Skylar stepped out of the washroom, freshly showered, ready to go to work. She just had time to grab a quick breakfast before heading to her workplace. Someone’s presence behind her made her turn around.
A gasp escaped her lips as she came nose to nose with Christian!
“When did you arrive? Today isn’t Thursday!” she stammered, acutely aware of his gaze checking her out.
Christian’s eyes darkened at the sight of her refreshing beauty. She was like a breath of fresh air for his soul. The white formal dress clung to her curves, arousing him further. Her moist, glowing skin drew him like a magnet and he closed the distance between them.
“I changed my plans. Are you upset that I returned early?”
His body touched hers, pinning her against the wall behind her. His arms went on either side of her body to trap her.
“No.”
“Then? Are you happy to see me?”
“Yes.” His hypnotic gaze had her under his spell turning her brain to mush. Her heart thumped wildly at the sight of him. She had missed him so much.
“Did you miss me?”
“Yes.”
“How much?” he prodded, tucking a damp tendril behind her ear. The fiery touch made her tremble as an electric current shot up her body. Christian loved her reaction to his touch. He didn’t remove his fingers from her skin, stroking her cheek in a slow, tantalizing, and erotic way.
Skylar gazed back at him, unable to answer his question. She couldn’t tell him she shed tears for him every night. Her heart filled up with happiness at the sight of him. She cupped his cheek and pulled his head towards hers. Touching her lips to his warm ones, she relished the taste of him.
Her phone buzzed with a message alert, immediately bringing her out of her daze. She was late for work!
“Oh, no, I’m late for work!” she gasped, releasing him and pushing him away. Before Christian could realize it, she had picked up her handbag and rushed out of the door. What the hell! He closed his eyes to steady his breathing, feeling frustrated about the unfinished kiss. How could she escape without kissing him? No, he needed that kiss! It was the elixir his parched soul needed!
He rushed after her, ignoring the curious glances from his family. He wouldn’t let her work somewhere else.
“Travel-O-Mania, next block, beside the bookstore, Reader’s Delight. That’s where she works!” yelled Lillian after him.
“Thanks! I owe you,” he replied, dashing out. He scanned the place, but she wasn’t around. Jogging down the road, he released a breath of relief to see her in front of him. She was almost running as if the devil was after her! A smile lit up his face. So was he the devil?
In a split second, he was in front of her, making her almost collide with him.
“What the hell, Christian! Move! I’m already late for work. I’ll get penalized for tardiness.” She eyed her office two steps away. Could she make a dash for it?
“I’ll punish you too for joining another company without informing me.” Skylar’s eyes widened with horror. Did he really mean that?
“Did you remember that when you left without me?” Christian mulled over her question, searching her face to gauge her feelings.
“If it affected you so much, why didn’t you call me?” he asked, leaning in towards her.
Skylar staggered backwards to place a little distance between them but she couldn’t go far. He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. She collided with his chest and gasped with surprise, looking at her office to check if anyone was watching them.
“What do you think you’re doing, Christian? People are watching us.”
“Let them. I’m talking to my fiancee who forgot her duties!” Skylar rolled her eyes, struggling to get free. She was annoyed with him for forgetting her for a month. Why would she be at his beck and call now that he suddenly remembered her? It wasn’t she who forgot her duties.
“Wrong! It was you who forgot your fiancee for a month!”
“I could say the same for you.” Wrapped in his arms, she glared at him. She wanted to tell him it wasn’t the same with her. She hadn’t forgotten him even for a second.
“You’re wrong. I was only angry with you.”
“Good to know you’re not angry with me anymore.”
“Who told you that? I still am,” she scoffed, pushing at his chest.
“I can fix that.” Skylar stilled and looked up at him warily. She just hoped he wouldn’t do anything untoward on the street, right in front of her workplace.
“No, I don’t want you to. Please, can we discuss this in the evening? I’m thirty minutes late for work today.”
“Nope. You aren’t going to Travel Mania.” Skylar scowled at him, extracting herself from his embrace.
“I will. It kept me busy when you left me.”
