Everything felt surreal.

Being home was different, and I was treated different.

I felt the pity through everyone's eyes, their words attempting to comfort me as I walked past them.

Word spread to everyone the day Kye brought me home, and everyone knew the things that happened between James and I.

The day after I returned home, my father, Kye and Kye's father had sat me down in my fathers study, urging me to tell them everything that James had revealed and what he did.

I told them everything, from the plans of using me against our mafia, to him putting his hands against me.

Kye's jaw had hardened, and I watched as he looked down.

I don't blame him, that would be unfair. I would have done the same thing.

If I had knew what he was going to do, it could have ruined the plan.

I was more furious with my father for putting Kye in this position.

And I knew Kye was truly sorry, for every night, he whisper every single apology in my ear as he held me close to him.

It had now been a month since I was brought back, and everything was starting to go back to normal.

After James had died, everyone went back to their normal day to day lives, doing the work they were originally assigned to do.

I'm glad that other people were able to back to normal and push past those horrid months.

I'm happy, I am. But you can't just let go of being held captive after you're free, it still haunts you.

Warm hands had wrapped themselves around my waist, and a smile tugged against my lips.

Kye's face was nuzzled against the crook of my neck, kissing the space between my shoulder and my jaw.

"I have something to show you," he whispered against my skin, his lips brushing against me as I placed my hands on his.

"You do?" I responded, closing my eyes as he hummed a yes in response.

He removed one hand from my waist and guided me with the other, taking me to the front door of my fathers house.

We've been staying here ever since the incident, only because my father insisted that it still wasn't safe with James's mafia roaming around.

I didn't mind, it was nice to be surrounded by everyone, even if my father was gone for long periods of time for conferences.

Kye led me out into the car, placing his hand on my thigh as we drove off.

"Are you going to tell me?" I asked him, and he only smiled, shaking his head no as he stared ahead.

"That would ruin the surprise, my love."

I felt my heart soar with his words, words I've been longing to hear since the night he took me to James.

We turned down a small road, after twenty minutes of driving.

I looked outside the window, looking at the fields of lavender that sat on hills of green grass.

It was beautiful.

Kye rolled the windows down as we slowly went down the gravel road, and I felt the rush of lavender fill my nose, a smile rising on my lips.

"What is this place?" I asked him, and he squeezed my thigh.

"Our new home," he said softly, a house coming into view behind a large willow tree.

It was the most beautiful house I had ever seen.

It was a large house, the exterior painted white and the doors painted a dark oak brown.

Plants sat the bottom of every window sill, and I smiled in excitement.

What made my mouth open more was when the clear blue water come into view, revealing the coast at the bottom of the hill.

"Kye," I gasp and he chuckled.

"Do you like it?" He asked as he parked in the driveway, shutting the car off and turning towards me.

I didn't waste and time by jumping out of the car and running up to the edge of house, looking down at the ocean below.

I couldn't hide my excitement, and I felt Kye's arms wrap around me once again as we both stared at the crashing waves.

"I love it," I said to him, turning around and placing my hands on his chest.

"Thank you," I whispered, and I kissed him softly, wrapping my arms around his neck and tangling my hands in his hair.

His arms were still draped around my waist, his lips moving gently against mine.

"You deserve the world Aliyah," he breathed against my lips after pulling away from the deep kiss. "This is the least that I could do."

His words sent butterflies in my stomach, and I pulled him even closer.

His hands went to the back of my thighs, lifting me up so that way I can wrap my legs around his waist.

I laughed as he carried me into the house, his mouth planting soft kisses along my collar bone.

We spent the rest of the day touring the house until the sun went down.

We watched the sunset at the top of the hill, my head resting against his shoulder as he drew small circles on my arm.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he said to me, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

"I do too," I told him, "forever."

He smiled, resting his cheek against my head until the sun had finally set, and we were emerged in darkness.

I couldn't get enough of this moment.

His touch against my skin, the cool tips of fingers moulding into mine as he guided me back to the car, the midnight sky still above as we drove back home.

And soon into the home that sat near the ocean bearing cliffs, with the salty air and lavender fields.

"You know," I said to Kye, looking out the large window, a small warm cup of coffee in my hands as I watched the birds fly into our painted bird feeder.

"Mhm?" I heard him say behind me.

"I think we need a porch swing," I said to him, pointing towards the open area on the deck that displayed the view of the ocean.

"I agree," he said, his warm breath fanning against my neck as he wrapped his arms around my waist, trailing his fingers against the cool of my revealed skin at the base of my shirt.

"But I want a wooden one," I said quickly, "but large enough to fit more than two people."

"Is that so?" He whispered and I nodded, biting my lip as I imagined the large swing, swaying in the wind.

"And I want it a light colour, not too dark."

I felt him smile against my neck, his lips parting to give me a quick kiss on the side of my head.

"Whatever you want my love," he said to me, wrapping his arms around my chest, pulling me tight against him.

I smiled, looking behind me as he looked down, the faint grin on his lips as he turned me around.

The phone rang, and I watched him give a quick glance.

"Who is it?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.

"It's my brother," he said. "I'm supposed to meet with him later on today to discuss a mission , but it can wait."

"No," I said. "You should take it, we're the leaders. We need to be there."

He shook his head, pulling me closer to him as I placed my coffee cup down.

"No amore. I'm here with you, that is more important than a small business deal. It can wait."

I huffed out a sigh and his chest rose with a chuckle, making me smile quickly.

He picked me up, making me laugh as he spun us around toward the bedroom.

He placed me on the bed, giving quick kisses on my neck and towards my chin.

"I think I'll just enjoy every moment I have with you," he murmured. "And every inch of you."

I smiled again as he brought his lips back to mine, threading his fingers through my hair as he kissed the swell of my breasts, above the hem of the tank top I wore.

His kissed travelled around my skin, our bodies mingling together as we stayed in bed all night, tasting every possible inch of each other.

"I am so in love with you Aliyah Perez." Kye said to me as I laid on his bare chest.

"I am so in love with you too Kye Santiago, always." I smiled.

Years Later

I held the warm coffee cup in my hand, looking towards the blue water ahead.

My breath was filled with the lavender fields, my graying hair blowing in the soft breeze.

I smiled, hearing the sound of the wood creak underneath me as I felt someone sit on the seat next to me.

"Good morning my love," I heard Kye say, and I looked toward him, a fresh cup of coffee in his hands.

"Do you hear that?" I said to him, and he shook his head, placing his hand on mine as he joined me in watching the view ahead.

"The sound of the wood," I smiled, and I felt him turn toward me.

He smiled as well, looking down towards the wooden swing.

"We need a new swing," he chuckled, and I smacked him in the arm.

"Yes we do," I glared at him. "You said it wouldn't creak. I knew I shouldn't have let you buy it."

He only laughed again, and soon enough I joined him.

"I'm still mad." I said after a moment and a grin appeared on his face.

He pulled me closer, kissing me on the lips.

"I'll build you a new one, don't worry my sweet Aliyah, the creaking will be gone soon."

"Good." I smiled, resting my head against his chest as he played with my hair, focusing on the crashing waves, and the soft rising of Kye's breath as we stayed there, stuck in time, together.

Forever.