So here it is at long last - the final chapter. This is a bit longer than
the rest, but I wanted to end on a goodie. There's a bit from a previous
standalone of mine included in this chapter as well - it's from "Giddy".
The format is also a little different - I've been alternating between Carter and Abby's point of views in the previous chapters, but here you get both. Two for the price of one. Value, huh?
This series has certainly been an experience, and I'm glad I've actually done one instead of individual standalones.
Ez - Thanks for giving me faith, putting up with my perfectionist ways and for mushing more than anything ;-)
Malikah - Many times you've been a source of motivation to write, if only to help you out of your Carby bad patches ;-) Repeat after me - they're gonna be OK. . .
Taylor - What can I say. You blow me away with your writing, and it means so much to have someone as talented as you review my work. Thanks so much :- )
To everyone else who reviewed - I wouldn't have carried on if it wasn't for the reviews that I've received. Every single one was appreciated, and I'd love it if you just pressed the button in the bottom left hand corner just once more. Thanks again.
*****
The Final Wonder - Love
*****
I can never seem to stop the butterflies that creep into my stomach whenever I'm within a 10 mile radius of this place.
Stop it, Abby.
Just knock on the damn door already.
With a closer look, I realize I don't need to. Surely not - the door of the prestigious Carter family mansion left open?
Apparently so.
As I step inside, I realize that the place seems even more empty than usual. I remember our conversation previously, when he told me that the staff were all on holiday, and "Gamma's house" would be empty.
He's never called here home.
Right now I'm thanking my lucky stars, because wherever he is I call home. . . and this building is a little too much to process.
I'm snapped out of my daze by the faint sound of piano music, wafting its way through the seemingly endless corridors covered in esteemed artwork.
Following the noise, I reach my destination. The music room.
Seeing that the door is slightly ajar, I push it further, enough to see the magnificent instrument. I take in its gleaming black shade, awed at it's class. It's lower than most I've seen, but that fact takes nothing away from its worth.
In a instant, I shift my gaze over to left.
No artwork, instruments or any other object in these quarters could compete with the image in my vision right know.
A smile creeping onto my lips, I decide to break this wonderful interlude for a chance at something even better.
"I didn't know you played".
*****
I stop abruptly, my head snapping towards the doorway.
"It's one of my better kept secrets".
I pause slightly.
"Gamma made me take lessons as a child. . .told me even though I disliked it then, there would be a time when I'd enjoy it and thank her for making me persevere. She was right - just as she usually was. It used to be only here that I got to completely loose myself in something other than saving lives."
She leisurely makes her way over to me, our eyes never breaking contact.
"Used to be?"
Her eyes are sparkling. She knows exactly what's changed. . . what else now has the ability to consume my entire being.
"Yeah."
Holding my gaze for a few seconds longer, she looks around the room once more.
"Well please, don't stop on my account".
I regain my place in Beethoven's sonata, once again sending waves of sound seeping through the house.
She joins me on the stool, resting her head on my shoulder. . . content to just watch my hands for a while.
I play the last few notes of the piece slower than I should, wanting the moment to last as long as possible. . . afraid of what might be lost once I stop.
I shouldn't be afraid, and I realize that as soon as I lift my hands from the keys.
I trust this woman completely.
The waves still echoing around us, she takes my right hand in hers and kisses it lightly.
"I missed you today".
Between the endless streams of patients, piles of charts, and other seemingly small and yet annoyingly time consuming tasks that fate would place in the way, I'd barely seen her.
I move my head to the right, smelling her hair.
Coconut.
"Me too".
I inhale once more.
God, me too.
Moving my face from her hair, I cup her chin with my hand. Tipping it up parallel to mine, I lean down and kiss her lightly.
Barely even there.
*****
And yet there sure enough.
Sending shivers through my soul.
No other man has ever connected with me like he does. And the wonder of it all is most of the time, he doesn't even use words.
He doesn't need them.
I lean into his presence as he pulls away from the kiss.
Don't go.
He takes hold of my hand, guiding me to stand. I follow him back across the room, through the doorway and up the staircase.
I consider asking him where we're going, but think better of it. He wouldn't tell me anyway, and I think this may very well be one of those rare occasions when I actually like a surprise.
I thought right.
He's guided me into his bedroom. I've only ever been in this room once before - to pick up some things that he left here a couple of weeks ago after the funeral.
Leading me to the window, he stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my stomach whilst leaning his head on my shoulder.
"Look."
I follow his gaze across the acres of gardens in front of me. Water features, hedges and multicoloured flowers adorn the seasoned pastures, making for a view that just takes my breath away.
I sigh contentedly.
