Beginning with Forever (16 page)

I
get into my SUV and drive to a private dock with Owen’s direction. He found a beautiful, secluded property on a small island with breath-taking views of the ocean. I knew it was the perfect place for me to spend some of my weekends with Lily as soon as the images popped on my laptop yesterday. I didn’t care how much it cost, I told Owen to purchase it immediately.

I wanted to share the pictures with
Lily, but when I peered over my screen, all I saw was a taunting view of her sexy, tight ass, barely covered with a small white piece of material. I did everything in my power to look away, avoid the distraction, but it was impossible. My cock was triggered, hard and ready to go. I wanted to take her from behind and relieve my hunger for her, but I couldn’t. Needless to say, I didn’t get anything accomplished that entire hour. My eyes were fixed on her smooth, round cheeks, swaying back and forth as she moved her legs with ankles crossed. Shit, there I go again, getting side-tracked. If I don’t stop this, I’ll have to find a way to relieve myself before the night is over.

The
refreshing fifteen minute boat ride is exactly what I needed to distract my focus away from my lower half, saving me from a really cold shower. I dock the boat underneath part of the house and walk up a few steps to get to the main level. It’s a magnificent home indeed, mostly constructed of glass and metal on the outside. I stroll from room to room, figuring out which one is the master bedroom. Obviously, it’s the room with a glass floor and a neatly folded sheet on the king-sized bed. I specifically asked Owen to gather my belongings from the resort, including the sheet that was wrapped around Lily’s body from this morning, to be delivered here. If I can’t have her in bed with me tonight, I guess the next best thing is to be surrounded with her sweet scent.

I see that Owen has me well-
situated. I have new clothes hanging in the closet, food in the fridge, and my laptop is on a desk by the window. There’s even a jar of mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, my small indulgence. Damn, he’s good. Sitting down at my desk, I peel open a piece, toss it into my mouth and then pick up the phone to call my mother. Owen has been keeping her updated for me without disclosing my actual location, making her very angry with him. I need the extra time to prepare myself for her melodrama. I predict that she’ll attempt to convince me to reconsider marrying Bianca, but I won’t let her succeed this time.

Mother picks up immediately after the first ring. “Hello
, Carson, it’s kind of you to call your mother four days after you nearly died.” Her tone is purely sarcastic. “Your fiancée has been sobbing non-stop, worried sick about you and devastated by your cancellation of the wedding. What’s gotten into you? You’re being very erratic, and it’s troubling me.” I allow her to completely clear everything off her chest before responding.

“Mom, I’m fine. Owen alre
ady told you that several times. I’m not being erratic. I know exactly what I’m doing. I cancelled the wedding for all the right reasons. I don’t love Bianca, and I didn’t want to marry her in the first place. I need time to sort things out,” I patiently explain to her.

“Carson, I don’t know what to say. I just want you to be happy and not miserably alone anymore.” The desperation in her voice melts my heart, knowing that
all she wants is for me to be truly happy.

“I k
now you love me, Mom. I promise I won’t be unhappy and alone forever. Things are looking promising for me, and in a few weeks, you’ll know why when I see you.” She’s probably shocked from the sound of my unusually lively voice because she doesn’t demand any kind of explanation.

“O
kay dear, please keep in touch, and I hope to see you soon,” she concludes our call, leaving me uncertain about her take on our conversation. Why isn’t she asking me a hundred more questions like she typically does?

“I will
Mom, good-night.” We end our call with me feeling uneasy.

I didn’t
realize how late it is until I glance at my watch. I grab a quick bite to eat in the kitchen, read some emails and Google ‘professional cameras.’ I recall Lily mentioning she enjoys photography. With a nice camera, she’ll be able to take pictures of all the beautiful places that I’ll be showing her. I plan on giving it to her in three days if she agrees to spend an extended weekend with me. There’s so much I have to do until then to make our time together memorable.

After
I complete my evening rituals, I pull the bed covers down, unfold Lily’s sheet and slip under it. As I inhale the lingering herbal scent, images of our first heated night materializes. They’re so vivid that my erection is holding the sheet up like a tent post. Why do I torture myself like this? I grab my phone and send her a text, letting her know that she’s fresh on my mind.

T
here’s been enough action on my bed, so I opted for a chair to distract me from the memories of this afternoon. I spread my lecture notes out on my desk and begin cramming for my upcoming exam. After about an hour of quiet time, Amelia storms through the door, demanding answers from me. “I need all the juicy details! You better not leave a single thing out! God, he’s hot! Did he like your sexy new bra and panties?” She’s as excited as a little girl playing a truth or dare game about a boy crush at a slumber party.

“
As of today, we’re seeing each other exclusively. You’re right; he’s very hot and attentive to details. I have an entire month to get to know him.” I purposely lower my voice at the end.

“W
hoa, whoa, what do you mean a month? Where’s he going after that, and what’ll happen to you?” Amelia’s expression does a Jekyll and Hyde. She’s worried for my situation, and she has every right to be, but I just don’t want to deal with it now. I can’t think about the end when we’re just trying to figure out the beginning.

“I don’t know yet.
I guess I’ll deal with it when that day comes. I should get back to studying. I’ve been slacking off, and I can’t afford to fail.” I brush it off like it’s no big deal, but in actuality, I’m already struggling with the idea of being without him. Why did I let this man’s charm and good-looks infect me so easily and quickly? My heart will be incurable because of him.

“By the way Ame, his expression
told me he loved your bra and matching panties when I pulled them out of the bag you packed for me.” I wittingly distract her attention.

“
I knew he would,” she smirks and squeals with excitement, clapping her hands in front of her face.

