Chapter 86
Lily opened her car door and dropped a tote bag on the passenger seat. It was around eight in the morning on Thursday. She had two days off from work, so she spent those two days on the beach.
The thoughts of her crashed marriage and Ludolf’s change of attitude to their daughter were really affecting her. Her blood pressure had been on the rise in the last couple of weeks. So her doctor advised her to get some rest as soon as she could get off work.
She shut the car door and walked around to the driver’s seat. Alesha would be with Lily’s sister for the two days.
She had went to her grandma’s beach house in Happy Harbor, a forty-two minutes’ drive from New York city. But first, she went to Premium Care Hospital, where Colin was to check on him and Becky as well.
When she got to Happy Harbor later, she was already feeling sleepy, having been on night shift the night before.
Lily just unpacked her food supplies, especially the ones to go into the fridge, and slept. The sun had gone down by the time she woke up. She warmed some food and ate her late lunch with two glasses of wine.
She went over to the beach thereafter. Memories of her and Ludolf walking on this beach several times rushed back at her as gentle ocean waves rolled over her feet as she walked along the shoreline.
She walked further, admiring the spectacular view. A lady lying on one of the beach benches nodded at her and Lily waved a quick greeting back.
The waves seemed to have a calming effect on her. She smiled sadly into the air and sat on one of the piles of rocks blocking the ocean.
She raised her leg and placed her head on her knees, trying not to imagine the life of loneliness ahead of her.
Lily felt a tap on her shoulder after a long while. She was lost in thought. “Hey, are you okay?” She heard a voice asking, and it was only then she realized someone was standing beside her.
“Yes, yes,” she wiped away the tears on her face with the back of her hand. “Thanks, I’m good.”
What first caught her attention was the long muscular arms of the person and his aftershave, which smelled so much like clove and a mixture of sweet vanilla.
She turned up her face gradually and met the man’s eyes. He looked old enough to be her father. “Thank you, sir,” she said and forced a smile.
“Are you sure you are okay?” He asked with concern in his voice. “I have been there looking at you for quite a while and I could see that you are troubled.” He took a deep breath, and then asked, “can I sit with you?”
“Su…re, sure, it’s a free world,” she laughed self-consciously. “Why not?” He smiled, still holding her gaze, and sat down beside her.
“I am Axel,” he said. “Can I know your name?”
“I’m Lily,” she said and returned her gaze to him.
“So what are you doing alone on the beach at this time?” It was getting dark already.
“Relaxing,” she smiled, feeling a kind of funny about the strange man.
“That’s good,” he rubbed his chest. He had a huge, enchanting grin on his face as he stared at her. She could tell that he was a charmer, she liked him already.
“What happened to you?” Axel asked with his gaze steady on hers.
“Man,” her expression dulled.
“Tell me, what did he do to you?” He reached out to hold her hand tentatively. When she didn’t recoil or push away, he squeezed her hand and stroked her palm. “Tell me,” he urged her in a gentle voice.
His soft eyes did something to her insides again, and she started telling him about herself and her ex husband.
“It’s okay.” He stroked her wrist with his thumb when she was done with her story. “Time will heal you. Just give it some time, dear. I know it hurts now, especially seeing how miserable your little girl is.”
“I guess so,” she shrugged and removed her hand from his hold.
He nodded and winked at her.
“I just wish I can forget about him, get him out of my mind.” She groaned, “I wish I could wake up in the morning and he would not stray into my thoughts.” She dragged her breath.
“You will do that with time,” he assured her. “Waking up and not remembering him at all.”
“I hope so,” she grimaced. “I hope so.”
“Do you have a room here?” He asked her. “I have one, though I will be gone by morning. My holiday is over tonight.”
“No, I’m not lodged here. My grandmother’s cottage is close by. That’s where I’m staying.”
“Do you want me to come with you to your place?” He asked, taking her hand again. There was a sexy edge to his voice now. She understood what he was asking for.
Lily closed her eyes, trying to decide if she wanted him to go home with her. After a moment, she opened her eyes and smiled.
“Yes,” she pouted. She needed what he was offering.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Good,” his smile became broader. He leaned forward in an instant, shifting his body towards hers to bring their lips together. Then they were kissing. He took possession of her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside, exploring her wantonly.
Something snapped inside Lily. She couldn’t put a restraint on her desires anymore. She opened up her mouth to him, moaning with the pure pleasure of having a man’s mouth on her in over a year. Lily was shivering all over when they ended the kiss.
Axel stood up, smiling, and held out his hand to her. She took it; she wasn’t afraid of the stranger. All she knew was that the muscular man was igniting fire all over her body.
“Let’s go,” he gazed lovingly at her. She nodded, her nipples standing hard against her spot bra.
They walked back to the cottage for what would be her very first nightstand. The thought of it alone was sending vibrations all over her body. She couldn’t wait to be ravished by the handsome man.