Light in Mourning (Mourning, #2) (18 page)

I heard the latch unlock and the door creaked open. Her beautiful brown eyes stared back at me, wet and swirling with emotion.
 

“Christ, don’t cry. I never want to make you cry, Georgia.” I barged through the small crack she’d left me and wrapped her in my arms. Sobs overtook her body and we sank to the floor, her legs wrapped around my waist, my hands locked around her back. Her body trembled in my arms.
 

“It was so hard, being there. Confronting it, then I ran into his family in the hallway. I felt so bad for them. They were me. They were as innocent as I was, as my parents were. They were victims too. Then I felt terrible for begging the parole board not to let him out, because I was taking him away from his family, another family ruined. My family had already been taken away from me. It seemed wrong to make another one suffer.”

“No, Georgia, no, no. He did that. He chose that; that’s not on you,” I murmured as I stroked the thick mane of hair that fell down her back.
 

“I know he chose it, but it’s been fifteen years; maybe he served his time,” she whimpered.
 

“Well, that’s up to them, baby. They’ll know what to do. You did what you felt was right in here.” I pointed at her heart. “Now it’s up to them to do what’s right up here.” I pointed at my head. “It’s over. Whatever happens, it’s over for you.”
 

She nodded and hiccupped softly.
 

“I'm sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about Kyle. He took me out to eat, he tried to get me back, but then we ran into his baby mama slash fiancée. I took a taxi back to my car and all I could think about was getting back to you.” She said all of this in a rush between hiccups.
 

“Christ.” My brain swirled with the new information. That fucking douchebag had a fiancée and a baby on the way and he was trying to get my girl back?
 

“It’s okay. I know you didn’t get a chance to tell me last night. I shouldn’t have reacted how I did. My brain just went haywire when you said he was with you. But I know nothing happened. Not that I trust him a fucking inch, but I trust you.” I wrapped my hands around her neck and caressed the smooth curve of her jaw line. “And, just for the record, he’s a douche for moving on so quickly. I could never, if we didn’t work—” I couldn’t finish that thought. “It would destroy me. That’s all. I’m sorry you invested so many years being with him, and then he could just do that . . .” I trailed off.
 

“It doesn’t even matter. I just feel bad for her. And terrible for their baby. Kyle used to be a good guy. I just hope he can be a good father. Every baby deserves a good dad.” Sadness washed over her face and I sensed something more she wasn’t telling me.
 

“Are you sad he’s starting a family without you?” The question fucking hurt, and I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer, but I had to ask.
 

“No.” She shook her head. “It’s not that, just mourning the loss of what I thought my life would be. Do you know what I mean?”
 

“I guess.” I didn’t, because I'd never had a plan for my life, never cared to have one until she breezed into it and swept the air straight out of my lungs.
 

“I’m not mourning the loss of him or my relationship with him. It’s just the plan I had for my life is different now. It’s so much better; I’m so much better.” She grabbed my face between her palms and stroked my cheeks with the pads of her thumbs. “But it’s still an adjustment. I feel a little off kilter, you know?” She continued to soothe me with the soft timbre of her voice, her soothing touch on my skin.
 

“Yeah.” I pressed a kiss on her lips.
 

“I love you, Tristan. You’re not getting rid of me so easily.” She gave a soft tug on my hair and then wrapped her arms around me, pressing our bodies flush, relieving the tension that had settled in my muscles.
 

“I love you too,” I muttered and relished in the feel of her body pressed to mine. The girl could turn me from a bear to a puppy dog in an instant with just her touch.

“Mmm, where are you going?” his sleepy voice grumbled as he wrapped an arm around my waist and locked me to him.
 

“It’s the big day; I’ve go a lot to do.” I giggled when he thrust his hips into mine, giving me a clear indication of his morning erection.
 

“Let’s stay in bed all day. I want you to myself. I’m sick of sharing.” He pouted before sucking the flesh along my neck. His palm skated up my torso to palm my breast and pinch my nipple, a zing of delicious pleasure shooting straight to my core.
 

“You want me all to yourself every day.” I nipped at his lip, causing his hips to thrust into mine again. He snaked a hand around and held both my ass cheeks in his hands tightly, pressing me firmly to him so I could feel every glorious inch of his body.

“You have to let me go,” I murmured as my eyes fluttered closed. I relished his smooth skin against mine.
 

“Never.”
 

“But if you don’t, I’ll give in,” I moaned, because I was already giving in.
 

“My plans are working, then.”

“They always do.”

“Not as often as I’d like.” He smacked my ass.
 

“Twice a day not enough for you?” I rolled my eyes.
 

“Don’t get smart with me.” He grabbed my chin and pulled my lips to his, capturing me in a rough kiss. He was taking possession, proving my body was his, but he didn’t need to, because I already knew it and was a willing participant. I’d always been unable to resist his charms, and he used that against me on a daily basis.
 

