The One (3 page)

~Chapter 5~

Less than twenty-four hours later Jason and I
were sitting at a restaurant in the Bahamas. The restaurant had a
canopy to keep us safe from the bright sunshine, but there were no walls to
obstruct our view of the beautiful, endless glittering ocean.

We had flown down in his private jet earlier
that day. Now that it was well into January, everyone was back at work,
allowing us to enjoy the beach and the perfect weather for ourselves.

Jason reached across the table and grabbed my
hand.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked.

I took a sip of my rum-infused pineapple
cocktail. “I know I want to do this. I’ve never been more sure in my life.”

Jason smiled.

“I never expected that you’d ever do anything
this spontaneous before.”

I shrugged. “Maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”

Jason smirked deliciously at me.

Oh my god, I wanted him now.

He rubbed my hand gently.

“The only thing,” I started as I looked up
into his eyes. “I wished my family was around to watch us, but it’s a small
price to pay for finally marrying you.”

In fact, I liked the idea of not having a big
wedding. It meant the paparazzi wouldn’t be fawning over us (and by us I meant
Jason) on our special day. I also liked that I wouldn’t have to wear a giant
ball gown (even though Ellie would kill me). I had all I ever wanted for my
wedding day: the man I loved.

Still touching my hand, Jason sat back in his
chair. He surveyed me under careful eyes. His mysterious smile suggested he was
thinking something naughty.

“What?” I smiled, feeling a little bit
exposed.

He shook his head without taking his eyes off
me.
“Just looking at you.”

My cheeks burned pink.

“Come
on,
let’s get
back to our room before those clouds come in.”

I looked off to the distance where dark clouds
lurched across the sky.

“What if it rains on our wedding day?” I asked
as we left our table behind and walked back towards our ocean-view suite.

“Then we’ll get married in the rain.” Jason
smiled. “And every time it rains, I’ll think of the day I married you.”

I clasped my hand tightly in Jason’s.

***

By the time we reached our suite we were
laughing and joking with one another. Jason’s hands kept finding their way
around my waist, touching and squeezing me as we stumbled back to our room.

“I love you so much, Sophia Fletcher.”

“I love you too, Jason Powers.” I smiled to
myself. “You won’t be calling me Sophia Fletcher for very much longer.”

Jason smiled. “That’s why I’m saying it as
much as I can right now, Sophia Fletcher.” He kissed my cheek and a deep moan
of desire rumbled in his throat and chest.
“Mmm,
Sophia
Fletcher
.”
He rubbed his nose against my cheek, holding me tight
against him. “I love the way your name sounds.”

I laughed. “Get it all in while you can.”

That grizzly moan emanated from his throat
again as he held my body against his, picking me up and kissing my neck.

It felt so nice to be desired and wanted that
I couldn’t believe I’d have this feeling for the rest of my life.

“I want you so bad,” I said. It took
everything I had not to wrap my arms around Jason and rip his clothes off.

“Then take me.”
Jason was already undoing the buttons on my top but I stopped him.

“What if…” I looked at him with a daring
expression on my face.

“Mmm-hmm?”
His eyes were still closed as he kissed me mercilessly.

“What if we don’t do this until after we’re
married?”

Jason let out an interested moan. “You mean
abstain until marriage?”

“Something
like
that.” I smirked.

“I never took you to be such a puritan.” He
continued kissing me, moaning deliciously as he did so.

“It’s just for one night.”

“I’m not one for putting off pleasure.”

“That’s why it’ll be even more powerful when
we do it.”

Jason leaned his forehead against mine and
looked me deep in my eyes. “You have a way of playing with me, don’t you, Sophia
Fletcher?” His hands danced along my waist with the lightest but most sensual
touch, and for a moment I wanted to disregard my proposition and let him have
his way with me.

As Jason pulled me towards the bed I bit my
lip, but didn’t argue. I wanted to see where this would go. If I happened to
break my own suggestion, I wouldn’t be too upset.

Jason laid me down next to him. We were both
still fully clothed — him in light slacks and a short-sleeved collared white
shirt, and me in a light blouse and tight jeans. Jason tangled his legs with
mine and wrapped his arms around me. The tight jeans did nothing to abate the
pulsing of my body as my legs rested between his.

