"Close your eyes," he tells me, and I obey, shaking ever so slightly. I know I'm just a big kid, but I freaking love surprises. This makes me happy, and he knows it very well, which I love about my man.
Pulling my hands to my front, he puts something thin and papery in them and allows me to look. I immediately do so, stopping on his face first before my eyes fly to the object in my hand.
It is indeed a piece of paper and it says 'Congratulations' on it.
I look up at Blane, feeling more than a little confused, but giddy at the same time. I know this is going to be good, whatever it is." What is this?" I ask, barely holding back my excitement.
Blane wraps me in a big hug, pressing another kiss against my lips. "Remember that charity auction we did?"
I think back a few weeks, remembering an auction we held for a local charity. We ended up raising a lot of money by selling some paintings, and if I recall collectly, there were some raffles for prizes for the guests as well.
"We won the raffle?" I ask with surprise. "I thought that wasn't allowed."
Blane shrugs before explaining what happened. "Guess they just pulled our name when they had the draw. We won a trip to Hawaii."
I look at him, my eyes widening with excitement. "Can we go?" I ask hesitantly, fully expecting him to postpone the entire thing because of work. But what he says next takes me completely by surprise.
"I've booked a flight for tonight," he says softly in my hair, and I can't help myself - I actually squeal, like I'm some teenager. We laugh together as I exclaim I need to start packing and Blane wraps me in his strong embrace, whispering in my ear of some other plans he has with me before we leave ...
***
The flight that night is peaceful and with no turbulence at all. I'm a nervous flyer, but I'm so giddy with excitement and happiness I probably wouldn't even notice a few bumps on the way to Hawaii.
Blane grins at me every so often, responding to some last minute work e-mails on his tablet. I gaze at him adoringly most of the way there, thinking that this is the first holiday we've managed to take together. Since we've been together for about three years now, it really is a shame. But that doesn't take away from my mood in the slightest.
Arriving at the hotel, I'm awestruck by the beauty of our surroundings. All lush greens and juicy looking fruit and flowers, it's like we've gotten lost and ended up in paradise. A kind hotel receptionist shows us to our room.
I say room, but it's really a huge, beautiful suite. I fall in love with the space immediately, but am even more impressed when I walk to the balcony, looking at the beautiful view. It's all azure, crystal clear water, and a small island a few miles off the shore. It really is beautiful, and I wish we could stay here forever, just blocking out all the bad things that have happened in our lives so far.
As if on cue, my scar starts throbbing and I scratch it subconsciously, my brows furrowing. Then, a pair of strong arms envelops me from behind as I hear the front door click, signaling that the receptionist has left.
"My love," Blane whispers in my ear, and I settle in his warm embrace for a few blissful moments, watching the sun set over the balcony. "My only one ..."
His words like soft caresses on my skin, I feel a little better instantly - but Blane knows me better than anyone else, and he can feel the tension in my body.
"What's wrong?" he asks, and I bow my head down.
He won't take no for an answer, though.
He grabs me by the shoulders and gently turns my back to the fence on the balcony, so I'm facing him. He reaches for my chin, tilting my face up until we're looking into each other's eyes. "Tell me, baby," he asks, and it breaks my heart, knowing what I have to admit.
Instead, I purse my lips and fight back the tears that are threatening to escape my eyes, biting back a scream of frustration.
I hate you Aiden, you sick fuck.
He's ruined everything, every small, perfect moment like this one. Every single second of my life is scarred by what he did to me, to us.
I hope you rot in hell.
"Emme," Blane says softly. "Come on now. You can't be thinking about all that again?"
I raise my eyes defiantly to meet his. "How can you not?" I whisper angrily.
He sighs heavily and his arms leave my shoulders, leaving a dark and empty spot behind them. "I can't keep talking about this. What happened should stay in the past where it belongs. Aren't we happy together, baby? Don't you love me?"
I can't help but nod my head, though this does not help the problem at hand in any way. "But ..."
"No buts," he asks, pressing a strong finger to my lips. He looks at me thoughtfully for a moment before breathing a heavy sigh. "It's so beautiful here, isn't it?"
