And it looks like I just bought us some time to come up with a way to approach this. It’s better anyways. This would have been too much to put in his face all at once like this. Catching us here in my own office…it doesn’t look good and it will make him wonder how long it’s been going on and what kind of an animal I am.
And I can’t answer him, at least not right now. There’s just something about his daughter that turns me into a savage beast. Something about her makes me lose my mind so badly that just the thought of her consumes me to the point I want to consume her. I feel possessive and even jealous of the fact that there will be times when were not together and other men will look at her.
I can’t take the thought of that, but soon she’ll be living with me and I won’t have to worry about that so much.
I’m not about to lock her up and throw away the key. She’s young and she has a life to live and I want to encourage her and support her in every way I can.
But once I put a ring on her finger, a big ol’ ring, everyone else will know to stay the hell away because she’s been claimed…by me.
“Where is he?” I hear just as I feel a hand slide around my waist.
I bend around. “He left before I could get to the door.”
“What do we do now?”
“We walk through the forest, if your ankle is okay.”
“Weren’t you supposed to examine me today?” I ask.
“Oh, I examined you all right…every inch of you and I found you to be the perfect female specimen. The most beautiful girl ever. And I put my mark on you so everyone will know you’re mine.”
“You mean in me.”
I take her by the hand and lead her over to a mirror on the wall.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so red,” she says as she checks out her face and upper chest.
“Your flush, but it will go away.”
“I don’t want it to ever go away. I like that you marked me…inside and out.”
I slide in from behind and wrap her up in a hug, kissing the top of her head.
“Awww,” she says as she turns to kiss me properly.
“And I’m going to mark you in another way real soon.”
“Oh yeah? How’s that?”
“You’ll see, but this way…this way is coming up real quick…”
“Yeah?”
“It will be everlasting. Just like my love for you,” I say.
I see her eyes light up and her lips part.
“That’s right, Bella Brown. I love you and I’m going to keep on loving you until the end of time.”
“And I love you,” she says softly just before she comes up on her tiptoes and our two lips meet, bringing that feral beast inside me out of his cage immediately as I scoop her up and carry her right back to the bed.
But this time I’m going to take my time. I’m going to show her just how much I love her.
Slowly. Deeply. Madly.
CHAPTER 12
Declan
“Are you still interested in the medical field?” I ask Bella as we walk through the woods.
The swelling in her ankles is completely gone and there is barely any bruising left. Ah to be nineteen all over again. The speed at which the body can repair itself is truly amazing…especially when you’re young.
I offered to carry her, but she politely declined. It’s no problem for me, she’s light as a feather and it would make me feel like her hero, but then again getting some blood flowing through her feet, ankles, and lower legs is a good idea. I want her healed quickly so we can do more things together. I’ve got so many ideas already and my mind won’t shut off.
She smiles. “Yeah, I’m still on that path. I decided to take my first two years at community college to save money and try to make some money at the same time.”
“That’s why you’re working at the mall?”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“I remember your dad mentioning it awhile back.”
“Don’t lie. You came by and stalked me.”
I smile. “No, but now I wish I had.”
This time we laugh together.
“I figured I’m in it for the long haul so best to lay out a good foundation. Two years at community college then transfer and complete my bachelor’s in the fourth year. Then four years of medical school and three to seven years in residency before I get licensed.”
“Sounds like you’ve done your homework.”
“I have but I have a feeling I’m going to fall behind now that we’re…”
She lets it hang in the air and I don’t like it. I don’t like that she’s not one hundred percent sure.
“Now that you’re mine. That we’re together. And that you’ll be moving into my place soon.”
I take her tiny hand in mine and it fits perfectly. The size difference is enormous, but that’s the best part. It lets her know she fits completely into my world and that I’ll always be there to protect and support her.
“Don’t you think it’s too soon?”
“I don’t think it’s too soon. I know every second you’re not there is a second too long. One more second I have to agonize over wondering when you’ll be with me all the time. I’m a man who knows what he wants and I want you by my side as many minutes out of the day as possible.”
She smiles and I feel her grip on my hand tighten. “What about my dad?”
“I’ll speak with him. As a man it’s my responsibility and I’m happy to accept it.”
