoyed eating there, but being at the restaurant with Declan was perfect.
What is it about going somewhere with someone special that makes it seem completely different? That’s what I felt when I walked in with him. Fresco’s wasn’t very crowded, but tonight, it felt new and it suddenly became our place. The maître d’ seated us and brought the wine list, which I relied on him to choose. His eyes never left mine, and his expressions varied with the conversation. He went from adoring and seductive, to playful. I attempted to talk about serious business, but Declan said we’d work it out and tonight was for us to enjoy. I wholeheartedly agreed.
In the months that he and I had grown as a couple, I realized that he was an enigma. I was, however, solving more of his mysteries every day. I had also sensed that he never allowed anyone such access to his life previously, and the conversation with Aimee at the spa confirmed that. The thought both pleased and excited me. TTT
Declan couldn’t get enough of touching me throughout the entire dinner. I loved his touch. Throughout the evening, he stroked my arm and caressed my hand; then he held my wrist and encircled it with the thumb and middle finger of his other hand.
“This wrist is just a little bare, baby,” he said.
Declan reached into his pocket and removed a small, soft bag with an emblem on it. I recognized it from the Pandora jeweler.
“What’s this?” I asked as he laid it on the table.
“Just a little something I wanted to give to you. Open it,” he encouraged.
I picked up the bag and peeked inside. It was a Pandora bracelet with one charm on it. The charm was a beautiful seashell with a golden starfish on it. I instantly adored it.
He took the bracelet from me and encircled it around my wrist to clip the clasp closed.
“It’s beautiful, just like you.”
“I love it. Thank you,” I said. “A car and a bracelet? I’m not sure I know what to make of all of this.”
“The car, we can talk about later. If we’re going to be partners, in business and otherwise, we have to learn to accept gifts from each other, but we can sort all those details out in the next few days. Agree?” he said.
I nodded my head. “Agreed.”
Looking down at my bracelet and charm, I couldn’t help but smile. I had always wanted one and had mentioned it in passing to Declan. I liked that each bracelet was meant to be a collection of what was special to the wearer. Now, I could start my own collection.
“The charm’s so pretty. Pandora has so many unique ones. What made you choose this one?”
“That’s simple, baby,” he said with a shrug. “I’m the seashell; I have rough edges all around. I may look graceful, but appearances are deceiving. The only thing that makes a seashell beautiful is being tossed and turned in the tumultuous conditions of the sea.” Pointing to the starfish, he held the charm up to me. “You’re the beautiful starfish; you’ve always been a thing of beauty. The fragility of a starfish is an illusion and they survive the storms of the sea through their strength. They can be completely self-sufficient but choose to be part of a pair.” He closed my hand around the charm and looked deep into my eyes. “On this charm, the beautiful clings to the rough. Although they go through different conditions of their respective seas, once joined, she clings to him. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, through the storms, his ugly transforms into beauty and her frailty is positively his strength. The charm is us, Aria.” His loving description of how he saw us represented in the simplicity of the charm brought tears to my eyes. He held my hands across the table and lovingly smile
d at me. “Aria, the love I’ve found with you is the strength I need to be happy every day of my life.” Declan’s words challenged everything I felt about myself.
“Oh Declan, you have it so wrong…” I said to him. “You’re not rough. That would be me.” Looking at him I felt emotion overwhelm me. What I was about to tell him was forming a lump in my throat. “I was the emotional wreck when we met, and I was shattered and broken on the inside. You’re the beautiful one. How can you not see that?” I looked at him to try and impress each word on his heart.
“The world sees it with every magazine they buy. You’re one of their definitions of beauty. To them, you’re the perfect one.” As I set my eyes on his, I could feel the tears start to fall. “I hate to admit this, but there are times when I feel that I’m not beautiful enough to deserve to be with you… and that people can see it when they look at us together.”
