28. Halliday
28
HALLIDAY
“What are we doing here?” I look out of the car window at the aircraft hangar we’ve driven into.
“I’ve got something to show you.” Sterling’s eyes glitter as we come to a stop.
He steps out of the car and then leans back inside it, holding his hand out to me.
“What is it?”
He chuckles. “Come and see.”
I grin and take his hand to climb out.
I’ve been worried about him. He hasn’t been himself since I found him out of bed the night we saw Rory. He looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. And the way he said he has to protect those he loves almost had me in tears. He’s been through so much. And that fact that he thinks he has to explain his need to protect people, that he has to apologize for it, breaks my heart. I will never feel anything other than blessed that he deems me worthy enough to fight for. That he’s chosen to love me with all of his strength, whatever that looks like.
Seeing him smiling again today, the soft lines at the edges of his warm blue eyes back again, makes my heart lift. I don’t care what he’s brought me to see. I’ve already got the sight I’ve been wishing for.
I gaze around the giant space. There are three small jets lined up with their front steps lowered.
“I still don’t know what we’re doing here,” I say as I look at their perfect sleek white fuselages glinting in the morning sun, like three graceful swans sitting on the calm surface of a lake.
“I wasn’t sure which one you’d like most, so I bought all three.”
I start to laugh, but the serious look on Sterling’s face stops me.
“Wait. What?”
“Choose which one you want to keep, or keep them all, either is fine with me.”
“Um…”
He takes a step closer, tilting my chin toward him with his finger and thumb.
“I’ll try to buy you the whole damn world, you know that. And I know I’ve caused you concern. Think of it as a thank you for not giving up on me.”
“I’d never.”
I look into his eyes, understanding the tinge of pain there. He was worried Rory was going to cause problems. From now on, Rory holds no power over me. If anything, I despise him more for seeing how his presence has affected Sterling. It’s like the threat against me has brought all his grief back to the surface. He’s told me how he couldn’t save them. And he’s scared that he can’t save me. But he doesn’t have to. I’m going to save both of us.
There’s nothing Rory can do now that I won’t be prepared for.
I press a kiss to Sterling’s lips, one that’s gentle and conveys a million I love yous all at once.
He smiles against me. “Now go and choose which one we’re taking to visit your parents in.”
“You bought these so I could go and see my parents?”
“I know you miss them. And I’m sure they miss you. Anything that I can do to help with that, I will.”
“I don’t believe this. You’re mad.” I smile up at him, loving the way his eyes fill with easy happiness.
“No. I’m just in love. Now go pick one.”
I bite my lower lip before pulling him to me for another kiss. He sinks into me, sliding his tongue inside my mouth and making me forget where we are. I reach down and wrap my fingers around his dick.
“Careful, Baby girl, we have company.” He chuckles.
I break our kiss, looking from his driver to a staff member standing at the rear of the first jet’s steps. Both have politely averted their gazes from us.
I keep my hand curled around him, squeezing the hard length.
“You mean I have to wait until we get back to your place before I can have you in my mouth again?”
His deep groan makes me giggle, and I remove my hand as he gives me a warning look that’s full of desire.
“Baby girl, you’re going to be sitting on my face the moment we get back to our place.”
“Our place?” I question at the way he emphasizes the word.
“That’s the next thing I want to talk to you about. But first, go and choose your damn plane,” he growls, making me giggle.
I love this Sterling. The playful, sexy version with a glimmer of teasing lighting up his warm blue eyes.
The sex has been more intense since Rory showed up. Sterling’s seemed driven to make my body bend and sway to his every whim. It’s like he’s needed to have that constant connection with me. And I’ve never felt so desired and wanted in my life.
He’s not been to work. Instead, he’s spent more time inside me than not. The only time he’s let me up for air has been when he’s taken calls from his family or from Denver. And even after those, he’s rushed back to me and insisted on making me come for him all over again. Insisted on sinking inside me and telling me over and over how much he loves me.
But the hidden pain in his eyes has torn at my heart.
He’s worried all this happiness will be taken from him.
“Come on then. Help me.” I grin, linking my fingers with his and pulling him toward the first jet. “I’ve got to say, as far as presents go, they beat chocolates.”
He laughs, following me. I’ve been desperately seeking every smile and laugh from him that I can, hoping the more I can create, the less worried he’ll feel.
“Wow.”
I clasp my hand to my mouth as I climb the steps of the first jet and gaze around at the plush beige interior.
“This is like a luxury apartment,” I gush as my eyes ping-pong from the thick carpet to the walnut trimmed furniture and giant vase of lilies set up next to a champagne bucket.
