Intertwined episode 23

🤝INTERTWINED🤝

💑EP TWENTY THREE💑

 

The next several days were bliss. It was like there wasnothing else in the world but Travis and me. We still k-ssed,but we both knew where our limits were. We tried not tocome close to the edge. We knew we both might not havethe strength to stop a second time around.

We watched the sunset together every day. Sometimeson the deck, sometimes in the pool.

One time, we were lying on a hammock by the beach. Iwas in his arms, comfortably resting my head on hisshoulders with one of his arms wrapped around my wa-ist.

“It’s almost over,” I whispered as I watched the sun godown behind the horizon. But I didn’t mean the sunset. Thenext day we would set back for New York. And somehow, Ifelt my heart breaking.

Travis heaved a deep breath. “I know,” he whispered.

“Tomorrow, I put my mask back on. And you’re free to pushme back when I come any closer to you.”

I stared up at him. “It doesn’t have to be like that,Travis.”

“Yes, it does,” he said softly.

“Why? Can’t we stay like this forever?” I asked. “Can’tyou take your mask off for me for good?”

He shook his head. “This guy is weak, Brianne. He won’tbe able to protect you…from himself.”

I rested my head back on his shoulder. I guessed he wasright. Without his mask, Travis couldn’t resist getting hishands on me…couldn’t resist k-ssing me whenever he hadthe chance. I wanted it. If he didn’t resist, I wouldn’t havethe power to push him back, either. If he didn’t control himself, we were both in danger of breaking each other…tearing each other apart…losing each other. Why did it have

to be complicated? Why did he have to be Travis…the guywho was as important to me as the brother I had lost?

Travis tilted my chin up so I could look into his eyes. Hestared at me deeply. With a broken expression on his face,he said, “Whatever happens…please don’t forget…I wouldnever intentionally hurt you, Brianne. And I would doanything for you. Just say the word.”

I sighed, trying my best to control the emotionsoverwhelming me all at once. “I love you, Travis. I think Iwould die if I ever lose you.”

And I knew I meant that.

That night, we stayed on the deck and had some drinks.Travis had his usual beer, and I had a mild c*cktail. Therewas a lover’s moon in the sky, and it illuminated the pooland the beach in front of us beautifully. Travis’s face againstthe moonlight was perfect…he looked like a dark angel. I felta flood of pride sweep through me. I didn’t know why but

somehow, it felt good to know that it was me he was k-ssingnow. But who knew what would happen to us when we wentback to the real world?

I opened Sarah’s box of honeymoon tricks. Travis and Ihad a laugh when I pulled out some naughty stuff from thebox, like edible underwear, lubricants, and flavored oils.There was a game there called “Sssshhhh!!!”

“‘Ssshhhh!!! The newlyweds’ honesty game,’” I readfrom the caption.

Travis raised a brow. “That’s interesting.”

I read the caption further. “‘This is the game to play toget to know your new wife’s or husband’s deepest, darkestsecrets prior to your honeymoon. Know the answers toquestions such as ‘Are you really hitting the s₱0t?’ ‘Are youthe best he or she ever had?’ ‘Where exactly is her g-s₱0t?’

‘What’s his or her secret fantasy?’ Play the game to improveyour connection to your partner. But a word of warning!

Some questions may be better off answering with a lie!’” Ihad to laugh at that. I stared up at Travis. “Shall we play it?”

He raised a brow. “We’re not a normal couple. Whatgood could it to do for us?”

I giggled. “Nothing, maybe. But it sounds like a hell of alaugh!”

Travis held his hands up. “All right, whatever gives you akick.” He grinned.

I read the instructions. The game actually required theplayers to lose a piece of clothing or do something kinkydepending on the question. The more interesting to a playerthe answer was, the higher the bet, the kinkier the actionwould be.

“Hmmm… now, this is interesting,” Travis said, grinning.

“Forget it! We’re not going to do that,” I glared at him.

“Let’s just read the questions and take turns answeringthem.”

He raised a brow. “Now, where’s the fun in that?”

“Come on, Travis! I’m just curious about the game. It’snot like you have an important board meeting to catch, youknow.” I took a card from the deck and read one questionout loud. “When did you lose your V-rginity?”

I looked at him. He raised a brow at me. Suddenly, Irealized I knew the answer to that. I smiled at him andhanded him the deck of cards. “Your turn.”

“Shouldn’t we answer each question both ways?” hechallenged me. “It’s not fair to know a secret only one way.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. But I didn’t have to answer thatquestion, either. You know exactly when I lost my V-rginity.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and then he shook his head.

