Chapter 74
The past week had been anything but smooth sailing, but I was determined to turn things around, to show Isadora just how much she meant to me. I was certain we weren't beyond saving. We could still salvage this thing before it veered off course again.
Isadora walked into the den where I was waiting for her.
"Sloane says you have a surprise for me, is that right?" she asked as she walked in.
I nodded, smiling. "I do," I replied, reaching out to take her hand in mine. "But you'll have to get ready first. Just something casual."
"Get ready?"
"Yes." I grinned.
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise," I said. "Casual. Think jeans or shorts, something like that."
She frowned. "And what about Sloane?"
He checked his watch, and as if he had perfectly coordinated it, the doorbell rang. "Holly and Sloane are going to be hanging out together."
"Graham, what do you have up your sleeve?"
"Go change. Say goodbye to Sloane. I'll be waiting."
Sloane popped into the den. "I'm out of here," she said. "Have fun."
Isadora gave her a hug before going upstairs to change.
Sloane gave me a thumbs-up. "Good luck."
"Thanks."
My heart skipped a beat when I saw her. She always took my breath away, even wearing faded jeans and a Grateful Dead T-shirt. "Ready?" I asked.
"I don't know."
"You are." I laughed.
I drove her to the pizza place where we shared our first real date more than fifteen years ago. We settled into our seats, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of the restaurant. Nostalgia washed over me.
"Do you remember this place?" I asked her.
She looked around for a moment. Then, recognition sparked in her eyes and she turned to me. "This is where we had our first date all those years ago, isn't it?"
I nodded. "Yes, it is."
She was silent for a moment, looking around the restaurant with thoughtful eyes. "I can't believe you remember."
"I remember everything about that night. I was nervous as hell. I wanted to take you to a fancy dinner, but I couldn't afford it, so we settled on this place."
Over slices of pizza and glasses of wine, Isadora and I reminisced about our first memories together.
We laughed over the time I had accidentally knocked over a glass of Coke, staining her white blouse. Our romance had been pretty quiet because I knew her father didn't like me, but all those stolen moments were special.
I took her hands in mine. "I promise to always love you, no matter what, Isadora. We're going to have some tough times, but I'm still going to love you."
"I love you too, Graham," she replied, her voice filled with emotion. "And I promise to always stand by your side, through thick and thin."
After we finished our pizza, I had another surprise for her. We wound up at the mid-grade hotel I had scrimped and saved for all those years ago. We had nowhere we could truly be alone, so I rented a hotel room. I couldn't afford much.
"Oh." Isadora laughed. "I do remember this place."
I grinned. "I thought you might."
"Are we staying here?"
"Yes," I said. "Holly is keeping Sloane overnight. She said something about not getting time with her niece since I dragged you guys away."
"You know she's kidding," Isadora said.
"I do. And trust me, I don't mind. We need some time alone."
Isadora grinned. "So what do we do now?"
I led her to the same room we had shared years ago. The decor might have changed, as had we, yet my love for her had only grown. I had come by the room earlier and set up some flameless candles with a bottle of champagne chilling.
She gasped a little, looking around at the room in disbelief. "You did all this?"
"I did."
"And you remembered everything? Even the champagne?" she asked, eyeing the bottle.
I smiled, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "Of course. How could I forget? Although that isn't ten-dollar champagne."
She giggled. "Good to know."
I opened the bottle, pouring each a glass. "To us," I said. "We are starting over, rewriting history."
She took her glass and clinked it with mine. "To us," she echoed.
We both took a sip. Distance had tested our love, but it had only made us stronger. After a glass of champagne, we were both feeling the need. It had been a stressful few days and I knew exactly what we both wanted and needed.
I stepped close to her, pulling her against me and kissing her. She tasted like champagne and a little like tomato sauce from our pizza dinner.
"I've missed you, Isadora," I murmured against her lips, my hands resting at the small of her back.
"I've missed you too, Graham."
We lived in the same house, but the craziness had felt like there was a wall between us. I kissed her again, slowly lifting her shirt and pulling it away. Isadora gave a soft gasp at the sudden intimacy yet made no move to pull away.
Her fingers curled into the front of my shirt, her body leaning against mine as if it was the most natural thing in the world. My fingers traced a slow path up her spine, feeling the shiver that ran through her at the touch.
She broke the kiss then, her breath coming in shallow pants as she looked at me with wide and wondering eyes. "Graham," she whispered, her voice thick and full of an emotion that sent a flicker of something powerful through me.
"Yes?" I prompted softly, my own voice hoarse with desire. I let my fingers slide down to catch hers, intertwining them as I met her gaze.
"Are we really trying to rewrite history?"
I smiled and nodded as I pulled her a little closer. "That's right. And we're going to make it even better this time."
"Let's make it unforgettable then," she said.