I nod thankfully, happy for the change in topic.
"This would be a beautiful place to take our kids ..."
And he's changed it to something even less favorable.
"Blane," I say with worry in my voice. "We've talked about this ..."
He raises his hands in the air defensively, signaling defeat. "I won't bother you too much," he says. Finally, he looks back into my eyes and gives me that mischievous grin I've always loved.
His smile is infectious, and as hard as I try to fight it, my expression soon mirrors his.
"I did get something for you before we left," Blane admits softly, and once again, my eyes widen with surprise. This day keeps getting better and better, and my heart swells with love I feel for this man.
My one and only.
He pulls a long velvet box out of his pocket and I clap my hands with excitement. Blane is not one for big romantic gestures, and he's never gotten me jewelry. He used to take me to expensive shops and let me choose whatever I wanted to, but he never brought me anything himself.
"What is it?" I ask shyly, and am met by Blane's sexy, dark grin.
"Why don't you open it and see?" he suggests.
I take the box out of his hands with trembling fingers, slowly lifting the lid. When I see what's inside, I gasp lightly. It truly has taken my breath away.
I have to steady my fingers so the box doesn't clatter to the floor, and I lift out a beautiful necklace with a shaky hand.
Dangling from my fingers is the most beautiful long silver necklace with a pendant on the bottom. It's some kind of precious stone, carved in the shape of a doe.
"How beautiful," I whisper softly.
Blane gently takes it from my fingers and I move my hair to the side so he can slip the pendant on. My fingers take the necklace and I admire the beautiful stone, which is somehow still raw yet so smooth.
"It's made of amethyst," Blane explains, his voice hoarse and embarrassed. "The doe ... she reminded me of you, darlin'."
I nearly melt on the spot, but instead, I leap into his arms and he chuckles as I whisper 'I love you' in his neck over and over again.
"If I knew that's what it took to get you all excited, I would've bought you jewelry long ago," he jokes and I stick my tongue out at him, but I can't help the silly grin on my face.
"Come on now, baby," he says, the dark grin back on his face. "I have more plans for us ... You're allowed to wear the necklace, and nothing else."
I giggle as he pulls me back into our suite and straight towards the enormous bed.
Chapter 2
The next morning, I wake up bright and early as per usual. I've always been an early riser, even when on holiday. What is strange though is the fact that I actually got some sleep.
Ever since ... everything that went down, I've been an insomniac. It takes me hours to fall asleep, and instead of the deep slumber I've come to expect, I'm plunged into a world of terrible nightmares, waking up in tears and screaming bloody murder more often than not.
Somehow, tonight was the first night I haven't had a nightmare in ... years, really. I woke up perfectly rested and feeling refreshed for the first time in a long while.
Thrilled by the improvement, I press a kiss against Blane's lips before quickly getting dressed for the beach. I put a sarong over my bikini and add a big sunhat and some designer sunglasses Blane insisted on treating me with.
Shutting the door lightly behind me, I head for the beach.
It's a beautiful day as I imagine every single one is in these parts. The sun is shining down but not beating me with its rays, the temperature tolerable and pleasant. I decide to go for a long walk on the beach.
As I walk along the sandy shore, I instantly wish I had brought my camera, or at least a phone, with me. There are so many beautiful sights around here I would just love to capture forever.
Before I know it, hours pass and suddenly the sun is up high in the sky and beating down against my skin. I foolishly realize I had neglected to apply sun block, and groan inwardly when I think of how sun burnt my pale skin will be in a couple of hours.
The trek back is long as I've made it a long way along the shore during my walk, enveloped in my own private thoughts. But none of it seems to matter, because I feel better and happier than I have in weeks.
A huge smile is plastered across my face when I finally make it back to the hotel grounds. But then, I freeze on the spot when I see the scene in front of me.
There's Blane, the man I love. And that scene alone would put a grin on my face, but ... There seems to be a woman with him.
I'm standing too far away to see who she is, but she is slim and pert, and has long blonde hair just like me. If I wasn't well aware that I was standing so far away, I might even think it was us - me and Blane, like it should be.