Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
marlowe
A fter three hours of pampering, i’m ready for my big date night with Gunner.
My exfoliated skin feels like silk and my nails are beautifully manicured. My hair and makeup are flawless, thanks to the talented stylist Gunner hired. My dark tresses are artfully piled on top of my head and secured with sparkly silver combs.
My couture evening gown clings to my curves and reveals plenty of cleavage. The back is equally daring, dipping all the way down to the base of my spine. When I walk, a slit up the side shows off my leg from ankle to thigh. The gown’s vibrant red color matches my lipstick and makes my hazel eyes pop.
Completing the ensemble are glittery stilettos and a pair of dangling diamond earrings that Gunner surprised me with last night.
I barely recognize my reflection in the mirror. I’ve never looked so glamorous in my life. I feel like Cinderella going to the ball.
When I emerge from the room to find Prince Charming waiting at the bottom of the staircase, my breath catches in my throat.
Leaning casually against the wall, he’s heart-stoppingly handsome in a fitted black tux with his thick hair combed back from his face. He looks good enough to devour.
As I put my hand on the railing, he glances up. His eyes widen when he sees me. As he slowly pushes away from the wall, butterflies take flight in my stomach.
He watches me descend the stairs with a look of such possessive ferocity it’s a miracle my skin doesn’t melt right off my bones.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, he slowly looks me over from head to toe.
“You look . . .” He shakes his head wonderingly. “ Breathtaking doesn’t begin to capture it.”
The man has a way of turning my insides to complete mush. “Thank you,” I say, smiling shyly. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
His lips curve as he treats me to another leisurely perusal, lingering on my cleavage before meeting my eyes again. “Exquisite.”
His blatant admiration makes me feel gorgeous and powerful, an intoxicating combination.
“Come.” His hand trails along my bare back, sending delicious shivers through my body. He steers me out the front door, where a black Maybach limo is waiting at the base of the steps with his estate manager.
David gives me an appreciative smile. “You look very lovely, Miss Somerset.”
“Thank you,” I say shyly.
“Told you,” Gunner whispers against my ear, palming my hip possessively as he guides me toward the limo.
David opens the back door for us with an elegant flourish. “Enjoy your evening.”
The driver takes us to a fancy restaurant nestled on a bluff overlooking the coast. The tuxedoed ma?tre d’ greets Gunner effusively and escorts us to a private glass elevator that whisks us up to the top floor.
When the doors open, I let out a soft gasp.
Huge wraparound windows provide a panoramic view of the ocean. There are illuminated trees and the walls are covered with moss. I feel like we just stepped into an enchanted forest. The atmosphere is so romantic that I nearly swoon at Gunner’s feet.
The ma?tre d’ guides us to a candlelit table by the windows. We’re the only two diners on the entire floor.
Seconds after we’re seated, a waiter and sommelier arrive to take our order. Gunner selects a delicate Chablis from the wine cellar. I’m too excited to focus on the menu, so I let him choose our entrées as well.
“This place is amazing,” I rave once we’re alone. “How did you get reservations on such short notice? Or do I even have to ask?”
He smiles enigmatically. “I have my ways.”
I stare at him as comprehension dawns. “Don’t tell me you own the restaurant.”
“Okay. I won’t tell you.”
“Seriously?” I laugh, shaking my head at him. “Tech and energy companies. Restaurants. Hotels. Nightclubs. You really believe in diversifying your portfolio, don’t you?”
“Something like that.” His eyes hold mine, sending warm tingles along my skin. “You look absolutely ravishing, Marlowe. I can’t take my eyes off you.”
Deep satisfaction curls through my veins. “I feel like a goddess in this dress.”
“You are a goddess,” he says huskily. “And you’re mine.”
His words electrify me, causing my breath to hitch. Every fiber of my being knows what he said is the truth. I am his. His and his alone.
With soft music playing in the background, we dine on raw oysters and grilled mahi mahi prepared tableside. The meal is delicious and the ambience is dreamy perfection.
We savor our food, laughing and talking quietly as warm candlelight dances across our faces.
“What were you like in high school?” Gunner asks over dessert.
“Pretty much the same as I am now.”
“So, a smartass?”
At my narrowed eyes, he laughs low in his throat.