Her hands dropped to my jeans, unbuttoning them and sliding the zipper down. As her cool fingers brushed my skin, I let out a low growl. This new assertiveness intrigued me. We had a lot of years to catch up on, and if this was any indication, it was going to be an amazing ride.
"Graham," she murmured, her voice filled with anticipation.
I paused, looking at her in the dim light of the room. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling with desire.
"I need you," I rasped out. "I don't know what you do to me, but you turn me into that young horny kid I was back then. I can't get enough of you."
As our clothes dropped to the floor and we fell onto the bed, I noticed for the first time how much she had changed over the years. She was no longer the shy girl I had fallen in love with all those years ago. Instead, she was a woman who knew what she wanted, wasn't afraid to take it, and loved me fiercely.
I dropped my mouth to her nipple while her hands weaved through my hair. Her soft body writhed under mine.
She moaned. Her eyes were half closed and her lips parted.
She tangled the sheets between her fingers, her body arching toward me in a silent plea for more. The sight of her like that lit something primal within me.
"Do you remember the first time we did this, right here in this room?"
She paused for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I do," she murmured, reaching up to trace my jawline with gentle fingertips.
"I want tonight to be even better," I promised.
She breathed out a small laugh, shaking her head even as she drew me closer. "How could it possibly get any better than that night? Or the last time we were together. You are really good in bed, Graham."
"You'd be surprised." I kissed over her neck.
"Can't get enough of me, huh?" she teased, her voice low and sultry.
I chuckled, running my hands down her sides. "Never, Isadora."
She rolled us over, her eyes filled with desire as she kissed over my jaw and chest. I watched her with admiration, cherishing the sight of her naked body as it glowed in the soft candlelight.
"I want to make love to you," she whispered, her breath warm against my skin. "Slowly. Passionately. Like it's our last time together."
A lump formed in my throat. Our love had weathered so much, and here we were, rekindling it in a hotel room where we had first explored each other's bodies. Her soft hands glided over my chest and arms.
"I don't have a condom," I told her.
Isadora kissed my neck and jaw. "We don't need one. Not anymore. It's just you and me. Right?" She pulled back, searching my eyes.
I reached for her hips, pulling her against me, letting her feel just how much I longed for her. "Always."
She rose up, using her hand to guide my cock to her opening and then slowly lowered herself over me. I clenched my jaw, begging my self-control to hold out so I could savor the moment for as long as possible.
As we moved together, our bodies fused in a way that only happened when two souls connected on a deeper level. We kissed passionately, lost in each other, as if no time had passed since the first time we made love in this very room.
Isadora's fingers traced gentle patterns along my chest, her soft moans resonating in harmony with my own. Every touch, every movement was deliberately slow, as if we were savoring every moment, every sensation, knowing our time together was precious.
"I love you," I grunted.
"I love you."
"Babe, I'm dying," I groaned. "Please."
She smiled down at me, clearly relishing in the power she wielded over me. "I know, Graham. But I have a few more things I want to do to you first." Her eyes were dark and full of lust.
I moaned, thrusting up into her, begging her to fulfill the raging need within me. But she kept her pace slow and steady, driving me to the edge of madness.
She leaned down, capturing my lips in a feverish kiss. "I've missed this," she murmured against my mouth.
"Same here," I managed to gasp out, my hips bucking wildly beneath her.
As we continued to move together, the air grew thick with desire. The candlelight flickered off the sweat on our skin, casting shadows on the walls that danced to the rhythm of our lovemaking. The headboard bounced against the wall, but neither of us cared. No one was going to stop us. My hands squeezed her thighs before sliding up to massage her breasts bouncing with the movement. She whimpered, her nails digging into my shoulders as I thrust into her.
"I've never wanted anyone like I want you," she cried.
"I've never loved anyone like I love you," I replied, my voice hoarse.
We went on, lost in the pleasure and heat of the moment. The mattress protested under the weight of our passion. Each movement intensified the pleasure, bringing us closer to the edge. I could feel the orgasm building inside me with an urgency that made my heart race.
"Come for me, Graham," Isadora whispered, her hips bucking against mine.
"I'm coming," I groaned, my mind hazy with lust.
With a final thrust, I threw my head back, sinking into the pillow. Her body convulsed against mine as she reached her peak, her moans echoing in the room.
We lay there for a moment, catching our breaths, sweat dripping from our bodies. I kissed her softly, my heart beating against her chest.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you too," she replied, her voice shaky.
We held each other tight, cherishing the moment and the love that had finally found its way back to us.
"Did you ever think we would get back here?" I asked.
"To this hotel?"
I laughed. "No. Us. Where we are in our relationship."
"No. I dreamed about it all the time, but I honestly thought you were lost to me. I can't tell you how many nights I lay in bed thinking about you. I was so worried you had gone off and married someone and were living your best life."
"Not a chance," I said. "You've always had my heart, Dora."