LOGINShare
Chapter Fourteen
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Fifteen
“You're shivering,” Leo said, wrapping his arms around me. “Let's get you back where it's warm.”I nodded, my teeth chattering so hard I was afraid I might break them. Up until about three minutes ago, I hadn't noticed how cold the water was or that the sun was setting. I had been too hot and bothered to notice anything but Leo. Now, I was freezing.With Leo's arm around me, we picked up our clothing. He frowned at his soaked boxers, but carried them up as we hurried out from the shade of the waterfall back to the meadow with the waiting picnic basket. Shivering, I pulled my dress over my head and spread out on the blanket, soaking up the hot sun. Leo set his wet clothes on the grass to dry, going commando in his shorts.The sun was setting over the horizon, but away from the spray of the waterfall it was warm to the point of being hot. I stopped shivering fairly quickly and as soon as I was warm, my stomach started to rumble.“Dinner?” Leo asked, opening up the basket and pulling th
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Sixteen
I woke up sticky and hot with the sun in my eyes. But Leo was still in my bed. He was splayed out across the bed, snoring softly and taking up most of the room. I didn't care. He was here.Sunlight filtered through the window, highlighting the soft golds and reds in his brown hair. His chest rose and fell, rhythmic and smooth and full of muscles and tanned skin. I couldn't believe how beautiful he was. Handsome was a word for men, but he was so much more than that. He was perfect, and even better, he was mine.I was a lucky girl.“Are you watching me sleep?” Leo's eyes stayed closed.“Maybe.” I grinned at him, even though he couldn't see me.“That's kind of creepy,” he informed me, keeping his eyes closed.“But in a sweet, lovable kind of way, right?”He opened one eye and one corner of his mouth tipped upward. “Definitely a sweet, lovable kind of way.”This was heaven. It had to be. There was no way that a person could feel this much joy and pleasure and not be dead. It just wasn't p
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Seventeen
I was just finishing putting on my sundress over my swimsuit when Leo came back in to my bedroom. He was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, but he looked amazing. He held out the steaming mug of coffee for me and I took a nice long sip.Two creams, extra sweet. Just the way I liked it.“Do we need to stop at your place and pick you up anything?” I asked, eyeing the mashed potato mark on his shirt.“I have a change of clothes and a swimsuit on the boat,” he told me. He grinned. “As long as you don't mind me changing in front of you.”I put my hands to my cheeks. “Oh! The scandal!”Leo laughed and held out his hand for mine. “You ready?”I nodded, finishing off the last of my coffee and grabbing my bag.Leo opened the door and scanned the hallway, shaking his head. “I keep thinking I'm doing something bad. That Bastian is going to jump out at any moment and demand payment for your honor.”“Payment for my honor?” I giggled. “I knew you were charming, but I was unaware you wer
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Eighteen
“Oh, hey, Charlotte and Leo!” A female voice interjected, stopping whatever Leo's retort was going to be. “I thought I heard voices up here.”Sam, or rather Samantha, came to join her husband at the railing. Her sun-bleached blonde hair was pulled back out of her tanned smiling face. She was the reason that Robbie was no longer a problem child. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him like he was her strength. Robbie's caressed her arm as he pulled her closer to him. It was such a small motion, but it spoke of a deep love between them.I envied them slightly. They spent their days either racing sailboats or teaching others how to sail. They got to be with the love of their life doing the thing that they loved most. I hoped Leo and I could be that happy someday.“Hi, Sam,” I greeted her. “It's good to see you.”Leo murmured an appropriate greeting as well. Our discussion on the safety of his boat would have to wait until later.“So, we're planning a little outing
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Nineteen
“We should probably head back,” I murmured, not wanting to move. The sun was hot and the boat was rocking me back to sleep, but it was Leo that I was enjoying. Cuddled up together in the back of his boat, I was getting to touch every inch of him. I had him all to myself and I didn't want this to end.“You're right,” Leo agreed, but didn't move either.My stomach grumbled and then Leo's answered.“Well, I can't have you going hungry,” Leo said, slowly untangling my limbs from his. I sighed, but enjoyed the view as he got up. The man had a very impressive ass, especially from this angle. “Where are my shorts?”“In the seat,” I informed him, slowly coming to standing myself. It took me a moment to locate my swim suit and pull the sundress back down over my body.“I really wish we could just be nudists.” Leo grinned as he watched me dress. “But then, I'd never get anything done. Just you.”“I think I could handle being the only thing on your schedule,” I replied, doing my best to use a su
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty
I stepped off of the Saunders' sailboat and then turned around and waved goodbye. Since Leo had ditched me to go take care of his problem, I had decided to take Robbie and Sam up on their offer to go sailing for the evening.It had turned out to be a wonderful way to spend the day. It would have been better if Leo had been there, but I was trying very hard not to complain. I'd lived without Leo in my every waking moment this long, I was sure I could handle it a little bit longer.So, I had done my best to be social. And really, being with Robbie, Sam, Emma, and Jack was a good way to spend the evening. We had sailed around the island, enjoying the sights and being out on the water using only the wind to power us. It was so different that powering across the water in a speed boat- more relaxed.The sky was slowly turning dark purple as the sun slid beneath her dark ocean blanket. The crickets were starting their noisy chorus and the temperature was now perfect. I took a deep breath of