“Hmmm…actually, I don’t think I recall that.”

I didn’t anticipate that I was going to feel bad when Iheard what he said. I raised a brow at Travis and gave him ahaughty look. Of course! How could he remember? I wasonly one of the girls he’d been to bed with…one of the statistics. How could I have possibly made that night specialto him?

“I don’t have to answer that!” I insisted, refusing to lookat him, not letting him know that he’d actually pissed meoff.

Travis stood up from his chair, came close to me, andquickly placed my face between his palms, forcing me tolook at him.

I raised a brow at him. “Hey…” he said. He smiled at mesheepishly. “Senior year. May eleventh. Twelve-thirty a.m.,Paladine Matrimonial Suite 1403. You were eighteen yearsold. I was the guy who took your innocence away from you. Itouched you twice that night.” He stared at me and then heheaved a sigh. “Just because I asked you to forget doesn’tmean I could will myself to do the same thing.”

I bit my lip. He remembered! “Maybe you just have avery good memory.”

He chuckled as he released me. “Believe me! It’s one ofthose things I wish I didn’t have.” He sat back in his seat.

“Next question?”

I picked another card from the deck. “Have you had apartner of the same s€×?”

“Hell no!” Travis answered immediately.

I laughed. “Too defensive there, chief!”

“Next question?”

“Are you not interested to know my answer?” I asked.

“No,” he said.

“Why not?”

“Because I already know the answer,” he replied. “And Ican say I’m thankful my wife is as straight as I am.”

I laughed and picked another card. “Where’s yourweakest s₱0t?”

He shrugged. He thought for a moment and then hesaid, “I guess it’s my ear.”

I tried to think what was mine. Chris was the only man Ihad been with after my first time with Travis. And I couldn’t remember a s₱0t that made me weak, or made me shiver.

Travis raised a brow at me. “Honestly, you don’t know?”he asked.

I shook my head. I didn’t remember Chris ever k-ssingme on some part of my body that made me instantlymindless.

“I really can’t think of any. Maybe I don’t have a weaks₱0t.”

Travis raised a brow at me again. “Come on. Thinkagain.”

“Well, I can’t remember Chris dwelling on a particulars₱0t that…made me weak.”

“Maybe this Chris character is a moron,” Traviswhispered under his breath.

“I heard that,” I said to him. “Could be true, actually.”

Honestly, I thought I’d felt more sensual with Travis in theprevious week than I’d ever felt in the years I was withChris. With Chris, it felt like a task, an obligation that we hadto fulfill because couples were supposed to do that tostrengthen their relationsh¡p. But if it hadn’t been arequirement, we might not have done it at all.

With Travis…it was like, we didn’t have to do it…weknew we couldn’t do it…and yet we were like two oppositepoles of magnets pulling toward each other, and we had tofind the strength to stop.

“Next question?” I asked Travis. In a way, I feltembarrassed that I couldn’t tell him where my weak s₱0twas.

Travis picked up a card. But before he read the question,he stared at me from under his lashes. “The base of yourneck,” he said in a low voice.

I blinked back at him. “What? There’s no way you couldknow that!”

He raised a brow. “Really, Mrs. Cross, would you like meto prove my point?”

I bit my lip. I knew I was red all over. I shook my head.“No,” I replied in a weak voice. “I’ll take your word for it.Next question.”

He gave a look that was meant to unnerve me…makeme blush. And when he was sure I’d blushed enough, hegave me a smirk and said, “Your ex is officially a moron. I’veknown that since we were fifteen, cherie.”

I glared at him. But I knew he was right. One night whenwe were young, he’d trapped me in his bedroom when Icame home past my curfew. He sort of nuzzled my neck forthe first time. I trembled and almost fell to the floor.Amazing how Travis had realized that in three seconds andChris never did in the two and a half years we were

together.

Travis gave me a crooked smile before reading thequestion on the next card. “Fantasy place you want to doit?”

I laughed. “Gosh! Hmmm…I’m not an exhibitionist. Iwould like it to be in a bed of rose petals.” I looked at Travisshyly. “I’m boring.”

He shook his head. “You’re rom-ntic. Me? Funny, I fancya pool.”

“A pool?” I echoed.

He nodded and pointed at the plunge pool beside us. “Aslong as it’s private.”

I laughed. “Wow! And I actually thought Travis Crosswould think about…fitting rooms or something.”

