She trembles against me, her breath coming in quick gasps as her eyes shift to Joe's. I can feel her conflicted desire, the way her body responds to both our presence, and it unleashes something I’ve never dared to fight for before.
“This is who you belong to now.” I withdraw my fingers and spin her body against me.
“Tell me you're mine,” I demand, my voice rough with emotion. “Tell me you’re mine, Sara.”
She flinches as if struck, her lips parting in shock before she regains composure, and something snaps in me then when she doesn’t answer, and I prepare myself to take what rightfullybelongs to me.
I cup her face and kiss her as if it’s the very first time. I can’t live without her, I don’t want to know that pain. I would’ve died for her when that bullet hit me, a scorching brand I’d carry into each life as I’d spend lifetimes looking for her. I’m yearning for her to say those words, but the angst as she stares back into Joe’s eyes is either an apology or a claim, andonly one of us gets to own it.
A tear travels down her face, and her eyes flash back to mine again, as Joe watches. She holds my face in her hands as I grip the back of her head.
“I'm yours,” she finally lets out, her voice breaking with emotion. “Yours.”
The words untether something primal inside me.
“Only yours.” She sobs against my lips, her arms clinging to me with desperation.
I can't wait another second as torment claws through me, I lift her against the mirror, her legs wrapping around my waist, and I free myself from my sweatpants, and in one powerful motion, I drive into her until I’m completely buried inside her warmth. The sound that tears from her throat sends electricity down my spine as her body stretches to accommodate me. I hold her still against the mirror, and her eyes fall on Joe, biting her lips, and the pain in my chest is nothing compared to this addiction to capture her completely in front of him.
The storm outside fades into nothingness as I lose myself inside her, the only peace I ever want to know. Her eyes flutter between mine and his, and I kiss her deeper, thrusting harderinside her, leaving no room for her to doubt my intentions of a future with her.
I feel a sudden shift in her body, a surrender that's deeper than words and her fingers dig into my shoulders with a claim. The connection between us burns like wildfire, I can sense her emotions, her love radiating through her skin as her arms lock around me, and my heartbeat quiets for a moment, like a camera clicking through each breathtaking instant that are engraved in my forever memory — her dark eyes, the tears she’s shed, her lips against mine, her hair in my fist, her laugh dancing with me, her smile nose to nose before we fall asleep, the way she fits against my body when I hold her, and… her…choosing me.
“Liam.” The sound of my name is more precious than any vow could ever be, and she kisses me like it’s the very last time, though I know it's the first of forevers. My hand at her nape pulls her closer, fingers tangling in her hair as her hips roll against mine, grinding down in desperate, circles chasing her orgasm. Her thighs clench around me and I thrust up to meet her, drawing a sharp cry from her lips, and I swallow it with my mouth immediately on hers, sucking her tongue, ravaging her lips. I feel her tighten around me, her whole-body shuddering, her nails raking down my shoulders as she finally comes apart.
“Baby, you’re so beautiful when you shatter all over me,” I breathlessly say, and grip her hips to drive into her through each trembling spasm, her moans breaking against my ear in ragged bursts, until I let go inside of her, grunting at the blinding pleasure.
When she goes limp, I press my mouth to the curve of her neck, lips parted against her damp skin, as her chest heaves and her pulse hammers against my tongue.
When I look in the reflection, Joe is gone.
She stands up on wobbly legs, and I hold her as I readjust my sweatpants. I trail kisses from her forehead to the center of herchest, and wrap my arms around her, molding her to my body, to my heart, to my soul.
I pick her up and walk her over the bed, gently laying her back in the bed and tucking her under the covers.
I cup her face, her eyes closed in pure bliss while I know she’s ruined me entirely, and when her eyes flutter open, I say, “I love you. The words are too simple, but I love you.”
I take a breath against her lips and she whispers, “I’ll always love you Liam, no matter what happens.”
I stand up to leave the room to get some water but pause at her words that follow me.
No matter what happens.
Almost spoken with certainty…
I look back at her, wanting to tell her that nothing will ever happen to her, but it’s a promise no one can truly keep, and the bullet wound in my chest throbs with the reminder of how fragile promises are when we have little control but I can promise that I will burn the world down for her if I have to.
With one last glance, I slip through the doorway, pulling it closed with a soft click behind me.
When I get to the kitchen, I fill a glass of water, staring at the candlelight dancing with secrets and revelations at the tip of my tongue and fingers.
“That’s one way to welcome me home," Joe says as he walks over to the other side of the island, opening the fridge and grabs a beer.
“I see why my bed would be of no use.” He lifts his eyebrow, and I stay silent. I’ve laid my claim.
“How long?” he asks, his body tenses, even as resignation settles over him.
“Joe, it took us a long time to cross that line. We…” I think of what more to say but my attention catches when a subtle wisp ofair whispers to the kitchen from the hallway, making the candle flames dance. My gaze snaps up to my closed bedroom door.
