Inner Core: (Stark, #2) (25 page)

“I will,” I say for the sake of letting the issue go for the time being. There’ll be enough time for fighting when we're back to reality. As I sit in our private piece of oceanic nirvana I gape at Daniel, who is deeply engaged in consuming the lobster and butter delight we're having for lunch. Upon our return from the long stroll we decided to stay at the bungalow for food and solitude in the few remaining hours before our flight back. I slowly trail my eyes over the side of Daniel’s bare chest—his cut ridges under tanned skin, his wide neck. The side of his handsome face, by far my favorite thing to look at, and those scars… I couldn’t even begin to praise them. They are unbelievable, sheer perfection.

Yes Hales, maiming, psychologically-scarring injuries are totally 'sheer perfection', sicko.

And I think about the saying I've heard so many times since I was first told about relationships: “Things are always at their best in the beginning.” After I walk a short recap of our relationship in the corridors of my mind, I couldn’t agree less with that saying. When it comes to us, when it comes to him, with every passing day, I just love him more. There are times I think it’s borderline insane to love someone as much as I love him.

“Earth to Hales.” Daniel looks at me with a creased forehead and an easy smile. “You seem to be in some faraway land where everything is great.”

“Aren’t I?” I link my stare with his. “Frankly, I was just thinking that loving someone as much as I do might get me a free pass to the crazy house.”

“Me?” he mouths and points at himself.

I beam and nod in response. And from the way he smiles at me I know I'm done for. For life.

“Hales, baby, I wish ever after would be like this.” And here’s the slam dunk. I literally jump at him and kiss him all over his mouth and gorgeous face. He chuckles, enjoying every bit of my attack.

“Keep that in mind in two days,” he says with a secretive grin and bright eyes.

“What?”

“Just saying.” He laughs to himself as if enjoying a private joke, and turns to take a sip from his beer bottle.

“Seriously, what are you talking about?”

He shrugs, the same expression still resting on his face.

I shake my head.

All of a sudden I feel like a small pebble has lodged in my throat. “Oh no, please tell me it's not something that'll make me question how I feel again...” I start to panic.

He narrows his eyes as he studies me, confounded. It takes him a moment to make sense of my question and when enlightenment comes he shakes his head. “No!” This one syllable word could not be uttered with greater resolve. “Hell, no.”

Daniel smirks at me with one eye shut against the sun’s blinding light and says, “And I know what you're talking about, believe me. These feelings do seem unreal at times.” He gets up; as he passes by me he leaves a kiss on my head.

“Getting my shades, want yours?” is the last thing he says before going inside the bedroom.

That’s it? A cryptic statement launched into the air with no further explanation?

When he ambles back with his sunglasses on and hands me mine, I raise an eyebrow. “Well?”

“What?” He furrows his brows above the silver frames.

“Care to elaborate on your statement?”

“Are we still on that?” He twists his mouth animatedly and shakes his head. “Now that would be telling, so… no.”

“You are aware of the fact that you're the most irritating person I know, right?” Dramatically, I put on my shades and lie back, resting my head on my crossed arms, deliberately not looking at him.