I smile before eating a forkful of guava chiffon cake, enjoying the tangy flavor of the Hawaiian dessert. “Seriously though, I was an introvert in high school. I mean, I had a few close friends that I hung out with, but I generally preferred my own company.”
“What about your sister? Aren’t you two close?”
“Very close. We did everything together. But she’s three years older than me, so she had her own friends and social life. She was captain of the debate team and a star volleyball player, so she was pretty popular.”
Gunner smiles, watching me lick a spot of icing off my fork. “What about you? What extracurricular activities were you involved in?”
“I played piano for our school’s jazz ensemble. When we weren’t performing recitals, I volunteered at the library and local animal shelters.”
“Yeah?” The way Gunner hangs on my every word warms me from the inside out like fine whiskey.
“A typical Saturday for me was leading story time at the library and then helping with pet adoption events,” I add, smiling.
He feeds me a bite of his cake, staring at my mouth. “What about boyfriends?”
“What about them?”
“Did you date a lot?”
“Not exactly,” I wryly admit. “I was picky, so I didn’t give many guys a chance. That’s why I only had three boyfriends in high school, and none were serious relationships.”
“Good,” Gunner grumbles.
I raise an eyebrow. “Good?”
“As I’ve told you, I hate the thought of you being with other men. The fewer boyfriends you had, the better.”
I can only laugh at him.
When we’ve eaten the last crumbs of guava cake, the waiter clears our plates and pours us more wine. We raise our glasses and clink to nothing in particular, simply gazing into each other’s eyes, suspended in a perfect moment beyond which nothing else exists.
“I don’t want this night to end,” I whisper to Gunner. “Can you make it last forever?”
He smiles softly. “That’s the plan.”
we hold hands on the ride back to the estate.
When we arrive, he helps me out of the limo. “I have a surprise for you,” he says with a mysterious gleam in his eyes.
My pulse leaps with excitement. “What is it?”
“You’ll see.” Keeping our hands joined, he leads me around the side of the mansion toward the back terrace. As we walk, the ocean breeze blows over us like a whisper. The night smells of jasmine, tangy sea and magic.
As we near the end of the stone path, my eyes widen in shock.
A full orchestra has been set up on an elaborate stage on the lawn. The musicians are formally dressed, quietly tuning their instruments.
I stare incredulously at Gunner. “How . . . when . . . ?”
He’s smiling at me. “I promised to take you to see the Austin Symphony. Since their regular season doesn’t start for another few weeks, I decided to bring them to you.”
“Wait. You mean . . .” As my stunned gaze shoots from his face to the orchestra, I clap my hand over my mouth. “Oh, my God! I can’t believe you flew the Austin Symphony to Hawaii to perform for me!”
He grins, enjoying my reaction. “The conductor is a good friend of mine. He owed me a favor, and he wasn’t about to deprive his musicians of an all-expenses-paid trip to paradise.”
I throw my arms around his neck with an ecstatic squeal. He laughs as he returns my hug, lifting my feet off the ground.
When he sets me back down, I gush breathlessly, “Thank you for everything, Gunner. This has been so amazing. All of it.”
He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back. “I love making you smile.”
I beam at him before we start across the lawn, our way lit by flaming torches lining the walkways. As we near the stage, the musicians grin broadly at me.
I feel like the luckiest girl alive. I mean, what could be more romantic than a private outdoor concert on a beautiful tropical island?
Gunner leads me to a high-backed bench beneath a canopy of bougainvillea vines. Once we’re seated, the conductor walks onstage and bows to us.
“Welcome to this evening’s special performance under the stars,” he announces regally, his eyes twinkling. “The orchestra will open tonight’s program with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto Number Three in C minor. Please enjoy.”
I smile excitedly at Gunner, and he winks back.
When the orchestra begins playing, I’m immediately swept up in the music, each stirring note leaving me breathless. Spellbound.
I’m distantly aware of Gunner watching me, observing my every reaction. When the orchestra launches into Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony , I send him a delighted grin.
He grins back and takes my hand in his, lacing our fingers together.
I listen raptly to the song, the sweeping scales and vibrant brass climaxes bringing me to tears. By the end of the achingly poignant symphony, I’m so moved that I give the orchestra a standing ovation, and Gunner joins me.
The conductor bows in response to our applause. His musicians look delighted.