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-One
Once inside the mansion, I turned to go up the curving staircase to the master bedroom while Elijah veered off to the kitchen to find Murdoch and get his money.The stairs echoed with the clicks of my steps as I ran up them and threw open the doors to the big bedroom. The balcony doors leading to the ocean were open, letting in the warm night air filled with the scent of the ocean. Leo was at his desk, pouring over something and frowning. The room was dark except for the light on his desk and the blue glow from his computer screen.“You okay?” I asked, coming over to him. He had his hand on his head like he was in pain and there were shadows in his eyes that hadn't been there this morning. “Leo is something wrong with the phone app? Do I need to get Bastian?”“No, no need for Bastian. Everything's fine.” He closed the lid to his laptop and gave me a weak smile.“Are you sure? It's not a problem, Leo.” My concern grew a little. His voice was just too hollow and it felt like a lie.“It'
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-Two
The room was full of sunlight, but empty of Leo.My hand felt for him on his side of the bed before I opened my eyes, but I knew he was gone before ever stretching out my hand.I sighed. When I slept with him, I didn't get the nightmares of being alone, but waking up by myself was almost as bad. I hated being alone more than anything.With a groan, I rolled out of bed and opened a drawer to find something to wear. A pair of boxers and a clean white t-shirt that smelled like Leo were perfect pajamas.I picked up my phone to check my schedule and found twelve new emails. I had work to do today, even though I really just wanted to take another day off.Screw it, I thought setting the phone back down on the nightstand, I'm going back to bed. Maybe I'll go back to sleep and when I wake up Leo will be here.It sounded like a solid plan. Avoidance and procrastination were always the best solutions in regards to work. Sometimes.I had just snuggled back under the covers, tucking my head under
Latest chapter
Waterfall Kisses Epilogue
I never thought this day would come.I look down at my white dress and giggle. It feels so surreal. I have to be dreaming, and this has to be the best dream of my life.I'm going to marry Leo Westbrook.I've dreamed of this day since I was thirteen years old, and now, finally, it's coming true.“You ready, Char?” Chloe, my childhood best friend asks. She's grinning at me, looking gorgeous as usual. The same dark hair she shares with her brother is curled into perfect waves. “Everyone's waiting.”I take one last look in the mirror and then I nod.I was born ready.Just outside the door, Bastian is waiting. He's leaning against the wall, pretending to be calm and collected, but I know better. He's nervous. The tick in his jaw and the way the little scar above his eye is pulsing show me that he's nervous.He smiles and his face softens as he sees me. “Wow,” he whispers. “You look so beautiful.”I grin. “You don't look so bad yourself,” I tell him. He stands up a little straighter and puf
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Thirty
I hadn't been able to eat anything all morning. My stomach was made of knots and snakes, and the snakes weren't happy about the knots.I stood in front of the main table in the empty meeting room and tugged on the non-existent wrinkles of my suit jacket. I'd been tugging on it all morning to the point where I was afraid the shoulder seams might give out. It was just nerves. I'd been in hundreds of important meetings, but this one was different. This wasn't just money on the line. This was Leo. I was nervous. Crazy nervous.I just had to stick to the plan.I took a deep breath and went over to the coffee station on the side of the room. A big pot of fresh coffee was already sitting and waiting. I took one of the mugs and poured the dark liquid along with my requisite two creams and sugars. Maybe some caffeine would help me settle.“Hi, Charlotte,” Toby greeted me. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I hadn't heard him come in. Luckily, my coffee was sitting on the counter so I could stir i
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-Nine
It was hot outside the main entrance of the hospital as I helped Leo into the car to leave. The discharge paperwork was finally signed and we were ready to head home to recover from the day.“Well, that was fun,” he remarked, handing his paperwork to Murdoch and going to the open backseat car door. I helped him get settled, chuckling at how he thought the blur of tests, stitches, casts, and medical words was “fun.”“I'm just glad you get to go home tonight,” I said as Murdoch closed the car door behind me. I took Leo's hand in mine. He looked absolutely exhausted. Luckily, other than some dehydration, a broken arm, plenty of stitches and more bruises than I could count, the doctors said he was fine. They still wanted him watched overnight as they hadn't ruled out a concussion, but they were confident he would make a full recovery.“Me too. There are some perks to having access to a personal physician who can provide all the hospital requirements in the comfort of your own home,” he re
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-Eight
Charlotte...Leo's voice hovered on the morning light, caressing me with warmth and feelings of home.“Leo?” I whispered, blinking my eyes against the light and waking from sleep. Was he here? Was he safe?I rubbed my eyes to find myself alone. No one was there, not even Murdoch or Eli. Just me, alone and dreaming in a boat.I stifled a sigh and forced the tears back. I hadn't cried yet and I wasn't about to now. Crying didn't solve anything. Crying was for when things were finished and safe. Crying was for when there was nothing else to do. I wasn't finished yet. Leo wasn't finished yet. So I wasn't crying yet.I looked down at my watch to see a little more than an hour had passed. There had to be some sort of update by now, but I expected that Murdoch was trying to let me sleep. It was a sweet gesture, but I needed to know where the man I loved was, even if they weren't sure.I stood up and stretched my arms overhead, hearing a disturbing number of pops and crunches in my shoulders.