____________________

Amelia and I eat dinner in the school cafeteria without Richard tonight. I think he’s probably distancing himself from me to sort out his emotions. I miss not having our third musketeer and so does Ame. I think she has a thing for him even though she’s never admitted it to me, I can tell. I’m pretty good at reading people. I suppose she hasn’t said anything because Richard has made it quite obvious that he likes me. Ugh, this is the very
reason why I’ve never involved myself with men. It just makes life so much more complicated.

I’ve had
a long and mentally exhausting day. I’m ready to hit the sack and get as much sleep as possible to prepare for my next three intense hospital rotation days. I reach for my cell phone to set my alarm and spot a text message from Carson.

Lying
here in bed, lonely, taunted with the same sheet wrapped around your sexy body from this morning, missing you. Sweet dreams!

Exclusively yours,
X Carson

Falling
back on top of my pillow, I reread the message several times to figure out how I can cleverly reply. I find myself sniffing the air around me. There’s a familiar masculine scent lingering in the back of my mind. I turn my face into the pillow and inhale his heavenly scent. Carson has purposely marked his territory by rolling around in my bed this afternoon. He wanted to ensure that I continue to have him in my thoughts like I’m in his with our personal scents. I know exactly how to respond to his text.

Lying here in bed, lonely, inhaling your irresistible scent and soon to have dreams
of you that may not be so innocently sweet ;) Good night!

Also exclusively yours,
XOX Lily

I
hit Send, giggle to myself at my witty response and then close my eyes to dream about Carson.

____________________

The hospital sadly continues to house a large number of sick children. They seem to recover from their debilitating symptoms just long enough to be discharged and then be readmitted again. No one has been able to discover the cause of it. The hospital has sent several batches of blood samples for thorough examination, but it might take months before we’ll have access to the results. Fortunately for us, we’ve figured out how to control the nausea and vomiting with a three pill concoction.

These ten hour days are killer
s, but when I complete them, I’ll have a brief break to spend with Carson. I can hardly wait. It would be a weekend to remember if his early morning text is any indicator.

Brutal
morning, no kisses from you to start my day. Need your company for this weekend, STAT! Please pencil me into your schedule. X! Carson

I never thought I’
d ever let a man impact my life so deeply, and here I am, counting down the minutes and hours until I can see him again.

Carson
is very respectful of my professional obligations, only flirtexting me during my breaks which makes it even harder for me to avoid seeing him. After three relentless hours of him occupying the back of my mind, I finally give into my weakness and text him to meet me for a quick lunch.

Need
your company for lunch, STAT! Come get your morning kiss. XOX! Lily

He happily accept
s, offering to bring me lunch in exchange for a kiss. Why is he so darn likable? Every time I think about him, my chest pounds at a scary pace, and I can’t help but smile ridiculously to myself. I make another round on the pediatric floor before heading out to see my irresistible man.

Carson waits for me at a picnic table to the right of the hospital entrance, looking
very stunning in his dark sunglasses, white T-shirt and khaki shorts. I routinely eat lunch here when I give myself an entire thirty minutes rather than just five to inhale my food instead of chewing it. I walk over to him even though my legs want to sprint to get me into his arms faster. He stands up, greets me with a kiss on my cheek, and softly murmurs, “Dessert for lunch?”

“Why not,
I’m always up for dessert,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders with a playful smile. “What have you been up to today?” I curiously ask him, wondering how he’s occupying his time without me.

“I’
ve been planning out our weekend, hoping to convince you that I’m your Mr. Happy Ending,” he smirks.

“Is that right? You have your work cut out for you. I
can be very stubborn,” I tease him, but not exaggerating.

“I love a tough challenge.
The reward will be so much sweeter when I succeed, but let’s focus on lunch for now because you’re time is ticking, babe.” He unpacks a gourmet salad and half a turkey sandwich for me. We enjoyed our thirty minute lunch which felt more like seconds because it flew by so quickly. With his dimpled smile and expert eyes, he watches me inhale the last of my food. Reaching over to the left corner of my mouth, Carson wipes a dab of mayo off my face with his napkin. Playfully, he shakes his head and tells me, “Yuck! I can’t have this crap contaminating our dessert kiss.”

“Oh come on, Carson. Have a taste. You might like it,” I urge him
, but he cringes in disgust. Ignoring his wince, I press my lips gently against his to give him the morning kiss that I promised earlier. “Thanks for lunch,” I murmur.

“
Lil, I can’t believe I let you give me a kiss laced with mayo. Ugh.” His body shudders. “I must really be under your spell.” Wrapping his arms around my body, he holds me captive while he enjoys more of his dessert.

There’s no doubt in my mind that
I can survive on his satiating kisses alone, but unfortunately for me, my time is up. “Carson, I have to get back to work,” I sadly tell him.

He releases his hold of me and
replies, “No problem, Angel. I’ll see you soon.” He stands up and walks away with a satisfied grin on his face. Minutes later, I receive another text from Carson.

Anytime you want to exchange lunche
s for kisses, let me know. Always willing to deliver ;) X Carson

This man is too good to be true.

I
finally completed my third ten-hour day last night, and I’m praying that I passed the awful pathology exam from this morning. Stuffing one more t-shirt into my bag, I think I’m almost ready for my extended weekend with Carson. The feelings inside me are muddled with excitement and apprehension as I pace around my room. Everything that he’s done for me so far certainly indicates that he’s a terrific catch. However, there’s so much more I need to know about him before I’m completely convinced that he’s my Mr. Happy Ending. Hopefully, this long weekend will allow us both to get well acquainted. When my eyes dart over at Amelia’s digital clock, I realize that my time is ticking, and I better finish getting the rest of my things together. Carson is a stickler for punctuality. I hear my phone vibrate against a wooden desk surface, alerting me of a text message as I grab my toothbrush from the bathroom.