He nods, and this his face grows somber again. “Where have you been, Trix?”
“I had a...work thing.”
He reaches over to brush the tears and sand off my cheek. I can’t help it when I nuzzle into him further and close my eyes at the small touch. I crave more. So much more.
“You left,” he says quietly.
My eyes open, and I lick my dry lips. “I told you I had to.”
“But now you’re back?” he asks hesitantly.
“I guess that depends.”
“On what?” he asks.
“On whether or not you want me to stay,” I admit quietly.
I wait for his answer, unable to breathe. If he rejects me again, it’ll destroy me. But six months have passed. Maybe something’s changed. Maybe he’s found someone else. Maybe he doesn’t want me around anymore. Maybe—
His lips crash against mine, and then I find myself on my back, with him settled between my legs as he devours me whole.
I feel like I can breathe for the first time in six months, and not just because I have a body again, but because I have his lips on mine.
Relief floods into me, and my soul sings to his at our passionate reunion. His tongue pushes between my lips like a hand reaching out to hold me. He cradles the back of my head, protecting me from the hard ground, and he kisses me until I can’t think.
He takes away all of the worry and fear and hurt and pain. He shows me how much he missed me with every sweep of his tongue.
“I’m so mad at you,” I murmur.
“I’m so sorry,” he replies before recapturing my mouth.
This is different than his other kisses. This isn’t about him dominating me or turning me on. This is about him cherishing me. Adoring me. He’s pouring six months of longing into this kiss, and I can feel everything he’s trying to tell me.
When he finally pulls away and looks down at me, I’m shocked to see that his eyes have a wet sheen in them. I reach up and run my fingertips along his scratchy jaw, relishing in the feel of him.
“Damn, I missed you,” I confess.
“I thought I lost you.”
Emotion drips out of the corner of my eye, and his lips come down to kiss the tears away. “Me too,” I whisper.
“I’m so sorry, Trix. I’m so damn sorry.” He punctuates every word with another kiss to my skin.
He peppers his lips across my jaw and collarbone, up my neck, over my cheeks, and back to my lips. “I lied. I lied to you that day on the beach, and I’ve hated myself for it ever since. I love you so fucking much, Trix Valentine. I was lost without you, and I’m so damn sorry.”
A relieved sob escapes me as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close. “I love you too.”
He responds by lifting me in his arms bridal style and walking towards his house, up the sandy hill.
He whistles, and the shadowy figure of the dog races after us up the hill and into the backyard.
“Wait...that’s your dog?” I ask with confusion. “But you’re allergic.”
He continues to carry me into the house and up the stairs. When we pass into his bedroom, I notice a dog bed in the corner near the fireplace.
“I am,” he answers with a nod. “But don’t you recognize him?”
I look back, and now that there’s light to see him, my jaw drops. Brindled hair. Short legs. Long body. Cute brown eyes.