Pushing a strand of hair off my face, Jason
looked at me.

Gosh, I felt beautiful around him.

“You know what I love about you, Sophia
Fletcher?”

“What?”

“I love that you come up with crazy ideas,
like abstaining before marriage.”

I giggled. “I would hardly say we’ve abstained
before marriage.”

“We’re fully clothed, aren’t we?”

“You know what I love about you, Jason
Powers?”

“Hmm?”

“You come up with crazy ideas, like going on a
ski trip or coming to the Bahamas
to get married. There’s no preparation involved. You just do it.”

“Hey now, there’s some method to my madness.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” I smiled and
pecked him on his soft lips. It was tempting to kiss him for longer, but I
resisted the urge.

I could have those lips as much as I wanted when we
were married.

“You know what I love about you, Sophia?”

I smiled and closed my eyes. My head felt
light and adventurous, and I knew the rum from my pineapple cocktail was doing
its job. “What do you love about me?”

“That you can
command a pack of bulldogs to do your bidding.”

I let out a short laugh.

“You know what I love about you, Jason?”

“What?”

“That even though the world sees you as this
successful, put-together businessman, you’re nothing but a goof.”

“Who, me?”
He asked mockingly. I pushed him away but he grabbed my hand and
kissed my palm. “You know what I love abut you, Sophia Fletcher? You snore
louder than the dog.”

“I do not!” I protested, laughing and pushing
him away but he held me tight against him, laughing like I was. When we both
calmed down he looked up into my eyes.

“I love you, Sophia Fletcher.”

I smiled. “I love you, Jason Powers.”

He pulled me down and kissed me softly on the
lips, his hands danced up and down my back.

Knowing the kiss was the climax of the night,
my body pounded excitedly, hoping that I would reverse my rule and pull off my
clothes, but I
didn’t.
For some reason, knowing we
wouldn’t have sex until we were married made our sloppy make-out session all
the more heart-pounding.

I had no idea how much time went by — minutes,
hours — I couldn’t be sure. All I knew was that Jason and I spent the better part
of our last evening as girlfriend and boyfriend fully-clothed, grinding and
rolling around on the bed, kissing each other more passionately and
purposefully than we ever had every kissed each other before.

I burned for him more now, in his arms, than I
ever had. Hands sliding over the back of his chiseled shoulders, I held him
closer so I could feel the buzz of his body against the buzz of mine.

~Chapter 6~

When I woke up the next morning my body was
still wound up with tension. Sensing me stir, Jason opened his eyes and looked
at me. There was a slight smile on his lips.

“Today’s our wedding day,” he said.

“So it is.” I smiled back.

He rolled closer. “I’m so excited to finally
marry you.”

Blood rushed to my head and my cheeks burned.
I smiled harder, biting my lip.

“Should we even be doing this right now?”

“What? Lying in bed together?”

“No, seeing each other.”

“We’re not kissing, are we?” He asked.

“I guess not.”

“Plus, I like looking at you.”

Though there was air conditioning in our
ocean-view suite, heat still coursed through my body. If I wasn’t careful, I’d
give into Jason an hour shy of our wedding.

I sat up in bed. “If you excuse me, I’m
getting married today. I have to get ready.”

Jason pushed himself up and watched me with an
amused smile on his face.

“I wouldn’t want to make you late.”

I pushed him in a playful manner and he
grabbed my hand, pushing me against his warm chest. His touch was electric. I
looked into his dazzling, dark eyes.

“I’m so excited,” I admitted. His smile
widened and he pulled me in close, but I stiffened. We stared at each other a
moment longer.

“I want to kiss you so bad right now.”

“Me too.”

Jason moved in just closer. “So let’s kiss.”

I pushed my hand firm against his chest.

“We’re waiting,” I reminded him. “At least until
we’re married.”

A groan purred in Jason’s throat and he stared
at me like I was forbidden fruit — an unattainable goddess. The tension wound
tighter in my body, building up to levels I hadn’t experienced since I was a
teenager.

