Darn. Why did I feel a sense of loss when he gave up the endearment?Sweetheartreally was better.
He drew in a deep breath. “I came here to apologize. To tell you I am sorry for everything I did.” He paused. “But I also want to tell you that I want you in my life.” He stopped and looked contrite. “I was a fool. I acted in the heat of the moment and regretted it the very next day. We weren’t meant to be apart after Mom died, and we certainly aren’t meant to be apart right now. If you’ll take me back, I want a life of being with you. In public. Going out to dinners with you. Coming home to you.”
I wanted to believe him. Every single honey-coated word. But what would stop him from pushing me away the next time?
“Are you sure the next scandal at Luxe Hotels won’t send you fleeing from my side?” I asked as I sidestepped him and pushed the front door open.
“I’m sure,” he said as he followed me as I crossed the small lobby and began walking up the stairs to the second floor. He sped up and was right behind me as I walked fast, taking the stairs two at a time. “Because I quit earlier today.”
I froze at his words, one foot midair on the step above him when Desmond put a hand out and grabbed my wrist.
“Ava,” he began just as I fumbled, lost my balance, and seemed like I was going to take a tumble down the stairs.
I looked back wildly as I tried to grasp at something, anything really, to stop the ten-foot fall that would surely result in an embarrassing death. The last thing I was goingto remember before I died was that Desmond had given up his job for our relationship. That was a nice thought to die with, right?
Instead of death, I felt a dull thump as I fell in a heap in Desmond’s arms a few steps below. I lay back for a second, trying to catch my breath while my heart pounded erratically against my chest. I was somewhere, midway on the stairs, and I was scared to open my eyes. Desmond was holding me, and I wished I could just keep my eyes shut and forget about the world for a little bit. To just be happy in the darkness.
I felt him shaking me, calling my name repeatedly. That voice. It was a voice I wanted to get closer to. It was a voice that reminded me of cold chocolate ice cream on a hot night. Definitely a voice I wanted to sink into.
“Sweetheart.”
This time, the voice was urgent, and I forced myself to prop one eye open. Desmond was staring back at me with two wide, fearful eyes as he scanned my face. Eyes that shut tight in relief when I blinked at him. Now, I realized that the arms holding me were trembling.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded my head just a little. “I am. Unfortunately. I must say, if you were trying to kill me, darling, you’re doing a terrible job of it.”
“I don’t want you dead, sweetheart,” he muttered. “If you died, who’d tell me off for not being nice to the waitress?”
“I think you’re confusing yourself with Harvey. You would never be rude to a waitress.”
He grinned as a tear rolled down his cheek. “You fell, sweetheart,” he said. “You fell, and you want to compliment me?”
“Didn’t you break my fall? I thought I fell on something warm.”
“I might’ve. Tell me, are you hurt?” he asked, his face next to mine.
The world was silent, as it always was when Desmond was near me. I could only hear his breath, his words, and feel the rise and fall of his chest.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said, trying to stand up but failing. “I’ll be careful. I promise.” I stretched my legs out in front of me. “See, I don’t even have a scratch on me. You can go back to being the brooding single Hulk.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“I’m mad at you because you quit your job. You didn’t have to do that.”
He was smiling and wincing at the same time. An odd expression indeed. “Yes, I did. I was happy to give it up actually.”
Perhaps I should get off him. But it felt so good. I savored one last moment of lying in his arms. I actually had a reason to be lying in his arms for the moment. No one would fault me, would they?
“Why? Why did you give it up?”
He looked at me, a small smile on his face. He traced a finger on my face and leaned in closer. “Do I really need to answer that?”
I felt my heart skip a beat. Whatever wounds I had could wait. Something strange was happening here.
“Yes, darling. I need to hear it.”
He leaned forward and placed his soft, warm, wet lips on mine. He puckered and kissed. Drew away and then kissed some more. And then, with no warning, he lifted his torso off by putting one hand on the ground, pulled me to hischest, and kissed me deeply, passionately. Apparently, even though the rest of my body might be broken, my lips were working just fine, thank you very much. My fingers were snaking through his hair as I kissed him back urgently, our chests never apart for more than a millimeter. Kiss, kiss, and kiss some more. I thought it went on for more than a few minutes before we broke apart, breathing heavily, smiling. I knew he was smiling because I tried kissing him one more time and got his teeth.