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-Seven
The sun slowly lifted her radiant head out of the dark ocean, sending light to cast out the shadows of night. I knew it would be warmer soon, but I was still cold with dread. I hugged my arms around me tighter, watching the rays of light bounce off the water and shimmer with hope. Maybe with the dawn they would find him.I stared out at the water, watching the waves and trying really hard not to think of sharks.The coast guard will find him, I told myself, repeating like a mantra. If I said it enough times, it had to be true. They would find him, sitting there grinning in his boat, totally fine- just with a dead battery. Not scattered across the ocean with the debris of his shattered boat.He wouldn't leave me alone. He wouldn't. Leo loved me. He wouldn't do the thing I feared most in the world. He wouldn't leave me, especially not after telling me what he had done.I needed to talk to him. I needed to tell him that I forgave him. This empty, hollow, sick feeling in the pit of my sto
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-Six
I couldn't sleep.The clock said I had been trying to sleep for the past three hours, but it felt more like an eternity. Bastian's sandwich lay heavy in my stomach since it was too knotted up with fear and heartbreak to actually digest any food.I kicked off my comforter and was immediately too cold. But it was too hot to sleep with it on. With a sigh, I got up and went to the thermostat for the fourth time tonight. I couldn't find the right temperature and I had a feeling it was more to do with me than the thermostat.I was hot with anger and cold with shame.Giving up on the thermostat, I put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Maybe a walk on the beach would put me in a better mood. The ocean was usually magic for heartbroken lovers, right?Yeah, to drown their sorrows, I answered myself bitterly. Still, walking the beach sounded like a better idea than tossing and turning in bed for another five hours.The house was silent as I crept to the back door and escaped out onto the porch.
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-Five
I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of ocean, hot sand, growing trees, and the scent of Adele's amazing food. Other than Leo's cologne, it was possibly my favorite scent in the world. Outside the sun was just touching the horizon, turning the ocean into melted gold while the sky bruised purple in the distance. The crickets and frogs were already starting their nightly chorus, tuning their cries like an orchestra before a concert. I loved this place, this island so much.Leo wasn't on the porch, but I figured he had to be nearby. The bar to the right was slowly gaining patrons, so I knew he wasn't that direction. There was a small touristy gift shop to the left, but they were closed. I peeked inside, thinking of how I should get one of the conch shells and send it to Chloe.The sound of Leo's voice caught my attention. I followed it around the corner to the side of the building. It was a quiet spot where no one would bother him, so it made sense for him to have gone there. I could
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-Four
“You ready to go?” Bastian asked, popping his head into my office.I looked up in surprise. I had been so focused on my work that I had completely lost track of time.“Um...” I looked at my almost complete report. With the gala and auction, I was behind on keeping track of all the financials for Bastian. “I just need to finish this and hit save. You go on ahead. I'll be right there.”“Okay,” Bastian agreed. “See you in a bit.”I could hear him talking to Ava in the hall. Another male voice that I assumed was Mr. Fairchild asked him a question, but by then they were too far down the hall for me to make out what was said. The front door opened and closed as Bastian, Ava, and Ava's parents left for the restaurant.It only took me a couple of moments to finish entering the last bit of data and to press save. Somehow, these reports always seemed to get longer the more I had to do. I reached for the lid on my laptop just as a notification for an email came in. I thought about just ignoring
Waterfall Kisses Chapter Twenty-Three
It had been a good morning. A very good morning.I grinned as I approached the mansion, humming to myself and feeling good about the world and everything in it. Leo and I were officially a couple and my brother was okay with it. Things were finally going the way I had always imagined.A security guard waved as I approached, recognizing me and opening up the main gate. I walked in, shaking my head at the massive house in front of me.Soon, this mansion wouldn't be ours anymore. It had been sold as part of the auction, and in a few weeks, all of the furniture would be gone and we'd be back in New York. I was actually okay with selling it. I loved the location of the mansion, as well as the view, but the building was far too big and gaudy. It screamed wealth and money and that was the last thing I cared about.I much preferred the idea of a cute little two bedroom bungalow on the beach to the massive monstrosity full of old artwork and antique furniture designed to impress. I liked comfo