“I love you too, baby.” He chuckles, a bit too amused.

~~~~

On the verge of reckless sun exposure, we decide to get inside and have a nap and some TV time. We slouch on the comfy sofa, our heads on opposite armrests, and my legs cozily snugged between Daniel’s. With one hand he engulfs my feet and with the other skims through the many available channels. When he finds an adult film he raises his head to catch my eyes. He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

“If it only had some sort of a plot,” I sigh, burrowing deeper in the couch. Daniel’s face lights up and a short, low chuckle comes out of his amused mouth. He cups his hand next to his mouth and whispers, “Let me tell you a secret, baby: in this kind of movies they don’t fall in love or get married.” His relaxed snicker from a moment ago turns into a full grin.

I wrinkle my nose and with a narrowed stare, murmur “Hilarious.” But I can’t help give in to the urge threatening to pull my lips up into a smile. After more channel flipping we end up falling asleep to the news.

As we pack the last of our belongings, Daniel abruptly pauses and seems to sink into deep thought as he glances my way. Sensing his stare on me I also stop, and with a sundress semi-folded in hand I ask, “What’s up?”

“Where do you see yourself a couple of years from now?”

I run a visual seriousness test of his face and the results leave me rather dubious.

Is he serious? Where is this coming from?

“Is this a job interview?”

“Yes, for the role of being my sex slave.” He says, dryly.

“In that case, in your bed doing whatever you want,” I jibe.

“That you’ll be doing, no doubt about it. Now c’mon, Hales, I’m not kidding.”

“Okay I’ll play along nicely, but seriously, where’s this coming from?” When he twirls his hand signaling for me to go on I give up and give in.

I’m not sure why but some tremors of panic are rearing their heads inside of me.

“I guess promoted at work, hopefully daring to do something with my book illustrations.” I try to pick my brain for more under Daniel’s expectant, piercing stare. Then I smile and add, “With you.”

He continues to watch me for a few more long seconds, opens his mouth about to say something else but then freezes, and instead just nods. He rewards me with a thin pull of his lips and continues packing as if nothing really happened and he didn’t just ask me the weirdest question.

“So, this was…what, a survey?”

He snorts. “No.”

I look at the dress in my hand and contemplate, then just shake my head and resume folding. Adding my bikinis to my neatly packed pile of clothing, I look at Daniel over my shoulder.

“Listen Daniel, I'm not sure what’s up with you today. It’s not like you'd normally be categorized as an average Joe, but today you're definitely weirder than ever.”

He just smiles, but that smile is a private one; he nods again.
Whatever, why bother
…

~~~

As we check out, I thank Daniel again for the amazing birthday present, as this short break was by far the most memorable vacation or birthday surprise I’ve ever had.

Chapter 28: It's Not about the Wrapping

All through the first part of Sunday we roll lazily around the house in zombie mode, trying our very best to cope with the symptoms of severe jet lag, doing next to nothing during the rare times we're awake.

Late afternoon, we finally make it into the shower and actually manage to keep our eyes open. Our minds just manage to maintain the lowest requisite level for basic functioning. Daniel joins me for another countless cup of coffee at the deck after he catches up on some work in his office.

“Scoot over.” He starts sitting himself next to me on the wicker recliner. I rest my head on his shoulder and am bathed by his fresh shower scent.

“I'm not sure how I’ll function tomorrow at work,” I say, taking another sip of my double espresso.

“We’ll turn in early,” he says calmly, sliding his hand over my thigh. Hunger protests grumble from my stomach; he chuckles and mentions that he's also starving.

“Order in?” he questions.

“Tony?” I reply, referring to Daniel’s pizza guy.

“Usual?”

“Mmm hmm.” I nod.

We trade amused glances. I think we can officially declare this evening an evening of one-word conversations. I close my eyes again and think about how easy it is just to be with each other. Nothing comes as natural to me as him. As us.

When I open my eyes, I see Daniel fetch his phone from his pocket to make the call for our cheese and sauce enriched carbs. Putting the phone on the floor, he turns my way and kisses me chastely—but soon the casual pecks turn more fervent and, by the time I mirror his position and lie on my side we are all hands, entwined legs, mouths, tongues and accelerated breaths. Just as I become heated and blissfully hungry—now for something far different from food—Daniel interrupts us. He shakes his head and runs his hands over his own flushed face under my perplexed gaze. I pout. When he gets up on his feet I actually start to get irritated.

“What are you doing? Come back here and finish what you started,” I order.

He laughs and tips his head sideways. He reaches for my hand. “Up you go.”

I look at him, part doubtful, but mostly annoyed. “What?”

“Come on Hales, let’s give you your birthday present.”

“What birthday present?” I look at him, confused. “As far as I recall, my birthday present was an extravagant, dreamy getaway in paradise.”

He just shakes his head, biting on a mischievous smile, and helps me up in a manner that could easily be much more refined. I follow him, curious, to the outer garage that lies parallel to the house.

I gaze at him sideways as we walk. He's excited like a little kid, I’d say even somewhat… anxious? His shining glee makes me smile. I take his hand and bring it next to my mouth for a kiss. Glancing at me with a heart-melting, thin grin he echoes my kiss, ending it with a wide smile.

