The Despair of Strangers
Page 27
“Derek!”
“Shit, sorry again,” he said but gave me a smile, telling me he was anything but sorry. “Oh no, I totally messed it all up.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
He gave me a pained expression. “I had it all planned out, but you weren’t supposed to pick me up.”
“Surprise.” I giggled.
“I had planned to be romantic, I swear, but then I saw you and got carried away,” he said with a grimace. “I had a very moving I love you speech.”
Reaching across the center console, I took his hand in mine. “Save it for a day when you make me mad at you. Today, I don’t need a speech. I just need you.”
***
Derek hadn’t been exaggerating. Before long, my legs were wrapped around his waist as he pushed me against the cabin wall. I was ready for him, completely turned on by the way he was looking at me and the dirty things he told me he wanted to do to my body in the car. I was screaming his name, no longer playing coy, as soon as he began to drive into me. The sex was hot, and we weren’t even fully undressed. But we didn’t stay clothed for long. Soon after, we were both naked in the cabin bed, exploring each other leisurely.
After he made me come with his tongue twice, I was questioning whether we had to ever leave the cabin again. I fantasized him writing all of his books up here in between sessions of amazing sex. I could finish my nursing degree online and find a waitressing job at the campground restaurant in the meantime. I’d miss Ahmed, Jenny, and Birdie, but we could rent out cabins for them too. Most of my money was gone, but Derek was wealthy enough to afford the splurge.
I donated the majority of the check Jake had given me, something the Carmichaels would likely lose their collective minds over if they ever found out. But giving to mental health, substance abuse, and dog rescue charities felt more important than making my family happy. I had even doubled the donation my father had given to the science fiction writers’ association.
Derek kissed my bare back. “What are you thinking about?”
Turning my head to face him, I gave him a seductive smile. “I was thinking we should never leave here. I know we only paid for the one night, but I’m off all weekend. Maybe we can stay longer?”
“Oh no, we have to head back tonight.”
I gave him a confused look. “Seriously? I’m offering you sex, like literal round-the-clock sex, and you’re telling me we have to go back?”
“Shit, Alyssa, don’t put it like that or we’ll never leave.” He tilted his head at me. “I told you I had a plan.”
“Yes, you were going to give me an entire I love you speech. I’m not sure why we have to leave to hear it.”
“Well, I do love you. I love you and only want a future with you. And every day we were apart that’s what kept me going. I would do anything for you.”
“I would do anything for you too. And that’s why I told you to go, even though I missed you like crazy.”
“And I have more than just my speech.” He looked sort of proud of himself, so I lifted my head up to stare at him curiously. “We leave for Disney World tomorrow.”
I cracked up, heaving laughter I couldn’t control. “I’m so sorry. That’s not what I expected you to say at all.” I could barely breathe, my chest hurt from giggling too hard. “You have a gift, Derek. I can never predict what will come out of your mouth.”
“I’m serious and I had to leave all the planning to my PA.” He forced a frown onto his beautiful face. “And before you ask, yes, I gave Taylor a raise because you can’t just go to Disney World. No. You have to plan everything—they want to know where you plan to eat, what rides you plan to go on. Because if you don’t pick rides, apparently you have to wait in line for hours. Hours. Finally, I told her to hell with it and pay for the private tour. Which is well worth the money although I’m assuming if we have any children, we’ll have to tell them we spent their first year of college money on Mickey Mouse.”
He looked very flustered, so I held his face in my hands as I said emphatically, “Derek, that is literally the sweetest thing you could have ever done for me. For you to voluntarily go to Disney World tells me you’re absolutely in love with me.”
“I do love you and even if I have to spend an eternity in line for the teacups, it will be worth it to see you happy.”
“I love you too. And how about we show each other and start working on those future children whose college funds we plan to squander?”
And then we were lost to each other all over again. We had met in despair, but I knew in my heart, we had made it. He was mine and I was his and nothing else mattered. Our paths were meant to cross. We were brought together to heal one another. From the very beginning, we were inevitable.
THE END
About the Author
Heather Topham Wood’s obsession with novels began in childhood while growing up in a shore town in New Jersey. Writing since her teens, she recently returned to penning novels after a successful career as a freelance writer. She’s the author of the paranormal romance Second Sight series and the standalones Falling for Autumn, Pretending Hearts, The Ex Trials and The Disappearing Girl.
Heather graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in English. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine. She resides in New Jersey with her husband and three sons. Besides writing, Heather is a pop culture fanatic and has an obsession with supernatural novels and TV shows.
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