Forever Waiting Read online

  I watched him as he opened up to me, not knowing what else to do. I had known I wouldn’t be able to handle the truth when I heard it from him, and I wished he would have said this two days ago, when I wasn’t looking forward to the weekend with him. I stood up and went back to the house, grabbed my bag and walked out the door. I didn’t see Max so I just started walking. I was still crying and I couldn’t stop. Everything he said was true. I had been a lost person for a long time, or so I thought for quite a while. When I started working with Johan I’d had no time for self-pity.

  As I walked down the road I grabbed my cell, and had started to call Ethan to pick me up when I heard a car behind me. It was Zaine, of course. He was in a small Audi TTS Roadster with the top down.

  “Get in the car, Lan.”

  I kept on walking.

  “Look, are you going to do this to me again?” he asked. “Because if you’re never going to speak to me again, I won’t be able to take it! Lan, come on! Please stop walking and get in. I’m sorry, but do you know how long I’ve been holding back these feelings? Please stop!”

  In that moment I realized that he was actually right. He’d had to hold in everything for eight years, and I knew what that felt like. I stopped walking, and he pulled the car over, got out and ran over to me, pulling me in for a hug and wiping the tears from my cheeks with his thumb. “Please stop crying, Lan. I didn’t mean to upset you so much, I just wanted you to know how it felt for me.”

  “Trust me Zaine, I know how you felt,” I said. “Every day I would wake up, go to work and come home—the same routine every day. At night I would imagine what my life would have been like if I had come with you. Eight years of what ifs, and it was all my own doing. Not a day went by that I didn’t think about you, not one. When I found out I had to come here for work, I told Tayla not to search for you, but she’s the only one who truly knows how miserable I’ve been, and why. She pried anyway and now... now it’s just surreal. I’m standing with the one person who could fill the void I have in my chest, and it just doesn’t feel real.”

  “Lan, you never have to worry about that void. I am going to fill it for you. I promise you. Now please will you get in the car?” he begged. I stepped into the car and took a deep breath. Zaine walked around and got in on the driver’s side, and started the engine. He grabbed my hand and kissed the inside of my palm, and I melted. “Let’s go to the store so you can cook me some food, woman,” he smiled weakly. I smiled back at him and we drove off to the store together.

  When we got there we picked up ingredients for his favorite side dishes and some things to make dessert. I picked up a can of whipped cream, looked over at Zaine and grinned. He smiled back and raised his eyebrows at me.

  “So why don’t you get two cans of those?” he suggested.

  “What do we need two cans for?” I asked in the hope that he was thinking the same thing I was.

  “For the dessert I’m going to have after our dinner tonight.”

  “That sure of yourself, huh?” I asked playfully.

  “There is no doubt in my mind that we are having dessert,” he replied.

  “Well then, what do you say we skip dinner?”

  I heard a gasp behind us, and remembered that we were in a grocery store. An elderly lady was standing behind me with her mouth wide open. I smiled and waved, and she stomped off down the produce aisle. Zaine stood behind me with the funniest smile on his face and we just laughed and went to pay for our things.

  Driving home I still felt a little off about what had happened earlier, but I knew that it had needed to happen, so I told myself to get over it. Once we were at the house we put the groceries away and ordered a pizza.

  “Hey, do you want to get in the hot tub after we eat?” Zaine asked me.

  “Sure,” I answered. The man has no idea what type of bathing suit I brought with me, I was thinking. I’d been a very naughty girl when I was packing, putting nothing but low-cut, hip-hugging, ass-grabbing clothes in my suitcase, with the exception of some yoga pants and a t-shirt—just in case. We finished our dinner and Zaine came over and wrapped his arms around me.

  “Hey, go get your bathing suit on and meet me at the hot tub,” he said.

  I was excited, because what woman wouldn’t want to turn their man on with just the sight of them? I went upstairs into his bedroom, which was just amazing and had the biggest king size bed with a fluffy comforter on top, and beautiful cornflower blue walls with cherry wood furniture. The bathroom had a marble-tiled floor and countertops with beautiful brass fixtures. There was a huge double glass shower and a deep, jetted bathtub in the corner next to a window that overlooked the lake and willow tree in the back.

