Chapter 25
Silvie
My chest feels heavy in a way I didn’t think it could.
I’m shocked. I had no idea that when I took Cal to New York with me, he was practically coming home.
He went to college there and studied finance at NYU.
He built a whole life here that looks a whole lot like mine.
His family didn’t own the company, but he was climbing his way up, and it sounds like he was good at what he did.
Henry was practically in awe of him. And now I’m shocked. Who the hell is Cal?
The plane hums beneath us, and I am still trying to figure out this version of Cal that I didn’t know existed until today.
And he was just so chill about it, like it wasn’t a giant piece of his life that I had no idea about.
I wouldn’t have brought him here and rubbed his face into it if I had known.
Cal’s next to me, his broad shoulders relaxed and his gaze fixed on the window like he’s watching memories and not clouds. He looks the same and feels the same. Yet everything feels different. I feel somehow closer to him, now. Like he gets me and gets my world after all.
How many moments did he understand me in ways I didn’t realize when I was working and taking calls at his kitchen table?
It doesn’t feel like he betrayed me. It feels like I’m discovering something about him that is incredibly attractive, and that part makes me wonder if our paths had crossed years ago.
I went to NYU, too. I likely would have been a year behind him.
But did we see each other and never know?
Part of that makes me sad. What if he’d been the right guy, wrong time?
What if we were meant to be, so the universe laughed and moved Birdie to Coconut Beach, so I’d somehow go there someday and meet Cal. The world works in weird ways.
And this changes things. Things that scare me and pull me closer to him. I have questions. So many questions. I have to unravel this man bit by bit.
He must feel my crazy thoughts churning because he looks at me and says, “What?”
“I’m still in shock that you’re like an undercover hot finance guy.”
He rolls his eyes playfully. “Not quite. You know, Wilby probably had all of that information in his reports. Did you not read them?”
I shake my head. “No.”
He frowns and laughs. “Why not? You just married a stranger?”
“Why would I?” I say softly. “I trust you, and you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”
His expression softens. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“Do you miss it?” I ask.
“I still do stuff for Jonah and me.” He shrugs. “Nothing crazy, just playing around. I’m good with money.”
That’s what Wilby was saying when he was teasing that Cal had his own money.
I stare at him, and he continues.
“The bar’s paid off,” he continues. “Along with my cottage, Jonah’s, and my mom’s. I like finance stuff.”
I stare at him because all of those places paid off are a huge chunk of real estate.
His gaze drops to mine, dark, warm, and familiar. “What are you thinking right now?”
I shake my head, as if I can’t believe this. “I’m thinking, how did I end up with a secret hot finance guy for a husband?”
He exhales a quiet laugh and leans his head back as if he’s tired of my shit again.
I continue because I live to tease him now. “I feel like I just went on an epic side quest with you. I kinda love it.”
He closes his eyes and sighs, then looks over at me. “Now what?”
I lean closer, my mouth brushing his ear. “Now you take me to the back of this plane, and you make this right.”
He swallows, and his breath hitches. “What?”
“I don’t even care how,” I add softly. “Kiss me. Touch me. Make me come. Fuck me senseless. I don’t care.
You started something the other day and got pulled away to the bar.
Then we were tired and traveling, and then you had the nerve to look that fucking hot in a suit.
So now I need it.” I pull back, just enough to lock eyes with his. “I need you.”
His eyes darken, and something low and mistakable is happening behind those eyes. And it feels dirty. He doesn’t say a word, just reaches down and slowly unbuckles his seatbelt.
My panties are soaked.
I stand, and his hand immediately finds mine, and I tug him down the narrow aisle toward the back of the plane, my pulse racing with need. Every step feels like it’s taking forever. I can’t wait anymore.
We slip into the bedroom, and I shut and lock the door behind us.
“What if someone comes back here?” he asks, his voice low.
“They won’t,” I say, pushing him gently toward the bed.
He catches my waist instead, his strong hands pulling me close, spinning us, so I stumble back against him. God, he could manhandle me every day. His body is so solid, warm, and hard. I feel dizzy with the scent of his soap and cologne. He’s so fucking intoxicating.
