Chapter 29 Jude
TWENTY-NINE
JUDE
The sun is low in the sky as we make our way to the beach. Once we step on the sand, it molds beneath our feet. The lulling sound of the lapping waves calms me. I take her hand in mine as we make our way to an empty chair. One chair, that’s all we need to re-enact our nights at the lake house.
She smiles as I look over at her. That’s genuine happiness all the way to her eyes. It makes me stand taller…knowing I’m the one putting that smile on her face. I want to do that every day for the rest of my life. It feels right.
She feels right.
“You have such a beautiful smile,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief that she is here with me.
“Well, I’m happy to be spending time with you tonight. Why wouldn’t I have a smile on my face?” It’s a rhetorical question, one that spurs me to bring her hand to my lips and gently kiss it while my eyes linger on her.
The way she talks to me ignites something inside.
We reach the chair tucked away near some palm trees.
It’s peaceful. I sit down and tug her hips into my lap.
She’s still in that purple dress, and I’m trying to restrain myself—at least while we’re in public.
It’s a challenge with her body pressed against mine and a clear view of her perky tits.
“I put together our favorite songs playlist for tonight.” She seemed to enjoy dancing earlier, so it was an obvious choice. It’s a mix of 90s alternative rock and a few newer slow songs I added to switch it up. Dancing with her on the beach will be pure magic.
She moves her head enough to look up at me and say, “That’s so sweet and thoughtful. I’m excited to hear what songs you put on there.”
I take my phone out and click on the playlist. I shuffle the songs, and the first one that plays is Hoobastank’s “The Reason.” I can’t hold back a chuckle. If that isn’t a message, I’m not sure what is. It really could be my theme song.
Stroking her arms with my fingertips, I encourage her, “Well, let’s dance.”
With zero hesitation, she stands up and takes my hand in hers, pulling me out of the chair. We hold each other close. She wraps her arms around my neck and plays with my hair. I’m cataloging every moment with her in my mind. The way she touches me, it’s like no time has passed.
We can only see a part of the sun drowning into the horizon, and the colors are shifting to a deep orange bursting through the sky. By the time the song is done and Linkin Park’s “In the End” comes on, it’s our cue to sit back down. It feels right, and we snuggle back into our position.
“The sunset is amazing tonight. I wonder what other colors will show up?”
“I see some pinks coming through all that orange,” I say, pointing to the sky.
“Oh yes, I see it too.” She moves her body with excitement as the colors come through. Being in the moment, I get lost in the feel of holding her. But if she keeps wiggling her body like that, my cock is going to get the wrong idea and there will be no hiding it from her.
“This was a great idea,” she says as her hands come up over her head to hook onto my neck—it pushes her tits together and gives me a full view. There goes hiding my cock growing hard against her back. I let out a painful groan.
Grabbing her hips and pulling them against me, I say, “Feel what you do to me.”
“Did I do that?” she asks playfully as her hand goes to her chest in mock innocence.
“Yes, you did.” I tickle her in the rib cage, and she shrieks, ripping her arms down to her side.
“I’m so ticklish, stop!” She screams some more and tries to escape my hold. “Please, stop.”
“Since you asked nicely.” I squeeze her tight and kiss her neck. Watching as she crosses her legs, I’m sure my kisses are getting her wet, and I think back to earlier in her hotel room.
She playfully elbows me in the ribs. “Okay, fresh guy.” I laugh it off. I love it when we can have fun with each other. Hearing her laugh, my heart beats faster and my chest expands.
A long silence spreads over us as we watch the sun dropping further and further down the sky. The colors keep shifting. She turns to me, and out of the blue asks, “So, do you still talk to your band friends?”
It’s a question out of nowhere. Back in high school, my friends and I started a band and played at local venues.
Faith came to most of the shows. With the band members all going their separate ways, it was hard to keep the band going.
Even with replacing people and a couple of us going to Utah to snowboard.
“Not really. We’ve all grown apart,” I say, shrugging.
"Are you still working on lyrics?" she asks, her gaze surprisingly tender and curious. I don’t think she realizes how rough it got for me after we broke up.
"Not much," I admit. "I lost my inspiration…when I lost you." Telling her this feels like revealing another piece of myself.
She tilts her head to one side. “Me?”
“When we broke up, I mean, when I broke up with you, there was more that I lost along the way. You were a part of me.”