“Don’t you think we should do it together?”
“I appreciate your gesture, and there definitely is value in approaching him together as it would garner more respect, but I’ve known him longer than you’ve been alive and I think the biggest challenge he’ll have in accepting us will come from my side.” I pause. “Wow.”
“What?”
“The gravity of what I just said.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know how to do math of course and I know there’s a big age difference between us, but to hear it said out loud, and maybe because it came from my own lips, makes it sound bigger than it really is.”
“You think it’s a big deal?”
“I have to be honest. If I was your dad I probably would. If I found out my future daughter was dating a guy my own age I’d probably want to beat him up. Scratch that. I’d definitely want to beat him up.”
We both laugh.
“But I think once the dust settled and that initial shock, that first punch in the gut so to speak, kind of went away and I had time to think about it the real question would be do they love each other and do they belong together.”
“I know you love me because you told me you did.”
“That’s right. Always,” I say as I stop and lean in to kiss her. Damn, her lips taste so sweet. Every. Single. Time. “You know I could kiss you all day and all night and still not get enough.”
“Me too,” she says and she blushes a bit. She’s so cute when she does that. Beautiful ninety-nine percent of the time and cute the other one percent. Talk about a winning combination. “And you think we’re a good fit?”
“Of course! Don’t you.” I say.
“I do. I’ve been thinking about it a lot actually. We’re such a good fit it’s scary.”
“It’s scary in a perfect kind of way, just like the way I feel about you.”
“You’re scared?”
“No, but maybe shocked. You know when something is so perfect that you feel like maybe life is playing some trick on you? Like Candid Camera is going to jump out from behind the bushes and tell you it was all a joke?”
“Candid Camera?”
“Sorry. Punk’d. You’re from that Ashton Kutcher generation. I’m, well…from his too and from the original Punk’d.”
“Punk’d isn’t original?”
“It is, but surely they took some elements from the original and learned what worked and what didn’t and perfected it for this generation.”
“Kind of like u
s.”
“Just like us,” I say.
“But you’re already perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Thank you, beautiful,” I say kissing her again before we resume our walk through the woods. “But I’ve made mistakes, no doubt.”
“Really? My dad speaks so highly of you. He thinks you’re practically infallible and invincible.”
“Well, that’s nice of him and I wish I were both of those things, but I’m not. But the positive side of that is that you can learn from my mistakes. I can help you pick out the right sequence of classes so you can stack the various pieces of medical knowledge you need as quickly as possible. So you can learn how to not only be a better doctor one day, but also be a better person. How to save your money. How incredible compound interest is. When to be patient and when not to be. All kinds of things.”
“I can’t wait. I feel like I’m going to learn so much from you.”
“Everything. I promise to be there every step of the way to guide you…to push and motivate you when the time is right…to support you when times are tough…but to always remember that when it comes to your life you get to make your own decisions. You know I’m more than happy and ready to share my advice but at the end of the day I want to be your rock, not some controlling guy.”
“Thank you.” She pauses. “Without even knowing all the obstacles I’m going to face I’m pretty sure I’ll take your advice most of the time, but it’s nice to know you support me and trust me to make my own decisions. I think when the guy is considerably older in the relationship sometimes they get a bit controlling.”
“Really?”
“I’m not sure actually. I just read it on some Internet forums. It might not even be true.”
“Well what is true are my feelings for you. And what we have is special and different because we’re different. And I promise you you won’t ever have to worry about anything like that.”
“I know. I just wanted to do some research before I decided to get dolled up in that red dress and come over to your office yesterday. The idea of it all was so exciting, but sometimes when I know my emotions are running wild I need to take a step back, breathe and think things through logically. And as a bookworm and a bit of an information nerd I figured I’d look into potential pitfalls and trouble areas because I knew if I was going to go in I was going to go all in for you. To put my everything into it.”
“So it was a conscious decision.”
“Yes and no, but in a good way.”
“How so?”
“Because all the logical told me that we’d work perfectly.”
“Wait? But your heart?”
“My heart was already in a long time ago and to be honest it would have overruled the logic anyways.”
We both laugh.
