Beyond Broken (26 page)

“He explained love… a lot like you did, but I don’t know, it was different coming from a guy, you know? It made sense and I realized that he was right. I told him I wanted to change and you know what? He said I couldn’t. Talk about getting shot down.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“I’m assuming there’s more to the story since they were singing your praises earlier…” I reached out and touched his shoulder.

“I couldn’t change because in my own strength, own power, it wasn’t enough. I needed God. So that’s exactly what I did, Sophia. I let God change me… show me what love really is and…” He glanced away, shaking his head and studying the ocean. “And I still can’t figure out how I survived this long without Him, you know?” He turned back to me, his eyes pools of intensity.

“Yeah. I get that.”

“Well, after I got to that point… you know, when you’re beyond broken and wonder if God even
can
save you… and you discover He wanted to all along… I really started to talk with your dad about you. That’s when I got the ‘go ahead’ to call you. Only call you. I swear your dad was just testing my self-control.” His eyes widened slightly. “It about killed me, seriously. Talking with you every night, seeing your expressions in my mind just based on your voice.” His tone lowered to a murmur. “Knowing you were lying on your bed, alone, talking with me and that I was far, far away.”

“You were maybe fifteen minutes away,” I pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

“Might have been China.” He dug his feet into the sand. “You were off-limits.” His gaze cut back to me, narrowing as if deep in thought. “But I understand why your dad asked that of me. It was a way of protecting you, and in a way, protecting me too.”

“How so?”

“Aside from the obvious…” Greyson’s eyes smoldered as he took in the length of my body with a slow raking gaze.

“Yes, aside from the obvious.” I smacked his shoulder playfully.

“I had to listen. It was my only lifeline to you, so I studied your voice, your inflections, and matched them up with the expressions I had already memorized. Your breathing, the way you laughed, and the different types of giggles… All of it added to what I already loved about you, Sophia. And, if your dad hadn’t required that, I would have missed it all. And I don’t want to miss anything, Sophia. I want to know each type of laugh, wistful sigh, each inflection you have. I want it all Sophia.”

I took a deep breath, letting his words pour over me, saturate my thirsty heart as the sensation of his love overwhelmed me.

“Wow…” I breathed, unable to think of anything else.

“So with that…” Greyson grasped both of my hands then sank to his knees in front of me.

My heart stopped and I couldn’t breathe. After a few seconds, the pounding in my chest began again but with a painful rhythm, my anticipation almost severe.

“Sophia… I’m a mess.” He chuckled and glanced down at our joined hands. “But I’m healing. The broken pieces are coming together. I can’t earn your love, and I don’t deserve for you to give what I’m asking. Because I’m not just asking for you to be my wife, I’m asking for each breath, each heartbeat to be mine. I want to own each smile, each sigh of delight and be tied into every good dream and the hero of every bad one for the rest of your life. I want your heart to beat my name.”

His gray eyes studied mine with a luminescent quality that was powerful, breathtaking. I just stared, taking in his words, taking in the meaning.

“I want you, only you, and forever you. It’s your face I want to see first each morning and the last face I see before I go to sleep ‘til the day I don’t wake up. It’s you. And I know I’m demanding.” He glanced down, then back up into my eyes. “But in return I promise to serve you, protect you with my life, and most of all, to protect your heart as the most precious possession I have. I will be faithful to only you, love you selflessly, and wake up each day with you ranking far above myself. Everything I ask of you, I also give… willingly to you. So…” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a ring. “With your parents’ permission… will you marry… me?”

Tears blurred my vision and I couldn’t even see the ring. But it didn’t matter. I nodded, unable to speak, and felt Greyson’s arms wrap tightly around me as I buried my face in his shoulder, inhaling as I cried tears of joy, tears of release.

“I’m taking your nod as a yes, and I’m pretty sure I have witnesses, so there’s no backing out,” Greyson whispered in my ear.

“Not backing out, ever.” My words were murmured into his chest as I laid my head there, hearing the steady beating of his heart. That was how it had all started. So long ago. I was just there to monitor his heartbeat — its irregular and erratic beat as he slowly weaned himself from his addiction. I would have never guessed that God would use me, use my family, to heal that very same heart that mine had grown so irrevocably intertwined with. Greyson had walked into Willow and Oak just trying to get through another day, and here he was promising me his forever.