  I put on my hot pink bikini with a low, scandalous top and barely-there bottoms. I put my hair up in a sexy but messy bun, and ran downstairs. When I got to the yard Zaine was already in the pool. I thought, good lord, the man has such an amazing body, but now it is dripping wet and I am loving the view!

  I stepped off the deck and slowly walked over to the pool. Zaine was getting ready to dive when he saw me.

  “Hi,” I said seductively.

  He did a double-take and just gawked at me. “Please tell me you have another bathing suit with you for tomorrow?” he said.

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. When I’d bought the suit I had tried it on and was impressed myself. I had gotten in excellent shape, and wanted to show off what I had achieved.

  “Um, not the response I wanted there, Mr. Brooks, and no, I do not have another suit. I’ll go change into my yoga pants and just watch you swim.” I turned and walked back up the stairs, wiggling my hips. Suddenly a pair of wet arms grabbed me from behind, picked me up and started running. I knew what was coming, but I still gasped when we hit the water. I rose to the surface, wiped the water from my eyes and splashed water at Zaine.

  “I love your suit,” he said, “but if you wear that when my brothers are here tomorrow, you might cause a big family feud.” He swam over to me and started kissing the back of my neck. I pushed him away.

  “I will not cause a fight. I think I look good,” I whined.

  “That’s my point. You look too good. If Aaron or Ryan sees you, Lan, I’ll have to keep my eye on you non-stop.”

  “Oh stop it,” I said. “Your brothers will not hit on me. I like my suit and I’m going to wear it. Besides, Tayla will be here tomorrow so they’ll look at her. They already know I am here for you, right?” He was still pouting so I put my arms around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist. “I’m here for you Zaine, and no one else.” I started to kiss his neck, then slid my hands down to his stomach. Reaching between us I put my hand to the front of his shorts and found that his shaft was already hard. I smiled at him and slid my hand back and forth, then used my toe to push his shorts down past his erection.

  Zaine let go of me, but I was still wrapped around his now-naked body. He untied each side of my bikini bottoms and smiled. Within a second he was plunging into me, quickly and unexpectedly at first. Then he maneuvered us to the side of the pool, while still holding my legs and thrusting every gorgeous inch in and out of me. I locked my legs tighter around his waist, hoping he would enter deeper into me. With a swivel of his hips he was there. I moaned and a tear fell from my eye.

  “Am I hurting you, babe?” he whispered, concern written on his face. I looked at him with a smile.

  ”No, you are definitely not hurting me,” I replied breathlessly. “In fact, far from it. I want you to fuck me harder.” The look on his face was a combination of surprise and excitement. He lifted me up, still inside of me, and carried me out of the pool. He set me on a lounge chair, never once exiting my body.

  “You want me to fuck you hard, Lan?” he whispered.

  “Yes, please!” I begged. I lifted my legs over his shoulders, and he was so deep in me I could feel him hitting my cervix. He moved his hand between us and began playing with my clit.

  “You like this Lan? I want y
ou to tell me you’re mine. Say you will never leave me again.” I didn’t say anything and his thrusts got harder and harder. All I could do was cry out in pleasure. “Tell me Lan, say it.”

  “I am yours. I will never leave you again, I promise,” I moaned. His last thrust was so hard it sent me over the edge, and we came together. He laid on top of me, our bodies pressed together tightly, and I never wanted this raw emotion to end.

  “Damn it!” I yelled out suddenly.

  He looked at me. “What’s wrong, babe?”

  With a big grin on my face I answered him. ”I forgot the whipped cream.” He laughed at me and shook his head.

  Morning came and so did more sex, which was totally okay with me, but we had to get out of bed at some point. “Zaine we need to stop. Tayla will be here soon and so will your brothers. You did want me to cook, right?” Groaning, he pushed me into the bathroom with him.