Sterling’s gaze brings a warm glow to my core. He’s watching me with pure happiness. He loves this. Spoiling me. Taking care of me. And he’s the first person I’ve ever felt comfortable enough to let do it. He’s right, I’ve spent my whole life looking out for others. Having someone in my corner now feels right. Because that person is him.
“If they’re all like this, I don’t know how I’ll choose.”
“Keep them all, then.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal.
I roll my eyes and pat him on the chest. “I’m only just starting to get used to you spoiling me. Don’t push it.”
He chuckles as we head to the next jet.
The moment we step onboard, I turn to him. “This one.”
His brows hitch as he looks at me in amusement. “You sure?”
“What color are the seats?”
He opens his mouth, but I press a finger over his lips.
“You matched them to my dress, didn’t you?”
“Which dress?” His eyes are full of mischief as his voice comes out muffled beneath my finger.
“You know which one. The sterling silver one.”
“I thought that was light gray.”
His eyes heat as I remove my finger from his lips and arch a brow.
“Ah, yes. I know which one you mean. The one that your nipples look edible in.” He smiles and pulls me into his arms. “Yes, okay? I got them to match the color to that dress. Because damn, it’s my favorite color to see you in.”
I slide my arms up around his neck. “It is, huh?”
He nods, dusting his lips up and down over mine. “Sure is.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
“Hallie, love isn’t a strong enough word for what I feel for you.”
We stand staring at one another, soaking in the magic that swirls around us in moments like this.
“So now I’ve picked,” I stroke my fingers along his jaw, “what was the other thing you wanted to talk about?”
“This is it, Miss Burton? You travel light,” Harry says with a smile as he wheels the luggage trolley out of the elevator and across the foyer.
“Thank you, Harry.”
He takes it toward the main door where Sterling is waiting on the sidewalk with the trunk of the car open. He won’t let his driver put my things in, he’s been insisting on doing it himself.
I bite my lip as I watch him in his midnight blue suit, pressing a wad of bills into Harry’s hand before he takes the large jade Buddha ornament off the trolley. He smiles as he lifts the giant crystal and places it carefully into the trunk.
I would never have been able to fly that back home. Maybe my subconscious knew when I bought it that I wouldn’t have to. Because Harry’s right. Apart from the large crystal sculpture, I do travel light. But now I’m moving in with Sterling, I might have some more packing to do.
Back in London.
My stomach knots with a mix of excitement and dread at telling my parents I want to live in New York.
Permanently.
Sterling straightens up, muscular arms bulging in his jacket as my suitcase follows the Buddha into the trunk. I’m going to be living with him. I smile as I watch him.
“Stop drooling for a minute so I can tell you how much I’m going to miss you,” Zoey says as she pulls me into a hug.
I hug her back. “You don’t even live here anymore. It’s your?—”
“Don’t call it a sex pad.” She laughs in my ear as she squeezes me.
“I wasn’t going to. I was going to say your sentimental place. The one you can’t say goodbye to.”
“You’re right.” She lets me go with a grin. “But it’s also our sex pad. Ash likes to…” Her brows rise. “… reminisce.”
She’s told me snippets of how the two of them met. How she was his life model, but he never saw her face because she always wore these beautiful masquerade masks. But that he fell for her anyway due to the way they spoke about everything. He’d seen every inch of her body and her soul before he finally got to look into the face of the woman he fell in love with.
No wonder Sinclair believes in love so much and hired me. Her best friend is a living example of what happens when magic intervenes.
“You’re going to see me all the time,” I tell her. “We’re having dinner with Sinclair as soon as we get back from visiting my parents.”
“I know.” She shrugs. “But you’re going to be living with a guy now. It’s going to be different.”
“You live with a guy!” I laugh at the way she wrinkles up her nose.
“I know, what are we letting ourselves in for?” She catches my eye and grins. “Seriously, I’m happy for you. Both of you. And Sinclair’s loving it. You know she’s buzzing about you two finally coming out to the world.”
“I know.”
I smile at the thought of Sinclair. Once she got her head around me and Sterling she went full steam ahead, calling up Harry and making sure he was ready to help me move out. Sterling told her he was going to ask me to move in before I knew a thing about it. And I love the way he wants his family’s approval. That he cares about them being happy too.
I can only pray to have a reaction as understanding from my parents.
“Your man’s waiting,” Zoey says, gesturing toward Sterling as he strides toward us.
I can’t help the giant grin on my face as he gets closer, his eyes sparkling as they fix onto mine.
“Oh my god, you two are so cute.” She laughs. “Enjoy christening your new home,” she whispers.