MVP (VIP Book 3) (4 page)

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine! I’ll wear the
sarong
three times a week.”

“Friday, Saturday, Sunday,” I added.

“What the fuck? Those are the busiest days of the week, when the bar is packed all day.”

I grinned. “I know.”

She narrowed her eyes and I gripped her inner thigh firmer.

“I hate you!” she yelled, laughing.

“You what?” I taunted, squeezing harder and making her squirm. “I’m sorry, what was that?” I emphasized, squeezing over and over again. She started laughing uncontrollably and getting sand everywhere, kicking her legs to try to break free. I stopped and let her catch her breath, not moving my hand or my hold on her. “Let’s try that again.”

“Ugh! Fine. Friday through Sunday, I will wear a sarong,” she stated through gritted teeth.

“And…”

“What?”

Damn him! I knew I shouldn’t have provoked him, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m a little shit like that. Sex sells and it always will. Just because I’m no longer a VIP doesn’t mean that’s not what still makes the world go round.

“I hate you!” I yelled, half-laughing.

“You what?” he taunted, squeezing my thigh harder and making me squirm. “I’m sorry, what was that?” he emphasized, squeezing over and over again. I couldn’t control my movements when he did that to me. I fucking hated it but at the same time, loved the attention. It hurt, and at the same time, it made me laugh, almost violently. The fury and I had a love/hate relationship. I was kicking sand everywhere; we were going to be covered in it when we stood up.

He finally stopped and I sucked in air and tried to catch my breathing, though he didn’t move his hand from my inner thigh and his weight still held me where he wanted.

“Let’s try that again,” he reminded.

“Ugh! Fine. Friday through Sunday, I will wear a sarong,” I agreed, through gritted teeth. It really wasn’t that big of a deal, but he didn’t have to know that.

“And…”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“You said you hated me.”

My heart sped up.
Was he trying to get me to tell him I loved him?

“I know you don’t hate me.”

Shit! He was.

“Sebastian…I can’t breathe; I need up,” I coaxed, not knowing what to say.

His face turned from amused to concerned. He immediately removed himself and held out his hand to pull me up.

“Fuck, Ysa. I’m sorry. I forget how tiny you are. Are you all right? Was I crushing you? Let me get you some water.” He turned and walked behind the bar.

I sat down to gather my thoughts; my mind was racing. He quickly came back, handing me a glass of water and took the seat beside me. I couldn’t look up at him; if I did, he would know.

He grazed my cheek and gently eased my face to look at him. There it was again…

That connection.

“I see you, Ysa. You can’t hide from me,” he asserted with conviction and I bowed my head. “Look at me,” he ordered. I did. He placed his hand around my neck, pulling me closer to him.

I looked into the eyes of the man that held my heart and I knew what he was going to say.

“I have never felt more complete in my entire life than I do when I’m with you. I know we haven’t talked about it; it’s sort of like we started fresh that first day on the island.”

“Seb–”

He put his finger up to my lips silencing me. “I know I fucked up, Ysa. I knew that the second I met you, and when I went home to my wife, it was the biggest mistake of my life. I should have ended it right then and there because from the moment you fell into my arms, I was yours and you were mine.”

I bit my lip, wanting to control the tears that were at bay.

“You are my everything. There is no me without you. I started living that second, I was just too fucking stupid to admit it. I always knew it, though…I can’t take back my mistakes. As much as I wish that I could, I can’t. I hurt the one person in this world…” He paused like he was reliving the entire affair all over again. “I was careless with your heart when I had full responsibility for it. I hurt you. I’m so fucking sorry. Just know…” He leaned in, almost to the point that our lips were touching, and looked deep into my eyes.

“I love you, Ysa. I always have and I always will. That’s a fucking promise. I’m never going to hurt you again. I will prove that to you, even if it takes me the rest of our lives.”

I couldn’t control the internal battle that surfaced in the forefront of my mind. It was a tsunami of emotions. I loved him. I knew I loved him. I always have. He owned every part of me. My heart had been his since the first day that our lives entwined. However, the fear that I felt in my mind took over and I just couldn’t get the words to come out of my mouth. My eyes pooled with tears and he reached over to lift my face so I could look into his eyes.

“Look at me,” he said.

I looked at him and I no longer had any control over it, the tears broke free and flowed loosely down my face.

“I know you're afraid. I know you don’t trust me. And believe me when I say that I wholeheartedly understand why. I’ll tell you again, Ysa. You can’t hide from me. You don't have to say anything right now.”

