Cousins: Starting Families

24: Face to Face! 'California'

(Damon's POV)

"Hey, gorgeous," I greeted, walking into the house. Sky was snuggled under a blanket, pulled up to her neck, on the couch.

"Baby!" She yelled, darting up from her spot while I shut the front door and put my bag down. She ran to me, arms reaching up to wrap around my neck.

I circled her waist with one arm and leaned down to meet her for a kiss. Only she didn't want a little kiss. She tried jumping on me and I chuckled, lifting her so she could actually wrap her legs around me. She devoured my mouth in one more kiss before I pulled away.

"What did I do? Why are you ready to jump me?" I asked her and she giggled, hiding her face in my neck. "Don't play shy now."

"Bedroom," she mumbled against my skin. I sighed softly, carrying her upstairs to our bedroom before sitting her on our large bed.

"What's up, baby?" I asked, as she tugged me to sit down also.

"I just found out I'm going to an award show. It's Sunday night! Somewhere in California. I am so excited," she said.

"This Sunday?" I frowned.

"Yes," she grinned, moving to climb into my lap. "I figured maybe we could go fly out Friday night. Spend the weekend there. Come back Tuesday morning because I have an interview Monday," she was saying.

"I work this weekend. I can't get out of it," I told her and watched her face drop.

"Oh," she mumbled. "Well... I don't want to go without you."

"I'm sorry, darling," I said softly, cupping her cheek and pecking her lips. "I just started working I can't really be asking for all this time off. Especially when our anniversary will be coming up and I know you want to go away for that too."

"I guess I'll just go by myself," she pouted.

"Or you can stay here," I said and she frowned, shaking her head.

"Interview. I can't cancel that."

"Yes, you can," I scoffed.

"Well, I'm not going to. That's rude."

"Hey, wait. If you're going, you have to come back Tuesday at the latest. I don't want you away on your birthday, Wednesday."

"I'll be home," she assured, kissing me gently. I slowly moved us to lay her down on the bed with me on top. "Damon," she mumbled, smiling against my mouth.

"What?" I smirked, pulling back.

"You have to walk the dogs," she said and I snorted.

"After this," I replied, moving my lips to kiss down her slender neck. She tilted her head to the side, her small hands gripping the bottom of my shirt. "I love you," I mumbled, before sucking on the side of her neck.

"I love you too," she moaned gently, tugging my shirt up.

I pulled back and let her tug it over my head. I gazed down at her as her eyes raked in my body, lust showing in her beautiful blue eyes as she looked at me like she's never seen me shirtless before.

I loved this girl. More and more each day. And I was planning to show her on her birthday, to make up for the last two months since she's been home. We always do dinner so I made reservations at her favorite place, a little out of town by a pier. I was thinking an early dinner around 6 because after while I was dark I wanted to take her on the ferry to have a few moments alone. And there I wanted to give her, her present, well 2 of many. I bought her a matching ring and bracelet from Cartier. Which I know she'll like.

After all that, we were going to this hotel. I rented out one of the ballrooms. It was going to be all decorated for her. The theme was Beauty and The Beast. It was her favorite Disney movie and princess. So I was bringing it to life. And I had the dress bought for her already and everything.

"What are you thinking about?" Sky suddenly asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. She reached a hand up, caressing my face."I don't know if I tell you enough, but you're so handsome."

I chuckled lightly, turning my face in her hand to kiss the inside of her palm. "I was thinking about you. Have a surprise for you on your birthday. So you better come home," I told her. Half playful but also sternly.

"I'll leave Saturday morning come home Monday night. Sound good?" She asked and I nodded.

"Perfect," I smiled, leaning down to bring our lips back together to pickup where we left off.

***
(Taylor's P.O.V)

"Hi," I blushed, waving at the camera on my laptop. I was having a Skype call with Harry.

"Hey, babe," Harry smiled back at me on the screen. "How's LA?"

"Um, good. I did a few more shows with Joe," I told him as he nodded.

"I have a few more shows before I'm in LA with you," he said and I smiled. "No Joe right?"

"I don't think he's friends with Gigi. So he shouldn't be there. I'm not bringing him if that's what you're implying either."

"Good. I can't stand him all obsessed with you."

"On, hush. We technically live in different countries I shouldn't be seeing him much anymore, anyways."

"That's great news."

"Anyways you said you had something to tell me. What is it?"

"Oh, I got a package today according to my emails. It's for you. I was going to wait till I was home to give it to you in person. But you know, after that beautiful song you wrote to--I mean, about me, I think it's a gift back to you. So... it's at some UPS center thing. I can text you the address to pick it up for me. For you," he said and I grinned.

"You got me something because I--"

"No. I ordered it way before that. As a congrats on your first album," he cut me off. "I'm letting you have it early because you're song was great."

"You really liked it?"

"I loved it... Do I really throw my head back laughing?"

"Sometimes. And it's...it's kinda just beautiful. Other time if it's really funny you'll kneel over your knees, laughing or wheezing," I teased.

He simply shrugged. "So, for Gigi's party. We should color coordinate," he said and I laughed.

"Oh, gosh. Do you have something in mind, H?"

"Yes...I know she's having it be all upscale and fancy so I ordered a black suit with red pinstripes. So you should find--"

"I'll wear a red dress."

"Oh, so you don't want to wear stripes?" He smirked.

"Haha. No," I smiled and we went on talking. And talking all night on Skype. And the next day I picked up his package. It was huge. It was a pink rhinestone studded guitar. And on the back, at the bottom was carved the letter "H."