Free Forever Yours by Nicole Salmond Page B

him.
    Stella shook her head, standing up, looking over him. “Why Tristan? What’s so great about me? There are plenty of better looking, smarter, exciting girls out there. I’m a nobody .”
    Tristan stood, grabbing her shoulders to keep her still. “Stop it Stella, you’re not a nobody . How many times do I have to tell you how much I care for you? You’re the most amazing girl I’ve ever met. Everything feels right with you.”
    “How’s this going to work anyway?” He could see tears forming in Stella’s eyes. “You’ll no doubt have another concert somewhere in Australia and you’ll leave and I won’t see you again.”
    “Last night was the last concert I have booked for a while. I plan on sticking around Stella, that’s why I got the unit. When I have to leave, let’s deal with it when we come to that obstacle. I don’t have all the answers, but I know that I want to at least give this a try.” He rested his forehead on hers, wiping her tears away with his thumb.
    “What happens if you get sick of me?” Stella sobbed.
    “I very much doubt I could ever get sick of you Stella.” Tilting her chin up with his hand he touched her lips with his, taking her in a deep embrace. His hands travelling up her jumper, tracing her back, their kiss escalating. Tristan could feel Stella’s heart beat harder against his chest. Her hands followed his lead, outlining the muscles on his back. Unexpectedly Stella pulled herself away, taking a step back.
     “I’m sorry,” she apologised, shaking her head.
    “It’s ok,” Tristan reassured her, interlacing his hand in hers.
    Stella looked up at Tristan remorsefully. “I want to take things slow with you. My last relationship didn’t end well and I don’t want to make the same mistakes with you. So let’s keep this simple for now.”
    “Ok. Define simple for me, just so I know the boundaries.”
    “PG rating type of affection,” she replied apprehensively.
    Tristan took a deep breath. “Whatever it takes Stella. I’m not losing you again.”
    “Your fine with just this then?”
    “If your happy, I’m happy. Although it’s going to take every bone in my body to refrain from being with you, I’ll do it. I’d do anything for you.”
    Stella hugged his chest. He wanted to ask her about her last relationship, and what happened to make her so closed off and scared, but now wasn’t the time. He would wait. He would wait forever if he had to.

 

CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    Tristan had made it his mission to ensure that his career and everything that came with it wouldn’t affect their newly formed relationship, so they spent the rest of the weekend attempting to have as much of a ‘normal’ relationship as possible. In an ideal world they would have been like anyone else starting a new relationship, the excitement and exhilaration that came with it, but there relationship was never going to be the simple and easy one and Stella knew it. They had the extra pressure of the complications that came with Tristan’s fame, most of which Stella was only beginning to grasp.
    Tristan had endeavoured to be discrete when dealing with the paparazzi and fans. He hadn’t wanted Stella concerning herself with it all, but Stella couldn’t help notice. It was hard not to when there was, what seemed like, a permanent group of paparazzi and fans outside the hotel waiting to catch a glimpse of him.
    They had tried a couple of times to go out for dinner but never able to make it too far from the hotel before being followed, Stella couldn’t be more thankful of the tinted windows in the car. She didn’t like to be the object of attention in general, let alone with a swarm of people trying to catch up with them to get a photo, fortunately Sam was a very skilled driver and they never got close enough to get a photo. After driving around for what seemed like hours, Stella managed to convince Tristan they didn’t need to go out after all and she would be happy to eat in at the