Epilogue
One Month Later
Part One
STEPPING OUT INTO the glorious warmth of the mid-summer day, Skye smiled from the sense of security and serenity that eclipsed her body and soul. She closed her eyes and breathed freely, deeply, drinking in the rich freshness of the mid-day air. Her once tainted and trampled on heart felt alive and free again, able to breathe in and accept the captivating beauty so magnificently crafted into the spirit of life.
She took three slow, small steps forward, appreciating the simple, easy pleasure of walking on her cast-free ankle again. A small but high-pitched noise whistled passed her ears, bringing her out of her hazy, dreamlike state of mind and steering her attention to where the sound had come from.
The moment she opened her eyes and caught Rachel's impatient gaze from the driver's side window of her mother's Honda Civic, she smiled widely.
"Are you coming, Skye?" Rachel called, slapping the exterior of the vehicle. "We can't wait for you forever. I've got a plane to catch, remember?"
"Don't worry, I'm coming." Skye's sweet-as-honey voice rang across the open space of air between the two friends, and in the next moment, Rachel whispered something to the passenger in the back seat and relaxed against the seat, smiling to herself.
Skye's heart fluttered in her chest when the passenger sprang out of the back seat, revealing himself to her in all his sun-kissed glory. His vibrant, emerald eyes shined even brighter in the blazing sun, and his shaggy, golden hair curled perfectly around his face, making Skye's breath catch in her throat from his beauty.
"Baby, I thought we had a deal," Jules called warmly, failing to take his gaze away from her once as he sprinted over to her. "I thought you had agreed to be on time today." He grinned, flashing his pearly whites. "I thought I'd made it clear that there will be a surprise waiting for you afterwards." His warm, heavy breath bathed her ears as he neared her and whisper-added, "A perfect and absolutely wonderful surprise."
Her knees grew week from the fiery air of seduction in his voice, and she pressed herself closer to him, hands tightly gripping his shirt. "You did," she purred, brushing her lips against his jaw-line. "And we do. I just wanted a moment to breathe." She let go of his shirt and pushed him backwards as she watched him carefully. Her lips curled into a smile at the playful glint in his eyes and, with her head spinning and chills spreading along her arms, she taunted him with her hands venturing down his chest as she kept him moving back towards the vehicle. "Get in the car."
He chuckled and reached a hand out to touch her face, but she was quicker than him and slapped it away before it even brushed her skin. He raised a brow, and his face lit up even more. "Playing hard to get?"
She grinned. "Get in the car and I'll let you know."
His back collided with the car door, and, with a wide grin spread across his face, he pulled it open and climbed in. "Perfect," he said when he was seated, grabbing Skye's hand and bringing her down onto his lap. He held her close with his hands on her hips, keeping her in place. And when she tried to wiggle away, he laughed deeply in her ear, and brought one of his hands to her face, gently forcing her to look at him. "You were saying?"
She pressed her small hands against his shoulders in a vain attempt at pushing herself further away from him. She had no interest in actually getting away from him though; she was only messing with him, playing hard to get because he seemed to be so keen on getting her. "You talk too much." She raised her eyebrows at him, daring him to make the next move.
"I can change that," he whispered huskily, trailing his fingers along the side of her face. "Just say the words and I'll shut up." He inched his face closer, his lips venturing dangerously close to hers. She shivered as his breath fanned her trembling lips. "Come on, Trouble, just say the words. I can tell you want to. I can feel you giving in." With the hand still on her hip, he pulled her closer, closing the tiny gap between them both until his lips were brushing against hers and her body was pressed up against his.
Sensations riveted her entire body but she tried to stay strong, tried to hold her ground—she couldn't give in to him that easily. Not if it meant she'd lose their childish little game. She wanted to believe she was much stronger than she'd ever given herself credit for.
Running her fingers through his hair, she began to press her lips against his, only to pull herself back just as easily, away from him and his tempting gestures. "You lose."
He growled in the back of his throat, and tangled his fingers through her hair, keeping her close. "No, baby," he said quietly, sweetly, as if he was sharing a precious secret with her. "I win."
And with those words drifting through the mere fraction of an inch between them, Skye finally gave in, forgetting her vow to herself to stay strong, forgetting everything else in the world and focusing solely on the incredible boy before her. She melted into his embrace, feverishly seeking the company of his lips against hers, and all of the riveting sensations that coursed through her body from their heated . . . games.
Jules nipped on her lower lip playfully, and she gasped, taken aback. He used the opportunity to let his tongue slide into her mouth, exploring her fully. She giggled when she felt the hand on her hip venturing under her shirt, tickling her bare skin.
"Hey, love birds!" Rachel sang sweetly, tauntingly, suppressing a giggle. "Do you think you two could save that stuff for the bedroom? It just so happens that someone is trying to drive up here! And she can't have all of that riff-raff going on in the backseat while she does it!" Her voice echoed a playful lilt of mockery and friendly disapproval—which, in Rachel's world, meant she was only teasing them for the pleasure of witnessing them all flustered and embarrassed.
