I throw the blanket off and sit up on the side of the bed, stretching in the process. Last nights incredible sexual escapades came to mind instantly. After we made love on the floor, than we moved to the shower then back to bed. It was well after four in the morning before we finally got to sleep. Everything about last night was so tender and slow. So many times I could have let the words “I love you,” slip, but for some reason they wouldn’t come out when they needed too.
Something felt different between us after last night, almost like everything was deeper, and things were somehow more meaningful. So why couldn’t I say those words to him? Why couldn’t I tell him how I felt?
“You awake Sav.” Nicole called.
“Yeah come in.” I call back.
The door opens, and Nicole walks in with two cups in hand. She read my mind. I take a cup from her as she sits on the bed next to me, crossing her legs. I sip my coffee, taking in the taste of heaven. Well, Damon is heaven. But this is close to it.
“I don’t know if I should make your breakfast or lunch.” Nicole suddenly says puzzling me.
I throw her a confused look, and she points to the clock. It's just before midday. I suppose I did have a late night, or early morning, whichever way you want to look at.
“Busy night.” Nicole mumbles before taking another sip of her coffee.
I laugh and nod in response. She pushes my shoulder, and I start to fall off the bed. We both laugh like idiots. The playful Nicole is a relaxed Nicole.
“I need to get out of bed and find something to wear tonight.” I put my coffee down on the best side table and stand.
“No, need.” Nicole states, looking towards the chair in the corner of the room.
I follow her eyes. There on the chair is a dress bag over the backrest. On the chair is a shoe box with a giant white bear holding a single red rose on top. I looked to Nicole who was smiling smugly.
I walked over and picked up the bear, I could smell the fragrance from the rose when I brought it near. A small card fell on the floor, I bent to pick it up while I placed the bear on the back on top of the box. I opened the card;
All the love that history knows
Is said to be in every rose
Yet all the love that could be
Found in two, is less than
What I feel for you…….
Damon Xoxo
My heart rate accelerated, I found the edge of the bed and sat quickly. Those words were so beautiful and meaningful, “I love you,” I whispered.
Nicole sat beside me and rubbed my shoulders. “He loves you too Savannah.” She said in response.
“I feel it, and I want to say it, but it won't come out Nicole. I mean last night, I could have said it a million times, but I couldn’t say how I feel. And I know I love him.” I looked from the card to her.
“I know you do, maybe it wasn’t the right time then. But I have to ask you something, and I don’t want you to freak out on me okay…” Nicole looked at me nervously. “Do you think it might have something to do with Cameron coming back?”
That was the question I dreaded. Did it have something to do with him walking back into the picture after four years? My feelings for Cameron were pushed into a deep dark place, somewhere secure were I didn’t risk them resurfacing again and now….. I don’t know if they are as secure as I wanted them to be. But that didn’t stop the way I felt about Damon, I could never feel about Cameron the way I feel about Damon.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head when I respond. Because right now, I am confused.
“Don’t let him walk back in here and do this to you Savannah. He left you when you needed him, Damon wouldn’t do that to you. Cameron is here to cause havoc and get under your skin. And you are letting him,” Nicole grabbed my hand in hers. “You have to forgive him, forgive him so you can forget. It’s what will save you from falling.”
Deep down I knew Nicole was right. I needed to forgive Cameron and move on. The past was that. He hurt me, and I blamed him for things that maybe weren’t all his fault. But still He hurt me. I took a deep breath and nodded.
“Yes, I need to forgive him and move on.” There. I said those words.
“Good girl. Now, go have a look at your dress.” Nicole giggled with excitement.
I got up off the bed and picked up the large dress bag. I walked it over to behind my door and hung it on the hook so I could open it. Slowly I worked the zipper down before pushing the bag to the side to get a better look at the dress.
“Oh, my god.”
It was the purple dress I had been eying off at the mall yesterday. Nicole jumped up and down giggling.
“Did you do this?” I asked, shocked.
“Damon told he wanted to know if you had any elegant evening gowns, I told him you didn’t and were eying one off at the mall. I didn’t tell him which one though. He did ask, but I just said it suited your eyes, and he would know which one it was when he saw it. Obviously he knows you pretty well,” Nicole came over and felt the fabric. “I am so borrowing this dress when I'm not fat.”
I laughed at her. She had a perfectly rounded belly now, and it was way cute. I rubbed her baby bump and smiled. I went to pull my hand away, but she held it tight against her stomach. My eyes meet hers.
“Wait.” She said dazed.
I waited. Suddenly I felt this weird movement under my hand, than another.
“Did you feel that?” Nicole asked with a smile that met her eyes.
“Oh, my god. That’s so weird but so unbelievable.” I gushed back.
“You think it feels weird on the outside, wait until your pregnant.” Nicole laughed.
The little movements went on for ages, we stood there laughing and smiling. Nicole said she had been feeling them full on for a while. I remembered when she first felt the fluttering, which was a day after her ultrasound, she described it as a feeling that makes you nervous. Like butterflies somewhat. The movements finally stopped, and I pulled my hand away.
