“I’m not going to ask her to give up her hopes and her dreams, I just want to be there to support her, to help when I can,” he said. “I don’t need a woman trailing along behind me, I need a partner walking next to me, and Emily is the only one I want, the only one I will ever want.”
Mr. Torres stood studying him for a long time, his face full of indecision. “I don’t want to start our relationship out on the wrong foot, sir,” he said, the hope back in his chest. “I would like us to at least be friends. We both care about Emily, we both want to see her happy, and we’re not that much different.”
“Hmmph…we’ll see about that,” Mr. Torres said, but the tension had drained from his shoulders. “I won’t oppose the marriage, but I will be watching you, young man. Now I want to see my daughter.”
The sun had begun its slow descent in the sky when Taylor and Emily finally had a quiet moment together, now as husband and wife. He looked down at her smiling face, aware of how lucky he was, and couldn’t help but think about how hard he’d fought the best thing that had ever happened to him, or that Emily had fought just as hard. They had both been stubborn, too mule-headed to see what was obvious, but fate hadn’t given up, had kept fighting for them, and for that he was grateful; he couldn’t imagine his life without her now.
“Well, we did it,” Emily said with a huge sigh. “You’re not sorry, are you?”
“Emily, I don’t think I’ve been this happy,” he said, pulling her closer. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Even my dad?” she asked, glancing across the yard at his new father-in-law. “I know he came on strong, Taylor, but he just wants me to be happy.”
“Yeah I know, we talked a little when he got here,” he said. “I think he and I are okay, and since I don’t plan to make you unhappy, it should stay that way.”
“I’m glad, I want you two to at least be friends,” she said, snuggling down into his arms. “You two are the most important people in my life.”
He kissed the top of her forehead. “We’re going to have a great life together,” he said. “Just wait and see.”
The food was gone; the sun was sinking quickly in the sky and the guests were all beginning to clean up when Jackson and Abby came over and sat down with them. “I know you said not to worry about bringing a gift, but we all wanted to do something for you,” Jackson said, sliding an envelope across the table to them. “You’re the first one of us to get married, and we didn’t want to let it go without doing something special. We all pooled our money to get you alittle beach house for the next couple of nights. We don’t want you to miss out on having a honeymoon.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet,” Emily said, tears in her eyes. “We didn’t really expect anything.”
“Which makes it even better,” Abby said, smiling at them. Now it’s time for you two to go. It’s a couple of hours to the coast, and it will be dark before you know it.”
“You’ll only be a half an hour away from where the clan meeting is day after tomorrow, and we’ll meet you there,” Jackson said. Keep your head down and stay out of trouble. Hopefully, this will all be over soon.”
“I can’t thank you all enough for everything you’ve done,” Taylor said, feeling moisture in his own eyes. “I’ve got the best friends in the world.”
“We’ve got your back,” Jackson said, getting to his feet. “No one threatens one of us and gets away with it.”
***Emily***
Emily heard the ocean before she saw it and opened her eyes, surprised to discover that she’d fallen asleep while they’d been driving. Looking over at Taylor, she found him stealing glances at her, a happy smile on his face. She smiled back at him and then looked out the window. The road was leading them right down the coast, and with the full moon overhead, she could see the ocean almost as clearly as if it had been daylight.
“It’s beautiful,” she said with a sigh. “I’ve always loved the beach; it’s going to be nice to get away.”
“I think we both need it,” he said, then slowed and took a turn onto a sandy road that led toward the water. “I wonder how close we’ll be to the beach? It feels like we’re headed straight for the water.”
They drove on for a few minutes, climbing a ridge, thenthey were suddenly at the top, and there in front of them was the beach house perched at the top with a sweeping view of the ocean. Made almost entirely of glass, the little structure reflected the light of the moon and seemed almost enchanted as she got out of the car, unable to stop staring. She finally looked over at Taylor, who was grinning just like she was, and then threw her arms around him
“This is amazing, I bet we can see the water from anywhere in the house,” she said, then started pulling him toward the front door. “Come on, let’s go inside, We can come back later for our luggage.”
The house was just as beautiful on the inside, and she’d been right. The entire back of the house was made of windows, and the view of the ocean was incredible. She pulled Taylor across the room, stepping around a big couch facing the water and going right up to the window, then stood silently enjoying the view. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, rested his chin on top of her head, and let out a contented sigh.
“I could stay here with you in my arms forever,” Taylor said, his breath in her ear making her shiver. “But there are currently a couple of other things I’d like to do popping into my head.”
“Oh, yeah,” she said, turning around in his arms. “And what might that be? Don’t tell me you want to take a swim.”
“Hmmm…I hadn’t thought about that, but I think it might be a little cold for skinny dipping,” he said, grinning down at her as he started unbuttoning her shirt. “What I had in mind was more along the lines of you and I naked on that rug over there while I make love to you with the ocean crashing in the background.”
Emily let out a little gasp as her body suddenly came life, the images in her mind making her tingle all over and desire race through her. “I think that sounds much better thanskinny dipping,” she said, a little breathless, then gasped again when Taylor shoved her shirt off her shoulders and captured one of her nipples in his mouth through her bra. “Much, much better.”
Then his mouth found hers in a kiss, and the world around them melted away as she gave herself over to the passion between them. Taylor managed to get both of their clothes off without breaking the kiss, then gently lowered her down to the plush rug spread on the floor in front of the couch. His hand found her breasts while he continued to ravish her mouth with his, then he kissed his way down her neck across her chest, and while his hand slowly slid lower, he gave all his attention to her breasts.
She was already trembling with need, desperate for him to touch her, but instead, he slipped between her legs and spread them further before dipping his head and sliding his tongue over her sensitive nub. The pleasure was so intense it consumed her instantly and she was soaring as wave after wave washed over her, making her moan deep in her throat. Threading her fingers into his hair, she lifted her hips to him, operating only on instinct as the sensations grew stronger and stronger until she was soaring in a cloud of pure pleasure.
Her entire body trembling, an empty place deep inside her, she tugged on Taylor, panting his name, almost frantic to feel him inside her. “I need you now, please, Taylor,” she begged, thinking only of satisfying the craving. “I can’t wait any longer, it has to be now.”
