“Fuck, you're all I need, Sky.” His words struck a chord deep inside me, the need to feel him, connect with him, love him stronger than it had been in all the moments leading up to now.
“Kiss me,” I whispered, not sure what else to say.
He straightened my dress then tucked his cock into his pants before standing and pulling me against his heavy chest. Our lips connected, soft and slow, but the kiss still dark in its intensity.
Enveloped in him, I found my happy place.
“I'm tempted to kidnap you.”
“I’m tempted to let you.” I smiled.
“Don’t tease me.”
“Where would the fun be in that?” I winked. “How long we talkin’?”
He sucked in a slow breath, pressing another kiss to my lips before answering. “Forever.”
His words singed a permanent path to my heart. “I wish forever was that simple.”
“Maybe it is.” He locked his hand in mine, throwing me a reckless smile as he led us back toward the tent.
“Nothing ever is.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Of course you do.” I sighed, unable to shake the feeling of doom.
We turned the corner then, slipping into the tent and settling at a table in the back that had empty chairs.
Within minutes, his fingertips were hovering at my knee, tracing up the soft skin of my thighs and turning my stomach to churned butter. After light appetizers and aperitifs were served, none of which I was able to stomach because his nearness was intoxicating enough on its own, the DJ started playing old-fashioned Sinatra tunes.
The opening lines of “Strangers in the Night” started, and I smiled. “This is my favorite Sinatra song. My dad always used to sing it to me before bed. A weird choice, I know, but I always looked forward to it.”
“Well, then I’d like to have this dance.” He pulled me from my chair, locking our hands and guiding me to the dance floor already studded with romantic couples.
“Are you sure?” My eyes darted around the space, hoping my father wouldn't notice us dancing. But then again, what was so wrong with two people dancing?
“I’m more sure of you than I’ve ever been, Skylar.” He said the words so matter-of-factly it nearly made me stumble.
He caught me before I went careening into him, his hands at my waist and his lips at my ear. “You look so beautiful today,” he whispered, moving us back and forth to the soft crooning music. “Made me think of what kind of bride you'll be.” His words coiled through my insides like snakes. “That’ll be you up there someday, Sky.”
I sucked in a lungful of breath, the unspoken meaning of his words clear. Someday, I would be up there, but it wouldn't be with him. It could never be with him.
I couldn’t do this anymore—the passion, the emotion, the separation too much to bear.
I clenched my teeth, no longer able to enjoy the feel of him against me when I knew he’d be leaving within the hour, heading south and far away from me.
“I’m sorry. I can’t.” I choked up and dashed out of his arms, running for the exit.
Eight
Hudson
I charged out of the doors after her, the only thing running through my head: catch her.
I couldn’t let her get away; I couldn't let this be our last moment. We’d shared too much, felt too much, loved too much.
If I could cut and run on the business and move up here to shack up with her tomorrow, I would. But it wasn't that simple.
I’d had the custom paint shop for almost a decade now, and business was better than ever. It’d take me at least a few months to close things out in the city, get a place rented or purchased up here, and have everything moved. Just thinking about it made my chest ache.
I caught sight of her, waves of auburn hair whipping in the wind as she sped to her car.
Fuck.
I ran full tilt after her, catching her only when she had a hand on the door and was ready to climb in.
“Fuck, you run fast in those heels.” I sucked in a breath of air.
“It’s a talent. I’m going to go home. I'm sorry, it’s just best if we let this end…”
I swallowed the baseball lodged in my throat, fingers tightening on her elbow as I pulled us together. “Don’t say that.”
“I can’t figure out how to do this. Did you see the looks my dad was giving me? I thought he was going to have a coronary, I’m sorry, but for them, we can't do this.”
“For them? For them! What about us, Sky? What about the fact that you make me feel happier than I’ve ever been, that you make me feel alive for the first time? My mom spent my whole life dragging me around from husband to husband. I don’t have much faith in relationships, and frankly, never have, but you and I are different. It didn’t take me long to see that at all.”