Chapter 52

We circle around each other, having fun and enjoying this quiet moment.

At first he was so tense after seeing me in the bathing suit for the first time, I thought he hated it, but him crashing his lips onto mine for a passionate, demanding kiss, threw that thought away.

I found it both exciting and scary, how his heated gaze followed me the entire time to the pool. He eventually snapped out of whatever trance he was in and soon joined me.

He was all touchy feely, making silly excuses for reasons why he claimed close proximity, until I saw right through him and swam to the furthest corner, letting him know that I figured out his plan and I would stay far away, if he didn't behave.

He listened and quickly joined me on my side, pulling me close and claiming my lips for a torturous kiss, then after convincing me that we'd only be having our planned night swim.

" I spoke to my family." He speaks up, leaning his back by the wall like I did, on the opposite side.

" How did it go?" I ask, playing with my toes.

" To be honest, it wasn't easy, there was a lot of crying."

" You cried?" I ask surprised.

" No but Jill did and we had to be open. Damn I felt like exploding at times."

" Did you punch or break something?"

" No and why would I do that?"

" Because my husband has got quite a temper, I've seen it first hand."

He groans. " Please don't remind me, that's one of my non-proud moments."

I offer a kind smile" I can sense a change in you, things must have gone well?"

" We all had a chance to get things off our chests, especially between dad and I. He made me see his vulnerable side. My eyes were opened from his point of view."

" That's good. Um about the Elena thing - ," I ask, averting my eyes elsewhere.

He sighs, swimming over to me, till he's right in front of me.

" Kea."

" I was so scared." I look up at him. " I know we haven't really talked about what happened, and I want to. It's only fair on us to get things off our chests."

He doesn't say anything, but just stares at me. Deep within, I can see his fear, this is the topic he's been trying to run away from. He's afraid of going back in time, he doesn't want to relive all those times we were separated, the times we almost lost each other and most definitely, the time he's had to watch me come back to life, after it seemed unlikely that I would.

He leans forward, where his head rests on my shoulder." Kea don't." He pleads quietly.

I can't and I'm sorry, but we need this.

" I was so scared." I repeat and he sighs. " The first time I felt my throat dry up and I couldn't breathe. Something had been put in the cream and I- I didn't know. My skin burned, I was losing air fast and all I could do was call out to your name.

I waited for some time, waiting for someone to show up. I've never felt so scared to be alone in a bathroom before. I waited until Sarah came but all I wanted was for you to come. When you showed up, I never wanted to let you go, I told you I was fine so many times, because I never wanted you to be concerned or see pain in your eyes."

He leans his head back, his eyes meeting mine." Don't you know that your pain is my pain?"

I lean my own forehead against his." I died and I came back, and I want to relive it again, we need to." I'm pulled into his arms, his chin resting on my shoulder.

His body has gone tense.

" The words said goodbye and I wasn't ready to." I say close to his ear, staring off into the distance.

" I wasn't ready to say goodbye to what was beginning, I felt robbed and time was still not on my side. I'd waited for years and now when I'd reached the end of the tunnel, the lights were switched off on me. I was left in the dark and I had no choice." I close my eyes, pushing back the tears.

" I shouldn't have left you." He says lowly, his voice thick with emotion.

" Don't blame yourself." I whisper to him.

" I can't help it." He whispers back.

I take a breath before continuing. " The pain was intense, I couldn't focus on one thing, my chest was burning, my body felt weak, I wanted to throw everything out and I could feel my breath leaving me. I could feel me leaving but I didn't want to, without seeing you, feeling you and hearing your voice for the last time."

" I wasn't there."

" You were there." I argue. " You were there when I'd asked Theresa to call out to you when I couldn't. You responded and you came, you don't know the relief I felt when you came into view, I - I ." I pause, gulping when I feel my emotions getting the best of me.

"I...." I can't do this.

I wrap my arms around his neck so I can hold on to something, I need strength.

"That night I saw you vulnerable, I saw your tears, you were pleading with your eyes, pleading for me to not go and I didn't want to, but my body didn't listen. A sense of peace took over seconds later, I was soon accepting my fate but I couldn't go without saying goodbye."

His hold tightens around my waist.

" Do you know what's my favourite song? "

He shakes his head slightly.

He doesn't want to speak because he's all emotional, like me.

" The beat of your heart." His hot breath fans my shoulder, giving me goosebumps.

He places a lingering kiss behind my ear.

My breath hitches.

" I thought I'd lost you, the doctors were doing all they could to bring you back. God, I've never prayed so much like I did that night." He tells me.

" Then I came back."

" Then you came." He agrees.

" I heard you, you know. I heard every word, every plea and declaration. You telling me you love me was the most beautiful thing." I say.

" I love you." He tells me.

I smile against his skin, despite my emotional state. "You could just sing it to me." I tease him, making him chuckle.

"Then they stole you from me."

All too soon my smile slips off my face, being reminded of the second time I opened my eyes. Expecting to see Keith, only to be disappointed and scared to find myself chained to a wall, in a cold and unknown place.

I tense up when my mind takes me back, reminding me of every emotional and physical pain.

" They chained me."

