Chapter 26
Marcy
Rolling over in the bed, I feel Sam’s heat pressed against me. It envelops me like a safe haven. His contours fit seamlessly with my own, as if we were two pieces of a puzzle finally finding their match. His arm is draped over my waist, pulling me closer. Even in sleep he makes sure there is nothing separating us. My eyes fall closed as I listen to his soft breathing, his chest rising and falling like a steady metronome.
Sam’s lips brush my forehead, making me gasp. “I thought you were asleep!” I squeal as he rolls me over to face him.
“I was but I felt your sweet ass wiggle against me and it woke me.” He’s leaning above me, resting himself on one arm.
“I’ll try to contain my wiggles next time, sir,” I tease, knowing I just lit a fire inside him.
“Did my princess not get enough last night?” He brushes the hair from my face then pulls me in for a sweet good morning kiss. Sweet. That’s the flavor of this kiss—a blend of vulnerability and desire. I lose myself in him—the thought of coffee forgotten, the day’s agenda erased. I could stay like this forever.
“Let’s go shower then I’ll whip us up some breakfast. How does that sound?”
“Absolutely amazing,” I sigh. “You’re too sweet to me.”
“That’s impossible.” He kisses my nose. “But I’ll spend forever trying.” He winks as he jumps from the bed, dragging me along with him. This man, in all his craziness, holds my heart.
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“I planned a special date for us tonight, princess,” Sam breathes into my ear. Turning in his arms, I place my hands on his shoulders, pulling his face closer wanting to feel his soft lips against mine.
“Is that so? And where will we be going?”
“You can’t seduce the answer out of me, little vixen. You’ll have to wait and see. But there is something special for you in our closet.” He winks then slaps my ass as he begins to walk away.
“Hey! That’s mine!” I giggle as I run away from him but he’s right on my tail. We get to the bedroom and he jumps on the bed after me, pinning me down.
“Oh I don’t think so, sunshine. This ass is mine.” He squeezes it hard.
“So is this perfect cunt that you saved just for me. It’s all mine.” Sam cups it in his hand showing me exactly who’s in charge. Shivers run through my body at the intensity of his gaze on me.
“And these,” he runs his hands up my body until my breasts fill his hands. “Mmm, these are mine to lick, suck, bite and anything else I want to do to them.” His eyes darken.
“Wouldn’t they look beautiful with clamps hanging from them? Dangling and tugging as I fucked you from behind.” A whimper escapes my lips. I want any and everything he wants to do to me because I trust him explicitly.
“Fuck, you’re exquisite,” he croons in my ear, “too bad we have to start getting dressed.” He smirks, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips then gets off the bed. Dammit, he got me all needy and then takes it away, like dangling sweets in front of a child. I breathe out a huff.
“Aww, something wrong, sunshine?” He holds his hand out for me, helping me from the bed.
“Yes, you know what you did. I don’t appreciate being teased.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I see someone’s brat is showing.” He brushes the hair from my face then leans down so his face is right in front of mine.
“You haven’t seen teasing yet, baby.” He pulls me in for a deep kiss, sweeping his tongue into my mouth. I can feel his hard length pressed against me. I need him now, I don’t want to wait. I trail my hand down his chest to grab his cock as it strains in his pants. A growl erupts from him as he pulls away.
“You’re playing with fire, little girl. You wouldn’t want to get burned. Now go get ready. We’ll be leaving soon.”
He heads toward the door as I mutter under my breath, “maybe I like fire.” He stops at the door, not turning around.
“Oh, I can’t wait to get you back here tonight. You have no idea what’s in store for you now.”
“Yes, sir,” I murmur loud enough for him to hear. He turns his head back and tsks. With that he’s out of the door and heading down the hall.
A giggle bubbles up as I skip to the closet to see what he got me. I really can’t wait to see where he’s taking me. He’s been very secretive for a couple days so I knew he was planning something. Nerves ricochet through my body thinking about all the possibilities.
◆◆◆
The lights dim and the curtains begin to draw back. Sam’s hand slides to my thigh with a light squeeze. My eyes are peeled, anxiously waiting for the first scene to unfold so I can understand why he was so secretive bringing me here.