  ”Ok, let’s go take a shower and get changed.” he suggested.

  I broke away from him. “Ummm, we will never get dressed if we do that. You and I both know that. I am going to wash up in the guest bathroom.”

  “Fine, be that way.” He stuck out his lower lip in a pout. Leaning in, I bit his lip and got in the shower with him. I had it bad and had already known that I would give in, even though I told him no. He kissed me and squeezed my ass. ”You can’t resist me, and I love it. I love that you’re here with me.”

  “I love that I am here too, but ….” I hesitated, the just plunged right in. “What happens when it’s time for me to go back to the City? You can’t move there, and my job is there, Zaine. We need to think about that.”

  He put his arms around me while the water fell over us and just held me without saying a word. Lifting my chin with his finger, he looked me in the eyes, then he said softly, “I am not losing you again, Lan. We will work it out, I promise.”

  I felt so confused and hopeful at the same time. I felt that I was really in love with this man, even though we had only been back together for three days. Somehow there was a connection there that I’d never had with anyone else, and it wasn’t just the great sex. He was starting to become my everything, and it scared me to death!

  Zaine shut off the water and grabbed a big towel to dry us off. Then he handed it to me to wrap around my body. I debated talking more about our problem, then decided that we should just enjoy the day—what happened later would work itself out.

  “I’m going to put my suit on and go cook,” I stated.

  “Lan, please tell me you at least brought a dress or something to put over your suit?” he begged. “If my brothers get here and see you flipping a steak in that tiny suit, they’ll think they’re at the Playboy Mansion.”

  Leaning forward, I kissed him gently on the lips and smiled. “I have a cover-up, so don’t get all butt-hurt, Zaine. What would you do if we went to the beach?”

  “We don’t need to go to the beach. I have a pool,” he said stubbornly. Rolling my eyes, I walked away to get dressed.

  Cooking in his massive kitchen was fun. I put some chicken and steaks in marinades and started prepping some salads. Zaine went to buy some beer, leaving me there alone. After I finished prepping everything in the kitchen I had the urge for something good to drink, so I went into the living room to see what I could find at the wet bar. Even though I very seldom drink liquor, I felt like indulging. Just as I finished making a screwdriver, the doorbell rang.

  I hurried to the door, and there on the other side was Tayla.

  “What up girl? Have no fear, I am here and ready to impress,” she announced boldly. She always liked to be the life of the party. It had been a long time since I really had fun with her, so I decided that today was the perfect time to do it. Giving her a hug, I dragged her over to the bar.

  “Jack and Coke?” I offered.

  “You read my mind as always. So, where is that sexy blast from your past at?” she asked.

  “He went to go get some more beer.”

  “Ahh, playing the housewife are we? And I must say, Lan, this house is very impressive!“

  “You should see the backyard,” I said. “It looks like a fucking island oasis! And there’s a beautiful lake too. It is amazing! Wanna go lounge in the sun with our drinks?”

  “Lead the way, my friend. I am ready to see some men today!” I took her to the pool, where we got comfy in our lounge chairs and drank our beverages. She opened up her bag and pulled out a gallon bottle of tequila, as well as some shot glasses.

  Looking at her like she was nuts, I had to ask, “Um, Tayla, when did you start carrying a gallon of tequila around with you? I don’t remember you doing that back home.”

  “Well, let’s see… I like the fun Landrey, and we both know that tequila and Lan can be a really fun mixture, so I figured today would be the day to bring her out of hiding.” Filling a shot glass to the brim, she handed it to me like a bad influence. “Drink up my friend, we are going to make this day memorable.”

  “It’s 12:30 in the afternoon!” I protested “If I drink that now, do you know how fucked up I will be by 2:00?”

  “Let me see. Did you cook all your little salads and shit already?” she asked.

  “Yes I did. So what?”

  “Fucking-a Lan, live a little! Let’s have some fun!” Pouring her own shot, she taunted me.