He frowned. “I’m actually discreet in my s€×ual affairs.And any woman who would allow me to do it with her in apublic place…actually turns me off.”

“Hmmm… interesting fact about Travis Cross.” I smiled. Ipicked out another card from the deck. This one had a longquestion, followed by series of question marks and a redheading that read, “Answer with Caution!”

“Interesting card,” I said. I read the first question. “Didyou have s€× seventy-two hours prior to the wedding?”

I knew the answer to this on my side. But suddenly Irealized I wanted to know what Travis’s answer was, too.

“No,” I answered. I read the follow-up questions. “I guessthe rest are all N.A.’s for me.” I looked at Travis. “Your turn.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Are you really interested in myanswer?”

“Well, it’s not like I will file a divorce if I don’t like what Ihear,” I laughed.

He sighed. “Ask away.”

“Did you have s€× seventy-two hours prior to thewedding?”

He stared at me soberly. “No,” he whispered.

“Come on, Trav! You can lie better than that,” I teased.But deep in,side, my heart was pounding in,side my chest.Why the hell am I nervous?

“I didn’t have s€× before my wedding,” he said. “I…made love.” His voice had a hint of pain, and suddenly theair seemed to be full of the same intense emotion that hefelt.

“To whom?” I asked quietly, reading the next question.The stripper in the cake? I wanted to add.

He sighed. “To an amazing…wonderful woman.”

I guessed he didn’t want to say the name of the girl…ifhe actually still remembered.

I read the next question. “What were your thoughtsduring that time? Did you realize anything vital aboutyourself?”

Travis stared at me seriously, as if deciding whether toanswer the question or not. Then finally he said, “My life.The reason why I live. The core of my existence.”

I stared back at him. Suddenly, I wanted to cry. When hesaid those words, he sounded so vulnerable…so torn…sobroken.

“I realized I had a heart, and it’s been beating andbreaking…I realized there was one person I could live anddie for…and I wanted to freeze that moment for eternity…because in that moment…when she scre-med my name…she truly belonged to me.”

“Travis…” I couldn’t breathe. I realized something. Thiswas what he’d been trying to tell me since the wedding…every time he fell quiet and looked lost. He wasn’t just abroken soul…he was also heartbroken when he married me.He wanted to tell me how much of a sacrifice he wasmaking for me. There was…a woman…and Travis couldn’t

be with her…because he’d kept his promise to marry me.

“Travis…you’re…in love?”

He bit his lip. Tears threatened to escape from his eyes.

“It doesn’t matter now, does it?” He smiled ruefully.

“Sometimes, it’s too late when you realize your worldrevolves around one person…I thought…it was my bodycraving hers…but that last time I was with her…I realized itwas my heart scre-ming out for her…I realized too late…shewas the air that I breathed…and I would give everything justto see that look on her face again…the look of love shiningupon her when she scre-med my name and we…” He took a

deep breath. “Came together. She told me she loved me…but I didn’t tell her how I really felt…how I really feel…”

I looked back at Travis. His eyes were w-t with tears. Hewas broken. Because I’d asked him a big favor…because hepledged his life to me a long time ago…it had preventedhim from pursuing his happiness…his own love, when hedidn’t even know that he was capable of feeling that.And now…his life was mine…and the heart of the woman

he realized he loved was lost to him. He was left with me…the selfish little sister of his best friend…who had becomeso used to him saving her for half of her life!

“Travis…I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t know…”

He took a deep breath. “Don’t feel sorry, love,” he saidsoftly. “I didn’t know, either. I knew…too late. Otherwise, Iwould have told her…before the wedding…so at least…shewouldn’t feel that I cheated.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. Even though I knew therewas a part of me that broke hearing that there was anotherwoman in his heart…a bigger part of me ached for thebroken man in,side Travis…who may have lost the chance tobe with the love of his life because he helped me buy timeto find the love of my life. How truly selfish of me!

I couldn’t stop crying now. I stood up from my seat andwent to Travis. He caught me in his arms, making me sit onhis lap. He put his arms around me, cradled me in his arms,and I cried against his chest.

“I’m sorry, Travis,” I said. “I didn’t know. Otherwise…Iwould not have held you to your promise! I would have letyou go. I would have set you free. I didn’t know you weresacrificing that much for me!”

“Ssshhh!” he whispered. “I guess I also wouldn’t haveallowed you to cancel the wedding.”

“But you can’t sacrifice that much for me, Travis,” I said.

“Now, it’s too late! You’re married to me now…and you mayhave blown your chances of being with her.”

