They took their time, savoring every kiss, caress, and glide of their bodies moving together, joined in the magic they created until they were both overcome with desire, their hearts thundering, and they both came with their lips and hands joined, eyes locked on each other.
Cody’s breath panted in and out against her cheek. “Am I hurting you?” He tried to move off her, but she liked his weight and the feel of him surrounding her. She kept him where she wanted him with her good leg hooked over his ass.
She slid her hands down his spine to his lower back. “Stay. I’m good. This is perfect.”
He rose above her on his forearms and stared down at her, his blue eyes filled with such deep emotion her throat went tight. He slipped one hand behind her neck and into her hair and leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her with so much love and longing, the emotions behind it welled up inside herheart and overflowed, bringing tears to her eyes. He brushed his thumb along her cheek and held her close as the kiss slowed to just their lips pressed together.
The kiss had rocked her to the core because of its simple demand that she give all her love along with the press of their lips. And she did. He had her heart. He was her everything.
“I love you so damn much, Brooke. Nothing will ever change that. No one will ever come between us again.”
She believed him with her whole heart. “I love you, too.”
Cody brushed his lips against hers one more time, then shifted to her side and rolled out of bed to do the condom cleanup. He was back in seconds, pulling her close.
She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled into his big, warm body. He kept his solid arms banded around her. She felt protected and safe. The steady beat of his heart hypnotized her into that relaxed space between awake and sleep. She sighed, rubbing her cheek against his warm skin, and kissed his chest because he was there and she could. She sighed again and whispered, “I feel better.”
Cody hugged her tighter and kissed her head. “I’m glad. I know you miss her. So do I. We will always miss her, but we’ll be together, and I think she’d like that.”
Tears clogged her throat and choked off her words. “If I can’t have her, I’m happy I have you.”
“I wish you could have both of us. But I know how you feel. I’m so happy you’ve come home to me. This is only the beginning for us.” His arms tightened around her.
She believed him, and finally allowed herself to dream of a future with him again. She drifted off to sleep with that happy thought in her head and blossoming in her heart.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cody woke up feeling on top of the world. And it all came crashing down when he received a text from Doug two hours after he’d seen Brooke and her mom having coffee in the garden and laughing together.
There was no way he could give this terrible news to Brooke.
DOUG: The young woman Adam raped committed suicide last night.
Fuck!
Chapter Twenty-Five
Adam sat in the chair opposite Dr. Green. He hated these mandatory therapy sessions. Even worse, the group ones.
Everyone stared at him.
Word had spread that the governor’s son was here. He had no privacy. He couldn’t make a phone call, send a text or email, go outside without an escort, let alone leave this fucking place. He couldn’t do anything without permission.
And right now, they’d placed restrictions on everything.
He hated the food, the constant supervision, the bare-bones room they gave him, the drugs they fed him that made him groggy, his head in a fog.
“How have you been sleeping?” Dr. Green sat across from him, his attention solely on Adam.
He hated the patient look in his eyes. “Fine.”
Dr. Green frowned. “Your chart states that you spend three to five hours a night pacing your room.”
Because they wouldn’t let him out to see her. They’d locked him in a cage. Didn’t they know he had to finish what he started? “When I sleep, it’s fine.”
“Any thoughts of harming yourself?”
Yes. Kill me now and save me from this incessant prying.“No.”