My heart was racing as I tried to control my emotions. Sebastian took me in his arms, and even though I didn't tell him I loved him, he knew.

He could just feel it.

And that’s just how we were.

It had been a few weeks since I told Ysabelle that I loved her. I wanted to say it since the first day I saw her beautiful face with her flowing curly hair walk to me in complete and utter shock that I was standing before her. As I walked Chance, I thought about that day.

There was my girl, dressed in a black bikini, with her curly exotic hair blowing in the wind, sitting on a hammock, reading her e-reader in front of her bar. She did it. Ysa does everything and anything she puts her mind to, it’s who she is. I stopped dead in my tracks just to take her in. She was a vision. There was no beauty in this world like Ysa. I found myself catching my breath and bracing myself for the possibility of her turning me away. There was a chance that she would completely shut me out and tell me to go fuck myself from all the havoc and damage I had caused, and I wouldn’t blame her for one second. She had every right to.

I wouldn’t stop fighting for her. I would prove to her that she’s the one. I would get on my hands and knees and beg for forgiveness if that’s what it took for her to just talk to me.

I expected nothing but hoped for everything.

She’s it for me.

Chance heard shuffling in the sand as I started to walk toward her, he barked and ran over to me, immediately recognizing who I was.

At least someone was thrilled to see me, let’s hope your mom feels the same way.

He had grown four times in size since the last time I’d seen him; he was no longer a puppy. It warmed my heart a little that she kept him; he was part of me, a part of us. It calmed my apprehension, which I was terribly trying to control.

She quickly got up and chased after him, blocking the sun from her eyes to see whom he was greeting. I caught her stare from my peripheral vision; she stopped dead in her tracks, just like I had done mere minutes before. She was undeniably caught off guard to see me and even blinked a few times in bewilderment. I smiled at her and petted Chance one last time before brushing the sand off my lap and slowly making my way toward her.

I had to overcome every instinct and impulse to not run to her and scoop her up in my arms, to hold her as tight as I possibly could, never wanting to let her go again. But I couldn’t scare her. I had to do this on her terms. It wasn’t about me anymore.

“What are you doing here?” she blurted out.

Ouch…not exactly the welcoming I was eager for. I chuckled and smiled from nervousness, hopefully breaking some of the tension, and she smiled and laughed back.

Much better…fuck. I missed that smile and laugh. They light up an entire room.

“You look more beautiful than I ever remember. I thought we could start over.” I grinned.

Honesty was the only thing I had going for me.

No more lies.

She cocked her head to the side and simultaneously moved her eyes to my ring finger, it had been bare for a little under a year and a half and that realization seemed to please her.

I took the opportunity and extended my right hand. “My name’s Sebastian Vanwell.” I nodded, smiling.

She grinned. “Ysabelle Telle,” she replied, shaking my hand. “My friends call me Ysa,” she added.

We stood there for a while; taking each other in, remembering the bond and connection we had since day one. All of the chemistry and passion was very much alive, breathing and pulsating around us and especially between us. I felt it in my bones, and most of all, my heart.  

And that’s when I knew I still had a chance.

It wasn’t the end for us.

It was just the beginning.

I wasn’t expecting her to say
I love you
when I said it. She wasn’t ready. But that didn’t stop the selfish desire to want to hear it. There had never been any promises between us during our yearlong affair. I never told her I was going to leave my wife and she never told me she was going to leave VIP. That didn’t stop me from paying Madam for all of her time, though. I think back on it now and it’s sickening how much of a mess I created. Everything I put her through…

Her eyes have always been the windows to her soul. They had always spoken for her. Sometimes, when I looked at them, I saw my girl there. I saw Ysa. Most of the time, I didn’t, and I had to take a step back and remember that it was my fault. I had no one else to blame but myself. A daily reminder that I had to be patient, but I’m a man. We aren’t a patient gender. I didn’t want to start over, but I knew we had to. We had built a life together; at least it was to me. I had two lives that I kept separate and deceived everyone involved, most of all, myself. I was a fool to think that it wouldn’t blow up in my face. I lived day to day; I didn’t think about the future or the consequences. Not once.

I didn’t think about her.

I had broken Ysa in so many ways, and I hated myself for that because I prided myself on being the only person to be able to get through those tough-as-shit barriers. She handed me her heart and I greedily took it. Except, I’d slit minor cuts in it every day; the lies, the betrayal, taking my wedding ring off and putting it back on, all the times I took a shower before I left her condo. Making
love
to her. Leaving her…she knew every fucking time that when I left, I was going home to my family and I just expected her to welcome me with open arms the next time I saw her.