Chapter 34
The room is dim, and the water dark. Above us, the small pinpricks of lights almost look like stars. “This is where the deep-water fish live.” His voice booms around the small space.
I’m puzzled why he wants to bring me here, but when his lips meet mine, the answer scorches my skin. I rip at his shirt and toss it onto the ground. His skin is warm. I sink my fingernails into his back, and he moans my name.
He presses me against the cool glass, and his lips tickle my ear. “I only want to see you happy…and naked.” His hands move underneath my shirt and run along the rim of my pants.
“Aren’t there cameras?” I whisper as between my thighs throb.
He presses me against the wall and chuckles as his fingers unbutton my pants. “Don’t worry. They’re all turned off.”
Sully eases my jacket off my shoulders. He’s gentle when he grabs the hem of my shirt and tugs it over my head. The freezing temperature causes my nipples harden, and my breath hitches as his hands unhook my bra. His warm touch on my breasts sends a shiver through my body.
He kisses my throat and licks my right nipple, teasing it as his hot breath unravels me. My hands fumble with his zipper. He’s already huge and bursting at the seam.
“Schatz,” he rumbles as I tug his pants and underwear down his thighs. I brush my thumb over his tip and slide my hand down his shaft, giving him a lazy pump.
His hands hitch me up high until I’m at the perfect angle for him to slide into me. All my walls crumble as he fills me up. He nips at my neck as he fucks me hard against the wall. I tug on his hair and he bites my shoulder, a moan spilling from my lips as my eyes glaze over.
Breaths come short and heavy. I hook my hands behind his neck and kiss him, pouring every fractured part of myself into him as he comes undone inside me.
We finish the tour and conclude at the gift shop.
Our hair is a mess and our clothes are wrinkled.
I grab a stuffed orange fish because it reminds me of Nemo.
Sully laughs and buys it for me. “Something to snuggle with when I’m not lying beside you,” he says, placing money on the counter with my new stuffed animal’s tag.
We walk along the moonlit garden outside and sit down on the edge of the stone water fountain.
I find two pennies at the bottom of my purse and hand one to Sully. “Close your eyes, make a wish, and toss it into the water.”
He closes his fingers around the penny as I pinch mine between my thumb and forefinger. A rush of nerves flutters through my chest as I scramble for the right wish. Water splashes as Sully tosses his in.
I wish to stop sabotaging myself.
My penny flies and plops into the fountain, sinking to the bottom with countless others.
“Before I left the last after-party, I learned we’re going on tour a lot sooner than I thought,” Sully says, staring hard at the fountain. His words force my heart to fall into the water, destroying my wish.
“When are you leaving?” I ask, hoping my voice doesn’t sound broken like my heart feels.
He pushes a hand through his hair. “We’re leaving for Europe as soon as we finish recording the new record. In a week or two maybe?”
“Ah.” I draw circles in the dirt with my shoe, avoiding his gaze. “I hate to say goodbye, but you’re more known there. I’m sure—”
He presses his lips to my ear. “Come with me.”
“What?” I move away and lock eyes with him. “You can’t be serious.”
“You want to travel for your social media. This could be a fresh start for us. We won’t be lost if we have each other.”
“I can’t leave without notice. It’s not going to be for a weekend like Vegas was.” I sweep my hair away from my face. “How long is the tour?”
He shrugs. “Dates are still being discussed but it’s usually three months give or take.”
The world sways and gravity becomes too light.
I feel like I’m about to float away and burn up in the sun.
“I can’t. Not with Alice and me in the middle of a fight.
I can’t leave the restaurant on such short notice.
The restaurant only has me, Chloe, and Rachel.
And I don’t want to sound vain, but I’m their best mermaid. ”
“I understand.” He picks a yellow wildflower and tucks it into my hair. “We’ll postpone the tour then.”
“You can’t do that.”
He traces a finger along my collarbone. “Then they can find a new bass guitarist to take my place. I don’t mind sitting this one out.”
I press a hand to his chest and tip my head back to kiss his cheek. “When would this tour start?”
His brow wrinkles. “I don’t understand.”
“If you give me time to make up with Alice and find a replacement at the restaurant, then I’ll go. Like you said, I’ve always wanted to travel more. Between the cruise line commercial at the beginning of next year and the chance to be a mermaid in multiple countries, this could boost my career.”
“Really?” He lifts me and spins. “Are we doing this?”
“It’s about time I take more chances so I say hell yeah!”
“We need to make a list. During the band’s downtime, I can take you to all my favorite haunts. We can explore new places together. I’ll even pose as your prince in pictures if you want me to.”
“What are we waiting for? Let’s go to your place and figure out how this will work.”
He hugs me until my ribs crack then releases me. I glance at my phone and see a text from Alice. “I have an idea on how to mend things with Alice.”
It’ll cost me, but if I pull the right strings, I can make some calls and get her tickets to her favorite Broadway play that’s in town and sold out.
“Hell of a date,” Sully says, snickering, and envelops me in his embrace. I inhale his scent of fresh pine and musk.
We drive to his place and dive deep into web searches.
With a blank notebook, we fill the pages with places to visit, restaurants to try, and beaches for me to scope out.
I’ll have to find connections and see if anyone knows a good photographer I can hire.
This could be the perfect excuse to create that travel blog I’ve wanted to but never have since I don’t leave southern California often enough.
I didn’t know pennies held this much magic. Or is this the universe finally shining its light on me? I can’t question it, or I’ll unravel this gift. For now, we will plan and bask in the joy of living our dream and being together.
But I will not say I’m in love. No, this is a harmony between us, the right chords and musical notes that create a song.
Yet a voice in my head tells me I’m lying to myself.
I should let the final impenetrable wall inside me collapse and face the truth.
I am falling in love. And at breakneck speed, leaving me dizzy and lightheaded.
It has me throwing caution to the wayside and makes me want to believe in happy endings again.