“You’re sure quiet… not sure how to react to that,” Greyson teased as he kissed the top of my head.

“Just thinking and being thankful.”

“Yeah, I’ve done that a lot recently too.” He took a deep breath and relaxed his shoulders, loosening his hold on me. I leaned back slightly, just enough to reach up on my tiptoes and place an inviting kiss on his soft lips.

Inhaling deeply, I let his familiar spicy scent flow through me, reminding me of all the other kisses, but knowing this one would be so much sweeter. Before I had a chance to complete my thought, Greyson opened my lips tenderly with his tongue and immediately wrapped his arms around me, drawing me in tightly. Everything else in the world was lost as I melted into his embrace, returning his kiss with all the passion and love I had within me. The delicious flavor of his tongue ignited a fire that began to smolder in my chest and swirled in my stomach. The breath that I had savored only moments before was now hard to capture as my heart beat an excited rhythm.

Greyson’s intensity overwhelmed me, reminding me of the powerful and compelling man he was. Yet there was a softer edge to his kiss that wasn’t desperate, but joyful, enthusiastic, adding to the sweet flavor of his lips meeting with mine. His hands traveled down my back and then he gently squeezed my waist. Every sensation was heightened, tuned in only to him and his every touch. I teased his hair, tugging on it slightly, reveling in the soft texture and thickness. His jaw was smooth under my fingertips as I caressed his face, memorizing the contours. The blend of salty air with Greyson’s spicy scent was erotic, and I felt myself begin to careen to the edge of my self-control as his hands grasped my hips and pulled me in tighter against him. I burned.

Greyson broke the kiss, breathing heavily and staring at me with smoldering dark eyes. Like a magnet I was drawn in, unable to look away, unable to remember why we should stop.

“I’m not a saint, Sophia. Right now, I’m riding the edge…” His voice was rough, laced with desire and hunger. The silver of his irises was almost invisible as his eyes were dilated with passion. I swallowed, fighting against my own impulse to tackle him into the sand.

“I don’t know whether to be thankful your parents are here and could easily see us, or curse that same idea.” He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against mine.

“Jury’s out for me too… but that’s just the hormones talking.” I rubbed my nose against his. Right now all I wanted was him. My heart was still pounding and my blood still roaring in my ears as I greedily took in his strong, virile frame.

“Thanks…” Greyson smirked, leaning back.

“Any time.” I winked, feeling more of the temptress than I should.

“Please… for my sanity’s sake.” Greyson took a deep breath.

“Please?” I asked as I edged in closer.

“I’m not normally an exhibitionist, but I’m one shred of control away from taking you right here in the sand and your first should be more romantic and less…”

“Sandy?” I dug my toes into the soft sand and kicked some his way.

“That would probably be an issue… but I gotta admit, it would certainly be an afterthought.” He tantalized me with a warm smile.

“Not to mention that we’re not exactly married…” I sighed, remembering myself.

“There’s that too… and I’m pretty sure your dad would kill me.”

“He can leave the country quickly.”

“And they’d probably never find my body.”

“Nope…”

“Awesome.”

I sighed and began to relax.

“So I have one more request,” Greyson said after a moment.

“You mean demand…” I joked.

“Yeah, I was trying to go about it all diplomatic, but whatever. Your parents leave in two weeks… so we need to get married before that. Just a heads up.”

“Thanks.”

“Seriously.” Greyson tipped his chin down and studied me.

“Vegas here we come!” I said with a laugh, but my heart was beating so fast, just absorbing the knowledge that not only was I going to marry Greyson, but was going to in less than two weeks. It was a miracle I was breathing.

“No. Not Vegas!” Greyson chuckled. “I’ve got some class you know.” He shook his head. “Actually, I figured we’d just have a beach wedding.”

“So… do I get a say in anything?” I asked, tilting my head.

“Not really… kinda had to plan it out without you… time crunch and all.”

“You sound so apologetic.”

“I’m not…don’t be fooled. I warned you that I was demanding.”

