He never took his eyes off me as he slowly walked to where I was standing. “It’s so good to see you, Rory. I’ve missed you so much,” he said as he cupped my face in his hands.
“How—”
“Shh.” He smiled. “Just let me kiss you first and then I’ll explain everything,” he whispered as he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine.
His lips, his kiss, his hands on my face, were pulling me back in. Suddenly, flashes of memories of the night I left flooded my mind. I pulled away.
“No! I won’t let you do this to me,” I exclaimed as I held up my finger.
“Rory, please listen to me. I need you to listen to me, sweetheart.”
“I’m meeting someone here. In fact, he should be here any second,” I said nervously as I looked around for Andre.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Andre isn’t coming. He set this up for me; for us.”
My head was in a ball of confusion and I didn’t understand what was going on. My heart was racing at the speed of light and I felt like I was losing my mind.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I can see you’re really upset. Please calm down, and I promise I’ll explain everything. Please, Rory. I traveled a long way to see you.”
Taking in a deep breath, I stood there and stared at him. He was so handsome and he was pleading with me to hear him out. I started to calm down and nodded my head. “Go ahead and tell me why you’re here.”
“I miss you, and it’s been really hard for me since you left. You’re on my mind every second of every day. I dream about you every night, and I can’t get you out of my fucking head. Everything I do, and everything I see, reminds me of you. I hate it that you’re not at home with me. Since the day you left, I’ve slept in your bed because it smells like you, and I miss your scent. I miss you. I miss us. I miss everything we shared.”
The tears that had filled my eyes started to pour down my face, and I turned away from him. Was he just saying these things to get me back, and then once I went home, would things go back to the way it used to be? “There is no us,” I whispered.
“Please, don’t turn away from me, and please don’t say that. I’m willing to give it all up for you. The company, the house, the money, everything. I’ll walk away from it all just to be with you. You were right. The way I am does have to do with my mother. I can admit that now because I refuse to lose you. I’m just so scared that you’ll leave me like she did. I was afraid to love because I saw what it did, not only to me when she left, but what it did to my dad. I know now that I can’t live that way anymore. I want us to share a home, Rory. I want us to be a couple, and I want to go on dates with you, and travel with you. I want to scream to the world that you’re mine.”
I swear my heart stopped beating. I turned around and he was standing there with tears falling down his face. I ran to him, jumped in his arms, and kissed him like I never had before.
“I missed you too. I missed you so much that it felt like parts of me were dying every day.”
“I know, sweetheart. I felt the same exact way. I love you, Rory Sinclair. I’m in love with you and I have been since the night you laid your head across my lap in the limo. I just couldn’t admit it, and then when you left, reality hit me. You and I are supposed to be together. The both of us were at the right place at the right time. We were destined to meet. I know that now. I’m so sorry for hurting you and saying those awful things to you, and I will spend eternity making it up to you. I love you so much, and I can’t live without you.”
“I love you too, Ian.”
He smiled as we kissed passionately for a few moments and then he broke our embrace. “I was so scared that you were going to turn me down and tell me to go to hell.”
I laughed as I hugged him. “I would never turn you down. I think you better take me back to my apartment. We have some serious making up to do.” I smiled.
“You bet we do, and I don’t want to waste a second of it.”
Ian picked me up and carried me back to his cab. Once we climbed in the back, our lips locked all the way back to the apartment.
****
When we walked into the apartment, I flipped on the lights and looked at the beautiful tree that was sitting in the corner. Ian looked at me and smiled.
“Do you like it?”
“Did you send it?”
“Yes, I did.” He smiled.
“I love it. It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Did you like the roses?”
“Did you send them?”
“Yes.” Ian laughed.
“I loved them.”
“Good. That’s my beginning to being a perfect boyfriend.” He smiled. “Because that’s all I want to be to you.”
“You’re perfect no matter what. Now, you have five seconds to take me to bed.”
“I can do it in one,” he growled as he picked me up and carried me to the bedroom.
Chapter 26
I lay there wrapped in Ian’s arms, the sheets tangled between us, from the best sex we ever had. I was on Cloud Nine and nothing could bring me down. The passion that I felt when we made love was like nothing I’d ever felt before. I lifted my head and looked at Ian’s smiling face.
“I think you need to explain about Andre.”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask me about him. I found out you were here from Adalynn’s assistant. That reminds me, Adalynn and I are going to have quite a talk when we get back because she lied to me about you.”
“Leave Adalynn alone.” I smiled.
“Anyway, I knew where this place was because it’s been in her family for years and I’d stayed here a few times when I came to Paris. I’ve known Andre for a long time, and I figured you’d be checking out the fruit stand since it was so close, so I sent him your picture, asked him to be on the lookout for you, and asked him to keep an eye on you until I could get here.
“So that’s why he didn’t hit on me.”
“He didn’t hit on you because I threatened him. Believe me, he would have.”
