Feel The Fire (Unforgettable Series) (24 page)

Jonas didn’t know if he should. He didn’t trust himself to keep it together once he saw her. He was afraid he would run to her and fall to his knees. Undoubtedly, he would beg and promise her the world if she would just take him back.

The soft rustle of fabric caught his attention and he listened as her light footsteps approached from behind. Seconds later, lavender invaded Jonas’s senses and he clutched the sides of the leather chair, hoping it would aid him to keep it together.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered so softly that he barely heard her. “In the Caribbean,” she went on. “When you told me you loved me...I got scared. You see, I was falling in love with you, too and...well, I’ve always made it a rule to get out before emotions come into play.”

Jonas remained silent as his hands tightened on the chair.

“Only this time, I didn’t get out in time,” she added. “My parents...didn’t die in a car accident,” she said softly. “My father was a very abusive man.”

Jonas tensed.

“He would beat my mother often. For years, no matter what he did, my mother wouldn’t leave him. She always said that she couldn’t leave because she loved him.” Toni sniffed and struggled to continue. “One of the things my mother ingrained in me was: love was a woman’s greatest downfall. I believed her. When she finally grew tired of the beatings, we packed up our things and moved into a woman’s shelter in Atlanta. When my father came home from work and discovered we were gone, he came looking for us. He shot my mother and then turned the gun on himself.”

Tears streaked down Jonas’s eyes as he listened.

“All these years, I’ve been afraid to fall in love. Afraid of what it would do to me. But it happened anyway. I miss you.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “I love you, Jonas.”

Her touch effectively destroyed his wall of resistance and he reached up to cover her hand with his own. “I love you, too.”

Toni walked around the leather chair to face him. Once again, she wore the same silver raincoat. To look at her was to look at love and Jonas knew at that moment he wanted to spend the rest of his life waking up and laying down with this woman.

“Marry me.” The words were out of his mouth before he knew it. And there was nothing on earth that could describe the joy he felt when he watched her eyes fill with joyous tears.

“You stole the words right out of mouth.” She laughed.

Jonas jumped to his feet and pulled her close. Their lips connected and a bolt of electricity shot through them. “I love you, Toni,” he murmured once he came up from air. “I’ve felt like the walking dead these past three months. You are my heart. My soul. Never leave me again. Promise.”

“I promise,” she groaned, and then pressed her lips against his again. Arching gently against him, an old familiar ache throbbed within her. Her sexual hunger only intensified when she felt his desire harden and press against her pelvis.

Desire swirled like a tornado through her veins as she slipped her hands up his broad back. She stroked its hard planes and ardently wished she could do away with his clothes. Yet, there was one more thing she had to do.

“Baby.” Her fevered whisper trembled. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

Jonas broke away with a frown already touching his face. “If it’s about you seeing someone else during these last few months.” He swallowed. “It’s okay. It’s in the past. You’re mine now. We’re together.”

Toni’s gaze dropped to the wide span of his chest. “I was moving back to California. I was trying to run away from the pain of losing you.”

Jonas cupped the bottom of her chin and tilted it up. “Well, you don’t have to run any farther. You’re right where you belong.” His mouth descended again and the passion he unleashed left her swaying in his arms.

When the coat hit the floor, Jonas glanced down and froze. Toni’s beautiful, nude body still had the power to excite and ignite his passion; but there was no mistaking the small, bump of her belly. “Baby...”

Toni pressed her warm, soft hand against his stubbed cheek. “The first two months I think was in denial. And then I didn’t want to trap you into-”

Jonas silenced her with a kiss. He poured everything he had into it and he was rewarded when she did the same. Soon, the couple tasted the salt of each other’s tears and it only made their joining that much sweeter—that much hungrier—that much more satisfying.

Alyssa sighed when Sterling finally finished the story. It wrapped with a happy ending-just the way she liked them. Now, here she was at the center of what would undoubtedly be dubbed as a fairytale wedding...and she had to stay in her room.

“Fifteen minutes to showtime,” The wedding planner rushed alerting the wedding party. “Everyone take their places.”

Sterling smiled and stood up straight. “I guess that means me, too.” His gaze raked over her attire: blue jeans, Mary J. Blige t-shirt and a pair of Reeboks that had seen better days. “I know I’m long past being hip. Well, I was never what you would call hip...but is that what you’re wearing to the wedding?”

Alyssa dropped her head and couldn’t help but poke out her bottom lip. “I can’t go. Dad said that I would just be in the way.”

Sterling chuckled and then placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Nonsense.” He looked her over again. “It just so happens that I require a date for this evening. How fast can you change clothes?”

He winked. Again his uncharacteristic playful side charmed Alyssa. “Okay,” she said, backing away. “I’ll go change.” She turned and raced off to her room. The only dress she had in her closet suitable for a wedding was the frilly number her father bought her for Easter. She frowned at the excessive lace, but quickly showered and shimmied into the dress in what had to be an Olympic record.

A couple of brush strokes through her hair, a ribbon and she was out the door. As she rushed to grab one of the white, wooden lawn chairs she took in the final staging for the ceremony and felt as if she had been cast into a glorious dream. White and pink flowers were strewn as far as the eye could see while a live orchestra played as if they were introducing her to the crowd.

No sooner had she found a seat on the groom’s side, did someone hand her a folded letter. She suspected it was from her father before she even opened it.

And she was right.
Be on your best behavior-Dad

Alyssa smiled and folded the letter. Sterling had pulled off a miracle and she would be eternally grateful.

A handsome, Jonas took his place before the preacher, looking happy
and
nervous. The processional music started up and everyone turn in their seats in time to see the first bridesmaid and groomsman march down the aisle.

Of course, Alyssa’s heart didn’t start pounding until Quentin appeared, escorting a blushing Maria. Alyssa pretended not to notice the subtle signs of the beautiful Latina flirting with her future husband. Q spotted Alyssa in the crowd and winked.

In that moment, if she had died, she would have left this world one of the happiest girls alive.

I will marry you one day, Quentin Dwayne Hinton. I will.

Sterling was the next Hinton to walk down the aisle. When he, too, spotted her in her silly Easter dress, he smiled and gave her the thumbs up. She smiled and mouthed the words
thank you
.

The wedding marched began and everyone rose to their feet when the bride marched down the aisle on the arm of her friend Isaiah Washington. She was six months pregnant and glowed like sun. When everyone returned to their seats, they all waited in anticipation of the “
I do’s
.”

This time, neither the bride nor groom stopped the wedding. Precisely twenty minutes later, the minister introduced Mr. and Mrs. Hinton to the crowd.

The fairy-tale wedding wasn’t over for Alyssa. To her surprise, Q offered his arm for her first dance. Being in his arms was like a dream come true and it took everything she had not to make a fool herself.

“Ah, I still stand by my earlier assessment,” he said. “One day, you
will
break men’s hearts. “I just pray I won’t be one of them.”

“Yes, you may.” Alyssa’s glided into his arms and soon discovered he was as good a dancer as his younger brother. “Thank you for talking my dad into letting attend.”

“Oh, think nothing of it. What else are friends for?”

She smiled, feeling for the first time that she was his friend and not just some servant’s daughter. Alas, the dance ended too quickly and Sterling disappeared into the crowd, as well.

“My. My. My. Aren’t you popular with the Hinton men,” an attractive woman in a stunning aqua-blue grown whispered. “If you were a little older, I’m willing to bet half the eligible women here would be plotting on scratching your eyes out.”

Alyssa giggled, liking the idea of women being jealous her. Especially those who think they actually had a chance with her man. “They’re welcome to try,” she whispered back.