"It's gorgeous."
I feel his head turn to place his lips on my neck, kissing me softly. I cup his cheek in my hand, stroking his smooth skin.
"It's mine."
A deer caught in headlights has nothing on me.
I turn around abruptly in his arms. He's smirking, a look of amusement on his face.
"What?!"
"It's mine. Gamma left me the whole estate - the house, the foundation. . . everything."
For some reason, I'm unable to speak. He senses this, carrying on with the story.
"At first I was. . . angry, I guess. It should have gone to Dad. I was fed up of having to deal with everything, fed up with having to hear my parents arguing over arrangements. . ."
He casts his eyes from mine over the beautiful vision outside once more.
". . .I was fed up with missing her."
I wrap my arms around him tighter, and he reciprocates. He hasn't talked much about Gamma since her death. I've tried to broach the subject, and each time he'd let me into his grief just a little bit further. . . as far as he wanted to.
He's going to be OK.
He knows it. I know it.
We stay with our arms around each other for a while, until I laugh softly into his chest, causing him to pull away slightly.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He grins at me.
"What?!"
"It's just. . . you got the house, the gardens, the money. . . this is the stuff fairytales are made out of. You're a King, Carter."
He laughs.
"I prefer 'Prince'. . . 'King' makes me sound like I'm about 50."
My turn to laugh.
"Ok. Prince it is."
"You don't believe in fairy tales."
"I don't. . . I probably never will. But. . ."
His face holds an expression of curiosity, and I shrug my shoulders innocuously.
". . . many things are never as good as you think they're going to be, which inevitably leads to disappointment."
He's still waiting.
"But some things are just as good. . . "
I incline my head up to his.
". . . and some things are even better."
He leans down slowly, capturing my lips with his own in a profound kiss that's enough to make me collapse at the knees. After pulling away, I feel him rest his nose on mine.
"Well in that case. . . don't I need a princess?"
My eyes flutter open to reveal two deep brown circles staring back at me.
"And why would you need one of those?"
Suddenly he becomes serious. His eyes still penetrate through my own. . . yet another thing that has the ability to render me weak.
"I want a partner. Someone to share this house with, someone to walk in these gardens with. Someone to laugh with, someone to cry with. . . someone to lean on at times when the fairytale goes wrong. Someone who'll hold me through everything. Someone who no matter what, I can count on to stand by my side. Someone who'll do all this with as much passion, strength and love. . . as I'll do to her."
He pauses slightly, to brush away the tears that somehow have begun a trail down my cheeks. Leaning in closer still, his voice lowers to a whisper.
"Be my princess, Abby."
*****
I feel her swallow hard.
Why do I feel like this is it? Like this is what the last few months have been building up to. . . one pivotal moment.
Probably because. . . it is.
She pulls me in even closer, our lips now touching. Closing my eyes, for a moment I think she's going to kiss me. But then I hear her voice.
"Forever."
My eyes flicker open, to the sight of absolute certainty in her own.
"Say it again."
Pressing her lips to mine once more, she pulls away slightly, all the while her eyes never leaving mine.
"Forever."
For a few insatiable moments, all I'm aware of is my heartbeat. It's quickened it's pace considerably, and it's no wonder really.
I am completely and utterly in awe of this woman.
Reaching up, she places her delicate fingers on the left side of my chest, letting them linger there for a while.
Taking my heart in her hands.
Two beating as one.
I run my fingers up and down her arms, causing goosebumps to rise to the surface and her hairs stand on end.
I'm suddenly overcome with the need to kiss her. . . to feel her skin on mine. . . to feel our breaths merging as one.
She gets there first, standing on her tiptoes to make contact with my lips.
Meeting her half way, we unite as I slowly reach down and run my fingers underneath her sweater and across her stomach.
In a matter of seconds, her sweater is off and she's unbuttoning my shirt. She pulls me backwards to the bed, kneeling on it so we're the same height.
Smiling, she reaches down to plant feather light kisses across my chest. After unhooking her bra, I reciprocate, causing her head to fall forward and lean against mine.
I feel her slide my trousers down my thighs, taking my boxers with them.
I reluctantly stop my kisses, only to unbutton her jeans.
*****
I'm aware of my trousers dropping to my knees as I look into his eyes once more. Without breaking our gaze, I pull him rearward onto the bed as he fully discards my jeans.
With just my panties separating us, he hovers around the hem with his fingers whilst kissing me.
Driving me crazy. . . making me want him even more.
Here I was thinking that wasn't even possible.
"John. . . "
His name comes out as a moan, letting him know how much I want him as he diminishes the material.
