Taylor's POV – 15 July 2011
"Love me slowly Jason, I need to feel you and know you are here safe with me, that we are both safe," it's like a siren call even though Gail is whispering and I am happy to oblige, to try and erase her fears, even though mine will stay with me forever.
If I focus completely on her, I can assuage the guilt of not protecting her, the love of my life and contain the rage I feel towards Hyde and the Lincolns for just a little while. My anger increases every time I am reminded that she feels so scared but I put that out of my mind as I slowly loosen her hair and starting at the top of her head, let my lips do the talking without any words.
Much later as I come to, it is to find my body wrapped around Gail, her hand is on my chest, her head is on my shoulder, her golden hair fanned out on the dark silk sheets, I smile as she snuggles back into me with a "cat got the cream" look on her face and just like that I am ready for another round but as my body reacts she flicks open her eyes and shakes her head.
"Oh Jason, we're not 18 anymore, but.." and she practically purrs at me, "Maybe after a cup of tea.." and I am so onto that and leap out of bed to oblige. However, tangling my foot in the sheet, instead of a manly leap, I topple head first almost shrieking like a girl as I lose all control of my movements and roll taking the sheets and other bed clothes with me, my arms and legs going in every direction.
Gail's concerned face peeks over the edge of the bed then I watch as the concern dissolves into a fit of giggles and I can't but join in as a deep belly laugh rolls up and out of me, filling the room. I reach up and pull her face down so that I can land a smacker on her lips and she deepens it and I gently, oh so gently, support her as I bring the rest of her down onto the rug and duvet and everything else I managed to drag down in my pirouette.
"Baby, have you ever wanted to make love on a tiger rug in front of a fire?" I whisper and her answering shiver has nothing to do with being cold. I know I can never have enough of her, her fire lights me up from inside and the cup of tea is delayed once again.
As we come back down to earth there is a discreet knock on the door and I hurriedly cover myself and head out to the main room of the suite. Letting in the room service delivery I am informed that the spa service ordered will be available within the hour if we wish to avail ourselves of it and I thank them, closing and locking the door again, I push the cart into the bedroom.
Sitting there on the rug is my beautiful girl, her hair all mussed, her eyes glowing and a relaxed smile on her face and the rush of love that swells through my body has nothing to do with lust but a pure love for her, a desire to always be the best person for her and I have never felt so at peace in my life.
Handing her the cup of tea, she giggles and says, "That's cheating but probably safer."
With a chuckle I harrumph and say, "Well, here's something I prepared earlier" and I bring the dishes down to her and spend the next little while feeding her the most delectable brunch I've ever tasted.
Working for the Boss has its perks but the best one is knowing where the highest quality anything can be sourced but the reason we are here is Ana, the Salish Lodge and Spa is where he took her before her graduation and when I scoped it out for him I realised I would have to take Gail here one day, I wish it was due to other reasons but here we are and everything has been beyond expectations for both of us. The Boss did offer us the Fairmont Olympic Hotel but I thought this was further away from what had happened and infinitely more perfect.
"Baby, what would you like to do now? The waterfalls are beautiful or a spa treatment awaits your attendance. Whatever you want to do Baby, today and this weekend is all about you."
I knew the resort was magnificent but I hadn't expected how luxurious it actually was and how perfect it was to show Gail my love. When we arrived last night, we were shown to our room and found the roaring fire and the bed covered with rose petals, to which Gail had ooh'd and ahh'd and then walking through we found the two-person spa bath drawn and sparkling wine chilling in an ice bucket waiting for us. We very gratefully sank into the bath and enjoyed a long romantic soak nibbling on the chocolates laid out for our enjoyment and then the day caught up with us and I wrapped her up and carried her to bed, calming her while the anger built in me at her distress. Once she had finally fallen asleep in my arms, I lay there for hours making plans on how I could ensure that the maggots never ever hurt anyone I love again until I too fell asleep.
This morning, I was awakened by the sounds of the Snoqualmie Falls and now I'd like to show them to Gail as I am sure she'd love them, having been confined indoors for several days I'm sure she'll jump at the chance but she has other plans and I'm not complaining, the extra time it takes to wash off the maple syrup is more than worth it.
We are a little late for the couples massage appointment but the masseuse smiles indulgently and leaves us to disrobe and I watch amazed as Gail's eyes narrow after her and I am confused, then it hits me and I grin, "Baby, do I spy a green eyed monster? Are you jealous?" Gail squirms and her cheeks redden like a young girl in embarrassment at being caught out as I chuckle, I hadn't expected that reaction and it makes me feel good.