He leans down, mouth at my neck, and I can feel myself forgetting where we are. “You may be in charge in the boardroom, Silverlyn. But in the bedroom, I’m in charge,” he says, tucking hair behind my ear. “Don’t forget that.”
I shudder and whimper, pressing my thighs together.
“And I didn’t get my in-flight meal yet. I’m starving,” he says as he pulls my suit pants down and throws them off to the side. He puts his fingers around my lace panties and slides those down, too, me stepping out of them.
He grins at me and pushes me back on the bed, using his hands to guide my thighs apart. He looks at me and says, “Perfect for me.”
I whimper, and he says, “Gotta be quiet. Otherwise, they’ll hear you.”
“I don’t care,” I murmur.
He kisses his way up my thighs, finding my center wet and ready for him. He swipes his tongue up my center and lands on my clit, sucking softly and moaning quietly. “For me.”
He takes his time, and every time I build up, he slows down. I know he has to be doing that on purpose. “First time you come will be on my cock, baby.”
“Then you’d better get ready to fuck me now, Cal, because I am ready and have been ready,” I gasp out.
He stands and takes off his belt, and I swear I almost come just watching him.
He unbuttons his shirt quickly, throws it aside, and slides his pants down, revealing black boxers.
I watch as he releases his cock, and holy shit.
Now I know what I’ve been missing, and I’m kicking myself for not doing this sooner. What were we waiting for?
He leans down, mouth at my neck, and I forget where we are. The only thing I care about right now is Cal being inside me. Immediately. Yesterday. Today. All day.
He pauses. “I have a condom in my wallet. Hold on.”
I grip his shoulders. “I’m on birth control, and I got tested at the Coconut Beach clinic when I got there. I haven’t had sex with anyone in over six months.”
A look of confusion crosses his face, and he says, “Yeah, I’ll ask you more about that later.”
“Please don’t,” I murmur as I practically pulse for him to be inside of me. “Just fuck me, Cal.”
“My wife,” he bites out as he pushes inside me, filling me.
I whimper, and he says, “Want more?”
“It’s not all the way in?” I ask, my eyes wide, moaning slowly.
He shakes his head and pushes further, and I could never describe this feeling.
Of being full and of him. At this point, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for this man.
Have his babies someday? Keep him forever?
Anything. I love him. I love his family and friends.
And I love him so goddamn much. I’d worship him if that wouldn’t be fucking weird.
“You good?” he whispers in my ear.
“I’m really good,” I murmur.
“I’ve wanted to do this since the moment I saw you. I knew you were mine. I couldn’t explain it. But I knew,” he says as he thrusts and makes me forget my own name.
Weeks of tension snap between us, and when he thrusts and kisses me in between thrusts, it feels inevitable. I’m so fucking gone for this man. Like this was always going to happen. Like the world was going to do everything in its power to get us together. No matter what.
My orgasm builds hard and fast, and I feel him too. He says, “I won’t ever come until you do. Ladies first, baby.”
And then I do. I come harder than I’ve ever come in my life.
And he does too.
I pull his face to mine and kiss him, because there’s nowhere else to be, and I am never going to stop kissing Cal. I melt into him, into the way he makes me feel safe, grounded, and free to be me.
Time blurs. He gets up, comes back with a washcloth, and helps me clean up. And I’m reminded that it’s the little things like that. The small moments that build up to the big moments.
He settles me against him, and everything else feels far away. Because in his big strong arms, his chin resting on my hair, I feel the best I’ve ever felt.
A soft knock at the door lets us know that we’re descending into Coconut Beach, and I gently wake him.
For the first time in days, I feel relaxed. And real. Something I thought we could pretend our way out of is never going to be fake again. There’s no way. Not after this trip.
And I’m going to tell him that.
By the time we head out through the doors of the Coconut Beach airport and into the Florida warm, salty and familiar air, I feel like I’ve lived many lives in one week.
Coconut Beach feels like a relief compared to the electric, bustling race of New York City.
I don’t know why my father can’t understand why this is where I want to be right now. He was here. I know he felt it too.
Cal’s hand finds the small on my back, and just that simple touch relaxes and charges me at the same time. It must feel similar to him, because his shoulders are relaxed and he seems happier. Content. Hot sex on the plane didn’t hurt, either.
