“How ever did I get so lucky?” I ask sardonically.
“Right place, right time, that’s all I can say,” he says with a shrug.
For the next couple of hours, I actually enjoy watching the movie with him. It took much longer than necessary to watch the movie because Travis insisted on pausing it to try some of the dance moves that Patrick Swayze made look so easy. At one point, I was convinced our bus driver would pull over from all the commotion and loud noises when Travis couldn’t pull the moves off. I haven’t laughed so hard in so long, and it was just what the doctor ordered.
When the movie stops, the satellite channel is on a Hollywood gossip show and they’re running through the lineup of tonight’s biggest stories. Travis and I have remained at the forefront of most of these stories for the last several weeks. I’m just about to tell him to change the channel when something even worse catches my eye.
“This is Syndi Roberson, the new flame of boy toy boxer Luke Woods since his ex-fiancée dumped him for Sound Bar’s front man, Travis Malone.
“Syndi is sporting a new engagement ring. Here’s a close up of her nicely sized new rock. Another significant piece of jewelry that appears to be new is the heart-shaped pendant around her neck.
“If you remember, Luke Woods’s dog tag necklace has a cut out in the exact size and shape as the pendant that Syndi is wearing. If this doesn’t scream ‘new love,’ nothing does, folks!”
I’m stunned completely speechless at first. My eyes are glued to the TV in the exact spot where my ring and my pendant were just shown, even though a commercial is now playing. That’s not what I see at this moment. I see fuckingSyndi Robersonwearingmyring andmynecklace.
Jumping up from the couch, I scream in complete frustration, pain, and hatred. My hatred toward Luke is severe for giving her those specific pieces. It’s mean, it’s vindictive, and it’s unnecessary. It’s as if he’s intentionally setting out to cause me more pain solely for the sake of hurting me. My hatred toward Syndi is more illogical, but real just the same. She’s openly wearing them, knowing they were mine.
Up until this point, I’ve held on to a sliver of hope that Luke and I would work this out and get back together. I’ve tried to give him time to calm down. I’ve held back from a relationship with Travis because I’ve been so hung up on Luke. I wanted Luke to see that time has passed, but nothing has happened with Travis and me. I wanted him to understand that even though we’re apart, in my heart I still belong to him.
No. Fucking. More.
“This betrayal is more than I can take. It’s more than anyone should have to endure. I thought he’d hurt me before, but this is completely unreal. How could he?” I scream before I even realize I’ve said it out loud.
Travis looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. He’d be right in that assumption. I firmly believe I’d get off on a temporary insanity plea in my current state of mind.
“Andi, what are you talking about?”
“She’s wearing my fucking engagement ring and the necklace I bought Luke. He gave them to her!”
As I’m pacing back and forth like a caged animal, a thought occurs to me. “I paid for his hotel room. He has her there, and I’m paying for his fucking room!”
Travis retrieves his phone and calls Katelyn. “Ms. Morgan needs to have Mr. Woods’s hotel room canceled from her account. Yes, effective immediately.”
Turning to me, Travis simply says, “It’s done. What else do you need, Andi? Anything.”
“What do I need?” I repeat and he nods. “I need to get on with my life and not waste another minute questioning my feelings for you.”
“You’re upset and not thinking clearly right now, Andi. Take some time to let this sink in first. I don’t want you to regret it later.”
“I’m actually seeing things clearly for the first time in a long time. That—” I point to the screen “—just showed me that I’ve had blinders on long enough. Whatever we had between us at one time is now long gone. There’s nothing left to grieve over. I’m ready to move on, Travis.”
He slowly walks over to me, building the anticipation of what he has planned. My burning rage is changing over to a raging inferno of desire. “I told you I’d be here when you’re ready. Are you ready, Andi? Are you ready for me to make you mine?” he asks seductively. “I can make you forget him by daybreak.”
“I’m so ready, Travis. Own me, for tonight,” I offer.
“Baby, when I own you, it’ll be for a lot longer than tonight.”
His mouth covers mine, and he slowly walks me backward to the bedroom. When the backs of my legs hit the bed, his hands still my movements as he slowly peels my clothes off. Taking his time, he savors every inch of my skin. His tongue brands my skin. His fingers leave trails of chill bumps in their wake.
Gasping when his hand reaches into my core, my fingers dig into his skin as he skillfully strokes my sex. Spreading the wetness, plunging deep inside me, and evoking one cry of pleasure after another, Travis watches me as I fall apart from his touch.
“Fuck, you are so sexy. That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispers as he leaves a trail of kisses from my mouth to my ear. “I can’t wait to be inside you, Andi. I’ve dreamed of this for so long.”
He quickly sheds his clothes, pushes me back on the bed, and crawls over my naked body. “Put this on me,” he says, handing me a condom. I grasp him with one hand, and he growls appreciatively as I use the other to roll it onto him. Poised and positioned to plunge into me, he stops when just the tip is inside me.
Leaning his head down, he takes my nipple in his mouth as he sucks and nips on it. The anticipation, along with the erotic stimulation, is making me crazy. “Travis, now,” I cry. “I need you now.”
“You have me, Andi,” he murmurs softly into my ear.
Flexing his hips, he drives deep inside me all at once, and I scream out from the welcome intrusion. Taking his time to give me everything I need, Travis takes me over the edge time and time again. He’s an amazingly skilled and attentive lover. Exhaustion finally overtakes him, and he falls asleep with his body wrapped around mine.
Worry descends on me as I listen to his light snoring coming from behind me.
Have I just made a huge mistake?
Or have I just made the best decision of my life?