Jason pulled me in a tight embrace and stroked
my hair. This was my last chance to feel his body and smell his scent before
saying goodbye.

Letting go, Jason made his way to the door and
stood in his robe. “My room is on a different floor, so don’t worry about me
seeing you before the wedding.”

I let out a light chuckle.

Did that even matter anymore?

“Someone will be by in about an hour to escort
you to our wedding.”

Hearing Jason Powers say the words ‘our
wedding’ sent a thrill coursing down my spine.

“I’ll see you then.” He smirked. “Bye Sophia
Fletcher.”

I smiled.

“Bye Jason Powers. See you when we get
married.”

Winking at me one last time, he left and
closed the door behind him.

***

After Jason left, I took a shower and prepared
for my wedding day. I slipped into a long but simple silk dress. I dried my
hair into soft waves and fixed a bright fuchsia hibiscus flower behind my ear.

I breathed out slowly as I looked at my veil
hanging on the hangar in the closet.

This was really happening.

I urged myself not to tear up since my makeup
looked immaculate. Swallowing back the tears, I took in a deep breath and took
the beautiful sheer material into my hands. I closed my eyes and savored the
feel of the material under my fingers. Making my way to the mirror, I fastened
the veil into my hair.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood in
front of the full length mirror. I was ready to see myself as a bride.

Opening my eyes, I gasped.

I looked gorgeous.

The silk white dress hugged my curves and the
material shimmered under the light. The flower behind my ear provided a nice
vibrant pop of color. The veil cascaded down around me, lightly grazing my
arms. Though my heart was beating hard in my chest, I looked happy and calm.
Knowing this eased me considerably.

I’m going to marry Jason.

The thought not just comforted me but excited
me. I smiled at myself.

Get this, girl!

There was a knock on the door and I jumped.

Rushing to the door, I opened it cautiously,
in case it was Jason coming for that kiss.

“Who is it?” I asked, pulling the door a few
inches open.

“It’s Victoria,”
a familiar voice said.

“Mom!”
I opened the door to find myself face to face with my mother, who was
dressed in a beautiful purple dress which bared her legs. Her hair was curled
and she wore fancy sandals which showed off her pedicure. “What are you doing
here?”

Victoria
’s eyes swelled up with tears.
“Oh, my baby.”
She put her arms out and pulled me in for a hug.
“I so happy
for you.”

“Please don’t — you’re going to make me cry!”

Victoria
stepped back and pulled a tissue out of her purse to wipe away her
tears. When she was done, she looked at me and smiled proudly.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thanks mom. So do you.” And she did. “Jason
put you up to this, didn’t he?”

Victoria
raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think I’d let my daughter walk down
the aisle alone?”

I smiled.

“Thanks for being here, mom.”

“Now take these.”

I hadn’t noticed, but Victoria was holding a bouquet of fuchsia
hibiscus flowers. She pushed them out to me.

“For me?”

“A bride needs flowers, doesn’t she?”

I took the flowers.

“Now you’re a bride.” She stared proudly at
me.
“A
perfect
bride.
As long as the humidity
doesn’t get too bad, and the rain doesn’t come down, it’ll be a perfect day.”

“It’ll be a perfect day regardless.” I
squeezed Victoria’s
hand. “Thank you for
coming,
and for doing everything
you’ve done for me over the years.”

Victoria
smiled but her eyes grew wide when she looked at her watch.

“Oh! We’ve lingered for too long. If we don’t
get going, Jason will start to wonder.”

Excitement bubbled up inside me. With the
flowers in one hand, I stepped out into the hallway and linked my free arm
through Victoria’s.

“Let’s go,” I said confidently.

It was then that I noticed something else in Victoria’s hand — a
leash.

“What the—”

I looked behind her to see three Chihuahuas sitting
patiently, tongues hanging out of their mouths panting because of the heat,
each staring at me expectantly. I recognized Pete, the first Chihuahua, but none of the others. Victoria must have
gotten more dogs since I last saw her. I looked at her and she shrugged.

“I had to bring them along. They’re family!”

I laughed.

“Come on, let’s get you married.”