All I got was a big nod and a laugh. I could tell my sister was enjoying torturing me. I wouldn't get much out of her today. When we got home an hour or so later a black limo was pulled up at the curb right in front of my house. As soon as I walked up the stairs with Jenna to go inside, Louis came out of the limo smiling that familiar beautiful smile at me. He was so gorgeous; every time I saw him it was like the first time all over again.
"Hi baby, are you ready to go?"
I looked over at my smirking conspirator of a sister and walked back down the stairs to the main culprit.
"Ready to go where, Louis?" I asked, a little thrown off and a lot curious.
"It's a surprise … we need to get going; go say goodbye to your family."
I was very confused. I looked up to where my sister was standing and was now joined by both my parents, all wearing huge smiles on their faces ready to send me off. I ran up the stairs.
"Mommy, Daddy, what's going on? Where is Louis taking me?"
"Enjoy honey, it's a surprise," my mom said, giving me a big hug which was followed by a kiss from my dad. My sister also came in to give me a hug and then whispered in my ear.
"You are one lucky bitch."
They all waved to Louis while I got into the limo as clueless as ever.
Thirty minutes later we pulled into JFK airport and into a private jet terminal.
"Louis, we're flying somewhere? I don't have my passport; I didn't pack anything. I don't even have a pair of underwear on me. These shorts were too tight for underwear."
He took my hand and put it on his semi-hard cock. "Please don't tell me about your lack of underwear because we won't make it to our final destination."
"Which is?" I asked.
"For me to know and for you to eventually find out." He must've seen the discombobulated expression on my face, because he took a small amount of pity on my nerves.
"Don't worry, Jenna and your mom packed for you and whatever you'll still need I'll buy you. I also have your passport and underwear are actually strictly prohibited where we're headed."
"My parents know you're taking me away on an overnight trip and they're okay with it?" I asked him, feeling as if I'd just entered a parallel universe where my parents let me smoke pot and get tattoos.
"Your parents have given me their blessings. They said, and I quote, 'Louis, what a wonderful idea.'"
I was officially speechless.
We boarded a private jet that only had eight seats. The aircraft interior was decorated in a beautiful royal blue and gold color scheme. The plush recliner seats were upholstered in rich navy colored leather with burled wood tables separating every pair of seats. We sat down, Louis buckled me in, and smiled his glorious dimple-showing loving smile at me. The flight attendant walked over and welcomed us with champagne.
Louis held my hand as we took off and kept our clasped hands next to his mouth, giving the back of my hand soft kisses every once in a while. He was reading and signing some paperwork during the flight and I guess I must've dozed off. We landed about two or three hours later. Louis had the shades drawn while I napped. I had no idea where we were.
Over the loudspeaker our pilot announced, "Mr. Bruel and Ms. Marcus, I hope you enjoyed your flight with us today. Let me be the first to welcome you both to the beautiful island of Turks and Caicos."
Louis turned his head to me and smiled. "Surprise."
This is not real. Things like this don't really happen to girls like me. How could he be this perfect?
Louis informed me that we'd be staying in Turks and Caicos for the weekend to celebrate both our birthdays. The house we were staying in was one of the properties he still had on the market. He said it was the same house that he wanted to bring me to with his indecent proposal to me during our first kitchen encounter.
During the ride to the house I called my parents to let them know that we'd landed safely. I promised to call them every day to check in. The ride to the house was lovely. The lush countryside and the cloudless sky were just beautiful. I couldn't wrap my brain around where we were together. I was drinking in my surroundings when Louis said, "All the villas on the island have names. You see that home over there is called Stargazer and if you look over there, hidden behind those palm trees that's the Coral House."
"What's the name of the house we're staying in?" I asked.
"Tell you what, ask me the same question tomorrow. You will appreciate its name once you get to experience the villa first hand."
Louis went all real estate broker on me and started selling me the property we were slowly approaching.
"The estate we'll be staying on is located on Grace Bay beach in an area of Turks called Providenciales. It's a stunning eleven thousand square foot beachfront villa with full-time staff. It is set on ten acres of land with three hundred feet of white sand beach frontage. Emily, wait until you see this place. It exudes Caribbean charm and oozes romance; it should be right up your alley. There are six bedrooms and seven bathrooms and any amenity you can think of. I think I've said enough. Baby, I can't wait to see your reaction to the Blue—I mean the villa."
The place he described sounded spectacular. I quickly added, "I'll take it. It sounds perfect for me and my nonexistent budget." My gorgeous boyfriend smirked at my reply and kissed me softly.
Fifteen minutes later, our chauffeured SUV pulled up to a gated property. Louis got out and punched some numbers into a keypad and the gates parted for us. We drove ahead onto a winding driveway that led to a stunning white Mediterranean villa with a red terra cotta Spanish roof. The sprawling estate was set amidst lush palm trees and yellow hibiscus bushes. The carved, arched front doors were at least ten feet high.
Louis unlocked the front doors and led us both inside. I walked in behind him and gasped. A row of glass French doors lined the entire wall facing us as we entered. As soon as I walked in all I saw through the glass wall of doors was turquoise ocean stretching out indefinitely. I was drawn to the windows like a moth to light. I didn't notice the beautiful crystal chandeliers or the marble double staircase framing the wall of doors or the fact that the house was totally empty; I was entranced.
