Page 64 of Forbidden

I sat on the edge of the bed and shook my head. “It’s stupid,” I said. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but Denny brought it up this morning and I realized how much you going away by yourself bothered me.”

Shane sat beside me and wrapped his arms around me.

“We talked about this,” he said. “I thought you were okay with it. I was only gone for a couple of days, and—”

“It doesn’t matter how long or short it was,” I said, interrupting him, “We always travel together. It’s always been the three of us, our little family, and…” I took a deep breath as I tried to get the nerve up to tell him how I was feeling. I had no doubt that he loved me, and always had. I felt stupid feeling how I did when he went away without us, but we promised we would always be honest with each other.

I sighed as I looked into his eyes, which were waiting so patiently for me to explain. “And I felt insecure when you said you were going without us.” I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “I know we talked about it. I know it shouldn’t be a big deal, but that’s how I felt. It’s nothing that you did, and I know that after all this time I have no reason to feel this way, but I can’t understand why you didn’t want us there with you.”

The corners of his mouth slowly lifted into a smile, but his eyes had a little sadness to them. He kissed my forehead, then took both my hands in his as his eyes locked with mine again.

“I’m sorry my going alone made you feel that way. I wanted nothing more than for you and Denny to be there with me,” he said. “You have no idea how much I missed both of you.” He paused and looked down at our hands before continuing.

“I love our trips together, just the three of us; our little family like you said. But I needed to do this trip on my own because it was the only way I could surprise you.” He got up and walked over to his black duffel bag. He dug into it, pushing his clothing aside, and pulled out a box wrapped with glossy red paper and a lacy white bow. “This is why you and Denny couldn’t come.”

He placed the box in my hands, and I lifted it, feeling its heft, wondering what was inside.

“It’s from me and Denny. It was his idea, but he doesn’t know I got it because I didn’t want him to spoil the surprise. I was going to show it to him later, and then have him give it to you tonight.”

“Well then I can’t open it,” I said as I handed it back to him.

“No, but I think it’ll help if you know what’s inside. Josh got me in touch with an old friend of his who does glass sculptures. I know how much you love blown glass, and Denny suggested we get you a lotus because of your tattoo.”

Without thinking, I reached around to my lower back where I had a small pink lotus tattooed years ago. It was to remind me that no matter what, I could rise above whatever shit I had gone through in my life. My mother and stepfather briefly swept through my mind, but I pushed them away. It had been years since I last heard from her, and it was better that way. I was better that way. I said what I needed to say in our last conversation just before I broke up with David. I had my peace and happiness, and I honestly hoped one day she would find hers.

“You got me a lotus?” I asked, reaching out for the box again, but not opening it. Since it was Denny’s idea, I wanted my first time seeing it to be with him.

“It’s modeled after the one in your tattoo. I didn’t want to trust it being shipped, so I decided to fly out and pick it up.”

Everything made sense. I wanted to kick myself for spoiling the surprise, but I was glad I got my answer. Shane sat beside me, and I breathed in his freshly-showered scent.

“I asked you to meet me here because I wanted to do something a little different. I know it’s not the same hotel, but I was hoping to capture some of the past. Those days with you, when we were younger, meant so much to me. I’m the man I am today because of you.”

“Thank you,” I whispered as I held the box out to him. “You didn’t have to go through so much trouble.”

“I know I didn’t have to, I wanted to. I’ll do anything as long as it puts a smile on your face.”

He placed the box on the desk, next to a container of Duncan Hines chocolate frosting. I giggled, remembering back a couple of years to when I made cupcakes for Denny’s birthday, and Shane used the rest of the frosting on me.

“You didn’t take a shower because of me,” I said as my eyes swept over his body. He was still only wearing a towel around his waist.

“You’re doing it again,” Shane said with a grin. “Eyes up here.”

He turned away from me as he walked to the other side of the bed, then glanced at me with a sexy smile before lying down on his side, facing me.

How did I ever get so lucky?

“And I did shower just for you,” he said. “I waited until you texted me that you were here. I thought you would walk in on me. I know how much you like that.”

My face burned as I climbed into the bed with him. He held his arms out to me and I slipped into them, fitting perfectly against him. He tilted his head down to me as I looked up and our mouths parted, tongues touching, as we kissed.

“I love that I can still make you blush,” he whispered as his lips moved down my neck. “I know you saw what else I bought.” He lifted my shirt and kissed my stomach. “We’re meeting Noah for dinner tonight, but I wanted dessert first,” he said as he slipped my pants down my hips.

He looked up at me with a playful glint in his eye and I started laughing. “I’m sorry, but that was just bad,” I said.

Shane smiled, holding back his laughter as he climbed back next to me. “You love it,” he said.

“Maybe.”

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