Chapter 8 #2
Portia swallowed the lump in her throat, a surge of tears threatening to overwhelm her. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Meditation had been her anchor, guiding her through emotions she wasn’t used to experiencing.
“Don’t cry, beautiful,” Sage said softly to comfort Portia. “Enjoy this moment. You deserve it.”
All the more reason for Portia to feel overwhelmed.
Sage was incredibly good to her and always seemed to know the perfect words to say, just when she needed them most. She squeezed Sage’s hand and let go as the masseuses approached to begin their massage.
Wiping away her tears, she settled her face into the headrest, determined to savor every moment of the happiness she deserved.
Portia gripped the railing of the patio overlooking the rainforest, throwing her head back in ecstasy.
“Fuuuuck Sage,” she cried out. “Deeper!”
Sage thrust in and out, while Portia supported herself by holding up her thigh. She bit her bottom lip, watching as Portia eagerly took every inch of her strap.
“You’re so beautiful when you beg, Princess,” she whispered in Portia’s ear.
Portia was left trembling as her legs threatened to give out beneath her. She increased her pace, arching her back to meet every thrust from Sage. With each movement, Portia's cries grew louder, echoing through the forest as she reached her peak in pure bliss.
Sage teased Portia's clit, circling her fingers to heighten her orgasm.
Moaning in response to Portia's whimpers, Sage kissed her shoulder gently as she carefully removed the strap.
Soon after, they prepared a bath in the outdoor tub on the patio, soothing their aching bodies after a passionate morning together.
“Listen, we don’t have to leave if you don’t want to,” Sage obliged, interlacing her fingers with Portia’s as they laid back in the hot bubble bath.
“Noooo,” Portia whined. “As much as I’d love to stay here with you forever, we gotta get back home.”
“Aight, aight,” Sage agreed with a chuckle.
“Plus, I want to talk to my father about us. He deserves to know. I can’t hide us from him,” Portia said. “And I want to love you out loud.” She turned over her shoulder and kissed Sage.
Sage sighed as she placed her hands on the side of the tub. Portia adjusted herself between her legs. “You’re right. I’ma talk to Pops too. We can’t hide forever.”
“Exactly,” Portia concurred, smiling as Sage confirmed everything she felt.
After spending the rest of the morning laying in each other’s arms, they finally packed up to head back to Eastbourne Hills. Neither of them knew what to make of telling their families, but they knew it needed to be done.
“Alright, call me later,” Sage said, kissing Portia before she prepared to get out of the car.
“I will as soon as I’m done talking to him,” Portia said, smiling. “Also tha..”
“Shhh,” Sage hushed Portia, placing a finger over her lips. “What I tell you? No need.”
Portia smirked behind Sage’s index finger and teasingly took it into her mouth, leaving Sage breathless.
Sage bit her lip, mesmerized by the crimson spark in Portia’s eyes.
As she stepped out of the car, Sage playfully smacked her ass.
Portia giggled as she gathered her luggage and headed towards her front door.
Portia had the time of her life and knew she couldn’t hide this from her father.
She was truly happy and wanted to share that with the person she loved.
She smiled from ear to ear, thinking about the morning she had as she stuck the key in the door to enter the house.
Before she could turn the key, the door opened.
“Hey, sweetheart!” Phoenix said, opening the door. “I missed you! How was your trip?”
He took her into a bear hug as Portia’s luggage fell to the floor. She couldn’t break his grip to wrap her arms around him in return. She giggled as she tried to wiggle his arms loose.
“I missed you too, Dad.”
“You must’ve had an amazing trip,” he said, stepping back to look at her. “You’re glowing, sweetheart.”
“Well…” Portia said, shrugging. Was she ready to tell her father now?
“Come on,” Phoenix prompted, gesturing for her to follow him. “I made dinner for us so you can tell me all about it.”
Portia grimaced at the thought of telling him all about her trip and followed behind. Better now than never, she thought.
Phoenix pulled out a chair for Portia as they approached the dining table. She swallowed her nerves as she took a seat. Her stomach fluttered with a ball full of nerves. Ready or not, she was going to share her newfound love with her father.
“Chef Nico came this evening and made your favorite,” Phoenix exclaimed, beaming from ear to ear.
Portia looked down, taking in a plate of seafood Alfredo with two slices of garlic bread.
This had been her favorite meal since the beginning of time, and only Chef Nico knew how to make it the way she liked.
She smiled at her father, thinking of how she was the apple of his eye and he would literally do anything for her.
But would he understand how she felt about Sage?
Well–here goes nothing.
“Um, Daddy…” Portia said, placing the cloth napkin in her lap. “I want to talk to you about something.” Her voice lowered in nervousness as her heart sped up.
She took a deep breath in through her nose and released it out through her mouth. She was ready.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Phoenix asked. “Everything okay?” He could tell something was bothering her by the change in tone and body language.
“Yeah, um…” Portia stumbled over her words. She couldn’t lie.
“Well, no…” she said, meeting her father’s soft gaze. She was lost for words and didn’t know what to say, how to say it, or where to start.
“You can talk to me, sweetheart,” Phoenix said, holding his hand out across the table to Portia for support.
She reached out to grab his hand, and he squeezed it in acknowledgement. Portia took in another deep breath. Breath Portia, she said to herself.
“Okay,” Portia said, straightening her posture. “So these past few days, I wasn’t at a retreat. I was in Costa Rica.”
Phoenix looked at her confused but nodded his head to show he was listening.
“I was in Costa Rica with Sage,” Portia said.
“I know,” Phoenix said. “Salem told me that she’d be looking after you while you were out there. Wasn’t that where the retreat was?” He was still concerned for her.
“Well, yeah,” Portia began. You got this. She heard Sage’s voice in her mind. She held her head up and shoulders back, ready to speak from her heart.
“Sage and I went on the trip together. We have been seeing each other. And I know how it sounds, but she’s so amazing.
She treats me soooo good and makes me feel like I can breathe again.
I truly feel like myself again. And after constant reflection and healing, I really feel like–no, I know I’m ready to love again,” Portia blurted out all at once.
She was afraid of what would come next and knew she had to get everything off her chest right then and there.
She looked down at her father’s hand, still in hers, then up at his face to gauge his reaction, trying to read him.
He wasn’t angry, upset, or sad; he was just...
silent. He was absorbing everything she had just poured out on the table.
The look in his eyes revealed the depth of information he was processing all at once.
His eyes met hers as his face revealed a smile. “That’s what’s different about you,” he said charmingly. “You’re in love.”
Portia was shook at his response but leaned into the love she saw in his eyes. She smiled softly as her father took her other hand.
“It’s okay to be in love, sweetheart. We don’t get to choose who takes our heart,” Phoenix reassured her.
“So…” Portia began. “You’re not upset?” She scanned his face, trying to make sense of his response, but his eyes sparkled with joy.
“No, I’m not upset,” Phoenix replied. “I’m so happy that you’ve found your joy. I can see it in your eyes. It looks good on you. You’ve been through so much in this life and you deserve to spend the rest of it happy.”
“But what about her.. and the cartel?” Portia said, searching for more answers.
“Psssh,” Phoenix said, waving off her concern. “We’re all in it at this point. Things have been going so well for us that we’re discussing long-term deals. The Washingtons are practically family now.”
Portia laughed through the tears that formed in her eyes. She got up from her side of the table and walked around to embrace her father. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She could finally relish in her joy and love.
Phoenix wrapped her into his arms. “Anyone that looks after my Babygirl and makes her happy is good with me.” He poked her nose. “Now let’s eat!”
She released him from her hug and scurried back to her side of the table to dig into her favorite meal.