“You arranged to meet me at the Eiffel Tower. That was very romantic.” I smiled.
“I’m trying to be, Rory. I know I said all that shit about romance and stuff, but the truth is, I’ve never wanted to do any of those things until I met you. Oh, that reminds me,” he said as he got up and pulled a box from his pants pocket.
“Here,” he said as he handed me a small box.
He climbed back into bed and I opened the box, revealing my key necklace that he’d given me before. “Thank you, Ian. I’ve missed this.”
“It’s a new one. Your other one is still sitting on the dresser where you left it.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
“When I gave that other one to you, I told you that it represented that you’ll always have a place to stay. I wanted to give you a new one that represented something else. This necklace is the key to my heart because you’ve unlocked it and you filled my heart with love. I want you to know that my love for you will always protect you.”
He took the box from my hand and removed the necklace from it. I lifted up my hair as he put it around my neck. “There, it’s right where it’s supposed to be,” he said as he lightly kissed the back of my neck.
I turned around and looked into his eyes. Eyes that were happy and full of life. I placed my hand on his cheek. “I love you so much. I’ve never felt this way before.”
“I’ve never felt this way either. I love you too, Rory,” he said as he kissed the palm of my hand. “Christmas is in a few days and, if you don’t mind, I would like to spend it here, in Paris. No family or friends. Just us. I want to spend Christmas alone with my girlfriend.”
“I would love that. What about your dad? Won’t he be mad?”
“I had a long talk with my dad and I told him how much I loved you and that I was coming to Paris to get you back. He told me to do what I had to do and we’ll talk
after the holidays. I also wanted to tell you that I went and visited Stephen before I left.”
“You did? Why?” I asked as I kissed his bare chest.
“Because I wanted to tell him how much I loved you and that I promise to take care of both of you.”
“Ian,” I whispered.
He took my hand and interlaced our fingers. “I’m so sorry for everything, Rory. I really need you to know that.”
I sat up and cupped his face in my hands. “I know you are. I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have pushed you the way I did.”
“No, you doing that really opened my eyes. I thought for days about how much I loved you and how I needed to tell you, but I couldn’t. I was too scared. Scared of everything that love represents.”
“Are you still scared?” I asked.
“A little bit. I’m afraid I’m going to fuck up and you’ll end up leaving again.”
“We need to promise each other that we’ll be open and honest about everything. As long as we talk about how we’re feeling and what’s bothering us, we’ll be fine.” I smiled as I kissed his lips. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Me too, sweetheart,” he said as he pulled me into an embrace. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“Promise?” I smiled.
“Promise. I need to make love to you again, right now.” He smiled.
“What are you waiting for? I’m more than ready.” I winked as I took his hand and placed it between my legs.
“Damn, I love you!” He smiled as he rolled me on my back and hovered over me.
****
The next morning, after two rounds of making love, we got dressed and walked down the street to the fruit stand. Andre looked at me and winked as he and Ian shook hands.
“You.” I smiled as I pointed my finger at him.
“You deserve to be happy, Rory, and I was happy to make it happen for you. You’re my beautiful American girl.”
“Hey! Watch it,” Ian said.
Andre laughed as he threw him an apple.
“I thought you were leaving today,” I said.
“I’m leaving tonight.”
I gave him a hug and a kiss on both cheeks. “Have a Merry Christmas, Andre,” Ian and I said as we walked away.
“I’ll be coming to Malibu to visit my beautiful American girl,” he yelled.
Ian held his hand up and flipped him off from behind and I heard Andre’s loud laughter throughout the streets.
Ian hailed us a cab and had the driver take us to the Eiffel Tower. “Why are we here again?” I asked.
“We’re here as an official couple. I wanted us to look at it together because it’s something you’ve always wanted to see, and I want to share it with you.”
“You’re an amazing man, Ian Braxton.”
We stood in front of the Eiffel Tower, and I held the hand of the man who was the love of my life. The man who saved my life. The one who took me in, healed me, protected me, and showed me a world that I had only ever dreamed of. I looked up at the tower and then over at him. He looked at me and smiled.
“I love you, Ian.”
“I love you too, sweetheart,” he whispered as he leaned over and kissed my lips.
Ian and Rory’s journey of love continue in the second book of the Millionaire’s Love Series, When I Lie With You (A Millionaire’s Love, #2)
Make sure to read the first chapter of Collin at the end of the book!
Playlist
White Flag -.Dido
Say Something - A Big World featuring Christina Aguilera
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Raining In Paris - The Maine
Story of My Life - One Direction
Satisfied – Acoustic - Jewel
Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.
Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls
Everytime - Britney Spears
In her Eyes - Joshua Radin
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - .Jewel
Madness - Muse
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
Cry - James Blunt
Best Of Me - Daniel Powter
Let Her Go - Passenger
Head Over Feet - Alanis Morissette
Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri
About The Author
Sandi Lynn is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who spends all of her days writing. She published her first novel, Forever Black, in February 2013 and this is her sixth published novel. Her addictions are shopping, romance novels, coffee, chocolate, margaritas, and giving readers an escape to another world.
