Chapter 29 - Gwen - Bumping into You
Chapter 29
Gwen
I close my eyes. When was the last time I wished on a star?
Taking a deep breath, I let myself take in the moment. The chill of the air around us, a slight breeze as the ship moves across the ocean. The smell of the restaurants we passed, delicious scents of savory and sweet. The sound of people in the distance chattering, music coming from the pool areas of the ship. The touch of Niall’s hand on my cheek, warm and soft. Comforting.
When was the last time I’d been comforted by someone? When was the last time I let someone take care of me instead of me trying to take care of everyone else?
It’s nice. This, this is what I want. I want someone to take care of me for once who I can be my true self around. I want to be with someone who doesn’t slink away from me but rather digs deeper to get to know me. Someone who, regardless of my to-do lists, my obsession with my business, and my snarky quips, still sees the real me.
I wish for this feeling with Niall to never end. I wish for the courage to try and make something work between us.
Taking a deep breath, I open my eyes to see Niall’s blue eyes staring back at me.
“You make a wish?” asks Niall.
“Yes,” I say softly, not moving back from his touch. Instead I lean into it as Niall puts his other hand on my waist. I can feel the heat of his hand through the fabric of my shirt. Reminded of earlier when his hand briefly brushed my bare skin, I feel a shiver of anticipation jolt through me.
“Good,” he says gruffly.
I’m unable to resist the pull that draws me toward him. I lean forward, wrapping my arms around his neck. I pause just before our lips touch.
Brushing against his lips, I quietly say, “I don’t know when it happened, but I realized I haven’t been pretending either. I want to try . . . us.”
Niall pulls back slightly but only enough that he can look me in the eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m open to trying. I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that I have feelings for you too.”
Niall sweeps me up in a hug and kisses me deeply. “That makes me so happy, mo ghrá ,” he says. “Those are the best words I’ve ever heard.”
I laugh and kiss him back.
“Because of you,” says Niall, “I’ve been able to keep the promise I made to my mam before she passed away.”
“What promise?” I ask.
“My mam made me promise her that I wouldn’t stay alone when she was gone. She told me I had one year to mourn her and then to get on with my life,” he chuckles at the memory.
I smile, encouraging him to continue.
“She said to try and find someone who makes me happy, someone I can laugh with and makes it so I no longer feel alone. To really try and connect with someone. I wanted to keep my promise to my mam, but it wasn’t until I met you that I felt like I could. So now, not only have you allowed me to keep my promise to my mam but you’ve made my wish come true too,” he says before pressing his mouth gently against mine.
His hand holds me around the waist, pulling me closer to him as his other hand moves behind my head, cradling it. Our lips touch, and our tongues taste as we explore one another.
I have no idea how long we stay like that, making out in the garden like a pair of teenagers under the canopy of the night sky. The vast expanse is adorned with a breathtaking display of constellations, and the stars twinkle like diamonds against a velvety black backdrop. The world disappears, and there is nothing but the feel of Niall, the sound of my heart beating wildly in my chest, the taste of his lips on mine.
Breaking apart, Niall leans his forehead to mine.
“I don’t want to say anything to the rest of the group,” I say. “Not just yet, not with the wedding a few days away. I don’t want to take anything away from Holly and Greg.”
Nodding, Niall says, “I understand.”
“But,” I say, kissing him softly, “I’m not ready for tonight to be over. Can we . . . can we head back to our balcony?”
He looks deeply at me. “ Mo ghrá , I want nothing more than this night to last forever.”
We walk hand in hand back to our rooms. Before we step into our separate rooms, he takes my hand and bends down to place a kiss on it. “See you soon.”
I nod mutely. How is a kiss on the hand so hot?
Flushed, I hurry to freshen up.
A moment later, there is a soft knock at my balcony door. Niall has taken off his shoes and cruise card lanyard, but everything else is just as he was a moment ago. Anticipation builds within me as I unlock the balcony door and slide it open.
Niall holds out his hand, and I take it, letting him guide me onto our balcony.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hi,” I echo.
He tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Then, tilting my head up, he lowers his lips to mine. Still gentle, but harder than in the gardens. Almost . . . needy.
He needs me just as much as I need him.
A beat of a breath passes before we are in each other’s arms. Hands wandering, needing to be close to each other. His lips leave mine and trail behind my ear and down my neck, causing me to shiver. His hands push my shirt up slightly, stroking over my skin just above my hips. The cool ocean breeze is a stark contrast to the warmth of his hands.