  “Fine, let’s have fun,” I conceded, and we clinked our glasses together, causing most of the tequila in my glass to drip down my arm. I drank what was left. The burning sensation in my throat was nice somehow, and I chased the shot with my Screwdriver. Then I realized I would rather drink the Jesus Juice with some beer.

  ”See now, was that so bad?” Tayla asked mockingly.

  “You are a bad influence, Tay. I’m just getting to know Zaine again, and he’s going to kick me out If I act like a fool.”

  “Oh stop, he will not,” she said. “I brought enough for everyone, so we can all act like fools! Besides, I bet he’s fun, and I can’t wait to see what his brothers look like. I hope they’re as sexy as he is.”

  “Tayla, for the love of God!” I said, exasperated. I heard the back door open. Zaine came out into the pool yard, so good-looking that I marveled at the fact that he could possibly be mine.

  “Lord have mercy on me,” Tayla said to herself. I looked over and saw that Zaine had taken off his shirt and turned his hat backwards, and I silently agreed with her assessment.

  “Hey, babe. Hey, Tayla, I see you got here okay. Would you ladies like a beer?” he asked, playing the good host. I smiled and nodded. When he leaned down to kiss my cheek, a big smile appeared on his face. “Starting the party early are we?” he asked as he noticed the giant bottle in between our chairs.

  “You want a shot? I brought enough for everybody,” Tayla said with a big-ass grin on her face.

  “You brought enough for an army! There is no way we are drinking that whole bottle today,” I said.

  Zaine choked out a laugh and looked at me. “You’re supposed to be having fun babe, remember? Live a little bit, loosen up. Besides, when my brothers get here you won’t have a choice.”

  I took off my sundress and set it down, and decided to relax and just go with it. “Serve me another shot then, Tay,” I said.

  “Oh yeah, let the fun Landrey come out to play!” Tayla hooted. Rubbing her hands together like a mad scientist, she reached for the bottle and poured me another shot.

  Tayla and I lounged by the pool like that for over an hour, laughing and drinking. When the doorbell rang again it was 1:45, and I had a pretty good buzz going. I jumped out of the lounge chair and ran back inside to answer the door, not caring that I was in my bikini. Before I could get to the door I felt strong arms swooping up mid-run, and Zaine threw me over a broad shoulder. He set me down on my feet and smacked my ass. “Hey, babe,” he said.

  “Hi.” He kissed me so sweetly that we didn’t hear the doorbell ring again. Suddenly the door swung open, and in walked Aaron and another man who I assu
med was Ryan.

  “What the fuck, Zaine! We rang and rang and you didn’t answer the door!” Aaron bellowed, then he saw me and stopped. “But... I can see why now. Hello there pretty girl.” Aaron was not shy at all.

  “Hi there Aaron. How are you? And you must be Ryan,” I said. Ryan was by no means unattractive. He had the same blue eyes as Zaine, and the same great build, but was just a little bit shorter.

  “I’m sorry, Zaine didn’t tell me he had company. Who might I have the pleasure of meeting?” he asked. Zaine stepped in front of me before I had the chance to say my name. I thought it was kind of odd, but I played it off.

  “Ryan this is … Landrey Steele,” he said, hesitating just a bit. “She’s here from New York for work. We’re helping her with the Johan fashion show.”

  Ryan tensed up, his body language conveying that he wasn’t happy to meet me. “Hold up. Is this the same Landrey that left you in a mental funk for eight years? The one who stood you up at the airport?” Ryan gave Zaine a confused look that made it clear that he didn’t trust me.

  “Um yup, that would be me, the person who puts people in mental funks. You better watch out, don’t get too close, you might be next.” I said it with such a smart-ass attitude, I knew the tequila was kicking in. After the way Ryan had described me, I had to wonder what the hell I was doing here in the first place. Feeling defensive and rebellious, I winked at him and turned to go back out to the pool, making sure to wiggle my ass as much as I could in the process. I smiled the whole way down the hall. This is going to be a fun night, I thought to myself.