I didn’t want to admit that fear to him, but I needed to say it. I waited for some sort of strong reaction. What I received instead pierced my heart more deeply and effectively than anger or disgust.
“Then you and they have it all wrong, Aria. There’s only one that knows my heart. I’m going to tell you something very personal. When I was a little boy and our dad left, my mom used to say to Carter and I that, when we grew up, she hoped that God would help us find the beautiful women that she believed He had already chosen for us. In fact, she used to add that request in our nightly prayers. When mom died, Carter had already found Lacey. She used to say that Carter found the one that was chosen for him. When Mom was close to the end of her time here, she said that one day I’d find the perfect, beautiful person who was chosen for me. I only agreed with her to humor a sick and dying woman, but I’ll admit now that my mother was right. I don’t care what the world’s definition of beauty is, Aria. You are my definition of beauty and perfection. Everything I see in your face is perfect to me, and every curve of your body is anything I could have ever desired. Those are things that are subjective to the beholder. What is most beautiful and perfect to me about you is your heart; the way that you love me. At the end of each day, you still love me no matter what mistakes I’ve made or what a fool I’ve been. When I look into your eyes, something magical and transforming happens to me that goes straight through my heart and soul. I believe that I’ve found the one that was chosen for me. That someone is you. You’re the beautiful starfish who clings to this coarse and ragged seashell, despite the storms…we simply will go through them together.”
The sincerity of Declan’s expression unhinged my emotions, and I felt I could no longer stay in a public place. I was about to embarrass myself in Fresco’s…
He was still holding my hand when I whispered, “Please take me home…”
…and driving down Coastal Highway, a beautiful Ford Mustang took pleasure in driving to the beach…a perfect place for a seashell and a starfish to be…
T Bella Luna – Jason Mraz
TT Our Love is Easy – Melody Gardot
TTT One and Only – Adele
TTTT Blue Glasses – Smokey & Milo
When we went back to my house and parked Aria’s new car, I made a mental note to phone Harris Michaels at the Ford dealership tomorrow. I wanted to personally commend him and his staff on the excellent part they played in the Mustang surprise for Aria. Buying the car was just a spontaneous idea that had occurred to me while in Tokyo.
Aria always commented about my car whenever we went out for a drive. From the first time I picked her up for a date, she was quite surprised that I owned a blue and silver, 1987 Ford Mustang. I suppose that, since she’d seen most of my ad work in suits, and most of my time with her I was in casual wear, she’d assumed that I’d arrive in a more conservative car. She just smiled as I buckled her into her seat belt. When I questioned her in the car, she just said, “I never pictured you as a motor head.” Then she laughed.
Since that day, Aria would always tease that she’d get her own Mustang—I just beat her to it. Once I realized my mistake in overreacting with regard to Aria’s purchase of the building, the plan suddenly came together in my head. It seemed as if not only would the point be made, but we could see how our relationship was growing deeper. I wanted her to understand that I desired her to be the most precious part of my life. If she felt I was serious enough for her to purchase a building, then she’d know that I felt she was serious enough to receive a Mustang. I do believe that’s what we were trying to say to each other through our extravagant gestures. It also helped that the car was in her favorite color. The look on her face tonight was absolutely priceless and one that I’ll never forget. She was never going to let this one go, saying that there was no way she was letting me buy her a car. In time, I knew she would get used to the idea. We could just bicker and grumble a little bit about it for a while, but the “make-up” would be well worth it! In the end, dinner was great, and it was turning out to be a perfect night. T
When we arrived home, she removed her shoes, walked around to the front of the house, and placed her toes in the sand. She had stepped onto the porch and stopped to look out at the full moon shining over the ocean.
“Beautiful,” she said as she gazed out at the starlit sky.
I came up against her back and pressed into her, roaming my hands around her hips and down onto her stomach. I brought my lips down to her neck and kissed the sensitive area where her neck began to curve into her shoulder.
“Yes…you are,” I said.
