by Dori Lavelle
When we rose into the air, I exhaled, the tension dissolving from my body. As I looked outside the window, watching the houses and buildings shrink below, a warm, fuzzy feeling spread through my chest. I was flying away from my troubles. Up here, next to my future husband, I was untouchable. I had no idea how long the feeling would last, but I would enjoy it as long as I could. No use worrying about the next hour when I could enjoy five minutes of freedom and safety.
Miles looked sexy in his flying gear. From time to time, he turned to glance at me, a curious expression on his face.
“I'm not going anywhere. You know that, right?” I smiled.
In my life, I had made a lot of decisions, some of them wrong. Miles was the best decision I’d ever made. We complemented each other in ways I could never have imagined. And even though we had a strong bond, we were still individuals. In the next few hours, I would be Mrs. Durant, one more step away from the girl I used to be.
I was well aware I would not be able to keep my secrets from Miles for much longer. He would be my husband, and if the stalker persisted, he would eventually find out. The worst thing would be for him to find out before I had the chance to explain, to defend myself. Maybe he would understand, and maybe he would find a way to protect me without going to the cops. Doing it all alone was just plain exhausting, and so was trying to keep a secret from the man I loved. I hoped I would still be allowed to call him my husband after he found out the truth.
After about twenty minutes of watching the clouds drift by, the exhaustion of the past few days, of the sleepless nights and constant looking over my shoulder, overtook me. This time, I was able to relax enough to fall asleep. Miles reached for my hand and kissed it.
“Get some rest. You’ll not be getting much of it later.” He gave me a mischievous smile.
I kissed him on the cheek and left the cockpit, heading for the comfortable bed in the back.
Miles woke me after about an hour so I could get something to eat. I was still drowsy. I ate half a sandwich and went back to bed.
This time, before falling asleep, I downed a sleeping pill, ensuring my sleep would be undisturbed. Miles had mentioned we had a long way to go, although he still didn’t tell me where our destination would be.
I didn’t care where we were headed, as long as I ended up with him.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Wake up, my sunshine.” Miles woke me with a kiss.
I opened my eyes, stretching and looking out the window at the same time, feeling as though I had been sleeping for four days.
“You were really out. Did you sleep well?” He lifted the blanket from me and folded it carefully, placing it at my feet. “You looked so comfortable, I didn't want to wake you.”
“I think you did the right thing. If you had tried to wake me, I think I would've snapped at you. Not a great way to start our marriage. How long have I been sleeping?”
“About three hours.” I gazed out the small window, trying to make out our surroundings. “Are we here?” My eyes cleared and I noticed the ocean stretching to the horizon. “Where exactly is here?”
“Once we step off this jet, here will be the Vendetta, my private yacht. Isn't it liberating not knowing where you are? Just forget about everything, forget about time, forget about cities and countries. Let's have some fun. Can you do that?”
“Oh yes, I can do that. I had no idea you owned a yacht, though. Since when?” It wasn't as if he couldn't afford one, but he had never mentioned it to me before. In a few hours, I had found out he could fly a plane, and now he had a yacht he’d never told me about. At first, my instinct was to be annoyed at him for keeping secrets, but then I remembered I was keeping the biggest one of them all.
“I thought you wanted to be surprised. I figured we’ve spent enough days in hotels. I wanted to do something different for our wedding.”
“You’re right.” I kissed him. “You're so romantic.” I didn't mention that a private yacht was also the best place for me to hide.
As we got off the jet, fresh, salty air wrapped itself around me, welcoming me to an unknown place. The sky was dimming, and the colors painted across it were vibrant and breathtaking. I could have stood there for hours, in the middle of the patch of airfield, allowing the beauty of nature to captivate me.
I had taken off my shoes, because as soon as we left the jet, we walked onto a long, sandy beach. The sand was warm and soft beneath my feet. Apart from palm trees and seagulls, the beach was deserted, and I almost wondered if it also belonged to Miles.
He carried our luggage while I held my purse. I walked behind him. It felt great not having to look over my shoulder.
I looked up, and my gaze landed on a magnificent, sparkling white yacht. It was the most beautiful boat I had ever seen, and on the side the name Vendetta was printed in gold and black letters. I was taken aback by just how big it was.
At the dock, Miles placed the bags at his feet. He wrapped an arm around my waist, his fingers grazing the side of my stomach. “This is it. Isn't it beautiful?”
“I don't know if beautiful is the right word. It's gorgeous, Miles.” I couldn't take my eyes off the yacht. “Why did you call it the Vendetta?”
He seemed to stiffen a little, and I heard a tiny intake of breath.
“I couldn't decide on a name… Vendetta sounds powerful. I always liked that word.”
“Well, name aside, the Vendetta is out of this world.”
“Wait until you see the inside.” He took my hand and led me up the stairs of the dock. “Let's go.”
I was too excited to walk slowly to the yacht. Giggling like a child, I let go of his hand and raced to it, arriving there before he did, huge grins on both of our faces.
He led us inside, and I was transfixed. I had seen beauty, but this was something else. The luxury was palpable.
