Impossibly Forever: Two Books in One (Impossibly Duology) (32 page)

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Moya

  
My eyes flickered awake
. Butterflies swarmed my stomach when I gazed at
him, watching me with delight on his face. Feeling relieved, I smiled. It
wasn’t a dream. We’d made love last night. And as I remembered our intimacy,
every touch, and every kiss, my heart started to race. It was my first time,
and one I’d never forget.

  
He whispered, “Morning, beautiful.”

  
“Morning,” I replied shyly.

  
Branden stroked my cheek. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  
“It only lasted a few minutes, but then it was…” I paused for a beat. “Great.”

  
His soft lips curled into a broad grin as he lowered his head and kissed me
softly. When he pulled away, his gaze lingered on my face. Then he pushed the
covers off and rolled out of bed, so carefree and comfortable in his nakedness.

  
I gaped at his chiseled body, letting out a gasp as his mouthwatering physique
lit fire under my skin.

  
“I’m gonna take a shower. Coming?”

  
“Yeah….” I snapped out of the trance and slid the blanket off my body. He
admired me as I got out of bed, hauling me into his chest the moment I did.

  
With our naked bodies pressed together, Branden smoothed his fingers over my
skin and brushed his lips across mine.

  
“Mmm…” he groaned. “I don’t mind spending my days like this. Do you?”

  
“Not at all,” I answered in a sensual tone, following behind as he towed me
along to the bathroom.

  
I marveled at the earth-toned marble floor as we walked in, and was impressed
with the chic wooden vanity and granite finish around the large bathtub below
the bay window. I envisioned taking bubble baths with Branden, relaxing in his
arms and surrounded by candlelight and soothing music.

  
He went over to the shower and turned it on to let the water heat up, while I
peered around for towels, spotting a few stacked up on a wooden shelf by the
sink.

  
“Come on,” he said, once the water was warm enough. I stepped inside the rustic
shower with him. Closing the glass door, I moved underneath the water. It
spewed down on us like a waterfall, soaking my curls. I felt a tad thrilled.

  
Branden reached for a bottle of shower gel in the corner. Pouring some into the
palm of his hands, he began to massage it onto my skin, rubbing the gel all
over. I returned the favor, slowly running my hands across his washboard abs
and his muscular chest.

  
“I never thought I’d be this comfortable,” I muttered.

  
He laughed and reached his strong arms around me, dropping them to my butt. “To
be honest, I didn’t think you would be either. But you’ve been bolder with me
lately, and you did tell me confidently that you’re ready prior to us coming
here, so I’m not that surprised.”

  
We splashed water on each other until there were no more suds left to rinse off
our bodies. Then Branden slipped out of the shower and allowed me to wash my
hair.

  
When I went back to the bedroom, the smell of eggs and sausage filled my
nostrils. My man was cooking me breakfast. There was no word to describe how
appreciative I felt by the way he treated me. He was without a doubt one of a
kind.

  
I quickly got dressed in a sweater and jeans, then dried my hair with the towel
and brushed it into a bun, heading down the passage towards the living room
after putting on my boots. Branden appeared busy in the open kitchen.

  
“Look at you,” I chirped, sitting down at the island.

  
He shrugged, saying, “I try.” Then he set down a plate before me. “Here you go,
my dear. Enjoy.”

  
“Thank you.”

  
Sitting on the cushioned stool next to me, Branden poured us some coffee and
orange juice before biting into his toast.

  
“What’s the plan for today?” I asked, drinking some coffee.

  
He gazed out the screened porch outside of the kitchen. “It’s not so cold out
today, so I was thinking we could go for a walk down by the water, do a little
sight-seeing, and then get lunch at this popular diner up the road.”

  
“Sounds good to me.”

  
I heard my cell phone vibrate on the coffee table over by the sofa.

  
“Shit,” I stopped eating and got off the stool. “I forgot to call Momma.”

  
“Answer it. Tell her it’s my fault,” he winked, getting up as well and going
over to the counter for more sausage. “Tell her I distracted you,” he added in
a cocky tone.

  
“Stop,” I giggled and hurried to get my phone before whoever was calling hung
up.

  
I answered without looking at the screen. “Hello.”

  
“Girl,” Vanessa squealed. “Been texting you since last night. No biggie though.
I take it you were, amen, unavailable.”

  
“Huh,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. I dropped my free hand on my hip and asked,
“Don’t you have anything better to than check up on me?”

  
“Let me think…um…no. There’s nothing better than snooping into my best friend’s
biz. So,” she smacked her mouth on whatever she was eating. “Having fun with
Mr. Romantic?”

  
I gazed over my shoulder at Branden, smiling as I answered, “Yeah. The place is
really nice too. Oh, how was dinner with Warren and his family last night?”

  
“It was great; very cultural. His parents are cool. They shared stories about
their lives in the Dominican Republic before coming here. They’ve done so much
to make sure Warren has a lot of opportunities. I have mad respect for them.”

  
“Sounds like our parents,” I chimed.

  
“Hmm…” she paused in thought, made the sound as if she was licking her finger,
then said, “Well, I’m not gonna keep you from your boo any longer so have fun.
See you when you get back from your couple’s retreat.”

  
“Thanks girl. See ya.”