I crawled up his body and straddled his hips, my hands cupping his face, my dark hair curtaining around us as we devoured each other. Tasting and licking, moaning and sucking.
 

“Christ, you’re going to kill me.” He dashed forward and snagged my bottom lip between his teeth and bit almost painfully. I giggled and fell back on the bed. His strong arms caged me in as his eyes sparkled with mischief and desire.
 

He was beautiful.
 

And always so playful.
 

It was what had me falling so hard from the beginning, the piece of him that had brought the light back to my life. He was my light in the darkness.
 

“Death by sex; you’d love it.” I indulged in one long kiss before pushing him off me.
 

“I can think of no better time to die, than buried deep inside you.” His lips turned up in a cocky smirk.
 

“Tristan.” My mouth dropped open in shock. “You can’t say stuff like that.” I turned and headed for the en suite bathroom.
 

“Why? Does it make you wet?” His eyes were still doing that delicious sparkling thing I loved so much.
 

“Oh my God.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m taking a shower.”

“Can I come too?” He looked at me with the most endearing puppy dog eyes.
 

“You’re ridiculous.” I grinned. “No funny stuff.” I pointed at him. His eyes lit up as he darted off the bed and lunged for me. I shrieked and made it into the bathroom before his arms locked around my waist.
 

“A shower without funny stuff doesn’t sound like fun.” He nipped at my earlobe.
 

“I mean it. The caterer’s going to be here in an hour to set up. Hopefully it’s not too windy out there today. If we fuck this up because of your overactive libido, Silas will kill both of us.”

“My overactive libido? I’d argue that it’s both of us.” His lips were still attached to my earlobe as his hands were skimming across my body.

“Whatever, you horn dog. Shower?” I pushed him off me.
 

His eyes twinkled and a flirty grin lifted his lips. “Shower.” He nodded, then stepped into the shower and began adjusting the water temperature. Not only did he have the body of a Greek fucking god, but his smile, his eyes, and his laugh lit my life. I’d made some poor decisions last summer, but I was just thankful I’d ended up on the right path, the path that had brought me right here, with him.
 

We sat at a round white linen-covered table on the beach, nestled in a nook among the sloping dunes between my rental house and Tristan’s. Silas and Justin faced the roaring ocean waves, and we sat around them, celebrating their union. After Silas and Justin had gotten married this spring, I’d begged them to let me throw a reception. Silas had refused at every point, but I’d finally worn him down.
 

The early May temperatures were ideal; the slightest breeze blew and rustled the dune grass. The weather wasn’t too hot or humid, and everything was perfect for our small gathering. Drew sat beside me, beautiful and glowing in a plum maternity dress. She was as big as a house and never stopped complaining about it, but Gavin doted on her, and took her bitchy attitude with a grain of salt. In fact, he was looking at her with as much love in his eyes as he’d had when they’d broken the news to us eight months ago. She was due at the end of this month, just over three weeks to go, and while she wasn’t supposed to be traveling so far from home and her doctor, she’d refused to miss this. Deep down she loved Silas; she just didn’t like to admit it.
 

Gavin sat next to her, a heavy arm wrapped around her shoulders, caressing the bare skin of her arm. She turned and laughed at something he said and then pecked him on the lips. I could see happiness dancing in their eyes, and the only thing that made me sad was that they lived so far away.
 

Justin’s parents sat beside Justin. They looked just like him and were so sweet and supportive. Silas had married into a loving family and I couldn’t have been happier. He’d never had that; I’d been his only family for so long. He deserved to know what love and acceptance felt like. Justin’s parents were also happy because Silas and Justin had set up their permanent residence near them. I was overjoyed that Silas would be less than a half hour from me. Life was finally falling into place.

“A toast to the beautiful couple.” Tristan raised his glass and everyone followed suit. “I would, without a doubt, be wildly jealous of another man cuddling with my girl on the couch watching sappy chick flicks, but thankfully, Silas likes boys, so as long as I don't have to watch those movies with her . . .” I trailed off as I winked at Georgia. She rolled her eyes back at me. “In all seriousness, Justin and Silas, you both deserve all the happiness in the world. Everyone deserves to find their other half, and I know both of you will cherish the love you've found for a lifetime.” I paused as soft clapping sounded around the table. “And a toast to the beautiful hostess. The last year has been the best of my life because you’ve been in it, Georgia. We didn’t always do things in a conventional way, and our love didn’t take a natural path, but it took the one it needed to take, and I’m just glad that my path led me here with you.” He stood and I raised my eyes at him in question. He pulled my chair out to face him before he dropped down on one knee and reached into the pocket of his dress pants.