44

Chapter 44

After talking with Damien, I felt lighter, as if a burden had finally been lifted. He was understanding, though I could see the sadness in his eyes. I just hoped that, in time, we'd figure things out and reconnect.

"So, where are we going?" I asked Richard as we walked to his car.

"You'll see," he replied, his hand resting on my back as he guided me toward the passenger seat.

I frowned at him as he settled behind the wheel. "You're really not going to tell me?"

"Nope," he said, smirking as he started the engine. "It's a surprise. But I'll tell you this, it's going to be our day. Just you and me."

Our day. The way he said it almost made me smile.  Richard had been in an unusually good mood all morning except when we stopped by the bakery. I could tell he was excited about whatever he had planned.

He instructed me to bring extra clothes and wear shorts, which made me think we were probably heading to the beach. The forecast promised a sunny and warm weekend. A first real taste of summer.

The drive was peaceful as the road curved through the thick green trees before opening up to a stunning view of the ocean. The sight of the waves glittering under the sunlight took my breath away. Richard glanced at me with a pleased smile on his lips as he caught my reaction.

"We're almost there," he said, turning onto a private road that led to a secluded beach house. The sleek, modern building had large windows with a panoramic ocean view and natural wood accents that blended effortlessly into its surroundings.

"This is the Prestons' beach house," Richard explained as he parked the car. "It's private. No one will bother us here."

I followed him down a set of wooden steps that led directly to the beach. The warm sand under my feet and the calming sound of the waves filled me with a sense of serenity. A soft breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, and for the first time in weeks, I let myself relax completely.

Richard carried a large bag over his shoulder, setting it down on the sand and pulling out a blanket. He spread it out under the shade of a nearby palm tree and patted the spot beside him. "Come on, sit with me."

I obliged and settled onto the blanket as the sun warmed my skin. I pulled out a book I had brought and lost myself in its pages as Richard stretched out beside me, his sunglasses catching the sunlight.

"What are you reading?" he asked after a while, leaning over to glance at the cover.

"Just something I've been meaning to finish." I replied, holding it up for him to see.

He smirked. "We're at a private beach and you're reading? Come on, Carl."

"What's wrong with that?" I said, laughing. "It's a good book."

"Not good enough to waste a perfect day." he teased before standing and brushing the sand off his shorts. "Come on. Let's go for a swim."

"I'm fine right here." I said, turning a page.

"Oh, no, you're not." Before I could protest, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to my feet. "You can read later. Right now, you're coming with me."

"Richard!" I laughed, trying to pull away as he dragged me toward the waves. I dropped the book just before we reached the shore.

The water was cool against my feet, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the sand. He kept hold of my hand as we waded deeper, the water reaching our knees, then our waists. I splashed him lightly, grinning when he turned to give me a playful glare.

"You're going to regret that," he warned, lunging toward me. I tried to dodge, but he caught me around the waist, lifting me slightly before we both toppled into the water. I came up sputtering.

"You're a menace." I said, wiping the salt water from my face.

"And you're adorable when you're annoyed," he teased, pulling me closer. His arms wrapped around me, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. His lips found mine, the kiss soft and passionate, tasting of salt and sunlight.

"I want you." he murmured against my lips.

"We're in the water," I reminded him, though my breath hitched as his fingers traced my back.

"And?" He smirked, his lips moving to my jawline before grazing the sensitive spot just beneath my ear. My fingers tangled in his damp hair, a soft gasp escaping me as he bit down gently.

"You need a cold shower."  I whispered.

He chuckled, the sound vibrating against my skin. "You're always making me work for it," he said, his lips returning to mine. "But I don't mind. I like a challenge."

Before I could respond, Richard hoisted me up, my legs wrapping around his waist instinctively as if they'd always belonged there. His hands gripped my thighs, holding me securely against him as our bodies pressed together.

His kisses deepened, growing more fervent as his hands slid down to the waistband of my shorts. He paused for a brief second, giving me the chance to stop him, but I didn't. The cool water rushed against my skin as he tugged my shorts down, his own following soon after.