When they take a break, a white-jacketed server brings us wine. We sit drinking from each other’s glasses, laughing softly and enjoying ourselves until the orchestra returns.
As the opening chords of Johann Strauss’s Thousand and One Nights fill the air, Gunner rises and holds out his hand to me. “May I have this dance?”
I give him a radiant smile. “Absolutely.”
With a wink, he pulls me to my feet and strolls to the makeshift dance floor in front of the stage. I stare into his eyes as he wraps one hand around my waist, folds his other hand around mine and leads me into a waltz.
We dance without speaking, allowing the beautiful strains of the song to sweep us away. Gunner is an amazing waltzer, leading me effortlessly through every step and turn, his eyes holding mine as he twirls me around. Dancing with him feels otherworldly, like floating on air. I’m half convinced we’ve traveled back in time to a Regency era ballroom.
As the last notes of the waltz fade away, I slide my mouth to his ear and whisper, “This has been the most unforgettable night of my life.”
A tremor runs through his body, as though my words released something inside him. He pulls me closer, keeping our fingers entwined as he whispers in my ear, “One more dance.”
When a dreamy violin concerto begins playing, I lay my head on his shoulder and melt into his warmth. We sway gently under the stars, completely losing ourselves in each other and the enchanting music.
When the orchestra finishes the last movement, I lift my head from Gunner’s shoulder. I’m breathless, my heart racing as we gaze at each other. So many unspoken words pass between us in those moments.
He takes my face in his hands, lowers his head and slants his mouth over mine. His kiss is so gentle, so infinitely tender and needy that my heart squeezes in my chest.
I breathe his name as he lifts his mouth from mine and stares down at me, his eyes glittering with some unnamed emotion.
“Let’s go someplace private.”
I blink, still lost in the intimacy of his kiss. “Where?”
“I have an idea.” He pulls out his phone and sends a quick text. After exchanging nods with his conductor friend, he takes my hand and steers me across the lawn and down the path leading to the front courtyard.
The Bentley has been brought around, freshly washed and polished after our off-road adventure. Gunner scoops me up with gallant fanfare, carries me to the SUV and deposits me in the passenger seat.
As he slides behind the wheel of our chariot, I ask smilingly, “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” he says for the second time that evening.
He opens the sunroof so we can enjoy the night breeze as we drive through the estate. The snakelike road is edged on both sides by enormous banyan trees and palms swaying in the moonlight.
“It’s so beautiful out here,” I marvel. “You’re so lucky to have your very own slice of paradise.”
“I am.” Gunner looks at me. “Being here with you has given me a whole new appreciation for it.”
Smiling at his words, I drop my head back against the seat and gaze up at the endless sea of stars.
A few minutes later, we arrive at a starlit lagoon ringed by forested hills. It looks beautiful, so romantic and serene it could be a Monet painting.
“Oh, Gunner,” I sigh.
He parks close to the shimmering water. “I thought we could go for a midnight boat ride.”
I beam at the bright blue rowboat tied alongside the dock. “You’re on a roll tonight, Romeo.”
He chuckles softly as he cuts the engine. “We could’ve taken the yacht or sailboat out on the water. But I thought this would be cozier.”
“It’s perfect.” Feeling gloriously carefree, I slip off my high heels while Gunner removes his tie and loosens a few shirt buttons.
We swap playful grins before he hops out of the SUV and comes around to open my door. He lifts me out and cradles me against his chest, his grin broadening when I loop my arms around his neck and rain kisses along his jaw.
He carries me down to the dock where he nimbly climbs into the rowboat before helping me aboard. The boat is large enough to hold at least eight people.
I sit on one of the wooden benches while Gunner takes off his tuxedo jacket and drapes it around my bare shoulders. I happily snuggle into the fabric, breathing in his scent as he rolls up his sleeves and then unties the boat from its mooring.
He sits on the bench facing me, grabs the oars and pushes the boat away from the dock. And then we’re off, gliding across the moonlit lagoon.
It’s a perfect summer night, warm with soft breezes coming off the mountains. The water looks like glass under the night sky with giant lily pads floating on the surface.
Sitting there in my beautiful red gown, I feel like a princess in some ethereal fairytale.
“You really know how to make a girl’s fantasies come true, Gunner Ransom,” I say with a sigh.