"I hope you don't mind that we're staying in this empty house. We could go to one of the hotels on the island if you want. I just thought it would be romantic to spend the weekend alone, just the two of us in paradise. Blue Lagoon-style," Louis said, while walking over to me and engulfing me from behind.
"Louis, I'm speechless, this house is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Will we be sleeping on the beach or in a tree?" I asked, laughing. He moved my hair to the side of my shoulder and nibbled up my neck.
"Tree, of course," Louis said with a straight face looking down at me. "Come little girl. I need to show you the color of the ocean."
Louis did prove to me that my eyes indeed matched the color of the clear blue water in Turks and Caicos. The view was straight out of a postcard. The sand was powder white and the turquoise colored waters seemed like a man-made pool; it didn't look real. The villa had a rectangular shaped, long pool with an infinity edge extending seamlessly into the blue ocean. It was as if we were the last two people left on a deserted island in the lap of luxury.
The sun was beginning to set. We had our dinner brought in and set outside on the patio by a sweet lady. She left so quickly I didn't even get a chance to say hello. We were having whole steamed black lobsters, which, according to Louis, were locally caught.
"Louis, this place is amazing. What did I do to deserve this and you, and when am I waking up?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Louis countered. Taking my lemon drenched fingers he sucked the juices of each one profanely. I could feel the fire and the need growing deep in my core. I was yearning to be somewhere entangled in Louis. I thought tonight would definitely be the night I bid my hymen farewell. The wooer beside me had been nothing but patient with me, willing to endure celibacy to prove his love. Tonight I would give
him the only gift I had to prove my love and devotion. I just hoped he'd still want me after I gave it to him.
"This is the best surprise I've ever had. I still don't know how you talked my parents into letting me come with you."
"I can be very persuasive. Especially when something is as important to me as you. I had to make it happen."
"Did you promise my dad I'd have my own house with a drawn up moat?" I asked, laughing. Louis took a piece of lobster meat, dipped it in lemon then hot butter and brought it to my lips. I opened my mouth for him to feed me. When his fingers came in contact with my lips I had to suck them. Lobster with Louis was my new favorite delicacy.
"Em, I negotiate for a living. But truthfully, this was the hardest negotiation of my life. Just so we're clear. I was bringing you here even if I had to smuggle you out of the country."
I had no doubt he was dead serious.
"Thank you for bringing me here, I'm sure it wasn't easy but very much appreciated." I got up and moved to stand between his legs. I put my hands in his hair and pulled him into me for a hug. He tightened his grip around my waist and rested his head on my chest.
"It was worth the effort. Tomorrow morning I'll get the best birthday present of my life when I get to wake up with you in my bed. This is not what I imagined when I invited you to come with me to Turks six weeks ago in that kitchen. Who knew that I would be madly in love with you? Emily, what I feel for you is indescribable. I have never been happier. You, little girl, have become my whole life."
God, I loved that man and thanked the heavens for whoever decided that I deserved to have him.
I really wasn't expecting this trip. I didn't know when I left with Louis in the limo earlier that day that we wouldn't be coming back to our respective homes before our birthdays. I was upset that tomorrow morning I wouldn't have his birthday gift to present to him. I knew that a man like Louis could get himself anything. Money was no object, and there wasn't anything that he wanted that I could possibly afford to buy him. I wanted to give him something that was special and meaningful. I had hidden a gift for Louis in his bed under the pillow. My plan was to call him first thing on the morning of our birthday and tell him to reach under his pillow for his gift. My plan had failed miserably. The gift wasn't extravagant; it was more sentimental. I had a long silver chain made for him with a small round disc hanging from it. The disc was engraved with a quote from his favorite book, Great Expectations. Now I felt silly being empty-handed on his birthday when he'd gotten me a trip to paradise for mine. Since my body was the only gift he'd get, I hoped it was enough for him.
"Let's go upstairs … I bought a bed for us and had it brought in earlier today," he said.
I smiled. Of course he did, I thought.
"What? Don't look at me like that. I didn't want the first time we actually slept together all night in the same place to be on the floor."
"This romantic thing of yours is getting old," I told him sarcastically as I climbed a few steps up ahead of him to reach his lips for a playful peck.
"Are you calling me old, little girl?" he asked while lifting me off my feet and carrying me up the stairs.
Chapter 23
Happy birthday to us...
The circular master bedroom was as completely empty as the rest of the house, except for the white rococo, ornate carved bed in the middle of the room. It was covered in crisp white sheets and a sea of pillows. The hum of the ceiling fan high above the bed kept a steady hypnotic pace. The scent of seawater and exotic flowers was incredibly intoxicating. The wide-open French doors led to a balcony overlooking the ocean and let in the night breeze. Louis was quietly observing my reaction to yet another one of his well-orchestrated plots.
"The way you take in your surroundings is awe-inspiring," he said while watching me and pulling me close.
"The inspiring surroundings you provide for me are awe-worthy," I answered, looking back at him from under my lashes.