"Stop." He says weakly.

"They starved me."

"Stop." He repeats, his tight hold increasing almost to a bruising grip.

" They - ."

"No, I- I can't hear anymore." He tries to push me away but I wrap my legs around his waist, keeping him in place.

" Please." I plead.

He almost slumps in defeat, sighing and nodding. Telling me that he won't go anywhere.

" It was cold, so cold. I couldn't think properly, my blood ran cold, my body was numb."

" When I found you, you were so cold, unmoving and laying unconscious. I thought - ," he releases a breath. " I thought I'd lost you for good this time."

" I kept going in and out of consciousness, but I held on. I didn't want to let go, I refused to do so."

" Thank you, for not leaving me." His voice cracks.

"Thank you for coming for me."

" I thought I'd lost you."

" I love you." I murmur in his ear.

We remain in silence for a few seconds before his shoulders shake slightly, his breathing comes out in harsh breaths.

My fingers play with his hair, while the other moves up and down his back ,his breathing gets harsher and his shoulders shaking bring me to tears.

Tears stream down my face as I hear something like a whimper come from him. I don't like hearing him hurting.

" I'm sorry, forgive me Kea please." He pleads through a sob.

" No, no. Don't ever apologise for saving my life, just love me, that's all I ask." My voice cracks.

He leans back before crashing his lips to mine in a bruising and passionate kiss, I respond with the same emotion. He's throwing all he's feeling, each fear, anger, love, and pouring out his heart into this kiss. He wants me to feel everything, he has no words, words aren't enough for him, but actions are.

We break the kiss, coming up for air, harsh breaths between us. We take a moment of silence.

I peck his forehead before leaning back, wiping the visible tears from his cheeks. I smile at him, cradling his face.

" What's that smile for?"

" I love you."

He arches his brow.

"Are we going to stay in here forever?" I ask.

" Tired?"

"Mhm." I nod. " I want to cuddle now."

He pecks my lips twice before wrapping his arms around me, securing me around his waist as he walks us out of the pool.

" You have an appointment tomorrow, for your fitting." I say.

He doesn't say anything.

" Keith are you listening to me?"

"Hmm, I'm just enjoying this right now." He pulls me further up his body, giving me the meaning behind his words.

Goosebumps coat my body and I can feel myself start to shiver. Ever since that time of being locked in a fridge, my body has become quite sensitive and gets easily affected by the cold. I start to shiver and my mind travels back to that time, the cold and the numbness.

I still need to accustom myself to the weather change and my body to react, in a normal way towards cool air, chilly days and snow.

I'm placed down onto my feet by the chaise lounge chairs, we start taking towels and drying ourselves. I wrap a towel around myself and take a minute to stare at him, appreciating his hot self.

" See something you like?" He smirks at him, having finished drying up.

I narrow my eyes, stepping closer to him where I place my hands on his chest, rising to my tip toes and leaning close where my face is inches from his neck. His breath hitches when my warm breath tickles his sweet spot. I start placing soft kisses along his skin, feeling him tremble under my touch. Flesh against flesh.

The towel drops to the floor and I smile against his skin, feeling proud that I could get such a reaction from him. I continue with my kisses, trailing them right behind his ear and back down again to the underside of his jaw, earning a groan from him.

I've found his other weak spot.

I focus on that spot, placing open mouth kisses. I feel him reach out his hands to touch me but I'm fast enough to hold his hands in place. "I like what I see." I murmur in his ear, lightly biting his earlobe and getting a shudder from him.

I take a step back, releasing him. I notice his eyes unfocused and jaw tense.

" I'll see you inside." I say, quickly walking past him, heading inside with an amused smile. A giggle escapes me as I rush up to our room, locking myself in the bathroom.

" What did I just do?" I whisper out, touching my cheeks with wide eyes.

Oh gosh, James is such a bad influence.


Stepping into the shower for a quick shower, I try not think of what just happened but it's impossible because I'll have to face him once I get out. Oh gosh, I hope he isn't mad at me.

I sigh when I step out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around me and feeling a little tired after an emotional time in the pool.

Stepping back into the bedroom, I find it empty with no sign of Keith anywhere, even his walk in closet is closed.

Okay, now I'm convinced that I did something wrong.

James is so going to get it, because in our talk, he started having ' great ' ideas of how I could tease Keith. Some of his ideas though, were way too extreme and forward for my liking, so I settled for what I did back by the pool. I didn't think much would happen or I'd even get a reaction from him, but I did.

And I have to admit, my heart jumped in satisfaction and victory, when I felt his body tremble under my touch or maybe it's the cold.

Oh how could I be so forward ?

No, I need to apologise.

With this in mind, I quickly take care of myself, before heading out of our room and starting for the kitchen, looking for him. The kitchen is empty but my stomach is growling in hunger, reminding me that I've not eaten much today.

No Keith is more important right now, I'll get back to it later. I just need to apologise.

Before I can do anything next, arms surprisingly wrap around my waist, making me tense for a second before I relax into his chest. " My angel is a little tease." He says in my ear before a kiss is placed under it.

I close my eyes and breathe out, trying to not lose my thinking. " Keith, I'm so sorry, you must be mad at me right now and- ."