As we approach the garage and I see what lies ahead of us, I stop at once. My eyes become enormous while my chin drops two levels down. A few steps away stands a glittering metallic, silver BMW SUV wrapped in a double ruby-red bow that sits on the center of its wide engine.

OH MY GOD!

My breath catches and there’s nothing I can literally do but stay frozen.

“Breathe, baby,” comes a close whisper and Daniel lightly squeezes my waist.

I gape at the shiny machine in awe, and tears slowly fill my eyes. Finally able to perform minor motor functions, I pivot to look at Daniel beside me, who is watching me closely with a stare of joy mixed with disquiet.

“Mmm…Tha—” I pause to collect my ability to speak coherently. “That’s…Mm-my birthday present?” My voice comes out tentative and unsteady, shaken by the ridiculously excessive
gift. 

“No!” he answers, deadpan, letting me stew for a long moment.

NO?

I look at him with greater confusion. His smile turns wickedly impish, pulling his scar sideways. “That would be the wrapping.”

That would be the what?

Chuckling at my dismayed expression he adds. “It is just the wrapping on your present, Hales.” He makes a grand point of uttering each word slow and clear. He takes my hand and plants an lingering kiss on it. “Check the inside, Hales, in the glove compartment.”

What? Where?
Any ability to make sense of the situation has left me.

Impatiently he leads me to the passenger’s side and circles the car to sit beside me in the driver's seat.
He looks at me fixedly, his eyes tender with apprehension and fondness. “Go ahead,” he coaxes in a light voice, gesturing for me to open the compartment.
He seems nervous.

As the seconds slowly tick by, a notion starts taking root in my mind, a notion that freaks the living hell out of me. Under Daniel’s piercing stare I shakily move my hand over to the glove compartment. My first attempt to undo the latch fails due to my unstable hand. I take in a deep breath and try again. As I watch the door slowly drop my panic-stricken heart starts to thud almost painfully, while a flurry of violent butterflies assemble in the middle of my stomach in squads.

“Take it out, Hales,” Daniel says. The small shudder in his voice that validates my suspicion doesn’t escape me even though I'm still in a state of shock. I feel déjà vu about the last time he gave me a box like this, only this time I know it’s the real deal.

I swallow hard and get the box. Slowly I open the velvety case to see an exquisite, princess-cut diamond set in a platinum band cushioned with dense diamonds.

Oh god, oh god, oh god… breathe, Hales, breathe. Oh god.

I look at the ring in my hands with empty lungs: shaken, thrilled, anxious, but mostly petrified.

“Look at me, Hales,” Daniel says in a feathery, nervous voice. He looks at me with sentimental eyes, and wraps his hands around mine, which are still holding the small box. His stare still trying to capture mine. He clears his throat. “First of all, breathe.” His mouth curves into a shy smile. Saying I love you without a sound.

“I’m trying,” I murmur.
I really am
. I can feel a wave of heat reach my cheeks.

He waits a silent moment, long enough to make me raise my eyes to meet his. When our stares lock, a gentle, wary smile settles on his lips.

“I’ve been going through my adult life without anyone I really cared about except for Iris, and it didn’t really matter, because I actually liked it that way.” He licks his lips, and my heart thuds violently in tandem with my swollen throat. “That was before I met you.” He folds his fingers tighter around my hands, which still hold the box.

“I don’t love you, Hales.” Surprise widens my eyes and they fleetly flicker back and forth from the box in our hands to him.

“I love Iris, dearly. I love surfing, I love racing and I love what I do.” His stare penetrates me, reaching my inner core. “You, Hales, I don't just love you. I lust you, crazily. I adore you. I think you are the most amazing person on this fucking planet.” I blink in a state of awe.

“I’m not sure how to categorize or name what I feel for you, but I’m more than certain about what I want to do with these feelings. I want to marry you, I want to have you, forever. I want you mine.” The gigantic lump in my throat expands as the seconds pass by.

“Hayley, with this ring I give you my everything and I am asking for the whole of you.”