Shifting positions slightly, I feel my head land on the pillow, and as I look down I see he's taken up his favourite spot once more.
Chin in my navel, eyes fixated on mine. Smiling, I run my fingers through his hair.
"Hey."
His turn to smile as he replies.
"Hey yourself."
Lowering his head, he begins his trail of kisses once more. Circling my bellybutton, before moving to the insides of my thighs.
My skin is tingling.
He's touching me and yet I still crave him. His scent, his hold. . . his kiss.
I weave my fingers through his tresses once more, and he shuffles above me.
Grinning at him once more, I capture his embrace with my own.
In a matter of moments, it's as if time stands still.
Eyes lock.
Limbs entwine.
Two become one.
*****
My head's spinning.
I can barely see straight.
Falling deeper and deeper into her arms.
I feel completely exhausted, and yet somehow I can't tear myself away from the pair of brown pools shining back at me.
Catch me, sweetheart.
The room's a blur, my surroundings all merging into a twilight haze, yet there's one image I can see clearer than the light of day. And it's one that's enough to leave me bewildered.
She's stunning.
Many times I've lay awake at night just watching her sleep, trying to think of words to describe her. One keeps coming back to haunt me, no matter how many more I think of.
Simply stunning.
Slowly and softly, I use our interlaced fingers to pull myself nearer, sending quivering vibes through my skin as our chests graze against each other.
She lets go of my hands, running her fingers through my hair. I'm completely fixated on her face just inches below mine. Nothing else matters.
Nothing at all.
She smiles, leaning down to brush her lips across mine, leaving me breathless within seconds. She moves across my cheek to my ear, opening her mouth slightly. The noise she makes comes out as a hushed whisper, gently slicing through the still air.
"I love you. . . so much."
I take a few beats to enjoy her words before waiting until she's back in my view to respond, my voice taking the same tone as hers.
"I love you too."
She exhales slowly, kissing the tip of my nose before I settle down at her side. Wrapping my arms around her, she snuggles against my chest.
I reach down to her thigh, tracing heart patterns with my fingers along the smooth surface of her skin. Her hairs are still stood on end, something that amazes and comforts me all in one fell swoop.
I can feel her back rising and falling against my front with each breath she takes, her heartbeat slowing to its resting state.
She caught me.
She always does.
Feeling her slip into dreamland, I lift my head off the pillow one last time and move towards her ear. Speaking in the faintest whisper, I can just about catch her soft smile as she hears my voice.
"Forever."
The format is also a little different - I've been alternating between Carter and Abby's point of views in the previous chapters, but here you get both. Two for the price of one. Value, huh?
This series has certainly been an experience, and I'm glad I've actually done one instead of individual standalones.
Ez - Thanks for giving me faith, putting up with my perfectionist ways and for mushing more than anything ;-)
Malikah - Many times you've been a source of motivation to write, if only to help you out of your Carby bad patches ;-) Repeat after me - they're gonna be OK. . .
Taylor - What can I say. You blow me away with your writing, and it means so much to have someone as talented as you review my work. Thanks so much :- )
To everyone else who reviewed - I wouldn't have carried on if it wasn't for the reviews that I've received. Every single one was appreciated, and I'd love it if you just pressed the button in the bottom left hand corner just once more. Thanks again.
*****
The Final Wonder - Love
*****
I can never seem to stop the butterflies that creep into my stomach whenever I'm within a 10 mile radius of this place.
Stop it, Abby.
Just knock on the damn door already.
With a closer look, I realize I don't need to. Surely not - the door of the prestigious Carter family mansion left open?
Apparently so.
As I step inside, I realize that the place seems even more empty than usual. I remember our conversation previously, when he told me that the staff were all on holiday, and "Gamma's house" would be empty.
He's never called here home.
Right now I'm thanking my lucky stars, because wherever he is I call home. . . and this building is a little too much to process.
I'm snapped out of my daze by the faint sound of piano music, wafting its way through the seemingly endless corridors covered in esteemed artwork.
Following the noise, I reach my destination. The music room.
Seeing that the door is slightly ajar, I push it further, enough to see the magnificent instrument. I take in its gleaming black shade, awed at it's class. It's lower than most I've seen, but that fact takes nothing away from its worth.
In a instant, I shift my gaze over to left.
No artwork, instruments or any other object in these quarters could compete with the image in my vision right know.
A smile creeping onto my lips, I decide to break this wonderful interlude for a chance at something even better.
"I didn't know you played".
*****
I stop abruptly, my head snapping towards the doorway.
"It's one of my better kept secrets".
I pause slightly.