It worked like a charm.
Skye scrambled away from Jules's lap, almost falling onto the floor in the process, and her already rosy cheeks flushed with new heat and embarrassment. Her once pounding heart began to race, and she took a deep breath of much needed air. She realized, in her own dizzying state of mind, that she and Jules had possibly chosen the wrong time and place to play such silly games. What had they been thinking when they'd decided to make out in the backseat of her mother's car, with her best friend driving up in the front? Fact was: they hadn't; they'd merely been lost in the heat of the moment.
Glancing between Rachel, who had her eyes locked on the road ahead but also a large, smug grin on her face, and Jules, who had his glossy eyes pinned on Skye while his hands nervously fumbled through his hair, Skye couldn't help but let out a small giggle, too high on adrenaline to care about whether or not she'd just partially lost it with Jules in the company of her best friend.
Jules grinned then, too, and in a minute they'd all lost it, breaking out into an all-out, uncontrollable laugh fest. There was nothing to be ashamed of. In the end they were all friends, and playful banter—whether it came from two best friends or two young people madly in love with each other—was expected, if not encouraged.
After a few long minutes tangled up in the pull of utter hysteria, Skye was the first to revive herself, wiping at her teary eyes and burying her face into Jules's slightly shaking body, unable to wipe the smile off her face. She curled into his side, breathed in his warmth. A sigh of contentment escaped her chapped lips and, without looking up at all, she said, "Well. That was fun."
Rachel scoffed, tossing her head back against the headrest. "Yeah, well, I'm sure it was even more fun for you two. Just warn me next time before you guys decide to get all . . . intimate in my presence, okay? A little heads up would be nice."
Skye looked up briefly, catching Rachel's gaze in the rearview mirror, and grinned when her friend winked at her. "Sure, Rach," she said slowly, rolling the words off her tongue carefully. "We'll be sure to warn you next time. Although, with you being so far away from us for such a long time, I have a feeling it won't be a problem." This time it was her turn to wink at her friend.
"Right." Rachel's eyes twinkled. "No problem at all."
Skye couldn't help but chuckle at the hint of sarcasm in her friend's voice, and with one final word exchanged—exactly—she nuzzled herself into Jules's outstretched arms, and closed her eyes, breathing in the richness of his warmth and the coziness of his body so close to hers. Faintly, like a whisper in the wind, she could hear—and feel—a conversation beginning between her two closest friends, and her heart warmed at the sweetness of the soft, beautiful melody that hummed in the background of her peace filled mind.
"WELL, THIS IS IT," Skye said, setting one of Rachel's bags of luggage down onto the pavement. "This is where we go our separate ways. You're going to have the greatest time in Paris. Savannah's ecstatic, too, I'm sure."
Rachel chuckled, and with her free hand, grabbed the last piece of luggage from the trunk. "She is, and I'm sure it'll be great fun. But I'm definitely going to miss my best friend."
"Aw, I'm going to miss you, too, Rach," Skye sang sweetly, wrapping her friend in a hug, careful to avoid the luggage. "Six months is quite a long time. It's going to be quite different without you here."
"Ditto," Rachel murmured, and pulled out of the hug, securing her luggage in her hands. "Well, I guess this is goodbye. Take care of yourself while I'm gone. Love ya, hon."
"Thanks." Skye's lips curled into a smile. "Right back at ya."
Spinning on her heel, Rachel peered at Jules, who was leaning against the car's exterior with his hands in his pockets as he whistled a quiet little tune, and said, "And you, Mr. Nice Guy, be sure to treat Skye well. Because if you don't, I swear I'll hunt you down and poison you myself. Got it?" She raised her brows, and much to Skye's surprised, really pulled off the threatening look well.
Jules stood there for a moment, seemingly processing Rachel's threat, and in the next, stood up, approached Skye from behind, and wrapped his arms around her, all the while carrying a smirk across his lips. "You have nothing to worry about, Rachel—I'll take good care of her. Promise."
"Oh, all right." Rachel dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "Well, I'll see you guys in six months. Skye, call me sometime, 'kay?" The moment Skye nodded, she grinned, gave a little wave, and called out, "Au revoir!"
Filled with a sudden spirit of glee from her best friend's attitude, Skye twirled around in Jules's arms, gave him a quick kiss on the lips, and mumbled, "We've got to get back home, now. And maybe later, after dinner, you can share that surprise with me? Sound good?"
He grinned wickedly, nipping at her bottom lip. "Sounds great, Skye." His deep, husky voice provoked heat to course through Skye's veins. "But first—you've got to give me a real kiss. And then I'll drive you home."
With his request ringing in her ears, she grinned her own wicked smile and aggressively pulled his face towards hers, giving him the kind of kiss that he'd requested—a real, passionate, electric kiss that, in the end (after a few long, precious moments caught up in each other's embrace), left them both breathless and desperately wanting more.