And then I hear it. The first note of the Overture. He brought me to see the Phantom of the Opera. He knew. He must have heard Matt and I on the boat that day. He squeezes my thigh again as his thumb gently strokes my skin but I can’t look at him. I can’t look away from the images before me.
Tears fall from my eyes as the beautiful stage comes to life. This is what I’ve always been waiting for. This is what we were waiting for. Matthew was a sucker for this play and we always said we would see it together. He promised he would come back to me and that we would see it one day. It’s been eighteen years and I’m finally seeing it. Not with Matthew, but with Sam.
I don’t know if he understands the magnitude of what he’s done. As the play progresses I feel lighter. This was the last string of Matthew I had tethered to me and now that I’m here it snaps, setting us free. It sets me free. Matthew can finally rest in peace because his last request has been fulfilled by his best friend.
I know he truly meant for Sam to take care of me. In all ways. In his last moments, he knew Sam was what I needed to get through this life without him.
I close my eyes because the tears begin blurring my vision but I continue to listen. I hear the melodies weaving through the air and I know Mathew can hear them too. A wave of peace washes over me, leaving me breathless.
“Thank you,” I whisper, knowing he’ll hear even though I’m not looking at him.
“I promised to take care of you, sunshine. That includes helping you to let go.”
He knew. He knew I was still holding on to that last string. I have been for years. I haven’t been living, not really. Until Sam.
Sam stormed into my life filling it with emotions I never knew I could feel. He sparked me back to life and resuscitated my heart. I can hear the beating in my ears. I’m alive. It’s time to start living.
Opening my eyes, I look at Sam.
“Come here.” He opens his arms allowing me to sit in his lap. I snuggle in close as I lay my head on his chest. I hear his heartbeat intertwining with my own.
“You have given me more than I can even describe. You brought me back, Sam. You gave me what no one else could. Peace. I’ve finally found peace and it’s because of you,” I pause trying to continue without fucking up the most important part. With a deep breath, I vow, “I love you, Samuel. You have forever been my always. I knew it from day one. It wasn’t a silly little crush. Your soul called to mine in the most desperate of ways. I—“ with the back of my hand I wipe my eyes, smearing the black mess painted across my face but I don’t have it in me to care. Sam sees me. He sees my heart and soul. His called out to mine as the actors dance together in the theater.
“Marcy, when I met you I was enchanted with your stories. At just nine your mind fascinated me. I couldn’t explain it. I knew you were special. When I saw you again at the funeral, the fast, all encompassing, obsession consumed me to where I could barely breathe. I knew in an instant that you were it for me. You, whom I had known for half my life. You had been irrevocably weaving yourself into my heart until I was nothing without you.” Sam swipes his fingers under my eyes then tangles his fingers into my hair, positioning my head where he could fully see me.
“I didn’t give a shit about the age difference. I knew you were placed in my life for a reason. You became a permanent fixture that all my thoughts turned to. I knew I couldn’t have you until I was out of the military because I would die over and over again forcing punishment on myself from beyond if I didn’t make it back to you. So, I waited, biding my time. But then I faltered, wondering if I would ever be as good as what you deserved. So I watched from afar believing you were living your best life, until your birthday party. That’s when everything changed inside me. My body craved yours with a ferocity that I’ve never known. Being that close to you felt like I was burning alive but I knew my only salvation was having you in my arms.”
Sam took my lips in his, losing ourselves in each other. Once he pulled back I could see there was still more he wanted to say.
“I didn’t understand your brother that day. But his words were clear. He knew. Somehow, he always knew.” He chuckled thinking back.
“He entrusted you with me. His final wish had been what I had longed for but denied myself. But when I took your hand in mine that night, I knew I could never be apart from you again.” He presses a longing kiss to my knuckles, his eyes never leaving mine. Chills run through my body from his words, his touch, his everything.
He places my hand on my lap then digs through his tux, revealing to me a small velvet box. My heart, already on the edge of bursting, somehow manages to accelerate.
I don’t know where to look but my eyes land on his. His hazel pools of unending passion shine down on me. I faintly hear the box opening but I’m more focused on his words.