"Gamma made me take lessons as a child. . .told me even though I disliked it then, there would be a time when I'd enjoy it and thank her for making me persevere. She was right - just as she usually was. It used to be only here that I got to completely loose myself in something other than saving lives."
She leisurely makes her way over to me, our eyes never breaking contact.
"Used to be?"
Her eyes are sparkling. She knows exactly what's changed. . . what else now has the ability to consume my entire being.
"Yeah."
Holding my gaze for a few seconds longer, she looks around the room once more.
"Well please, don't stop on my account".
I regain my place in Beethoven's sonata, once again sending waves of sound seeping through the house.
She joins me on the stool, resting her head on my shoulder. . . content to just watch my hands for a while.
I play the last few notes of the piece slower than I should, wanting the moment to last as long as possible. . . afraid of what might be lost once I stop.
I shouldn't be afraid, and I realize that as soon as I lift my hands from the keys.
I trust this woman completely.
The waves still echoing around us, she takes my right hand in hers and kisses it lightly.
"I missed you today".
Between the endless streams of patients, piles of charts, and other seemingly small and yet annoyingly time consuming tasks that fate would place in the way, I'd barely seen her.
I move my head to the right, smelling her hair.
Coconut.
"Me too".
I inhale once more.
God, me too.
Moving my face from her hair, I cup her chin with my hand. Tipping it up parallel to mine, I lean down and kiss her lightly.
Barely even there.
*****
And yet there sure enough.
Sending shivers through my soul.
No other man has ever connected with me like he does. And the wonder of it all is most of the time, he doesn't even use words.
He doesn't need them.
I lean into his presence as he pulls away from the kiss.
Don't go.
He takes hold of my hand, guiding me to stand. I follow him back across the room, through the doorway and up the staircase.
I consider asking him where we're going, but think better of it. He wouldn't tell me anyway, and I think this may very well be one of those rare occasions when I actually like a surprise.
I thought right.
He's guided me into his bedroom. I've only ever been in this room once before - to pick up some things that he left here a couple of weeks ago after the funeral.
Leading me to the window, he stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my stomach whilst leaning his head on my shoulder.
"Look."
I follow his gaze across the acres of gardens in front of me. Water features, hedges and multicoloured flowers adorn the seasoned pastures, making for a view that just takes my breath away.
I sigh contentedly.
"It's gorgeous."
I feel his head turn to place his lips on my neck, kissing me softly. I cup his cheek in my hand, stroking his smooth skin.
"It's mine."
A deer caught in headlights has nothing on me.
I turn around abruptly in his arms. He's smirking, a look of amusement on his face.
"What?!"
"It's mine. Gamma left me the whole estate - the house, the foundation. . . everything."
For some reason, I'm unable to speak. He senses this, carrying on with the story.
"At first I was. . . angry, I guess. It should have gone to Dad. I was fed up of having to deal with everything, fed up with having to hear my parents arguing over arrangements. . ."
He casts his eyes from mine over the beautiful vision outside once more.
". . .I was fed up with missing her."
I wrap my arms around him tighter, and he reciprocates. He hasn't talked much about Gamma since her death. I've tried to broach the subject, and each time he'd let me into his grief just a little bit further. . . as far as he wanted to.
He's going to be OK.
He knows it. I know it.
We stay with our arms around each other for a while, until I laugh softly into his chest, causing him to pull away slightly.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He grins at me.
"What?!"
"It's just. . . you got the house, the gardens, the money. . . this is the stuff fairytales are made out of. You're a King, Carter."
He laughs.
"I prefer 'Prince'. . . 'King' makes me sound like I'm about 50."
My turn to laugh.
"Ok. Prince it is."
"You don't believe in fairy tales."
"I don't. . . I probably never will. But. . ."
His face holds an expression of curiosity, and I shrug my shoulders innocuously.
". . . many things are never as good as you think they're going to be, which inevitably leads to disappointment."
He's still waiting.
"But some things are just as good. . . "
I incline my head up to his.
". . . and some things are even better."
He leans down slowly, capturing my lips with his own in a profound kiss that's enough to make me collapse at the knees. After pulling away, I feel him rest his nose on mine.
"Well in that case. . . don't I need a princess?"
My eyes flutter open to reveal two deep brown circles staring back at me.
"And why would you need one of those?"
Suddenly he becomes serious. His eyes still penetrate through my own. . . yet another thing that has the ability to render me weak.
"I want a partner. Someone to share this house with, someone to walk in these gardens with. Someone to laugh with, someone to cry with. . . someone to lean on at times when the fairytale goes wrong. Someone who'll hold me through everything. Someone who no matter what, I can count on to stand by my side. Someone who'll do all this with as much passion, strength and love. . . as I'll do to her."