“Okay, enough of this. We need to get you ready for tonight.” Nicole stated with determination in her voice. It was makeover time.
I showered, washed my hair and shaved all the necessary bits. Nicole decided that curls were the best option for my hair, so she dried my hair with the dryer before curling it into springing curls. My makeup turned out to be a smoky look. The grey and silver eyes shadow with the dark eyeliner and mascara looked sensational. Nicole certainly knew what she was doing here.
“You should open up a beauty salon Nic.” I spoke, trying not to move my head as she applied a little blush.
“Maybe I will one day. My job from now on is going to be mother goose.” She stated straight faced.
I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing. She loosened up and joined in. She was going to be a fantastic mother, and I couldn’t wait to meet her beautiful babies.
I was more than happy with my hair and makeup. It's was smoking hot if I must say such things. When I put my sexy lingerie on, I knew Damon would go crazy. I put on a black lace strapless bra, with matching lace thong. Nicole came back into the room once I was in my underwear to help me into my dress, she has seen it all before, but it still made me blush when she looked at my attire and smiled.
“Don’t get all plushy on me. You are going to see more of me than I would like when you are holding my hand to get these babies out.” She snapped playfully.
I loosened up. She was totally right.
Nicole turned me to hold onto the dresser as she tied up the Bodice back. It was tight, but not too tight. I looked down at my cleavage as Nicole tugged on the back; my breasts filled the front of the dress well.
“There all done. Now for your shoes.” She went to the chair and picked up the shoe box, opening the lid on the way over.
She held out a silver high heel that had similar diamantes to my dress. They were stunningly gorgeous. Nicole bent down and put the shoe on the ground. So all I had to do was slid my foot into it.
“This loo
ks like a scene from Cinderella.”
Both Nicole and I looked towards the door, Cameron stands there with his arms crossed over his chest. He was wearing rough jeans that hung low, with a tight black t-shirt. His hair was rough, and he had day old facial hair…….. He looked good.
“Do you mind?” He said to Nicole walking in the room pointing to the shoe that was left in the box.
Nicole looked up at me for an answer. Thoughts about the words Nicole had said came back to me at that moment. I needed to forgive him…. For me, if not for anything else. I nodded. Nicole handed the shoe to Cameron making sure she stung him with the heel first.
“Feisty.” He said with a smile when she did so.
“Keep your hands to yourself, and do not hurt her.” Nicole bit out to him.
Nicole left the room, but not before looking back at me, I smiled and mouthed “thank you” to her before she walked downstairs.
Cameron bent down and lifted my bare foot, I started to fall sideway. Cameron reached up with one hand grabbing me by the hip to steady me, at the same time I placed my hand on his shoulder to stabilize myself. I quickly slipped my foot into the shoe so I could let go. Cameron lingered at my heel before standing. I dropped my hand immediately.
“You look stunning Sweet Cheeks.”
“Stop calling me that.” I said shaking my head.
“Look, I know I screwed up. I left you when you needed me, only to come back and find you in trouble which Stephen bailed you out of,” Cameron swallowed hard. “That should have been me Sav; it should have been me protecting you and me that went to jail. Not Stephen. It was my mistake; I will never forgive myself Savannah, I loved…”
I put my finger over his lips to silence him. I didn’t need to hear the rest, I needed to forgive him. I had too…….
“I forgive you Cameron. You can’t do this, not to me. You crushed me, if it wasn’t enough that Stephen went to prison, you left, no good bye nothing. You crushed me…. But I forgive you. I have to.” I said slowly removed my finger.
“I saw Stephen every weekend for four years you know. I have seen you coming and going a few times, but I always stayed hidden. I didn’t know what to do, I wanted to talk to you so badly, to tell you how sorry I was, how much you meant to me. I fucked up, and all I wanted was to make that right for you, for us.”
“Cameron…….” I took a deep breath.
“Listen to me, please,” Cameron placed his hands on my shoulders. “I need you to forgive me as much as you need to forgive me. But your only forgiving me now because you doubt yourself, and you should savannah… you should doubt it because this isn’t you.”
His words stung. He was right, this wasn’t totally me, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of me admitting that. I pushed his chest away from me. His hands fell off my shoulders. I could feel the tears building, but I couldn’t be weak, I couldn’t cry at his words. Not today. So I walked away, I grabbed my purse and walked away…. Leaving Cameron standing in my room watching me, his eyes burning into me. I could feel that look no matter where I was or where he was. When he looked at me it burnt, it always had.
“You do look gorgeous Sweet Cheeks.” I hear Cameron shout as I ran down the stairs.
I didn’t want it to burn me anymore, but I couldn’t put that fire out……….
Chapter 17
The drive to Damon’s was painful. I had stray tears running down my cheeks the whole way. Nicole caught up with me before I left, and I told her what happened. I walked out of the house to her yelling at Cameron. I was running late as it was so I couldn’t stick around any longer. As soon as I started the Dodge I was gone, I didn’t look back at the house. I had that burning feeling as I took off out of the drive way, and of course that’s when the tears started.