I wish he’d have told me about his past in New York, but I know he wasn’t ready. There’s still baggage to unpack with Cal. And he’s working on it. Regardless, I don’t care what his secrets are. I want him.
When I look at Cal, I want it all with him. I can’t even begin to explain it, but I just can’t imagine not being with him.
Birdie’s house comes into view as we pull up in front of Cal’s, and we park.
My hope is to take a shower and have a quiet night in with Cal and some takeout. That hope is gone when the front door flies open to Birdie’s house.
January steps out and calls back inside, “They’re here!”
I barely have time to get out of the truck before Birdie squeals my name and barrels toward me. Her arms wrap around me, and she laughs. “You’re back!”
I laugh. “Of course I’m back. I told you I would be.”
Gale catches up and says, “Her husband is here after all, of course she came back.”
Husband. I love the sound of that. I glance at Cal, and we share a small, secretive smile.
The Bees surround me, and I smile. They are so happy to see us, wrapping us both in hugs.
“What are you all up to tonight?” I ask as I take in their chatter and chaos.
Gale says, “We were tracking when you all landed. Birdie was worried you wouldn’t come back. We consoled her with sangria and kept her busy by playing poker.”
I laugh and pull Birdie into another hug. “Of course I’m back.”
Cal sets our bags down, and one of the Bees claps him on the shoulder. “You make it out alive?”
He smiles. “It was good.”
They laugh and joke with him as if they’ve known him forever, and then I remember they probably have.
I watch as he leans into the chaos here, and he looks at home.
This version of him feels slightly different than the man walking beside me in Manhattan.
He’s himself here, and there he feels like a ghost of himself. But still strong by my side.
Birdie stands back on the porch, smiling as if she’s relieved. Hugging Birdie feels like coming home in a way that I need.
“You survived New York and your first day as CEO?” She beams at me proudly.
“I did,” I say. “Barely.”
She looks at me more closely and says, with her kind eyes that always seem to know. “You look different, sugar. Happy.”
Before I can ask what she means, a cold glass is pressed into my hand by Lucille. “Drink. And cheers to being back where you belong.”
I glance at Cal, and he shrugs. “Go have fun. I’ll put our bags up and order food for everyone. I need to check in at the bar, anyway.”
But I don’t want him to go, and he must sense that because he comes over and kisses me softly and says, “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” I say softly. “Bye.”
Inside Birdie’s house, it’s loud and chaotic. Shoes piled up by the door, and half-empty plates stacked on the counter. Our coming home clearly interrupted their party. I lean against the island, feeling overwhelmed and happy in the best possible way.
We eat fondue over a big fondue pot that the Bees have set up. If there’s one thing about the Bees, they sure do know how to have a good time. I listen to them talk about an upcoming wedding and a couple of other events.
Birdie catches my eye from across the room and tips her glass toward the porch. I slip outside, the night air wrapping around me, the waves crashing in the distance, steady and familiar to me now. That’s the sound I fall asleep to and the sound I wake up to.
I check in on Iggy, and he’s curled up on a rock under his hibiscus bush. “Hey, buddy,” I whisper.
Cal joins me a few minutes later, sliding onto a chair next to me, wearing shorts and a T-shirt now. We don’t say anything at first, he just slips his hand into mine.
“I forgot how quiet it is here,” I say.
He glances over at me. “Not quiet with the Bees.”
I laugh softly as someone inside laughs loudly, and another person breaks out into song to the music. “They missed us.”
“And how does that make you feel?” he asks.
I look over at him and think about New York and how someone recognized him and missed him there. No one misses me in New York. And I think about how this life in Coconut Beach is a place I’ve come to find home. A real home. With real people I love.
I squeeze Cal’s hand, and he strokes my knuckles.
We go inside, and I say goodbye to everyone, giving them hugs. A familiar flutter reminds me that this could be home. I can choose this. This place feels like it’s choosing me.
Birdie kisses my cheek and tells me that Wilby’s room is ready for when he comes back.
“I’ll tell him,” I promise.
Cal waits patiently beside me and when we head back to his house, I realize something.
New York showed me who I was trying to be. But Coconut Beach showed me who I truly am. And coming here was the best choice I’ve ever made.