Running my hands through his hair then down his arms, I explore his body. My gentle tugging registers to Niall, and he pulls away momentarily to take off his shirt in one swift movement and throw it over the chair next to us.
I swallow as I touch his bare skin. Damn is he fine. A shiver runs through him as my fingers trace his abs down to the top of his shorts.
“May I?” he asks, hands on my shirt.
I nod, trying to remember how to breathe. Bolts of electricity surge through me as he slowly lifts my shirt up and over my head and tosses it on top of his.
He traces the straps of my bra, following it down to the curve over my breast. The touch sends an urgency through me. I want this man more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. How is that possible when just days ago, he was infuriating me?
“You’re so sexy, mo ghrá ,” he says in between kisses that move down my neck to my collar bone, his body heating my skin as he moves, thumbs tracing the underside of my bra.
“I need you,” I blurt, my face flaming at my outburst. But who am I kidding? If this doesn’t end the way I want it to, I may combust.
A low moan leaves Niall’s throat. He stops kissing and lays his forehead against my chest. “ Mo ghrá , I never expected to meet you, never expected for this . . .”
“It’s okay. This is okay,” I reply, my heart racing in my chest.
“Are you sure?” Niall asks, his eyes searching mine. “I would never want to make you uncomfortable.”
“If you leave me like this much longer, I will be uncomfortable but for an entirely different reason.”
A needy growl surges up from his throat. I have only a moment to register how sexy that sound is before Niall lifts me up. I wrap my legs around him, and he carries me into my room and closes the balcony door.
“Now that was sexy,” I say in a whisper.
His eyes pierce me, a fire of need raging in them. I pull closer to him and adjust my legs around his waist. The hardness of him is evident with each movement.
He sets me down gently on the bed, and his hungry gaze roams my body. Kneeling down, he moves his hands up my thighs. Within moments, we are both devoid of our clothes, the cold of the comforter a drastic contrast to the warmth of our bodies against each other.
The feel of his hands causes me to shiver as he massages my inner thighs. My breath catches as his hands move inward. His thumb leisurely strokes me as, clearly, he is in no rush. My body jolts at the sensations coursing through me, my breathing getting more erratic the longer he goes on.
After what feels like an eternity, he pauses, and I move to sit up. He adjusts lower on the bed, and I immediately fall back again as his mouth begins exploring and sucking on the same spot his thumb just vacated.
Holding my thighs down with his hands, he continues as I writhe beneath him. I’m close, oh so close, and he knows it. He doesn’t let up, and soon, I hit my limit, coming so hard I see stars.
Oh my God, that was amazing.
I try to calm my breathing, but my body is buzzing. Glancing up, I see his eyes still roaming my body, and fuck if he’s not the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. I reach up and pull him down on top of me, kissing him with a passion I’ve never felt before.
We move in an intimate dance transcending reality, our two hearts finding rhythm of connection. We move in harmony, each touch a thrilling promise, every glance an affirmation of our souls pulling toward each other. There is nothing but the two of us. The room and world beyond fades into a blur. In our heated embrace, we discover a language of our own, surpassing the need for words with heated gazes and a passion so overwhelming that time seems to stand still.
I wake up tucked in comfortably next to Niall, his arm wrapped over me, holding me close while he gently strokes my cheek. Opening my eyes, I turn my head to face him.
“Good morning,” I say softly.
He pulls me in tighter, and kisses my hair. “Good morning, mo ghrá . You looked so peaceful, so I didn’t want to wake you.”
“It was a good night,” I say.
“It was,” he says, stroking my cheek, “but unless you changed your mind about telling people about us, I need to get up and meet Greg and Trent. They’re waiting on me for an early game of basketball.”
“I understand,” I say, lightly trailing my fingers along his arm.
“Mmm . . . I’d love nothing more than to stay and enjoy the morning with you. Last night was like something out of a dream, and I don’t want it to end.”
“It’s okay, really,” I say as he gets out of bed to grab his things.
Then, he turns back around and sits on the side of the bed. He leans forward and gently cups my face. “ Mo ghrá , you’re important. I haven’t even left yet and I’m already wishing I was back here with you. I’ll be thinking about your beautiful smile until I see you again.”
He gives me a soft kiss before heading over to his room.
Smiling, I lie back against the headboard. I’m important to Niall.
The thought causes a happy thrill to weave through me. Memories of last night flash through my mind. Niall and I exploring each other with each passionate embrace. The memory of kisses I still feel on my lips.
A happy sigh leaves me as I snuggle into the bed a bit longer.
