“Sleep good?” I don’t even remember at this point.
“Yes.” My brain is struggling to form actual logical thoughts and words at this point. He has me so frazzled. Preston hasn’t moved at all except to link his fingers through mine in the hand he holds over my head. His lower half is still nestled between my thighs. His palm still cups my cheek. “I hope I didn’t drool on you or do anything embarrassing.”
“Nah, you just attacked me in my sleep and crawled all over me.” My eyes bug out at that causing Preston to laugh softly. “I’m kidding. You did nothing. It was honestly the best sleep I’ve had in a long time. Definitely better than sleeping on that couch out there.”
“That was your own fault. There’s been a perfectly comfortable bed right here in this room the whole time.”
“You really under-sold the comfort.” The wink he sends me creates a swarm of butterflies in my already heated core. I’m speechless. How am I supposed to respond to that? I already knew Preston was kind. I did not know Preston could be so charming. It’s like he has turned up the charm since the kiss we shared and his confession in the hot tub.
I know he won’t pressure me. He will give me space and time, but it’s nice that he is not backing down while he waits for me. I like that he is continuing to pursue me. To let me know in small ways that he is still interested and still very much here with me. It’s the small moments and affections that make the most impact. I’ve never had that in a relationship before. Guys I have dated—especially those in the industry—haven’t put forth mucheffort in their pursuit of me. I was just some prize to win and have on their arm. If I didn’t serve their purpose, they didn’t want me.
Preston is everything I have always been missing and I didn’t even know it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Preston
May 10
I have one mission today—find all the essentials forMission Super Secret Surprise Spa Day. She’s been working so hard to step out of her comfort zone and to make a difference in the film industry during this pandemic that I want to spoil her. Since she can’t go to the spa, I am determined to bring the full spa experience to her. I did some research on the best at home spa setup. Something tells me it will be hard to find exactly what I need and I may have to visit a few different shops or more than one village for everything.
Lucky for me, it is our designated shopping day, giving me an excuse to go to the village under the guise of needing groceries to make my grandma’s pasta recipe while Ivory gets work done. Cooking with Ivory is fun and always wildly entertaining. For someone that doesn’t have much experience in the kitchen, she cooks pretty well. It’s exciting watching her learn new things and show off her skills.
We’ve spent the last week exploring the jungle around us. Ivory no longer thinks she is dying on our hikes and she’sopening up more each day. I love being around her and spending time with her.
I am starting to realize that I am fallinginlove with her.
After speaking to some locals in town, I’m sent to a small village shop for my spa supplies. My senses immediately go into overdrive. The dim lighting and combination of smells assault me as my eyes struggle to adjust from the bright light outside to the darkness inside. Moving through the divided sections of the shop, I make a mental note of the bottles, canisters, and bags on the small tables throughout the space compared to my list. I end up with two types of bath salts, sugar scrub, mud masks, and locally made soaps before the shopkeeper greets me at the massage oil table.
Thankfully, they walk me through the benefits of each oil on display. Picking a handful of different oils to promote stress relief and ultimate relaxation, I make one last stop to stock up on candles to set the stage and overall mood. Relaxation and treating Ivory like a queen are the main objectives, but I won’t lie and say there is some part of me that doesn’t hope this turns into something more.
Just as the thought crosses my mind, my eyes catch on a small selection of jewelry in the back of the store. One specific piece calls to me. It reminds me of Ivory. The green of the stone will bring out her eyes. The gold chain will glow from her slender neck, the longer delicate chain extending down between the valley of her perfect breasts. I can picture her wearing this. I can see it so clearly.
Walking closer on autopilot, with my arms full of all the materials I’ve collected along the way, I observe the necklace. Notes of white along the small chain and intricate patterns twist in gold. The notecard says the necklace is green agate, pearl, and crystal gold. There’s also a matching green sea glass ring I couldn’t see from farther away. I indicate to the shopkeeper that I want to buy the set and she works on packaging up the precious jewels.
Is it too soon to buy such an extravagant gift? Is it presumptuous to think that we will be taking our relationship to the next level simply because of a confession of feelings and a spa day? Maybe.
But I know myself. I know I’m serious about Ivory. I also know Ivory better now. I can tell that she has been fighting this, and she is losing her own internal battle. Each touch brings her closer to the edge. Every conversation breaks down her walls. Piece by piece, Ivory Crenshaw is revealing herself to me. Layer by layer, she is learning herself all over again and fighting for what she wants. I can’t help but desperately hope I am what she wants. Because she is all I want.
“Pleeeease tell me you found some Coke and chips,” Ivory says when I walk into the kitchen with the grocery bags.
“Yes, Hollywood, your seven texts got the point across.” I roll my eyes. She all but attacks the bags once they are on the countertop. It’s a fight of the quickest reflexes to keep her from the bag of spa day essentials. Chucking the bag of chips at her that I bought at the market onceMission Super Secret Surprise Spa Daywas squared away, I swipe my secret loot off the counter and hightail it to the bedroom to hide them in my suitcase until I’m ready to execute the mission.
“How were your meetings?” I ask, walking back into the kitchen. “Glad I bought more than one bag, you scavenger,” I add, laughing at the sight of Ivory elbow deep in the bag of chips.
“I was so hungry but also how can you deny this salty goodness?” she asks, raising the salt and vinegar chip to her lips.
Lifting my hands in the universal sign of surrender, I finish putting away the groceries while she continues to munch.
“Do you want your Coke now too?”
“Yes, please,” Ivory mumbles around the mouthful of chips.
Shaking my head, I grab a glass and fill it with ice since the Coke isn’t cold. Handing her the full glass, I smile at her unfiltered actions. She feels comfortable enough with me to let her guard down. The Ivory I met at the resort would not have let me see her this way. It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like we’ve been together forever. So much has changed in our relationship. I feel the breakthrough coming.
“The call was good. We’ve been able to donate large supplies of personal protective equipment to frontline workers that need it most, especially in the highly concentrated areas of positive cases. The funds we’re setting up to offer financial relief to the out of work actors and crew members are making measurable progress. We should be able to start issuing payments to the first applicants soon.”
“That’s awesome, Ives. I’m so proud of you.” She blushes at the compliment but doesn’t blow it off like she usually does.