I realized that even though a part of me hurt, too, Iwould rather do something for Travis…if there were anythingmore that I could do to help soothe the pain.

“Tell me, Travis. Tell me how I can make it up to you? Tohelp soothe your pain…tell me what to do.”

He looked down to me. His expression was still torn andbroken. He smiled at me wistfully. “For now, this is enough,love. What you’re doing is enough to soothe a little of mypain.”

“Don’t you want to pursue her? Do you want me to talkto her and tell her why you married me in the first place?”

He laughed humorlessly. “I doubt that would be of anyhelp at the moment.” He pushed a lock of stray hair awayfrom my face.

“You’re just giving up?” I asked him angrily. “Don’t youwant to fight for what you feel for her?”

He smiled at me. “How about you, Brianne? Aren’t yougoing to fight for me? I’m your husband now.”

“But I want you to be happy, Travis!” I said.

He smiled. “And I will be,” he said. “With you. Like this.Time heal all wounds. For now…I am happy this way withyou. I won’t ask for anything else just yet.”

“I’ve been unfair! I…always thought you were mineforever…I didn’t even think that you also had a life of yourown… a heart of your own! I feel like…I stole the one chanceyou had to be happy!”

He chuckled humorlessly. “I guess I had two chances tobe happy. I chose this one.”

“But why? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you needed me, Brianne,” he replied softly.

“This marriage was pre-ordained fourteen years ago. Last-minute realizations don’t always get factored in.”

“Of course they do! Had you told me…that you had achance at a different life…that would make you happier, Iwould have…set you free.”

“And you would rather your family curse you?”

I nodded. “If that meant you’d be happier for the rest ofyour life, then yes!”

He smiled at me wistfully. “Then I don’t deserve you,Brianne! I guess I should be the one making amends, notyou. And I am happy…like this…with you.”

“But there’s something missing,” I said to him. “I cansee it in your eyes.”

He gave me a smile that was full of pain. “One of thedownsides of asking me to put my mask down, love. Youweren’t supposed to see a lot of things.”

“But I want to!” I insisted. “I want to know everything. Iwant you to know that even if you’ve lost hope in trustinganything else…you can trust me.”

He cupped my face between his palms. “I know. It’sme…you shouldn’t trust. I know deep in,side my heart I would never hurt you. But I was afraid that there were somethings beyond my control,” he said in a broken voice.

“But I do trust you, Travis. And I always will,” I said. “Iwill always believe in you. I want you to be happy…even if…it means you will be happier without me.” I knew I meantthat. But it hurt to say it. Because I really could not imaginemy life without Travis in it.

He shook his head. “Can’t you see, Brianne? I cannot behappy without you. My fate was tied to yours the day Ipromised Tom I would take care of you.”

“You don’t have to sacrifice so much for me!” I argued.

He smiled ruefully. “I was actually hoping somethinggood will come out of this. When I chose this path…I washoping…for a miracle. I know we’ll be okay, love.”

“Miracle?” I echoed.

He shrugged. “That someday, things would fall intoplace. That we’d both be happy in the end.”

I hugged him. “You don’t always have to be selfless withme!”

He gave me a humorless laugh. Then he shook his head.

“You have so much faith in me, love. I don’t deserve it. Youmust remember the man that I was before I married you.Don’t forget who I really am.” He shook his head again. “Idon’t think it’s in my nature to be selfless.”

“Why do you always try to change my opinion of you?”

“Because I want you to see who I really am,” he said.

“And see that I cannot change…not permanently, at least.”

“You would have changed…for her,” I said in a sad voice.

“Love changes people, Travis. You would have been a better,happier man if you’d chosen not to marry me…if youfollowed your heart…if just once, you allowed yourself tobreak a promise.”

“My parents never knew how to keep their promises, ortheir word,” he said coldly. “I’m not going to be like them. Ihave never been.”

“Even if you sacrifice your heart?”

He hugged me tighter to him. “Even if sometimes I don’tdo what’s right.”

“Yes,” I sobbed in his arms. “You shouldn’t have marriedme, Travis. You should have followed your heart. That’swhat’s right.”

“But everything about this honeymoon feels right, too,Brianne.”

I sighed. I knew what he was saying. Everything feltright…even the part where I was in his arms. I felt like everything was as it should be. I hadn’t thought aboutChristian in a long time. And now that I remembered him, Ididn’t think I would trade my time with Travis for anything. Iguessed it was safe to say that I was totally over Christian.

“Are you saying you don’t regret choosing me over thewoman you might be in love with?”