He was hard, warm, and unrelenting. Skin to skin, the friction was intoxicating. His possessive grip on my hips guided me as our erections slid together, the sensation overwhelming. My fingers dug into his shoulders as his forehead rested against mine, both of us gasping for air between kisses.

"Carl," he groaned, his voice low and filled with need.

I could only moan in response, my body trembling as he moved against me, each motion drawing me closer to the edge. The waves lapped around us, their rhythm syncing with the pleasure coiling tighter inside me.

"I'm close," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the crashing waves.

"Me too," he breathed, his hips moving with a desperate intensity.

The tension inside me snapped, pleasure crashing through me in powerful waves. I clung to him as I came, my body trembling in his arms. Moments later, he followed, a deep groan escaping him as he buried his face against my neck.

We stayed like that for a while, our breathing ragged as we held each other. Eventually, he carried me back to the shore, where we collapsed onto the blanket.

By the time we made it back to the beach house, the sun had already set, casting the sky in beautiful shades of gold and pink. Richard headed to the kitchen, insisting he'd cook dinner.

"You cook?" I asked, leaning against the counter as he rummaged through the fridge.

"Don't look so surprised," he said, shooting me a grin. "I'm full of hidden talents."

I watched as he moved around the kitchen with surprising ease, chopping vegetables and seasoning a pair of steaks. The smell of garlic and herbs soon filled the air, making my stomach growl.

"This smells amazing," I said as he plated the food and brought it to the table.

"Wait until you taste it," he said, setting a plate in front of me. "Bon appétit."

I took a bite, my eyes widening as the flavors hit my tongue. "This is... really good. Like, restaurant-quality good."

He smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "Better than eating baked goods right?"

I rolled my eyes in response.

We ate peacefully with the sound of the waves in the background. My stomach wasn't full yet, but there was a sense of satisfaction like the moment itself was enough.

"This is nice," I said after a while, setting my fork down and leaning back in my chair.

Richard reached across the table, taking my hand in his. "It doesn't have to be just here, Carl."

I squeezed his hand. "Thank you," I said softly. "For today. For everything."

"Anything for you," he said, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "Always."

After dinner, we moved to the couch where Richard pulled me into his arms. The steady rhythm of the ocean and the warmth of his embrace lulled me into a state of contentment I hadn't felt in years. I closed my eyes, holding him tighter, wishing time would freeze and this feeling would last.

But as the hours passed, we both knew it was time to head back home.

The car ride home was quiet, but not in an uncomfortable way. Every now and then, Richard rested his hand on my thigh.

When we pulled up to the estate and carried our bags upstairs, I followed him to his room, dropping the last of his things on the floor.

"I should let you get some sleep," I said, turning to leave.

"Wait," he said softly, taking my hand. He stepped closer, his arms slipping around my waist as he buried his face in the crook of my neck. "Stay with me tonight."

I exhaled, leaning into him. "Aren't you sick of me yet?"

He chuckled. "Not even close."

We stood there for a while. There was nothing urgent about his embrace, just an unspoken need as if he wanted to hold onto the moment a little longer.

"I'm glad today happened," he muttered into the silence.

I felt the vibrations of his voice in his chest, and it made me smile.

Then, as if the words slipped out before he could stop them, he murmured, "I love you, Carl."

The air seemed to freeze, his words catching both of us off guard. But he didn't pull away. Instead, he steadied himself and said it again, more firmly this time: "I love you."

*********

A/N: The Butler has now surpassed 300k reads! I'm thrilled, and it's back on Wattpad's Reading List—one of only three stories not part of Wattpad Originals. Is that a sign? lol 🤔

On another note, The Butler will wrap up in 50 chapters. A lot of you have commented on the previous chapters, so I guess I should add more ragebait stuff in the remaining chapters to keep the metrics up... you know, for the plot. muwahahaha😂

Anyway, thanks for all your support :)

-therandomantic