“I prefer god.” His lips twitch.
I snort out a laugh.
“Stop pushing me away.” The hint of a smile is gone, replaced with pain.
“I’m not doing it purposely.”
“I know. You have a self-destruct button you’re pressing without even realizing it.”
“How do I stop pressing it?”
“Let me love you. Let me protect you. Let me help you through this.”
“I’ll try,” I say, palming his cheek. “You’re too good for me.”
“I’m perfect for you, and you’re perfect for me.” He kisses me passionately, stroking the sides of my body through my tank top. His lips glide to my neck, and he sucks softly on the sensitive skin just under my ear, eliciting a rake of shivers all over my flesh. “Let me make love to you,” he whispers, nudging my earlobe with his nose. “We have the house to ourselves. Let me remind you of how good we are together.” He crawls over me, propping himself up on his elbows. “Let me make you feel good. Let me show you my love.”
I cry through tears as I reach up and kiss him. “I love you. Make love to me, Beck.”
There is no flinching this time, only heartfelt emotion as he carefully strips me out of my clothes before getting rid of his own. When he slowly pushes inside me, maintaining eye contact as he thrusts in and out, I cling to his powerful body, reacquainting myself with all the dips and curves of his physique as he worships me with tender loving care. Adoring kisses and feather-soft caresses are shared as we reconnect, and he’s never made such sweet love to me before.
It's everything I didn’t know I needed.
When we come together, collapsing in a tangled heap of sweaty limbs, I feel like everything will be all right as long as we don’t lose sight of one another.
ChapterSeventy-Seven
Stevie
Garrick asks to see me again, almost one month after our first reunion meeting, on the day of the second anniversary of the accident. I’m presuming he knows the significance of the date and asking to see me today is on purpose. Beck was nervous about the meeting, but he’d never stop me. It was my call, and I didn’t see how I could decline given the occasion.
Things are better with Beck since my meltdown and our subsequent lovemaking at Mom’s. I have spoken with Ramona several more times, and the medication is helping. I am making an effort to eat, hydrate, and exercise. I go walking every day with Hadley or work out with Beck at the gym. I don’t flinch when my boyfriend touches me, and we’re making love every day, both of us keen to maintain the intimacy and fight for our relationship. The only times I truly feel like myself are when I’m wrapped in Beck’s protective arms or when he’s driving his cock inside me and staring deep into my eyes like he’s staring straight into my soul.
Garrick is always hovering in the air like a thundercloud. It feels wrong to call him that. Like he’s some dark menace, but I can’t deny he is a very real threat to my relationship.
Hudson said Garrick’s speech is much better now, so I’m hoping today we might be able to have a proper conversation. At least if I’m not in a limbo state and Garrick understands we can only be friends, it should eradicate the strain in my relationship and reduce the stress I’m feeling.
Hudson is waiting outside Ivy’s house when I arrive. “Hey.” His smile looks strained.
“What’s wrong?” I hold the confectionary box against my chest as I frown.
“Have you spoken to Hugh or Dawn this week?”
“No. Why? What’s happened?”
“Garrick has banned them from coming to visit.”
My eyes almost bug out of my head. “What? Why?”
“Ivy told him about the court case, showed him the legal submissions, and he’s pissed.”
“Would someone please put a bullet in that woman,” I snap, deliberately stating it out loud.
“Maybe we should pitch in for a hitman. Think, with his contacts, Beck might know someone?” he jokes.
“Have you talked with Garrick about this?”
“I have, but I can’t talk sense into him. I was hoping maybe you could try?”