The interior design was similar to that of his private jet. As he showed me around, I was tongue-tied. I had been dating a billionaire for a year, so it was surprising that luxuries like these still took me by surprise. He showed me the pool, and a state-of-the-art kitchen, which had a fridge stocked with enough food to last us several days—caviar and champagne, various kinds of bread, and everything else I could imagine wanting. He must have sent someone ahead to prepare everything for us.
“I know you want to stand here with your mouth open, but we have more important business to take care of.” He took my arm and led me into a luxury bedroom that rivaled any five-star hotel, complete with a queen-size bed covered in white silk sheets embroidered in gold, sheer curtains that danced in the breeze when the windows were thrown open, and a thick cream carpet that felt like heaven on the soles of my feet. I threw my purse onto the bed and looked at him in amusement.
“You went all out, didn't you?”
“Anything for you, my love. Now get dressed. Let's go get married.”
“How are we going to get married without a minister?” I had been so entranced by the beauty around me, I had forgotten the most important part of our trip. “We need someone to officiate. I don’t see a soul here but the two of us.”
“Don’t worry, I have everything under control. There will be someone to pronounce us man and wife. You’ll meet him later. Nothing will stop me from becoming your husband today.” He reached for me, and I sank into his arms. It felt good to be here, just the two of us. I’d missed it. I already felt an ache thinking about returning home, back to my fears.
We kissed for a while, our fingers tracing each other’s bodies, but as he hardened against me, he pulled his lips from mine and pushed me away gently.
“Don't do this to me. Not now. We have the wedding to prepare for.”
“Miles, do I even need to ask who’s going to sail this yacht?” I asked before he walked out of the room.
“He’s standing in front of you.” He gave me a wink. “I'm a man of many talents.”
“Are you serious? I don't think I know you anymore.”
“Well, I guess
it's time you met the other side of me.” He laughed. “I’m joking. Even though I know how to handle a boat, I’ve hired someone for this trip. Nothing is going to keep me from spending time with you.”
***
When I left the bedroom and entered the living room, Miles was waiting for me. He was dressed in a black tux, his hair shiny and swept back, all handsome and debonair. And he was all mine.
“You’re beautiful.” He ran his gaze down my body. “But I can't wait to rip that dress off you later.”
I beamed up at him. “Why not now? You’re sexy as hell. I'm so turned on right now.”
“Later, babe.” He smiled. “Let's do this first.”
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Miles called out.
The door opened. A man in his forties with mahogany skin entered. He had a scar on his cheek, dark brown eyes, and a salt-and-pepper fade. He wore a black and gold ship captain’s uniform.
For a moment my heart jumped to my throat. What if he was my stalker, and he’d found his way onto the yacht to get to me? Anything was possible. No, it couldn’t be him. I had to believe that. But the scar on his right cheek was a little creepy.
Breathe, Chloe. It’s fine. You’re safe here. Miles will protect you.
“Chloe, this is James Cantor, our ordained minister and captain. He’ll marry us and issue all the documents we need.”
“My pleasure.” James didn’t smile, but he extended his hand, which I shook. “You can call me Jim.”
I nodded. “Nice to meet you, Jim.”
“Let’s get married.” Miles grinned.
“Wait.” I turned to him with a raised eyebrow. “Didn’t you forget something?”
He narrowed his eyes. “What would that be, my love?”
“Don’t we need witnesses?”
His palm hit his forehead. “Damn, you’re right. I forgot about that.” He glanced at Jim. “Can you take care of it for me?”
Jim nodded, then he walked out. It only took him about ten minutes to return, followed by two men in their mid-twenties, with Mohawk hairstyles and nose rings, cameras hanging from their necks.
“Not many people out there,” Jim whispered to Miles.
Miles nodded, and while I was still taken aback by the idea of getting married in front of complete strangers, Miles introduced himself to the men. They shook his hand and mine, telling us their names were Boris and Aaron from California. They confirmed they were over the age of eighteen and showed their identity documents to Miles and Jim.
Instead of worrying about the strangers, I focused on what was most important. As long as Miles was present, nothing and no one else mattered.
Jim folded his hands in front of him and turned to Miles. “Ready to get started?” he asked.
“Yes, let’s do it,” Miles said.
In the next few minutes, Jim said all the things he needed to say, and read a few verses from a Bible he’d brought with him. Then he asked us to say our vows to each other, as we had planned to. I went first.
“Miles,” I started. “You have changed me in so many ways. You love me and protect me, and make me feel like the most special woman in the world. No—you make me feel as if I'm the only woman in the world. Every day I spend with you is a dream come true. I cannot wait to build a life together, to have your children. I will cherish you and be faithful to you always. I promise to love you forever and beyond.”
Miles took a deep breath. “Chloe, you have no idea how long I've been waiting for you, for this... to see the happiness on your face on our wedding day. You're the woman I have been searching for. The day I found you, everything fell into place. I knew what I had to do. I had to make you my wife, to give you everything you deserve. I promise you a future you will never forget.”
Jim didn't waste any more time. He pronounced us husband and wife.
I was so filled with joy, it was hard to breathe as we exchanged rings. I had never been this happy in my whole entire life. This one moment made everything else seem insignificant. I was finally Mrs. Chloe Durant.