  
After Vanessa hung up, I sent Momma a text letting her know I arrived all
right. She was at work so I couldn’t call.

  
Branden walked over when I finished on the phone.

  
“Ready for that walk?” he asked, appearing cheerful as he handed me a pair of
brown gloves and my wool jacket.

  
I took them from him, beaming as I said, “Aren’t you energetic.”

  
He shrugged, then took my hand and led me towards the door. When I stepped
outside on the porch and waited for him to close up, I tilted my head and
pressed my eyes shut, taking in the warmth of this sunny day. It was one to
enjoy as much as possible before the freezing temperature returned.

  
When we started down the steps, the railing was icy as to the touch. We had to
be careful so as not to slide. Once we reached the stony path, Branden guided
me around the side of the cabin, and we began to stride along the creek.

***

  
Later that day when we came back to the cabin after having lunch at the diner
up the road, Branden and I lounged on the leather sofa and spoke about anything
and everything we hadn’t shared before. And somehow, hockey came up in the
conversation.

  
His body became more animated, gesturing along to every explanation about the
play of the game. A flicker of excitement flashed across his face when he
mentioned the one he’d recently seen with Warren. I continued to observe him,
how genuinely happy he appeared to be. Hockey meant a lot more to Branden than
I’d thought.

  
Steering his eyes away from me for a moment, he gazed out at the screened porch
as he said, “You know if Coach Evans let me start then my first game is only
three weeks away.”

  
I rubbed his knee. “I’m definitely going; wouldn’t miss the chance to see you
in action.”

  
Branden glanced back at me, sounding fearful as he said, “Yeah, well, that’s if
I start.”

  
“Of course you will. You’re an incredible player from what I’ve seen.”

  
“I’m rusty,” he countered. “I haven’t been on blades much less held a hockey
stick in nearly three years.”

  
“Branden, relax. You’ve been so excited about this, don’t start having doubts
now. Besides,” I rose from the sofa and sauntered over to the kitchen. “I’m
sure once you’re back in the rink, it’ll all come back to you.”

  
He shrugged. “Hope so.”

  
“Okay, enough about hockey. What would you like for dinner?”

  
Coming over to me, he ran his hand through his tousled hair and leaned against
the island, an eyebrow raised in contemplation. “Hmm…I don’t know. What do you
feel like eating?”

  
“Well, first let’s see what you got for us.” I turned and opened the fridge to
scan our options, instantly spotting a frozen pepperoni pizza. Taking out the
box, I held it up and asked, “How about this?’

  
Branden nodded, walked around the island to the stove and turned the oven on.
“Let’s have wine with it,” he suggested.

  
“Ooh.” I perked up.

  
He went into the pinewood cupboard and took out two elegant looking wine
glasses with floral artwork on them. Then he opened the bottle of Merlot he
brought and poured us some wine.

  
“A toast to us,” he said, clicking his glass with mine.

  
We drank a little then placed our glasses on the island, staring intently at
each other with great desire. I wasn’t sure how long we stood there quiet, but
all of a sudden the oven beeped, and we both winced as if our minds had drifted
off and intertwined into an intimate place.

  
“Let’s get the pizza in,” he breathed, collecting himself.

  
I took it out of the box and placed it inside the oven.

  
Later on after we finished eating, we went into the bedroom and sat down on the
comfy loveseat by the window, sipping the rest of our wine.

  
Branden seemed in deep thought. He fidgeted, shaking his legs slowly and
peering around the room at every single thing in sight. I was curious by how
mysterious he was now being.

  
“You okay?” I asked. “Looks like you have a lot on your mind.”

  
He regarded me with anxious eyes. “Moya, I’ve been wondering about Christmas
Eve.”

  
“What about Christmas Eve?”

  
“That night, you seemed unsatisfied with the bracelet, almost like you were
hoping for something else.”

  
“Oh,” I dropped my eyes to the carpet. He was right. My heart wanted something
else, but my mind, and the practical side of me, thought it was too soon.

  
Guiding my chin back up to him, Branden muttered, “I know what you want.”

  
I crinkled my forehead. “You do?”

  
He smiled, getting up and walking to the window. Looking back at me, he said,
“Because I want it too. Moya, I love you so much. It’s the kind of love I’ve
never felt before.”

  
I got up and wandered over to him with a quizzical expression on my face. “I
love you too, babe. Is there something you want to tell me?”

  
He half smiled, kissed me blithely on the lips and strolled over to his bag on
the floor in front of the bed. Opening the zipper, he took something out then
walked back to me. I was bewildered as he bent down on one knee and opened the
small box that was in his hand.

  
My heart felt as if it was rushing up to my throat. I clasped a hand over my
mouth, speechless, peering wide-eyed at a beautiful, white gold ring with a glistening
diamond in the center and six smaller ones accentuating the sides. The artwork
was exquisite, tastefully done, as if Branden himself had customized it for me.

  
Tears flooded my eyes. My lips trembled. Steadying my breathing, I managed to
ask, “What is this?”

  
He released a nervous laugh with a light of love blaring within his eyes. Then
he began, “Moya,” his voice rasped as his emotions threatened to overcome him.
“I knew the moment I laid my eyes on you that you were the one for me. I want to
spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me.”