Chapter 29 The Trip
Lana's POV
It had been a month and the semester was done. My dad wasn't happy about me 'travelling with a friend' but my mother was happy with it. Arden continued to help me with my studies and I was improving. I was proud of myself. We had tons of s^x too. We are now in Maui. So far I am enjoying the freedom to be a normal couple. We walk on the beach hand in hand with not a care in the world.
Since we have been here, we have had more s^x. We have decided that we would not be on our phones at all so that we could enjoy each other. I sat by the window in a cosy recliner, it was morning. I was wearing a white silk gown that I bought before our trip. I was sketching for the first time in what seemed to be like a long time.
I looked up at Arden who was fast asleep on the double bed. The cool breeze blew against my skin as the white curtain blew too. I was sketching Arden. The sheet was draped over half of his naked body. I smiled as I stared at him, my sketch was complete. I want to have this for the rest of my life. I want to be with him for the rest of my life.
He stirred in his sleep and then he felt for me with his arm on my empty side of the bed. He opened his eyes, looking for me. I smiled at him and then he sat up. "You're up," he said. His hair was disheveled.
"I was up early and I didn't want to wake you up," I smiled.
"You are full of smiles this morning," he said sleepily.
"I started to sketch and I must say that my sketches doesn't look bad. It had been a long time since I actually sketched," I said.
I got up from the recliner and I moved closer to the bed. "What did you sketch?" he asked.
I sat down on the bed with my back against the headboard. I showed him the sketch. "I sketched you," I smiled.
He took the page from me and he observed everything on it. "You are talented," he said.
"This is what I have always wanted to do, but my dad wouldn't let me. That is the sad part," I said.
"Perhaps you can do this when you take over your father's company. You can create a department and it will be as if your dream wasn't taken away from you. Look at the brighter side of it. The company will be yours. Make it your own," he advised.
"My dad probably won't be happy about it," I sighed.
"F^ck whatever he thinks and says. This piece of art is beautiful, it is you, it is who you are. Do not let your dad tell you any differently. He chose to give the company to you when he retires, so it will be yours to do whatever you want with it," he said.
"I guess I can," I said thoughtfully.
"You will be amazing," he said as he leaned closer to me. "Maybe this is happening for a reason. I am here to guide you too, if you need me. Remember that I have experience in the business world. I am here to help you. Don't let your dad tell you otherwise, remember that," he said as he placed his hand on mine.
"You just know what to do, you are a genius at everything that you do," I replied.
"Of course I am," he smiled. He leaned more towards me and then he placed a chaste kiss on my lips and then he pulled away. "What would you like to do today?" he asked.
"I don't know, perhaps you can surprise me," I smiled.
"How about we do the whole jet skiing thing today?"
"I won't say no to that," I replied.
"I wish that we could make time go by slowly while we are here. When we go back to New York, then it is back to us being careful. I enjoy this with you. I never had this that much," he said.
"I wish the same. I don't want to live apart from you either, but we have to. It's not like we are married," I said.
"Perhaps one day we will be," he said, and that made my heart flutter. I looked into his perfect blue eyes, "I would like to," he said with a smile.
"Me too," I replied.
"For now, you need to focus on your studies and then, hopefully, we will still be together by then," he said.
"Why does it feel that you are not sure about the future?" I asked. My heart felt like it was being broken by just that sentence.
"We don't know what the future holds, anything could happen. I will make it my mission to marry you. Please keep that in mind. Right now, we will continue the way that we are as boyfriend and girlfriend," something changes in his expression. "Hopefully, you will accept me with my past and what I have in my life. Something that I cannot change, something that is precious to me. Please keep in mind that this is the reason why I don't want kids at all," he looked into my eyes with so much sadness.
"What happened in your past?" I asked because I was eager to know.
"I don't like to talk about it, it hurts me. It is a battle that I am fighting. Something that maybe I won't win now." his eyes teared up.
"What is it? Did something happen to someone in your life?" I asked. A tear escaped, and I watched as it ran down his cheek.
"This is something that I want to talk about when I'm ready. I don't know how you will handle it, but give me some time," he said.
I nodded. "Of course. I will always be here when you need someone to talk to," I replied as I cupped both sides of his face and I wiped away the tears. I nearly said that I love him but this is the wrong time to say it.
"Thank you for understanding," he said. He leaned forward and kissed me. My heart was dying to know what this battle is that he was fighting. I deepened the kiss instead so that I wouldn't push for answers.
Hopefully, the activities for the day will make us forget about this talk that we had. On the other hand, my heart flutters at the idea of being his wife one day. We just have to be discreet about us for now. Most of all, I do wish that time would go at a slow pace so that we can have this together. I love being this close to him, and he is my safe place. I don't want to be without him.
I don't think that there would be anyone else that would make me feel this way. It took Arden of all people to make me feel comfortable and safe with everything. I don't see myself with anyone else. I honestly don't think that I can. He is mine, and he will be mine for the rest of my life...I hope.