“That sounds great. You’ll be my first stop. After I get a few things squared away in L.A. first.” If this trip has shown me anything, it’s that I have to make some changes when I get home. The first of those is to spend time with those who matter most to me instead of working on projects that I am not passionate about all the time.
“Speaking of coming home…” Taylor smiles as she speaks. I sit up straighter hoping this means good news.
“Do you have a flight?”
“I have a lead on a flight.” Taylor raises her palm as if to say pump the brakes. “The embassy has been slowly making their way through a list of Americans stranded in foreign countries since the borders closed. It’s a long list but they’ve made progress. There may be a repatriation flight in the next two weeks. I will let you know when I know for sure.”
“Thank God.” I sigh in relief. We can finally go home.
“Do you think you can get to Belize City and be ready for a flight if it comes through?”
“Yes. Yes, we can definitely get there in time.” The words are out before I can think about it. But once they are out there, reality sets in.
We can finally go home.
My time with Preston is running out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Ivory
May 27
“Why are you staring at me?” Peeking an eye open, I see Preston propped up on an elbow staring down at me as I sleep.
“I was waiting on you to wake up to see if there was anything you might want to share.”
“Like what?” Burrowing down into the covers not ready to wake up yet.
“I got a very interesting text.”
“From who?”
“Miller.”
“Everything okay?” Lifting my head, I meet his gaze. His eyes are playful but don’t give much away.
“He saw something curious online.” Oh, fuck. I hadn’t thought to tell Preston yet. “Don’t you want to see what he found?” he asks, like this is all a game and I’m not internally freaking out.
Gulping, I clear my throat. “Uh, sure.” I’m hoping it’s just the story but there are any number of things that it could be at this point. Preston unlocks his phone and brings up his text thread with Miller. He doesn’t hide it from me and I see a few textsback and forth. He clicks on the picture in the thread enlarging it before turning the phone to me. It’s only a screenshot of my story.Thank God.
“Odd, huh?” Preston asks, peering down at me.
“Very,” I reply softly. I’m a bit out of my depth here in dealing with this conversation. Is it a confrontation or is he teasing? The playful glint is still in his gaze so I don’t think he is mad. Add to it that he is now holding me firmly against him, I think I’m safe.
“I mean, this looks like your account, right?”
“It does.”
“And you know, not to be egotistical or anything but this hand kinda looks familiar. Don’t you think so?” He holds his hand up for comparison. His sarcastic tone tells me he is unbothered by the picture being posted.
Relief floods my system. Still uncertain, I ask, “You’re not mad?” The hesitancy in my voice is clear even to my ears.
Preston surprises a shriek out of me when he grabs the back of my thigh roughly and rolls to his back pulling me with him. I’m fully seated on top of him now as both of his hands sit on the tops of my thighs.
“Hollywood, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you.” The adoration in Preston’s gaze pierces straight through my chest. “But I’ll say it again. You can claim me any way you want me. Anytime. Any place. Ask. Don’t Ask. I will never…” His words nestle into my heart as he goes. But he pauses there to sit up. The move slides me closer in his lap. Our cores flush together. Preston reaches one hand up my neck. His fingers tangle in my hair and he tugs lightly to both grip my hair and tip my chin up. His other hand palms my check. His thumb, sitting beneath my chin to keep it up and my attention focused on him. “Never,” he punctuates. “Be mad at you for it.”
My eyes bounce between his. I see the truth in his words. I feel it deep in my heart and all the way to my bones.
