“I’m not trying to, baby.” She cups my cheek and presses her forehead to mine lovingly. “No, no, I’m not scared of you. Because I know your mind. I know your heart. I knowyou. Even when we were apart, you never let someone who was in need go without, you never put your hands on anyone that didn’t deserve it, you never let me go even when it would’ve been easier on your heart. You stayed. You protected. You gave. You’re the best man I know, and the only man I’ve ever loved. You, Ty, are mine. And I’m not letting you talk yourself out of the happiness you deserve because you’re worried about some hypothetical.”
Something cracks in my chest at her words, and tears line my eyes.
“Oh, Ty,” she croons softly, using her other hand to brush back my short hair. “I’ve got a worry of my own. It was actually why I ran before.”
“I thought you were disgusted with me.”
“No, no. It was fear, but more… I’m scared you’re going to resent me. You’ve sacrificed so much for me, what if one day you regret it? Or you look at me and see what you’ve done and… you don’t want that reminder anymore?”
My jaw drops slightly, my grip on her tightening. “Never.”
“Never?”
“For as long as I’m breathing, and even in the beyond, I’ll never regret a moment that I have you in my life. As friends, lovers, partners. I love you too, Roxie. I always have and I always will.”
The smile that brightens her face is electric. It’s contagious and beautiful and heals every dark hole in my heart.
“We’re done being stupid now, right? We’re together, fully?”
I nod quickly, keeping my face close to hers. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too.”
“No, Roxie, I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Stop,” she says softly with a smirk on her face, the words calling back to an earlier time. “Stop saying sorry. We live and we learn, and from now on we do the learning together.”
I lean in closer so my nose brushes her and she can feel my lips just barely brushing hers.
“Fully together and we’ll stay that way forever.”
“Finally,” she groans and we crash together. There’s no finesse with our kisses, there’s nothing but need and love.
I walk us back to my room after making sure the door is closed. This time, we will be making love in a bed. Not the floor, not the wall, not the kitchen table. A bed. Where she’ll be surrounded by warmth and softness and the smell of us together.
“We’re not doing this sacrificing again, are we?” She pulls back abruptly, holding me still by the back of my head. “Please, Ty, promise me. You always tell me the truth, even if you think it hurts and I’ll do the same. Understood?”
I smile softly, nodding. “Yes,cariño, understood. I promise. I promise on everything I hold dear.”You, I promise on you. That way I’ll never break it.
She presses her lips to mine, lifting herself higher in my arms to get impossibly closer.
“Fuck me, Ty.”
“No,cariño,” I say gruffly, my voice sounding like satin over gravel. “I’m going to make love to you.”
Roxie’s eyes go from confused to aroused in half a moment and she nods.
“You’re going to follow my directions,si?I promise, I’ll take care of you.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispers, and that name from her lips makes a shiver go down my spine.
“Good girl,” I growl in her ear and gently lay her down on my bed. It’s small, but it worked for me. I didn’t have anyone I wanted to permanently share a bed with except her.
I haven’t shared a bed with anyone, except her.
“I’ll get a bigger bed tomorrow,” I say softly.
“I have a queen, we’ll be fine.”
