Adore me- the fourth novel

Chapter 2 - never ending sea

Jay's arms around me swaying to the music is the perfect way to spend a date. After finishing feeding each other our deserts, I had another cocktail. Sex on the beach this time and here we are. Me in his strong capable arms swaying to the rhythm of the music.

"I think it would be nice for us to take a dip in the sea" I say in his ear.

"Are you trying to get me to take my clothes off" he smiles.

"Oh baby do I need to try" I ask him smiling.

He laughs and my hands spread over his bare chest. His hands are resting on my lower back.

"Where did you learn to move your hips like that?" He says in my ear just moments later.

"Just found out that I could" I smile back.

"Jeez" he sighs.
"Is it not enough that you were made completely and utterly perfect, honestly Taylor. Now I'm not superficial. But you are perfection." He laughs.

"And you have, hands down, the most caring beautiful heart that I have ever..." he adds.

I smile looking into his eyes.

"This is a wonderful holiday so thank you Jay" I say slightly tipsy.

"Well we haven't properly celebrated you being principle and your new dance job that's a big deal baby" he says rubbing my back. I recently interviewed for a dance company aiming for a starter role but instead receiving principle alongside Jacob. Jacob has tanned skin and brown hair with caramel blonde strands that make him look like he's permanently on holiday doing water sports. I noticed when we met for the first time that he had a coordinating bass clef tattoo, were both into music and he plays bass guitar.

"I'll bet you can't wait to get started" he smiles.

"Yes but at the same time I dont ever want to leave here" I say holding onto him.

We spend a few more hours dancing with one another, and then we head down the street for a stroll. Around us are lots of bars all playing music, not chart music. The kind of stuff that makes you want to dance and be happy but that's doesn't sound all the same. The roads are lined with palm trees and you can smell the sea in the air. The breeze is welcome, even at half 11 the temperature is still high.

We reach the beach and begin walking through the velvety soft sand. I feel his arm linked around my waist and my body leans into him.

"Jay" I say slowly.

"Tay" he replies a grin on his lips.

I smile and look up at him briefly.

"It's just I can't believe we are this you know. After everything..." I begin and he just listens.
"I'm happy being with you. More than happy" I say and then I chuckle.

"I'm happy being with you too Taylor" he says and rubs my hand.

"I love you" I tell him turning to face him.

His eyes soften.

"Do you remember when I told you about Ross in psychology that time being with Jen?" He says to me.
"It was when you just started university. I could hardly believe I suddenly had all of this time with you after nothing. After always just thinking about you being with Matty" he says softly.

I dated Matthew James Henderson before Jay and before I ever started university. We conceived a child together which I lost through miscarriage. We grieved that child and it ended our relationship. Jay, as a friend, had been there for me throughout the whole thing even though he hadn't known any of it.

I then briefly moved in with my best friend Ross, we dabbled in the idea of being with one another but my ties ending up aligning with Jay.

"I always regret that moment, you know. It's just I could see how much Ross wanted you and how you looked at him-it drove me insane Tay. When ross injured himself and was in hospital after the motorbike accident and you were there dotting on him" he says and he meets my eyes.

"I was so jealous. So so jealous okay. I wanted you. I wanted you to be with me like that. So I had to somehow bring him down. And by letting you know that he was sleeping with Jen I felt that would work" he says softly.

Jen. Jen has hated me from the word go. We got off on the wrong foot and we've been walking that way ever since.

"I was so wrong. When I saw you later on that day crying by your car. I just... it's the first time in a long time that I registered the pain I had caused another person and it made me realise that I didn't want to hurt you ever again. I'm sorry for that day. I'm sorry for the fact that you met me and you had to see the dickhead that I was. But I am happy that you managed to come into my life and pull out all of my badness and throw it into the wind. I love you Taylor. Okay, I will love you for the rest of my life. I can only hope and pray that is enough to keep you with me" he says watching me carefully.

His hands trace down the sides of my waist slowly. Slowly he bends his knee. My brain is trying to catch up with what's going on as my heart thuds in my chest and the waves crash into the shore. I am transfixed on him he's watching my eyes not looking away for a minute.

"Taylor Elena Harris, only once in our lifetimes does a person come along and reinvigorate everything we thought we knew about life. I would be the biggest fool to see the opportunity and not seize the future I want and need with you. So.." he says, blue eyes looking into mine. He's still on his knee his hands gently on my waist.

I do not say a word, I need to hear what he is about to say. A few onlookers have been watching us, but really at this time the beach is sparse of people. I can feel the apprehension in my tummy and I smile encouragingly at him.

"So... Taylor Elena Harris will you do me the honour of being my wife. My forever and always?" He asks presenting me with a ring that I will be inspecting in just a minute when I can catch my breath and process the words he has just said.

His wife? His forever and always. Without a doubt, without a hint of hesitation.

"Yes." I say and I get down onto my knees and we are both kneeling in the sand. His arms are around me and there is dampness on my cheeks from happy tears.

"Yes Jay. I will be your wife. Your forever and always" I whisper in his ear and he pulls me in kissing me.

"I promise you I will love you forever" he says pulling the ring delicately out of the red ring box. I glance up at his eyes and they are glistening with tears.

"I will care for you always and you will be the centre of all of my dreams" he says placing the ring on my finger.

The gold band glistens. I am momentarily distracted by the sparkle that emanates from the diamond. It's a round brilliant cut diamond and the clarity is supreme. Completely clear and beautiful. It's breathtaking. On either side of the diamond sit proudly two sapphires, deep blue and enchanting I could look into them forever and not feel bored. I glance at the ring sitting on my hand, fitting perfectly. It looks elegant, it's me entirely.

I look back into his eyes and he smiles.

"Jay this ring is..." I say softly glancing at it again tears falling down my cheeks.

"It is the most magnificent ring I've ever seen" I say.

"When I spoke to Ella, it was to get her dad, my uncle, to make it. He's a fine jeweller and this piece was made for you" he says smiling. I had been questioning him about Ella at university when he had been planning our engagement. I cry again, happy tears.

"You've known that long" I say smiling.

"Yes" he smiles.

He takes my hand and we stand together.

"Of course I knew" he says watching my eyes and holding onto me.

"Taylor Elena Gilbert Scott" I say trying out my name.

"Perfection just like you" he smiles.

I gaze out at the sea, the depth of the water which is the same colour as the blue sapphires in my ring. Hearing the gentle sounds of the ocean we walk with our shoes off through the water along the beach. Neither of us wanting this moment to end. Both of us wanting to exist in this feeling of ecstasy forever. Like the never ending sea.