"I'll never stop trying to put that look on your beautiful face, Em."
I looked up at him waiting for his soft lips to make contact with mine. I was his completely: heart, body, and soul.
I took my overnight bag to the bathroom to take a quick shower and freshen up. Louis said he'd be downstairs making a few phone calls while I showered. I suspected he wanted to give me some privacy. I unpacked my bag, pleased to find underwear, bathing suits, and some light summer dresses. My sister packed a toiletry bag for me with all my favorite products. I also found a wrapped present that said in big bold letters DO NOT OPEN UNTIL YOUR BIRTHDAY! Love, Nana Rose. I guess even Nana knew about my romantic getaway with lover boy turned Prince Charming. I showered, washed my hair, and felt refreshed but still a little spent from our long journey. I put on a dusty rose-colored silk camisole that my sister had packed for me and came out of the en-suite bathroom. The room was empty. I could hear Louis still on the phone talking animatedly to someone downstairs. I climbed into the tantalizingly inviting, soft bed and lay down. I was engulfed in a sea of gossamer sheets and satiny soft pillows. I rehashed the day's events and waited for my love to join me for our first uninterrupted slumber party.
*****
"Sweet Emily … wake up, my love."
I could hear Louis calling me. He sounds so close I thought to myself, still in a fuzzy dream state. I could feel him kissing my décolletage.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty. Open your eyes and let me see my birthday present."
What? Where am I? I need to get up, I thought. I opened one eye to see Louis lying down next to me in bed in a sun-drenched room.
"Happy Birthday, Emily Marcus," he said with the most heart stoppingly beautiful, perfect teeth-displaying smile I'd ever seen.
"Happy Birthday, Louis Bruel," I said back to my dream man.
I propped myself up sideways on my elbow facing Louis, mirroring his position. I focused on his smiling sexy eyes and those long lashes. Lord, I could watch this man all day. I ogled my boyfriend's too-beautiful-for-his-own-good face and hadn't yet drunk in his naked form beside me. He ran his fingertips down my shoulder and along my arm until he reached my hand. He laced our fingers together and drew my left hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. I still hadn't torn my gaze from his.
Louis was still nibbling on my hand clasped in his when he started to say between kisses, "I love her against reason … against promise … against peace … against hope … against happiness … against all discouragement that could be."
My breath caught. I recognized that line from Great Expectations. I took our entwined hands and brought them now to my lips and kissed the back of his hand. I said to him, teary-eyed and in between soft kisses, the quote that I had engraved on the chain under his pillow back in New York, "You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read since I came here." Louis stopped smiling; he looked as though he was about to cry. He lowered our clasped hands, urging me on my back and lowered himself on top of me.
"Emily, I will love you for the rest of my life. I will only exist knowing you are mine. I will respect you and obey you. I will never look at another woman as long as I live. I will make you proud of me. I will dedicate my whole life to you and the family we will have. I know you're still a baby but I promise to give you a great life. You and our children will have a need for nothing. I will show you the world, and I can't wait to see everything anew through your beautiful eyes. You will not find a man who could love you more than I do."
My breath caught in my throat again at the words coming out of his mouth. I was floating in a state of suspended consciousness when Louis reached one hand beneath my pillow and pulled out a small red leather box. He opened the box with trembling hands and asked, "Emily Marcus, will you marry me and let me love you and take care of you for the rest of my life?"
I couldn't tear my eyes from his and I didn't even look at the contents inside the box before I nodded my head. "Louis … oh, God … yes … yes. I
love you; of course I will marry you," I said sobbing in a tear filled haze.
Louis was visibly crying, too and while trying to wipe my tear stained cheeks, he took the ring out and slipped it on my finger.
"Em, I love you so much. You are the most beautiful, captivating woman I have ever met. I don't want us to ever be apart … I never want to wake up without you."
I finally broke our staring session and looked at the ring he slipped on my finger. "Louis, this ring … is magnificent," I gasped, finally inspecting the jewel. It was a princess cut, colossal blue sapphire with large round yellow diamonds surrounding it.
"All shades of blue remind me of your eyes, and the canary diamonds just really made the blue pop. I couldn't bring myself to get you any plain old diamond. If you want to change it we can go back to Cartier as soon as we get home and they'll find you something you like more. I just saw this sapphire and couldn't stop thinking of the eyes I'll get to see for the rest of my life."
"Louis … I love you and I love this ring; it's incredible. I don't believe any of this is happening, let alone to me." I couldn't stop crying. Only six weeks ago I was having childish fantasies about this beautiful man. How could this be happening to me?
Chapter 24
Start at the beginning...
After a good hour of us crying and talking about what had just happened, I noticed Louis had a long silver chain around his neck. I yanked the chain from under the covers to see the disc with my inscribed quote. I looked up at him, not quite connecting the dots.
"My housekeeper found it under my pillow and gave it to me. Thank you, that was the best present anyone has ever given me, besides getting to wake up with you." He nestled me into his chest. I took a deep breath inhaling his familiar scent and relaxing into his grip.
"I feel like such a dork. I can't believe I fell asleep on you last night."
Love In Rewind Page 15