She moved her neck to the left, and I brushed her hair with my hand, twisting it in my fist. I had been battling with control all through our dinner. After the animosity and distance our recent argument had caused between us, being with her in such a public place tested my resolve. Her nearness now made me realize that I was fighting a losing battle. With my hands near her body and sensing her warmth, I desperately wanted to touch Aria more than I needed air.
She placed her hands over mine, and rather than trying to hold them at bay, she drew them closer to her in agreement. She pushed back, pressing against me, leaving me no doubt as to her longing. Tossing her head back, she allowed me access to the side of her throat and her shoulder where I nestled my face. I had so missed my beautiful girl!
I brought my hand up to her breast and heard her quietly moan. The sound was all the encouragement I needed to direct my hands to roam over her curves as I teased and aroused her sexy body.
We were home, Aria and I. I had this feeling of contentment come over me. In this place of sea, sky, and sand there was complete euphoria and peace for the two of us. Our mood lighting was the full moon, our music the crashing waves. I could hear her breathing, and it quickened and deepened with the rhythm of the ocean sounds.
It…Was…Perfect. TT
I gingerly reached and pulled the zipper lower and lower down the back of Aria’s dress. As I did, I kissed the back of her neck down into the sway of her curve. I used both hands to slide her dress off her shoulders and savored the touch of her skin on my lips by nipping and sucking all the way down. I then lowered myself into the Adirondack chair that she loved so much, and as I did, I began to travel her dress downward as a companion of my hands.
She stood before me in the moonlight as a goddess. Her dark hair hung down, covering her breasts and displaying her back to me. When I slid the dress down completely until it fell around her ankles, I sucked in my breath because she was so desperately beautiful. I felt privileged to have her as my own.
I sat back for a moment to savor my view. The emotions of the past few days began to build and join with my hopeless desire for her, and the throbbing of my own body reminded me that I was a man on a serious mission.
She began to turn around to me, but I directed her to stay to gain control of myself.
“No, beautiful…I want to look at you,” spoken from vocal chords that betrayed my fragile grip on self-control. It took all patience not to ravage her, but the anticipation would make the end result so sweet.
My he
art beat in time with the incessant throbbing that urged me to claim her. As it beat, the rhythm burned these subliminal messages to my challenged senses…Aria was perfection…Aria was enchanting…Aria was a treasure…Aria was intoxicating…Aria was mine…
Declan’s lips scorched my skin as his kisses traveled over my body. They hotly grazed as if they were the flick of a branding iron. I found that I craved his touch, and the events of the past week had only served to escalate my appetite for him. TTT
I hungered for him. I needed him. I ached for him. He was entrancing, and I was under his spell. He directed, and I obeyed. Each touch of his hand, each massage of his fingertips, each suck of his lips, and each nip of his teeth confirmed that I was being marked by him, owned by him, and taken by him. He both lured me and engaged me with his touch.
With each kiss and lick, desire flowed through my body until each breath I took carried his lustful infection through the cells in my blood. I turned to face him, but when he directed me to stay in place, I felt sexy, desired, and beautiful as I could feel him studying me in the moonlight. I could sense the heat of his desire through his words. His intense stare on my breasts when I stilled at his command made me feel wanton. When he sat back in the chair to take in a thorough view of me, I felt and absorbed his total pleasure and raw desire.
Slightly moving my head to allow myself to look back at him, I knew he would take me; in fact, I was sure of it. I wanted him to know that I had my own agenda. He acknowledged my thoughts when his stare caught my eyes, and I confirmed them when I looked into his.
Declan stood, and my breath escaped me as he rose mighty above me. He was so potent, powerful, and dynamic that I felt incompetent for a moment. He pushed his hands into my hair as he cupped my head and lowered his lips, capturing mine with his kiss. In desperation for him, I no longer felt the need to breathe; I only needed the life force that he breathed into me.
Positive/Negativity Page 14
