Page 35 of The Soul that Redeems Me
The brief getaway had done wonders for mine and Emily’s mood. Laughing and holding hands, we rolled down the highway surrounded in a bubble of happiness. I had never seen Emily so carefree and relaxed. Since I met her, she had lived with a façade of happiness, and this weekend I got to see the beautiful glee and joyous soul that she had hidden away for so long.
We got back to the apartment to find my parents lounging on the couch, waiting for us to return from our beach adventure so they could take Jake home with them for the week. We ordered take-out for dinner and sat around talking about plans for the Mexico Beach house construction, set to begin in a few months.
Emily became so animated when my parents asked for her opinion on how our room should look that I couldn’t contain my laughter at her flailing hands and enthusiastic gestures. She and Mom had the entire house and garden planned by the time we were finished eating, Dad and I were completely happy to listen to our women’s plans for our future summers.
Before we knew it, Mom and Dad loaded Jake’s toys to head back to their house, located northeast of the city about an hour away. Emily sat down on the floor and Jake walked up to her, allowing her to give him a hug, loving the special attention she gave him. I heard her whisper to him to be good for his grandparents and how much she was going to miss him. She promised him we would be back soon, and she couldn’t wait to pick him up.
I looked over at Mom and Dad and they were in an embrace watching the love of my life cuddle with my dog like she was saying goodbye to our child. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she told him she would bring him something back from our trip and how much she wished he could go with us. Okay, she was telling our fur-baby good-bye and it dawned on me how much I wanted to have children with her in the future, when we were both ready for that step.
Emily stood up and I pulled her into a hug and kissed her on top of her head as Mom and Dad left with Jake, and we were alone in the apartment. She turned in my arms and pushed up to place a sweet kiss on my lips before she settled back flatfooted and hugged my midsection, her head barely up to my chest.
“I know it’s only a week but I’m going to miss him so much.” She sniffled into my chest, my heart broke for her sadness.
“How about you drive the Jeep up to get him when we get back? I can take the train to work and grab him from Mom and Dad’s. That way you have him home earlier than the late afternoon it would take me to get him. Sound good?” I asked her, hoping to make her happy because I was letting her take the Jeep.
I felt her head nod into my chest and I gently pulled her back to look into her eyes. “Is something else wrong, baby?” I inquired, not wanting her to slip back into the darkness she was coming out of, finally.
“I’m just tired, I guess. I want to take a shower, curl up on the couch with you, and fall asleep watching some old movie that neither of us cares about.” She smiled up at me.
“I like the sound of that. I’ll shower after you, and you can pick the movie.” I winked at her.
She pulled away from me and walked to the bathroom, an extra little swish in her hips I don’t think she realized she had. It made her sexier than she already was, knowing her confidence in her sexuality was allowing her to become a woman on her terms, and I was the lucky bastard who she trusted enough to be with her.
It was a trust I would never break.
Emerging from the shower a little bit later, she walked into her bedroom with a small towel wrapped around her tiny body, her wet hair cascading down her back. I wanted to follow her into the bedroom and pull the towel from her body, kissing every inch until she screamed out my name.
I wouldn’t make that move until she initiated it. It was hard for me to keep my caveman tendencies under control, but being with Emily taught me patience and understanding on a level I never knew existed. I hoped one day, she would be able to be more spontaneous, allowing me to show her how passion and urgency would open her world to pleasure she couldn’t imagine.
Until that time, I will follow her lead and give her time. She came back into the living room and she was wearing a pair of loose yoga pants and a t-shirt that kept falling off one shoulder. She had pulled her hair into a messy bun, and the smile on her face lit up the room.
I planted a quick kiss on her full lips before retreating to the bathroom to wash the last of the beach off of me. Soaping my body, I willed my cock to go down. Just knowing she was about to be asleep pressed next to me, her body molded to mine, gave it reason to celebrate. I needed to take the edge off, but I didn’t want to be gone from her for too long.
Missing her won out over a quick hand-job so I rinsed off and wrapped a towel around my waist before I went to my room and threw on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. I found Emily curled up on the couch, her Kindle resting on her chest, a small sound coming from her mouth as she slept peacefully.
I gently placed her Kindle on the ottoman and picked up her, her small frame dwarfed in my arms as I carried her to bed. After pulling the covers back, I laid her down, tucking the covers up to her chin and turning the small lamp on my side of the bed on, casting her in a soft light as she slumbered.
Kneeling on the floor next to her, I kissed her on the forehead and silently said a prayer to the good Lord in Heaven for putting this beautiful, fallen angel into my life. I promised him I would care for her, protect her, and love her until I took my lasts breath. Emily was my perfect soulmate and no one in Heaven or Earth could stop me from loving her.
Thursday afternoon was here before we knew it and it was time for us to fly to Chicago. I absolutely hated to fly but it appeared Emily was about to bounce out of her seat. Her excitement was contagious because by the time the plane landed an hour and a half later, everyone seated around us was laughing and visiting with each other.
Emily’s ability to make everyone around her happy was a gift I hoped she never lost. Even when she was sad or angry, she always went out of her way to secure the joy of people around her. As we landed, she peeked out the window, and rambling on about how Chicago was a life list city and how there were a few things she wanted to do while we were here.
I smiled my biggest smile and we walked hand in hand to the baggage carousel, grabbed our luggage, and made our way to the taxi line to wait our turn. It was colder here than it was in Georgia and I was afraid we may need to find a store for some warmer clothes when I saw her shiver from the cold wind.
We finally got a taxi and were headed to the address I handed the driver. Jason had surprised me with a hotel upgrade, wanting Emily and I to have a unique experience while we were in Chicago and allowing a location for us to hold the meetings I had scheduled. Carol had made all the necessary scheduling changes so it was all set up.
Pulling up to the Ritz-Carlton, Emily swung her head to me, her expressive eyes looking at me full of excitement. She flung herself across the seat into my lap as the taxi driver cleared his throat and I paid for our fare. He got our luggage and handed it to the bellman waiting at the curb as I took Emily’ hand in mine and we walked through the opulent lobby and up to the registration desk.
“Welcome to the Ritz-Carlton. How can I help you today?” The older man asked me, a jovial grin on his face at Emily’s slack-jawed reaction to the lobby and entrance of the historic hotel.
“We have a reservation under Josh Kennedy and MSJ Media.” I replied as I handed him my company ID and driver’s license.
“Absolutely Mr. Kennedy. Let me get you checked in and someone will escort you to your suite.” He responded as he rang a bell and a bellman came and retrieved our luggage, escorting us to the Presidential Suite, located on the top two floors of the hotel.
Emily’s eyes were wide and she released an audible gasp as we arrived at the penthouse and she observed the wall of windows overlooking the Lake and Navy Pier. The room was decorated in whites and golds, a baby grand piano sitting over near the dining area.
She spun in small circles, trying to take it all in when she squealed, making me and the bellman chuckle. She ran over and began to twist herself up the spiral staircase, laughing as she found the second-floor bedroom, a king-size bed with an unobstructed view of the water below.