He pauses slightly, to brush away the tears that somehow have begun a trail down my cheeks. Leaning in closer still, his voice lowers to a whisper.
"Be my princess, Abby."
*****
I feel her swallow hard.
Why do I feel like this is it? Like this is what the last few months have been building up to. . . one pivotal moment.
Probably because. . . it is.
She pulls me in even closer, our lips now touching. Closing my eyes, for a moment I think she's going to kiss me. But then I hear her voice.
"Forever."
My eyes flicker open, to the sight of absolute certainty in her own.
"Say it again."
Pressing her lips to mine once more, she pulls away slightly, all the while her eyes never leaving mine.
"Forever."
For a few insatiable moments, all I'm aware of is my heartbeat. It's quickened it's pace considerably, and it's no wonder really.
I am completely and utterly in awe of this woman.
Reaching up, she places her delicate fingers on the left side of my chest, letting them linger there for a while.
Taking my heart in her hands.
Two beating as one.
I run my fingers up and down her arms, causing goosebumps to rise to the surface and her hairs stand on end.
I'm suddenly overcome with the need to kiss her. . . to feel her skin on mine. . . to feel our breaths merging as one.
She gets there first, standing on her tiptoes to make contact with my lips.
Meeting her half way, we unite as I slowly reach down and run my fingers underneath her sweater and across her stomach.
In a matter of seconds, her sweater is off and she's unbuttoning my shirt. She pulls me backwards to the bed, kneeling on it so we're the same height.
Smiling, she reaches down to plant feather light kisses across my chest. After unhooking her bra, I reciprocate, causing her head to fall forward and lean against mine.
I feel her slide my trousers down my thighs, taking my boxers with them.
I reluctantly stop my kisses, only to unbutton her jeans.
*****
I'm aware of my trousers dropping to my knees as I look into his eyes once more. Without breaking our gaze, I pull him rearward onto the bed as he fully discards my jeans.
With just my panties separating us, he hovers around the hem with his fingers whilst kissing me.
Driving me crazy. . . making me want him even more.
Here I was thinking that wasn't even possible.
"John. . . "
His name comes out as a moan, letting him know how much I want him as he diminishes the material.
Shifting positions slightly, I feel my head land on the pillow, and as I look down I see he's taken up his favourite spot once more.
Chin in my navel, eyes fixated on mine. Smiling, I run my fingers through his hair.
"Hey."
His turn to smile as he replies.
"Hey yourself."
Lowering his head, he begins his trail of kisses once more. Circling my bellybutton, before moving to the insides of my thighs.
My skin is tingling.
He's touching me and yet I still crave him. His scent, his hold. . . his kiss.
I weave my fingers through his tresses once more, and he shuffles above me.
Grinning at him once more, I capture his embrace with my own.
In a matter of moments, it's as if time stands still.
Eyes lock.
Limbs entwine.
Two become one.
*****
My head's spinning.
I can barely see straight.
Falling deeper and deeper into her arms.
I feel completely exhausted, and yet somehow I can't tear myself away from the pair of brown pools shining back at me.
Catch me, sweetheart.
The room's a blur, my surroundings all merging into a twilight haze, yet there's one image I can see clearer than the light of day. And it's one that's enough to leave me bewildered.
She's stunning.
Many times I've lay awake at night just watching her sleep, trying to think of words to describe her. One keeps coming back to haunt me, no matter how many more I think of.
Simply stunning.
Slowly and softly, I use our interlaced fingers to pull myself nearer, sending quivering vibes through my skin as our chests graze against each other.
She lets go of my hands, running her fingers through my hair. I'm completely fixated on her face just inches below mine. Nothing else matters.
Nothing at all.
She smiles, leaning down to brush her lips across mine, leaving me breathless within seconds. She moves across my cheek to my ear, opening her mouth slightly. The noise she makes comes out as a hushed whisper, gently slicing through the still air.
"I love you. . . so much."
I take a few beats to enjoy her words before waiting until she's back in my view to respond, my voice taking the same tone as hers.
"I love you too."
She exhales slowly, kissing the tip of my nose before I settle down at her side. Wrapping my arms around her, she snuggles against my chest.
I reach down to her thigh, tracing heart patterns with my fingers along the smooth surface of her skin. Her hairs are still stood on end, something that amazes and comforts me all in one fell swoop.
I can feel her back rising and falling against my front with each breath she takes, her heartbeat slowing to its resting state.
She caught me.
She always does.
Feeling her slip into dreamland, I lift my head off the pillow one last time and move towards her ear. Speaking in the faintest whisper, I can just about catch her soft smile as she hears my voice.
"Forever."