“And you are without a doubt the one for me in every way shape and form. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world and I can’t wait to stay up all night with you helping you study for all those medical exams.”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course! Are you kidding?”
“I mean I know you’d want to help me, but being older and all I wasn’t sure if you’d be able to stay awake past nine o’clock.”
“Very funny you!” I say and she tries to dart the other direction but I grab her by the hips and lift her high in the air before she gets away.
I’m glad she has a good sense of humor about everything and she definitely got me with that joke. And I’m also glad that she’s moving so freely after that injury.
Yeah, this is scary all right. Scary perfect. But I’m not going to think about it…mostly because I won’t have time.
I’ll be busy every minute of my life doing everything I can to put a smile on her face, which will put a smile on mine in turn.
I had my turn at medical school and learning how to be a doctor and all that stuff. Now it’s her turn, and I can’t wait to be by her side every step of the way.
And share my bed with her every night.
Which will lead to the best part of all.
Sharing our home with the beautiful family we’re going to make, because that’s what life’s really all about...as we watch our kids shoot for the sky as they grow up even faster than the trees in this forest that surrounds us, as we nurture them with positivity and encouragement always.
CHAPTER 13
Declan
“We felt like walking,” I say to Brandon when I drop Bella off.
“You felt like walking? What…you cut through the woods or something?”
“Yeah, exactly. I’m always so busy so it was good to get out amongst the trees and get some fresh air and Bella agreed to join me.”
“So why didn’t you answer the door?”
“We were in the back. By the time we got there you were already leaving.” I could tell him we’d already started walking, but I’m not a liar. I tell the truth to a fault, if that’s possible. But I can tell right now by his line of questioning and tone that this isn’t the time to tell him about what’s going on between the two of us.
I’ve got a plan for that and the time will be right to tell him real soon.
“I’m sorry. We weren’t trying to blow you off or anything,” I say. “Let’s shoot baskets in a few days. A new basketball I ordered just arrived from Amazon. We can test it out. And I can remind you that I’m better at you at H-O-R-S-E.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he says. “I’ve got some stuff to do. Just next time…let me know if you’re planning on changing plans.”
“Sure,” I say deciding not to remind him that he’s the one who changed plans. He wasn’t going to show up and then he did, and it almost resulted in a very awkward situation.
“Bella,” I say.
“Declan,” she says. “Doctor December,” she corrects herself.
Her dad looks from me to her and then back to me. I think he’s starting to put the pieces of this puzzle together real fast, which means I have to move even faster.
I have to stay a step ahead to make this transition as smooth as possible.
This transition from him seeing her as his little girl, which he always will, to my woman, which will take time.
But I’m going to take a page out of his father’s book. I’m going to show him I’m genuine and sincere and I want what’s right for her.
And what’s right for Bella is me.
Now it’s time to show him.
CHAPTER 14
Bella
Three days later
“Strawberry chocolate waffle cone and a bowl of vanilla,” the boy at the counter says.
“That’s us,” Declan says and he stands up from our picnic table bench in the eating area around the little ice cream stand to go get our cold treats.
He scheduled a three-hour break into his day today to coincide with my classes and coursework. We’ll only get two hours of it outside the car though, as he thought it was a good idea to go half an hour outside of town just to try and avoid being seen. He says he doesn’t want my dad to find out second hand, and neither do I.
In the moment that Declan steps away some boy about my age approaches me. “Anyone sitting here? Thanks,” he says just sitting down before I have a chance to reply.
“That seat is taken,” I say.
“By me. Hey, listen. You’re cute. Let me give you my number and you can call me sometime when you’re ready to date someone more age appropriate,” he says.
I feel my blood boil and I literally want to hit him, but there’s no need.
“Age appropriate for a male is a way of doing things, not a number. And the first rule of being a good man is not trying to talk to another man’s woman, son,” Declan says as I watch the boy’s feet come up off the ground as he starts kicking and squirming as Declan picks him up by the back of his shirt!
Holy cow! The boy must be just over six feet tall and at least one hundred and eighty pounds, but Declan lifts him like a sack of potatoes while he’s got our ice cream in
his other hand.
“Let me down,” the boy pleads.
“Not until you apologize to her for being so rude.”
“I’m sorry,” he says.
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