Chapter Twenty-Six
After Jim joined us in matrimony and had us—and the witnesses—sign the necessary papers, Miles and I thanked him, Boris, and Aaron. And then they left us alone to celebrate.
Miles and I kissed for a long time, locked inside our bubble of happiness.
When my stomach let out a rumble, disturbing the atmosphere, Miles led me to the kitchen to feed me. He reached for a bottle of expensive champagne instead of food. Alcohol on an empty stomach might not have been a great idea, but we had just gotten married. We had to celebrate.
“I promise to give you some food afterward.” Miles smiled. “But it would be wrong to start our marriage without a toast.”
“I agree.”
He produced two champagne flutes from a glass cabinet next to the fridge and filled them with the bubbling liquid. We toasted, drank, and kissed again. I tried to get my hands into his pants, the need for food already forgotten. My body begged for him. I couldn’t stop my hands as they tugged his shirt from the waistband.
“It would also be so wrong to start our marriage without you know what,” I whispered in his ear.
“We’ll get to that soon enough. We've been waiting a long time for this day. Let's take it slow, make every second count.”
“Yes, let's.” I pulled away with a sigh. He was right: We didn't have to rush anything. We had three whole days to consummate our marriage, and the rest of our lives for everything else.
Miles shrugged off his tuxedo jacket and sat me down on a stool while he prepared dinner. To keep my stomach happy before the big meal, he placed a plate of finger food in front of me, which I nibbled on while sipping my champagne.
“You know,” he said, “I never thought this would ever happen… not really. That someone like you would marry someone like me. I never told you this, but I was secretly terrified something would get in the way.”
“Let’s be glad nothing did.” I picked up a green olive and popped it into my mouth. “Tell me, how were your past relationships different from ours?”
Miles stopped chopping the onions. “My past relationships, were just placeholders. You were the one I was waiting for.”
“Just as I was waiting for you, my love.” I stood up and went to wrap my arms around his middle, feeling the slabs of muscle beneath my fingers. I leaned my head against the back of his neck while he continued chopping the ingredients. After a while, he turned around and buried his hands in my hair. “Don't start what you can't finish.” He let me go and threw the ingredients into the pan.
“You underestimate me, Mr. Durant. I can definitely finish what I start.”
He fixed his dark eyes on my face, then he guided me back to my stool. “Stay right here. I'll be done soon, then we'll move on to other things. It will be worth the wait, I promise.”
“Fine, I'll hold you to that.”
Our conversation was disturbed by the sound of my cell phone ringing. It was in my purse, back in the bedroom. I stood to go and get it. “I'll be right back.”
As I reached for the phone, Miles came through the door and stopped me from answering. I turned the phone over in my hand as Lester’s name flashed across the screen.
“Come on,” Miles said, “we're only here for three days. No phone calls; just you and me. Promise?” He took my phone, switched it off, and pushed it into his pocket.
I hesitated. My euphoria from the wedding was dissipating fast and my stomach was already knotting up. How would I be able to focus for the rest of the evening? It would be so hard not to wonder what Lester wanted to tell me. He said he would only call when he had something important to tell me. And it was late, which meant it had to be something I needed to know.
Then again, I had no idea which time zone we were in. My internal clock was all messed up. It could be early evening or afternoon where he was.
But we only had three days of honeymoon before we retur
ned home. It would also be too risky to talk to Lester with Miles around. I still wasn’t ready to tell him everything yet. My confession would ruin the little time we had alone together.
“Okay. No calls while we're on this trip.”
We returned to the kitchen, and Miles continued cooking, but my head was swimming with thoughts of my phone inside his pocket. Maybe I’d get the chance later, when he was sleeping, to see if Lester left a message.
Until then, I tried to force myself to relax. By the time Miles was done cooking, I was salivating from the aroma of spices and meat that wafted in the air. He had cooked chicken Alfredo with pasta and potato salad. It was a simple meal, but it meant everything to me. It was prepared with love.
During dinner, it was hard to keep our hands off each other. Our hands touched and clasped over the table, skin stroking skin. Miles touched my face, tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, and kissed me over and over. It was romantic and tender—an unforgettable meal. A dream wedding with hundreds of guests could not compete with what we had right now.
Finally, to my delight, Miles gave in to his desires, forgot about the rest of our dinner, and gathered me into his arms.
In the bedroom, he took his time undressing me, piece by piece, even though I saw the torture in his eyes, watched him fighting the urge to just rip my clothes off my body. But it was our wedding night, and he was staying true to his word about cherishing each second.
Once I lay there naked, with only the sea breeze sweeping over my skin, he undressed. His eyes never left my body. He took his clothes off so slowly, he could have been stripping.
I grinned. “Looks like you have other skills you haven't told me about.”
“There’s so much you don't know about me. Allow yourself to be surprised.”
“I cannot wait.”
He approached the bed, his eyes dark pools of passion. I climbed under the sheets, and he did the same. My skin tingled against the starched sheets and his skin when his thigh brushed my hip. I leaned in for a passionate kiss, but he pulled away, his lips curling into a smile.