“I would have asked permission but it was already granted to me long ago.” A pang of sadness hits my heart but it’s quickly washed away as a tear slides down his beautiful sculpted cheek. I’ve only seen Sam cry three times. First at Matthew’s funeral then when I woke up in the hospital and now. Emotions bubble inside me threatening to rupture.
“Sunshine, please allow me to take care of you. Allow me to be your rock when your mind threatens to drift you away. Your shield when the world is too much. Your support when you need it. Allow me to be your equal in all ways, sharing my family with you so you’re never alone again in this crazy huge world. Marcy, please allow me to be your husband, lover, partner, your forever for the rest of our days.”
Nodding, I look down at my hand already donning the most perfect diamond I’ve ever seen. He didn’t give me a chance because he already knew the answer. My finger wiggles, the diamond twinkling from the stage lights. It’s then that I recognize the ring.
I gasp, bringing my hand to my mouth. He smirks like he was waiting for me to notice.
“How did you–? How–” I stutter, more tears begin streaming down my cheeks.
“A few months after Matthew’s funeral, I received a letter from your mother while I was overseas. She’d seen our connection at the funeral and knew we would find our way to one another, eventually. She knew you’d always dreamed of having this wedding ring as your own.” I nod in disbelief.
My Nanny’s wedding ring was the most precious possession in the world. I always wondered what had happened to it after my parents’ funeral. I figured it got misplaced and was lost forever. My sweet mother would let me play dress up with it when I was younger.
I’m twirling in my beautiful green dress my mom bought me for the dance coming up. I look in my mirror seeing Sam leaning up against the wall with a smirk on his face. I turn around, embarrassment flooding my cheeks that he saw me.
“You’re mom sent me. It’s time for dinner, sunshine.” He gestures behind him toward the kitchen. “But now I’m intrigued. What do you have here?” He asks moving closer, turning my hand over so the ring sparkles around the room.
“It’s, um, my Nanny’s wedding ring. It will be mine one day.” I gulp at the nerves tickling my belly. Sam’s cologne floats through the air making me hazy.
“I see, but what are you doing with it? Aren’t you a little young to get married?” He chuckles as his thumb brushes over the ring, but I snatch my hand away from him.
“I’m practicing, thank you very much!” I turn back to the mirror running my hands down the soft fabric of the dress.
“Is that right? Well, where is the groom then?” he asks as he goes back to leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
He’s right here, I think to myself. “He doesn’t know yet.” I mention turning back to Sam.
“Hmm, sounds like he needs to get his head out of his ass and realize what he’s missing out on.” Laughter erupts from my lips but Sam doesn’t laugh. He stands still watching me.
“I might have to tell him that one day.”
“I don’t think any of these ‘boys’ are worthy of you.”
“Oh stop! You’re starting to sound like a big brother and I already have one of those.” His face soured when I said brother but he quickly schooled his features.
“Oh! I wanted to thank you for the dance lessons. I’ve been practicing. Hopefully I don’t make a complete idiot out of myself at the dance.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’ll always be here when you need me.” I almost believe him with the amount of sincerity I see in his eyes. I just nod, wringing my hands in front of me.
“Tell mom I’ll be down in a minute. I need to change.” I turn back to the mirror. Sam hesitates for a moment then turns on his heels, closing the door behind him.
I collapse in a mess of green chiffon on the floor, clutching the ring to my chest. Why does my true love have to be so much older? It’s like a sick joke the universe is playing on me. Sam will never see me the same way I see him.
I sigh out of frustration as my back falls to the floor. My ceiling is covered in glow in the dark stars. Every night I wish upon a different one in hopes that one day my dream will come true.
I hold up my hand with the ring and memorize every intimate detail of it. It’s what I want my ring to look like someday if I can’t have the real thing.
“Marcy!” My mother’s voice cuts through my day dreaming.
I close my eyes, holding the ring tightly, “Please, please let him come find me one day,” I whisper.
“You found me! Of course I will marry you. It’s always been you.” I smile up at him. He looks at me questioningly but I shake my head as I lean up to kiss this perfect man. Maybe not perfect but perfect for me. He’s beautifully flawed.
I take his hand in mine, joining us forever. I draw a heart on his with my finger then press it into the skin sending it deep into his soul where it will never be replaced.