Her eyes are darting around like she’s searching for something, but she finally says, “I could say the same. I truly haven’t been whole since we were together.”
The silence is deafening. I don’t even hear the music anymore…
“Ah, Faith.” I bend down and brush my lips over her soft cheek. Then I rest my forehead against hers, inhaling deeply and savoring the closeness. She is my person. My flame burns bright when she is around. Her breath skates across my face, and I feel her hand stroke my hair.
She slowly breaks away from me and nestles herself back in my arms. “The sun is almost gone,” she says. looking up at the sky as she mindlessly strokes her fingertips on my forearms. She continues, “One by one, the stars will be shining in the sky.”
“Spending time with you means everything to me. I know it’s fast, but it all feels right.
” We’re listening to the music in the background and awaiting the first light to appear in the sky.
I’m going to ask her to come back to my suite.
She might not want to go, but I think it will be tempting enough for her to say yes.
“Yeah, it does feel right. This day has been one for the books,” she says.
The night sky slowly takes over, we start to see the lights of the boats still on the water, the glow from the resort shining in the night, and the waves rhythmically arriving on the shore.
It’s like there’s no pressure to say anything.
We’re still holding each other as she runs her fingers through my hair. It’s familiar and relaxing, and I lean my head on the back of the chair. I’ve been aimlessly caressing her hip with my thumb. We stay like that until all the stars cover the sky.
“I want to show you something. Up for a walk to my suite?” It’s a quick walk from here, and I can’t wait any longer to give her the bracelet. Things are moving quickly, and now that I have her in my arms, I don’t want to lose her.
We both get up off the chair. I grab my phone and pause the music.
I take her hand in mine and walk to the water.
Our feet walk on the sand, and the water gradually hits our feet.
We follow the shoreline all the way to the resort entrance.
She squeezes my hand and looks up at me with those pleading eyes.
I could devour her right here on the beach.
Instead, I squeeze her hand back and continue walking.
There’s been a lot of silence tonight. I guess we are both taking it all in with smiles on our faces.
It’s right around the corner. “This way.” I guide her with my hand on the small of her back. She makes no move to get away from the touch.
“Okay.” She allows me to guide her. As we step inside, there’s a view of the kitchenette that’s to the left, which is open to the modern-looking living room.
There’s a plush gray couch and an armchair, both of which face a flat-screen TV that’s mounted on the far wall.
The soft lighting casts a warm glow, creating a comfortable atmosphere.
Quickly, I grab the box from the table and discreetly tuck it behind my back, hoping she doesn’t notice.
Although, apparently I wasn’t as discreet as I thought. Damn it.
She lets out a giggle and eyes me with suspicion. “What are you doing?”
I’m caught. With a devious grin, I say, “I have a little something for you to wear on the sunset cruise.” I get closer to her and caress her arm, letting her know I’m here for her. “And I’m hoping you’ll say yes to be my date for tomorrow night’s sunset cruise?”
I couldn’t think of another way to express it, so the words topple out. Her eyes go wide and her mouth gapes, clearly taken aback.
“I’d love that.” She grabs my body and presses a quick kiss on my lips.
Suddenly, the box is feeling heavy. I slowly bring the box forward and place it in the palm of her hand that I’m cradling.
“What’s this?” Her eyes are sparkling in the light, and she’s wearing a smile that goes all the way to her eyes.
That’s pure happiness.
“You deserve it. You deserve everything,” I want to tell her she deserves the world, and I’ll give it to her.
In time, those words will be said to her.
One day soon, when we figure out how we are going to make this work beyond the resort.
I’m actually surprised she hasn’t brought it up, but there’s no way I’m bringing it up right now.
As she opens the box, her hand flies to her mouth and she gasps. Delicately, she pulls the bracelet out of the box. “You didn’t have to do this,” she says as she holds it and looks at all the charms.
“It’s perfect for you,” I say, gazing into her eyes that make my body burst every time I look into them. Cupping her face in my hands, I swipe my thumbs on her cheeks and then her lips. Those plump, pink lips that are begging me to kiss them.
“It’s beautiful,” she says, and I can see her eyes filling with tears. She loves it! It sends warmth through my body.
I take the bracelet from her and carefully slide it onto her slender wrist, fastening the clasp.
My fingers brush against her skin, lingering for a moment before they travel upward.
I lean closer, the air between us charged, and I softly lower my lips to hers, brushing them with a feather-light touch.