It takes me less than a second to change plans, feeling ridiculously pleased with myself, "If you are going to be jealous of another woman giving me a massage, it's going to mean you aren't relaxed, why don't I leave you to it and I'll meet you back in the room?"
It is confirmed when she says shyly, "Oh you don't have to," but it's only half-hearted and I want her to totally enjoy the experience, being jealous won't allow that and my mind is made up and I'm dressed in seconds.
"Baby, you can give me a massage later," I say squeezing as much carnality into as I can and a plan starts to form in my mind, I kiss her deeply and we pull apart reluctantly when the masseuse knocks on the door.
I explain apologetically to the masseuse that I have been called away for work but that Gail can stay and have a double length massage and everyone is happy when I leave. It doesn't worry me, I'd rather a massage from Gail and having her naked three feet away from me with a woman rubbing her body with oil isn't conducive to me relaxing anyway.
Three hours later my beautiful girl is back, relaxed, happy and pampered like she has never been before, massages, manicure, pedicure and facial, all making her a picture of beauty but she is never as beautiful as she was this morning or any morning when I turn and see her smiling face looking back at me. Now though, she looks like she is floating on air and I pull her into my arms and she relaxes infinitesimally more, pure happiness on her face and I know I can't wait a second more.
Holding her hand I ask her out onto the balcony so she can feel the power of the falls just below us and she turns to me with wonder in her voice expressing how perfect the location is, how wonderful the break has been and how happy she is and I smile and drop to my knee as her mouth gapes open.
"Gail, baby, I've asked you before but this time I hope you say yes. I have loved you since the moment I walked in and saw you there, goodness shining out of your face and I knew then that I had to do whatever it took to be a better man, I had to be a man worthy of you. Baby I can't live without you, I want to know that I will see your smiling face next to me when I wake up every morning and right there next to me every night. Will you let me try to be your happy ever after? Baby, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"
Her eyes tear up but she's nodding her head vigorously and she finally says as she helps me up, "Oh Jason, yes honey, in a heartbeat, I love you and I worry for you constantly but I wouldn't exist without you in my life and honey… I heard absolutely everything you said when I was in the coma….every single word but I just wanted to make sure it wasn't the fear talking."
Before I can say something like it was never the fear talking although I have never been so scared in my life, she continues, "I was lying there today thinking how I didn't want some other woman touching you because you are mine and I don't share! You have shown me over and over again over the last few years how much you love me and so yes! Jason, the answer was always yes but I had to make sure, Jason, I am sure. I love you. It would be the greatest honour to be your wife."
Holding her face in my hands, I reverentially claim her lips with the sound of the falls providing the perfect backdrop and then I remember there is something else and I reluctantly pull away with a "Hang on, there's more."
"Baby, will you accept this ring?" and I pull out the box I've been carrying in my pocket for almost longer than I can remember, opening it as I hand it to her, the shock on her face is priceless, uh huh, yes baby, I can buy a nice ring, I think as I smile at her.
"Oh Jason, it is so beautiful, I barely dare touch it," she says tentatively and I take it out of the box and slide it on her finger where it looks like it belongs, it looks perfect and she bursts into happy tears as she throws her arms around me.
Kissing the tears off her face, I try to explain the design and obviously my ability to pick a ring is better than my ability to describe it as she looks confused at what I am saying so I simply show her. Fishing another box out of my pocket I am able to show her that while the engagement ring looks like diamond encrusted double rings holding the main diamond it is actually one ring with a space for the emerald wedding band to slot inside at a later date. A date which will hopefully be really soon and the happy tears flow again.
It's lucky it's a private balcony but even so, as the sun is setting and the air is cooling, I bring my beautiful fiancée inside and we continue our celebration in front of the fire and while the fire is roaring, the heat from the flames can't compete with the heat warming me from the inside.
Whatever the disadvantages there are to working for the Boss, it has brought me my beautiful girl and the greatest happiness. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with Gail, my girl, now fast asleep in my arms, at peace and her hair glowing in the firelight with a smile curving her lips. With her by my side I can face anything so I carry her to bed and curl up around her, as I fall asleep I vow that I will still ensure that Jack Hyde and Elena Lincoln will get what they deserve but right now I have more than what I deserve right here with me and I am a very happy man.