Please come connect with her at:
www.facebook.com/Sandi.Lynn.Author
www.twitter.com/SandilynnWriter
www.authorsandilynn.com
www.pinterest.com/sandilynnWriter
www.instagram.com/sandilynnauthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6089757.Sandi_Lynn
Collin
Chapter 1
I looked at the time on my phone while I was stuck in the famous New York City traffic. My mom was going to kill me if I was late for dinner again. I was expected to be at home for dinner two nights a week. The two nights that Julia and Jake came over, we’d all have dinner as a family. I should’ve left Black Enterprises earlier, but I had an unexpected visitor and she was smoking hot. One thing led to another, we had sex, and now I was going to be late. I parked the Range Rover and took the elevator up to the penthouse. As I walked through the elevator doors, I headed straight to the kitchen, where I heard everyone talking. Thank God, they hadn’t started eating yet.
“There you are,” my mom said as she walked over and kissed me on the cheek.
Something was going on. Everyone was way too happy. Julia smiled as I kissed her on the cheek and I shook Jake’s hand.
“What’s up? I’m sensing there’s a celebration or something.”
Julia looked at me and grabbed my hand. “I’m pregnant. You’re going to be an uncle.” She smiled.
“What?! Congratulations!” I exclaimed as I pulled her into an embrace.
“Thank you, little brother.”
I reached over and gave Jake a light hug. “Congratulations, bro. Wow. I thought you guys were going to wait a couple of years?”
“Yeah. So did we. But it happened, and we couldn’t be happier.” Jake smiled.
I turned to my dad, who was grinning from ear to ear. “Well, looks like you’re going to be a grandpa.” I smiled as I hooked my arm around him.
“Yeah, and I think one grandchild is enough for now. You reek like perfume and I’m assuming she was the reason you’re late.”
“I was working, Dad. I got the contracts ready for tomorrow’s meeting.”
“Really, because when I left the office three hours ago, you were almost finished.” He sighed.
I walked away because I didn’t need his shit. He didn’t understand what I was going through and I was in no mood for a Connor Black lecture. My mom and Julia called us to the table and we all sat down and enjoyed a family dinner. I was happy for Julia and Jake; they were going to make amazing parents. She was glowing, Jake was all smiles, my parents were ecstatic, and I was happy that now there was something other than me on which Connor and Ellery could focus.
I hadn’t been the model son since Hailey left. I wanted it to work, but she said that with her being in Italy, and me in New York, it wouldn’t. She left to study fashion when she was accepted by one of the top schools of design and was interning with a well-known, up-and-coming designer. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her and the thing that hurt me the most was that she wasn’t even willing to try and have a long distance relationship. She left without even so much as a sorry. My twenty-second birthday was the next week and we had been seeing each other for almost six years. How do you just throw the past six years of your life away? I thought we had something, and I thought that I meant something to her. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
Well, those days were gone now. I’d never let another woman do that to me. Since she left, I’d partied too much, drunk too much, had sex with every woman that looked my way, and I’d been labeled New York’s Most Eligible Playboy. Much like my dad, women fell all over me. My mom called it the Black Curse. I’d decided that many women were better than just one. No relationships, no strings, no frills, nothing. Just good sex and a sweet goodbye. When one woman left, another stepped into her place.
“Are you okay, Collin?” my mom asked.
I looked at her as she stared at me with her blue eyes. “Yes, I’m fine. Why?”
“You seem distant. Your sister asked you a question and you didn’t answer her.”
The truth was that I was lost in my thoughts about Hailey that I didn’t hear her. “I’m sorry, Julia. What did you say?”
She looked at me with pursed lips. “We’ll talk later, after dinner.”
“Okay.” I smiled as I finished eating.
****
As I pulled my phone from my pocket, I went upstairs to my room and sat down on my bed. Julia knocked lightly on the door and asked if she could come in.
“Hey.” I smiled as I held out my hand to her.
She took it and sat down next to me. “I’m worried about you, Collin.”
“Don’t be, sis. I’m all right.” I smiled.
“It’s been a couple of months since Hailey left. Have you talked to her?”
“No. She made it clear that it would probably be best if we didn’t because it would make things harder. What the fuck ever. I’m over her, and I’m moving on.”
Julia put her arm around me. “I don’t think you’re over her and there’s no way you can be. It hasn’t been long enough, and I know damn well that when you’ve been in a relationship as long as the two of you were, it’s just not that easy to get over.”
“Yeah, well, you’re wrong. I’ve wasted the last six years of my life on a bullshit relationship. I won’t ever do that again. I’m exploring, going out, and having fun. I’m doing what I should’ve been doing the past six years instead of being tied down to one girl.”