When I arrived I parked next to Aston and headed straight for the lift. As soon as the doors closed I turned to look in the mirror, my makeup was still pretty good, which surprised me. I thought for sure my mascara and eyeliner would do running down my face by now, but no… it was still intact. My knuckles were white by the time I got to the 18 floor from holding onto the rail, I hated heights. I straightened myself up as I knocked on the door and waited. I decided there and then to leave my issues with Cameron at the door. This night was for Damon and me, Cameron was not invited.
Within seconds, the door opened, and Damon stood in front of me with a stunned expression. I took in his crisp charcoal suit, with a fresh white shirt. A smile splayed along his mouth as he reached his hand out to me. I took it immediately, not thinking twice. He pulled me until my body was flush against his, his free hand came up and stroked my cheek.
“You look utterly breathtaking Savannah. You take my breath away.” He said before bringing his lips to mine. His kiss was gentle and soft and breathtaking. When he pulled away, I swayed on my feet before gathering my balance.
“You look incredible yourself Damon.” I grinned, stepping back a little to look at him again.
He returned my grin and pulled me into the house further, before shutting the door. The smell that was wafting through the house from the kitchen was sensational, my mouth was watering thinking about food. As we came into the kitchen, I noticed several people dressed in all white pants and shirts with chef hats. I looked up at Damon for clarification; he winked at me….. Yep he hired help.
I could hear voices, and laughter coming through the lounge room as we walked closer. The balcony doors were open, and out there sat people around a table. Damon squeezed my hand and continued to lead the way. Those butterflies I had tried to keep at bay were suddenly springing into action. This was real, I was meeting his family. I returned his squeezing gesture and took a deep breath as we approached.
We walked out onto the balcony, and everybody looked out way. When I looked around everyone was smiling wide. At that moment, I felt a little less scared.
“Everyone this is Savannah,” Damon said moving me to stand beside him. His arm wrapped around my waist. “This is my parents, Beth and Jack.” Damon pointed.
His mother and father came round the table and pulled me into a tight embrace one by one.
“It’s so lovely to meet you dear. Damon talks about you a lot.” Beth gushed.
“You’re as lovely as he said.” His father said kissing my hand.
“Thank you.” I replied a little flustered.
“And, this is my sister Amelia, and brother William.” Damon turned me to his side as his brother and sister came into view.
They both shook my hand and said similar things to his parents. William looked like a younger version of Damon, it was unbelievable how similar they looked. When he smiled at me, all I could see was Damon’s smile. And Amelia was beautiful, she was extremely stunningly pretty. She had long dark hair, piercing blue eyes and perfect facial features.
Damon pulled out a chair close to the door and gestured for me to sit. I was grateful that I wasn’t any further away from the door because we were eighteen stories up and the height was still on my mind.
“Would you like something to drink dear?” Beth asked me signalling for someone behind me.
“Ah yes please.”
A waiter fills my glass with white wine. I pick up my glass and taste it. It's lovely, crisp and fresh. The fruitiness gives the tang that comfortable sweet taste.
“So, Damon tells us you want to be a lawyer.” Jack says sipping his beer.
“Yes that’s correct. I have been studying off and on for a while. Unforeseen circumstances have seen me put it on hold a few times, but we will see how things go in the future.” I say with a smile.
“Oh dear, You just take your time. It will always be there.” Beth reaches over and pats my hand.
Conversations go on between us about different lawyer firms throughout the country and the laws that are continuously changing. Damon and his dad are exceptionally knowledgeable between the two of them, and I enjoy the conversation between them. Amelia and William have a lot to say even though
they aren’t lawyers themselves. The family is exceedingly upfront and comfortable, I like them.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters Savannah?” Williams asks.
“I have a brother, Stephen.” I reply.
“What does he do for a living dear?” Beth asks curious.
I freeze. What do you say to that?
“He is in the mechanical business.” Damon interrupts.
His hand lands on my thigh and he softly rubs it. I look to him, and he winks, I give him a tight smile and put up my wine.
“Have you heard from that evil woman?” Beth suddenly asks.
I look to her, and she has daggers out. I feel Damon stiffen as he clears his throat.
“No, I haven’t mom.” Damon's reply is pointed at his mother, and it’s a warning.
Silence falls over the table afterwards. We all continue to look at each with small smiles, but nobody says a word for long minutes. Well that’s until Amelia clears her throat, then everyone looks her way.
“So I have something I need to tell you all. And I thought I would do it while we are all together.” She has the biggest smile on her face.
“This should be good.” William mumbles. That earns him a smack in the arms from Amelia. Well laugh.
“Well at Christmas we will have an extra person in the family.” Amelia states with a smile.
A loud shout, than a lot of “oh my god’s” follow. Everyone is on their feet in an instant, we start making our way to Amelia to congratulate her. I follow suit even though I don’t know her that well.
A grey, black and white picture gets passed around once we find our seats again. Looking at it reminds me of Nicole’s babies, and the excitement I feel for her and Amelia.
“What are you thinking? You have this unbelievably sexy smile on your face.” Damon says, tipping my chin to meet his gaze.
“Nicole and Amelia’s babies.” I said looking at his mouth.
Judged By You (Judge Me Series) Page 26