“Then you won’t need it anymore. I’m back to keep you busy,” he swore, gripping her wrist to stop her from going.
“Christian.”
“Skylar.”
“Ugh! You’re horrible! Leave my hand!” She glared at him, acutely aware of her colleagues watching the drama from inside.
“Nope! You’re coming to my office here in Cleveland with me. We have lots of unfinished business to take care of.” Before she could think of a fitting retort, he picked her up over his shoulder and marched back to Caleb’s house.
“Christian, put me down this minute. At least let me hand in my resignation and collect my dues.” She punched him on his backside, but he didn’t yield to her pleas.
“No need.” She could see her colleagues standing at the main door to gape at her! It made her want to vanish from the face of the earth.
“Let me get one thing straight, Christian. Just because you came back doesn’t mean I will do as you please.” Christian smirked, a strange thrill coursing through his body as he walked towards Lillian’s house. Why was she so mad at him? There was really one explanation for it! She had missed him a lot, more than she could express!
Skylar gave up and allowed him to carry her. There was no point in fighting and wasting her energy on the guy. He stopped on Caleb’s doorstep and placed her down.
“You will do just as I say!” he hissed, challenging her.
Lillian opened the door and rolled her eyes at the sight of them. “Are you two still fighting?”
“Nope. Who’s fighting? I’ve come back for the car keys. We’re going to work,” he announced, walking inside and pulling Skylar along.
“But you just came home, Christian. Can’t you rest today?” scolded Lillian, following them.
“We will after getting some work done.”
Lillian sighed and left them at peace. Christian picked up his car keys, and an overnighter, and walked over to her closet. Skylar stood by, watching him with confusion. What was the guy up to now?
He dumped some of her clothes into the overnighter and zipped it up.
“Let’s go.” He grabbed her wrist and strode out, pulling her along.
“I thought we were going to work. Why are you carrying our clothes?” she asked, looking perplexed.
Christian dumped the overnighter in the backseat and opened the passenger door for her. “My office is in SJ Metropolitan Suites, Cleveland. We’ll stay the night there.”
Shocked, she climbed inside the car, wondering why they would stay at a hotel. What did he have in his mind?
“Why would we stay there? We can come home after wrapping up the work.”
“We can, but we won’t.” She waited for him to explain, but he just smirked as he drove on.
“You’re the weirdest creature on earth!” she muttered, watching his handsome profile, his glittering eyes and parted lips. ‘Weird and sinfully gorgeous!’ reminded her inner mind, and she groaned. She would never voice that in front of him.
“Yet you missed me. I’m still waiting for you to complete your kiss.”
“You can wait forever!” She turned away, a blush creeping up her cheeks to give her away.
“Do you think I will wait that long?” She gaped at him. What was that supposed to mean? Would he force her to kiss him in his office like in those office romance books?
“Whatever!” She clamped her mouth shut the rest of the way. Christian seemed to be in the brightest of spirits as he experimented with his music system, playing weird love songs. She hated all of them.
“Don’t you love good music?” he asked, giving up.
“I do. Allow me to play my favorite!”
“Go ahead!”
Skylar changed channels to a live event at Kingston Club in New York. A sweet, melodious voice filled the air. The RJ announced the title of the song by a local singer, You’re in my heart for now and always!
Love, won’t you give me a chance?
To show you how much you mean to me,
Holding one another as we dance,
I know you don’t feel a thing for me
And as I leave you to your happiness,
I know I cannot settle for anything less
With me, I take away the memories and the pain
But my love for you shall always remain
You’re in my heart for now and always
I’ll always love you, for now, and always
There’s no greater truth than this
I’ll always seek you, for now, and always
Ooh, ooh……
So kiss me, baby,
Tell me you’ve been thinking of me lately
Hold me in your arms tonight
I don’t want you to fight
This feeling we share for now and always
You’re in my heart for now and always
I’ll always love you, for now, and always
There’s no greater truth than this
I’ll always seek you, for now, and always
Ooh, ooh…..
“Wow! The lyrics are so beautiful! It’s like she is expressing what I feel,” he whispered, as if in a daze.