He grins at me, his eyes glittering in the moonlight. “What else do you fantasize about?”
“A lady never tells.”
He laughs, and my heart swells at the sound of it. I watch him for a few moments, admiring the way he effortlessly rows the boat, the muscles in his forearms rippling with each stroke.
“Where’d you learn to waltz so beautifully?” My tone is half teasing, half serious. “Is that a prerequisite for rich kids? Learning to waltz?”
“Pretty much,” he says with a wry twitch of his lips. “My grandparents are esteemed members of the Dallas Country Club. The worst part of living with them was being forced to attend a ton of boring society balls.”
I grin. “Is that why you hacked country club databases? To exact revenge?”
He chuckles. “Probably.”
I laugh and lean back on the bench, enjoying the soft breeze that wafts over us, freeing tendrils of hair from my updo.
Gunner watches me, his eyes moving over my slitted dress and the bare curve of my thigh before traveling back up to my face and lingering there.
“So what about you, kitten?” he says in that low, rumbly drawl that always heats my blood. “Who taught you to waltz?”
“I took ballroom dance lessons in high school. I can do a mean tango, too.”
“Yeah?” Gunner grins. “That’s sexy as hell.”
“It is,” I agree. “The tango is a very sexy dance.”
His eyes gleam. “You’ll have to show me sometime.”
“With pleasure.” My voice softens as I gaze at him. “I love dancing with you.”
“I feel the same way,” he says just as softly. “There’s nothing better than holding you in my arms, Marlowe.”
We share a tender smile as the boat floats beneath a swath of tropical trees, the leafy fronds brushing the tops of our heads like caressing fingers. I let out a blissful sigh, savoring every moment of this unforgettable fairytale experience.
When we reach the middle of the lagoon, Gunner pulls in the oars and drops the anchor to keep the boat from drifting.
My heart beats faster as he moves to sit beside me, the heat of his body radiating through mine. We stare at each other without speaking until I whisper, “None of this feels real. It feels like a dream.”
A smile lights his eyes. “If this is a dream, it’s the best damn one I’ve ever had, and I don’t want to wake up.”
“Me neither.”
He moves in closer, sinking his hands into my hair. “I’ve been dying to do this all night.”
I stare up at him, barely breathing as he removes the silver hair combs one by one and drops them on the bench. Then he threads his fingers through my loosened tresses as they tumble over my shoulders, framing my face.
He goes completely still, staring at me in riveted fascination. “You are so beautiful, Marlowe. So damn beautiful.”
His words and the look in his eyes make my heart beat triple time. Before I can respond, he dips his head and presses his lips to mine. A riot of sensations sparks through me, tingling across my skin and fluttering in my belly.
Closing my eyes, I wind my arms around his neck, my breasts nestling against his chest. He lets out a soft groan that makes me want to slide right into his lap.
As our kiss takes on a hungry edge, his palm caresses a path up my exposed thigh. Arousal throbs in my breasts and between my legs.
Without breaking the seal of our mouths, he eases me backward, lowering me to the floor between the bench seats. His tuxedo jacket serves as a blanket beneath me as his body covers mine, his hips gliding between my legs.
I let my head fall back, reveling in the heat and pressure of his kiss. His hand is hot on my skin, sliding up my outer thigh to stroke my hip. I moan and shiver against him, my dress rising higher as I curl my leg around his thigh, pulling him closer.
He lets out a rough groan and bites my bottom lip before sucking my tongue into his mouth. I sweep the inside, tasting him as he tastes me until we’re both breathing hard.
“God, baby.” He trails openmouthed kisses down my neck to my chest, dipping his tongue between the swell of my cleavage. The hot, wet rasp tightens my nipples and raises a flurry of goose bumps across my skin.
He pushes the top of my dress down and groans, eyes blazing as he looks up from my naked breasts. “No bra?”
“The dress wasn’t designed to be worn with a bra,” I say breathlessly.
“Thank Christ,” he growls. “Zuhair is a fucking genius.”
I don’t have a chance to respond before he lowers his mouth to my breasts, kissing and nuzzling them almost reverently. I gasp when his lips close over one peaked nipple, pulling on the sensitive flesh as my back bows.
He switches his attention to my other breast, cupping it in his hand and giving it the same teasing torment with his tongue and teeth.