He took a deep breath. Then he said, “I’ve had you thisway longer. It may be h-rder to let go of what we have. I’venever regretted my decisions in the past, Brianne. So pleasedon’t make me feel like I should start regretting some ofthem now.”

I stared at him. “Travis, sooner or later, I will find theman I have been looking for. We’ll divorce and I will remarry.That was the plan, remember?”

He gave me a devilish smile and said, “Who told you Ihad plans of ever giving you up?”

I giggled. “I told you, you can’t fall in love with me,” Iteased.

He shook his head. “I don’t have to be in love with youto want to keep you forever,” he teased back. “I told you,I’m naturally a selfish man…greedy, even.”

I laughed. “You intend to keep me as your wife forever?”

He shrugged. “Ever wondered why I didn’t suggest aprenup?”

I laughed. “Stop that, Travis! You don’t need a prenupbecause you know I will not take a single penny from you!We trust each other enough to know what the real deal is.

For all it’s worth, I should be paying you for your services…but that would make me feel like a dirty old woman.” I tooka deep breath. I still felt guilty about the wh0le thing. Istared at Travis. “Who is she?”

He raised a brow.

“The woman…who basically is your life,” I added.

I was not sure I wanted him to answer. There might havebe a small part of me that ached to know whether whenTravis was k-ssing me, his heart actually longed for thecompany of another woman.

“Why do you want to know?” he asked.

I shrugged. “No reason. I’m just curious. In all the yearsI’ve known you, I’ve never imagined a woman could actuallymake you…miserable.”

“I’m not miserable, Brianne.”

“I knew you were torn and heartbroken when youmarried me. Now I know why,” I said. “I was just curiouswhat she’s like…this woman you’d rather be k-ssing whenyou are k-ssing me.”

“Don’t be absurd, Brianne,” Travis said, his tone showingsigns of irritation. “When I’m k-ssing you, I would rather bek-ssing you. Remember, nobody can force me to do what Idon’t want to do. So when I’m k-ssing you, there’s no otherwoman in my mind but you.”

“Still…I want to know what she’s like. You said she’s yourlife.”

He sighed and cupped my face between his palms again.

“I think we’ve played too much of this game now. You’reasking too many questions that aren’t on the cards!” hesaid. “But to answer your question…this woman, who is mylife…is amazing and wonderful. She has reddish blond hair…beautiful gray eyes. She’s a vixen in a beautiful humanform,” he said solemnly. He took my hand and raised it tolook at my fingers. “Her delicate fingers can paint beautiful

pictures, colors, and hues. When she dances on stage, shetakes my breath away.” He stared at me deeply. “She has a good heart, a wonderful soul. She’s exquisite, far morebeautiful than any woman I have ever known.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Travis! I asked a seriousquestion!”

He chuckled. “And I answered it truthfully!” he said.

“Because it’s true. I married you. You are my life now.”

“You’re not going to tell me who she is, are you?”

He sighed. “It doesn’t matter, Brianne,” he replied. “Iwould rather try to stay married to you now.”

“But we both know where this marriage is headed! Idon’t want you to let go of your chance at love, too!”

“This marriage will last as long as you want…need it to,”he reminded me. “How long will that take?” he asked mematter-of-factly. “And during those years, I don’t intend to bemiserable, Brianne.”

“Then why did you choose to marry me?”

He took a deep breath. “Because I can’t afford to loseyou…in any way. That would make me more miserable thananything else. And for that, I wanted to kick Tom’s ass! Hethrew us in this situation.”

I didn’t know what to feel anymore. Travis had justconfessed that he gave up the first woman he ever loved forme. He was torn, broken, and miserable, but he chose thispath because he would rather have a broken heart than nothave me in his life at all. Because his love for me was fargreater than any other love he would ever feel for any otherwoman.

I hugged him again. “How can I help you ease the pain?”

He tightened his arms around me. He took a deepbreath. “This. For now, this is enough.”

I realized then what I needed to do. Travis had lost hislove when he married me. I would try to make up for that. Iwould fill that empty gap in his heart. I would try to ease thepain by doing what the girl of his dreams would have donehad he not married me instead. I would try to take herplace…until Travis could be wh0le again. And I would be patient with him. I knew it was going to be difficult. Becausewhen we got back to New York, Travis wouldn’t be as openand as vulnerable as he was now. In New York, he would tryto repel my efforts to make him forget. But I would bepersistent. This was the least I could do for him. Damned if Igot my heart broken in the end!