When I wake up again, I take a quick shower, drink two cups of coffee, and dress in my bathing suit and wrap. Grabbing a floppy hat, some sandals, and a book, I look over my schedule. First, I have a meeting with Courtney, then I’ll meet up with Holly and Margot at the pool.
“Hi, Gwen,” says Courtney as I walk into her office.
“Hi, Courtney,” I say. I’m happy I scheduled some time to check in with her. Everything has been so busy I haven’t had the chance before now. “How’s everything looking for the wedding?”
“Funny you should ask. I wanted to run something by you,” she says.
Oh no, dread fills my stomach. Something is wrong and I’ve not been on top of everything like I should be.
“Is everything okay?” I ask hesitantly.
“Oh, of course, sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I just wanted to confirm a few things about the rehearsal attendees and the SkyDeck for the wedding.”
“Oh, thank goodness. Yes, so the rehearsal will just have the wedding party and our parents. So that’s thirteen, because Gillian and Miles will be there to help Maggie with her cues. What about the SkyDeck?” I ask.
“Well, we were thinking, because it’s going to be dusk when they get married, it would be nice to have lights hanging around the SkyDeck to give off a sort of fairytale glow.”
“Holly would love that!” I say. “Yes, please do add them. And thank you for all your help with the wedding. I haven’t had to do nearly what I normally would for an event, and as unnerving as that is, it’s also nice being able to just take part in the wedding itinerary with my friends and family.”
“That’s what we are here to help with,” says Courtney. “Everyone in the wedding party, including you, should be able to have a great time without worrying about a thing.”
“Thank you, Courtney. I’m off to the pool to meet up with Holly and Margot,” I say.
“Have a great time,” Courtney says.
Sitting in the lounge chair beside one of the many pools, I read my book, and a feeling of calm washes over me, the warmth of the sun warming my skin. Holly and Margot sit next to me reading and drinking pi ? a coladas, having joined me about an hour ago.
Turning the page of my book, I take in the people around me, all of us on the same ship but all with different lives. Even my life is different from what it was when I first boarded this cruise ship.
Laying my head back, I smile to myself. This is definitely the life. The gentle breeze lightly moves the pages of my book as I read.
“Gwen,” I hear from an unknown location.
Looking around, I try to place the source.
“Gwen!” I hear again.
I glance up at the second level and see Niall waving to me from one of the hot tubs. I give him a small wave.
The grin that spreads across his face brings a smile to mine. As unpredictable as this whole thing has been since we first bumped into each other, I can always count on him to find me. And now, he’s someone I have developed strong feelings for. Someone who has developed strong feelings for me as well.
Niall steps out of the hot tub, and the water glistens as he shakes off the excess and reaches for his towel. The sight of his bare chest brings a flood of memories from the night before.
“What’s caught your attention?” Holly asks teasingly.
“It’s Mr. Hottie with the accent,” says Margot. Then they both break out into giggles.
“Hush, you two,” I scold.
“He definitely has a crush on you,” says Holly.
“Yeah . . .” I say dreamily.
“Seems like you might have one too,” says Holly, pulling her sunglasses down to look at me, her eyebrow raised at my tone. “Does that mean you two are . . .”
She waits for me to answer.
But I can’t bring myself to tell them yet that he’s mine, and I’m his. I want it to be our secret for just a little longer.
As if my thoughts conjure him, Niall walks over to us, saving me from having to answer Holly’s question. The sight of him with a plate piled high with chips, guacamole, and sour cream causes me to smile.
“For you, ladies,” Niall says.
“Thank you,” I say.
“You look breathtaking,” he whispers into my ear as he hands over the nacho plate.
“Nachos!” exclaims Holly. “I would kill for some nachos.”Laughing, Niall says, “Well, thankfully you won’t have to go to that extreme. We wouldn’t want the bride to end up in jail right before her wedding.”
“Why is Holly ending up in jail?” asks Greg, coming over and giving his bride-to-be a kiss on her head.
“Well, for nachos, of course,” says Holly. Greg just shakes his head like he should have known.
“Sounds about right,” says Trent, who just arrived.
After we’ve about finished the nachos, Trent says, “Anyone up for a game of ping pong?”
“Are you ready to get beat?” I ask.
“Ha! Just because you beat me years ago doesn’t mean you’ll beat me again,” says Trent teasingly.
“My money is on Gwen,” says Niall, eating a nacho as we follow Trent to an open ping pong table.
“I’ll bet it is,” murmurs Margot next to me, smirking.
“Hurtful,” says Trent, bouncing the ping pong ball to test it before sending it over to my side.