I don't get to finish my sentence when I'm spun around, picked up and placed on the counter, him stepping in between my legs, hands on either side of my thighs. " You think I'm mad of what just happened back there?"

I nod. "You didn't come back to the room and - ," his low chuckle has me stopping. " Baby I needed a cold shower because of what you just did."

" Why?" I frown at him.

He was just in the pool and he goes in to have a cold shower, does he want to be sick?

He stares at me for a few seconds as if he can't believe I just said that, then his eyes blink and he shakes his head, trying to suppress a grin. " Because...." He takes one of my hands and trails it down his body, so slow, arching his brow each time we go lower.

My eyes widen in realization of what he means, when my fingers graze his hips. " Oh." I snatch my hand away, looking down onto my lap, blushing so hard.

I repeat once again, James is a bad influence.

I feel him lean close to my ear. " Yeah....Oh." He gives my neck a soft kiss before leaning back.

Looking up at him again, I notice his eyes dance with humour.

" So you're not mad?" I ask for confirmation.

He shakes his head no with a chaste kiss on my lips. " Hungry?"

" Yes." My stomach decides this is the time to make an entry with its grumbling.

"Okay, lets get that out of the way because I want to cuddle as long as we can, without you falling asleep on me." He moves away from me, walking over to grab our prepared food by Sarah, preheating it in the microwave for us.

" I don't easily fall asleep." I argue.

He throws a ' really ' look over his shoulder , before getting back to what he's been doing.

" Okay on some occasions." I admit, staring down at my beautiful ring.

I can't believe I'm about to get married the right way now, both of our hearts will be in agreement on that day, as we say our vows.

" You're smiling." He says, placing our food next to me, taking a seat close to me.

" Thank you." I say, taking his hand and saying a small prayer for the food we're about to eat, before digging in, humming in satisfaction because it's lasagna.

I enjoy our moment of silence, just being in each others presence. These are some of the times I enjoy, loving him close where I can sneak a look and ogle at him, feeling blessed to have him in my life.

Gosh, I just love him, full stop.

We finally finish eating and because he knows me so well, I'm given half a glass of milk with a plate of Oreo biscuits, as he goes on to wash our plates. He didn't even let me help him.

Once all is done and we're back in our room, where I sit in between his propped up legs, my back leaned against his chest as I eat my treat, feeding him as well.

" I can't wait till this wedding is over, so I can have you all to myself." He says, burying his face in my hair.

"You always have me to yourself at the end of the day. " I say, biting into my biscuit.

" Nope, I want you with me, all day everyday, 24 hours."

I giggle." You'd get tired of me."

" Nope, never." He pecks my cheek.

I smile at that." Me too." I chirp up, making him chuckle.

" There's something I need us to talk about."

"Okay."

" I think I've found the person to plan our wedding, but I want to know what you think."

"Okay."

" It's a close friend of aunt Jill's."

"Oh." I stop eating, really thinking over this.

" She'd suggested Amareen today, she told me she's good and had me check her out."

" What did you think of her work?" I ask, because it's his wedding too and if he likes what she has to offer, then I'd consider.

" First tell me your thoughts on this, because it's your day."

"You've worked things out with your family, and she's family, so...."

" No baby, no family talk, yours. This is your day, what you want, be selfish with this please." He practically begs, repeatedly kissing my temple.

I sigh." Can I check out her work tomorrow morning, then decide?" He nods against my temple.

" And if I do agree to this, I'd like for Theresa to oversee everything because I trust her, and she's my maid of honour, not that I have a problem with Jill because I don't, it's just that it'll give me a peace of mind to- ," I'm cut off from my rambling, when he turns my head to kiss me.

" Baby, I understand." He says against my lips. " Like I said, what you want."

" Okay." I nod, feeling dazed after that kiss. " What do you want?" I ask, blinking up at him.

Instead of an answer, he grabs my almost finished milk and half eaten biscuit out of my hands, placing it aside before moving from behind me to right in front of me, pushing me onto my back and then straddling my stomach, being careful to not put all his weight on me.

I gasp in surprise as my hands are placed above my head." Keith?"

" Hmm?" He leans close, our noses touching.

" What are you doing?" He gives me a soft kiss before leaning back.

" Do you trust me?" He asks close to my lips.

" With my life." I breathe out.

" Good, I need you to use that trust now because I want to try something."

" What?" I ask breathlessly when his fingers trail up and down my side. Giving me goosebumps.

" Close your eyes for me baby."

I take a breath and close my eyes.

" Relax." He whispers.

"Okay." I whisper back, letting my body relax.

" Now angel, all I want you to do is feel."

His lips connect with mine for a soft and tender kiss, and before I can melt into it, his lips leave my own, trailing down my jaw and down my neck in soft kisses, leaving hot spots on my skin.

My trust in him is complete but I don't know how to relax, when my body jumps each time he trails lower, now having passed down my chest and down my stomach.

His kisses move low right to my hip bone, right back to my stomach in a teasing manner, I gasp when he trails kisses down my stomach again, with no intention of going back up.

My body grows tense and I lose all sense.