“Valid.” I shook my head. Honestly, I didn’t care. I could marry him in the basement of McDonald’s and I’d be thrilled. If Greyson had already started planning, then I was game.

“You’re okay with all this… I mean, usually don’t girls like to plan everything out? You know, be Bridezilla and all?” He narrowed his eyes.

“Greyson… I get you. Why would anything else, the little details like that matter in light of that?” I asked as I reached up and trailed my fingers down his smooth jawline.

“You’re way too easy on me.” His words were soft as he closed his eyes and leaned into my touch.

“Don’t get used to it,” I whispered back.

He chuckled. “You know I’ve been holding on to this for dear life, I’d like to put it where it belongs sometime tonight.” He released my hand and held out a beautiful platinum diamond ring. The waning light of sunset reflected off the large diamond in the middle and then bounced off the rubies that surrounded it, making the diamond the same color as the sunset.

“That is beautiful,” I said, struggling all over again just to breathe.

“Can I have your hand?” Greyson reached out and I placed my hand in his, swallowing hard as he slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of my left hand. It fit perfectly. I glanced up with a curious expression.

“Bekah.”

“Of course…” I shook my head and glanced down, studying the luminescent gift surrounding my finger. “Thank you.” I glanced up at Greyson once more, doing my best to soak up every detail, every sensation, so that years from now I’d be able to remember this moment perfectly.

“No, Sophia. Thank you.”

Chapter Eighteen

The next week went by quickly, too quickly. Truth be told, I was lucky to have a dress ready but Greyson’s name and bank account made wonders never cease. Bekah had agreed to be my maid of honor and was the only one standing up with me. My dad was the official and Greyson had asked Gregory to be his best man.

Dr. Solomon had taken the news well, saying that he had assumed it was only a matter of time. But his eyes carried an edge of sadness that I felt guilty about. We invited him to the wedding, but he declined and I didn’t blame him.

Saturday dawned bright and beautiful, the perfect day for a wedding. Greyson had explained that the beach house my parents were staying in was his, so I woke up at my apartment then made my way there to get ready. Bekah drove with me and gasped upon seeing the beautiful home. Over and over I had thanked her, my heart overwhelmed at the genuine friend I had found in her. In her humble way, she dismissed my gratitude, saying that she was thrilled to be a part of such a great romance.

Each night I prayed she’d find someone like Greyson and that I’d get to return all the blessings she had given to me.

The day progressed slowly after that, much to my dismay. Everything was arranged so smoothly that there was nothing for me to do but wait. Though I’d never turn into Bridezilla, I still wished something would go wrong just to give me a distraction from watching the clock tick. Greyson wasn’t due to arrive for a few more hours, so I calmed myself down by reminiscing with my mom and teasing my dad. I had missed them so much yet had been so blind to it. As my mom pulled out a few old albums she had brought with her, I held her tightly, savoring each story she told.

When the hour arrived, Greyson showed up in a dove-colored tux with a white bowtie. The only reason I saw him was because I waited by the upstairs window till he arrived. He wasn’t allowed to see me, but there was no such rule about the groom. Just to be sure, I asked my mom. She chuckled and gave me the answer I was hoping for.

My father escorted me down the stairs just five minutes before the ceremony was to start. The sunset was perfect, highlighting the horizon with orange, red, and violet as the waves crashed on the sand giving the most beautiful music. I took off my flip-flops and we started to walk toward Greyson.

The sand was warm, inviting, but my eyes were only for my husband-to-be as I took slow, even breaths and moderated my pace so I wouldn’t run and trip over the beautiful ivory gown I was wearing. Thankfully, it was strapless, so I wasn’t overly warm, and the material was light and airy. I could feel the slightly salty breeze tease it and press its soft silk against my body. I chose not to wear a veil, but rather wore my caramel colored hair pulled into a feathered clip with a small net draped over one of my eyes. Truly it was perfect for my beach wedding, and judging by how Greyson hadn’t even blinked yet, he was impressed too.

“
Mahal,
” my father murmured as we stopped in front of Greyson. “I love you. It is my pleasure and a gift from God to be here and give you to this man. My heart follows yours.” He placed my hand in Greyson’s and walked to the front between two pillars.