Halfway through the meal I comment on how great the food is. Alice blushes from the compliment while Rosa continues to praise her. And it doesn’t help either when Snake whispers something in her ear. I can only imagine what the fucker said but based on her reaction I know it wasn’t anything about the food.
“Rosa, Alice,” I address the both of them, “thank you both for the meal. Since you both cooked I’ll clean.”
Rosa smiles at me. “Thank you, honey.” She then winks at Grace. “You got yourself a good one right there.”
“Believe me, I know,” Grace replies softly, her eyes shinning and a warm expression on her face.
God, I fucking love this woman.
Compelled by her, and not able to keep my hands off of her I drag her chair close to mine and drape my arm over her shoulder, tucking her in my side. My nose skims along the top of her head, jasmine filling my nostrils. God, she’s so fucking intoxicating.
Her hand lays on my thigh as she nestles against me.
And it’s the most comforting feeling in the world to know that she finds peace in my arms. That I, a person who has been at war with himself for so long, can offer peace to someone else.
Lowering my voice for her ears only I say, “I love you.”
She turns her head, looking up at me through her long lashes. Her voice is as soft as a feather, yet the impact is powerful. “I love you.”
My head descends the same time hers ascends. Our lips coming to meet to say everything we can’t.
Just as our lips come to touch a loud pounding on the steel door at the entrance happens.
“FBI, open up!”
Oak
Ican feel the heat of everyone’s eyes on me.
Another loud pound happens at the door followed by the insistent and stern voice of Agent Astrid Liu. “Open up, we know you’re in there!”
Not wanting to prolong this I rise from my chair to welcome the agents who have a hard on for me. But it’s the strong grip of a delicate hand wrapped around my wrist preventing me from moving any further.
My eyes meet with her hand first. How her delicate fingers are holding onto my wrist like a life raft. I feel the panic in her hold, and the fear of what will happen is she lets go.
When my eyes finally catch her gaze everything I feel in her touch is confirmed. Grace’s eyes are the windows to her soul, and her soul is crying out in pain and fear.
All I want to do is comfort her. Soothe her with my arms bound securely around her. Whisper words in her ear that will calm her panicked heart and kiss her lips to help ease the worry.
As much as I want to lie to her and say that everything will be okay I know she’s the type of woman who wouldn’t appreciate it.
Even with all the pain and trauma she’s suffered in her life she refuses to let anyone coddle her.
It’s her strength that makes her that much more beautiful in my eyes.
“Grace,” I say her name in a hushed tone and my next words I can’t help keeping the pain from, “I have to go.”
She worries on her bottom lip. If we were alone I would remedy that habit. And truth be told I don’t know how long it will be until we are alone again.
Her voice is small, and I hate how vulnerable and broken it sounds. “I don’t want you to go.”
My heart tightens painfully. I swallow thickly. The next words I speak are spoken with regret. “Baby, I have to.” I cup her face and her free hand holds onto my wrist. She melts against my me, leaning into the palm of my hand. “We knew this day was coming,” I remind her softly.
She closes her eyes with a heavy sigh. “And it still came too soon.”
Kneeling I come face to face with her. Sky blue eyes meet mine with so much emotion that I can’t swallow. “Do you honestly believe I’ll let anyone keep me from you?” She remains quiet. I swear I can hear the erratic beat of her heart. Framing her face in my hands I bring her to me until our foreheads are pressed against one another’s. I breathe her in, her scent I can never get enough of. “You’re what I’ve been searching for the past ten years. You’re my peace, Grace. You quiet the noise in my head. You’ve ended the war. You, Gracie Mae Vale, complete me. Nothing can keep me from you, do you understand?”
Tears well in her eyes. She swallows thickly, emotion choking her. “Yeah,” she breathes. Then, with more power in her voice she says, “I understand.”