“Gunner . . . oh God,” I whimper, plunging my fingers in his hair and tugging at the roots.
He kisses his way up my throat to take my mouth in another burning kiss. A breathy moan shudders out of me, my belly clenching on a surge of aching need.
Sliding my arms around his neck, I sink deeper into him, in the slow thrust of his tongue and the sensual roll of his hips. His cock is hard against me, so hard and thick I want to ride him right there in the boat.
Spreading my thighs, I run my hands down his back to squeeze his magnificent ass. He makes a rumbling noise in his throat and rears up over me, his eyes glowing like blue fire as he reaches under my dress to grip the band of my wispy panties. He slides them slowly down my legs, taking his time, and it’s the sexiest thing ever.
Almost as sexy as watching him unzip his tuxedo pants and curl his hand around his cock, his inky hair falling over his forehead. It’s all I can do not to whimper and rock against him, urging him on.
With a devilish glint in his eye, he torments me a little longer, the weeping head of his cock brushing my inner thighs and teasing my clit. When I’m a quivering mess of anticipation, I wrap my legs around his waist, my heels pressing hard against his ass.
His breath hisses out before his eyes lock with mine, all traces of mischief gone as he notches the head of his cock to my entrance and slides home.
I cry out and latch onto his shoulders, my nails digging into the steel muscles beneath his shirt. He circles his hips against me, sliding almost all the way out and then driving himself back in.
I moan brokenly, almost in tears from the pleasure. He takes my hands and entwines our fingers, pinning them down on either side of my head.
Staring up into his face, I sigh his name and he croons mine, his hips rocking in time with the swaying boat. We feel so good together, connected on a level that goes beyond physical to something I can feel deep in my soul.
Gunner must be feeling the same inexorable pull, the same thrill of connection that binds us. I see it in his glittering eyes, feel it in the way he brushes his lips over mine and utters softly, “You’re my angel. My sun and moon. Every beautiful thing I’ve ever wanted.”
My breath catches at his words. “I need you so much,” I whisper.
“I need you too, sweetheart,” he whispers back. “More than you’ll ever know.”
As his thrusts intensify, I lock my thighs around his pumping flanks, savoring the slick hardness of his cock stroking deep inside me.
“Gunner,” I moan against his mouth, lost in a haze of sensual euphoria.
He lowers his forehead to mine, staring directly into my eyes as he thrusts once more and holds himself there, embedded as deep as he can. I come apart crying his name, my heart soaring out of my chest.
Seconds later, I feel his cock jerk and then a heated rush of semen fills me as powerful tremors shake his body. As we ride out our climaxes together, his eyes stay fixed on mine, avidly drinking in my pleasure.
When the orgasmic waves recede and our bodies relax into a warm bliss, he releases my hands so he can caress my cheek. Then he brushes his lips over my eyelids, my nose, and finally, my mouth.
I love you.
Gunner stares into my eyes so intently, I wonder if I said the words aloud.
But then he rolls off me onto his back, tucking me against his chest with my leg slung over his thighs. I sigh rapturously, soaking up his delicious heat as I reflect on my newfound revelation.
I love this man. Deeply. Completely. Irrevocably.
I don’t know when it happened or how it will affect the future. Right now it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters but this moment.
We lay there sated, enjoying the warm salty air as we gaze up at the night sky. The stars seem closer than ever and the towering mountain peaks stand out in stark silhouette. It feels like we’re the only two people on the island.
“I wish we didn’t have to go home,” I whisper. “I wish we could stay here forever.”
“Me, too.” Gunner nuzzles my hair with his cheek as the boat bobs beneath us. “We’ll definitely come back. If not here, then one of my other homes.”
“You have more?” Of course he does.
“I own villas in Fiji, Switzerland and Lake Como, Italy. I’ll let you pick where we go next.”
A warm feeling spreads throughout my body. “It really doesn’t matter, as long as we’re together.”
Gunner shifts to prop himself up on one elbow. Gazing down at me, he strokes his knuckles down my cheek, his touch as gentle as his expression. “You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.”
My heart flutters in my chest. As he lowers his mouth to mine, I link my hands behind his neck to hold him close to me.
No matter what tomorrow brings, I’ll never forget this magical night or the amazing man who made my dreams a reality.