Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
“Who was that?” she asks as I guide her into the bathroom.
“Security. I hope they don’t bother you. They’re going to be around. That’s not up for debate.” I grab her by the hips, setting her up on the counter in the bathroom. I start pulling open drawers to find the first aid kit. I don’t see any marks on Willow, but I’m going to check every inch of her for myself.
“Bottom left in the back,” she says softly. I look in the drawer she told me to, finding what I need. “Lennon.” I drop the box down onto the counter next to her. “Lennon!” She snaps my name out this time. I jerk my head up, my eyes meeting hers. She grabs me by the shirt, pulling me towards her. “Kiss me,” she orders. Her request somehow puts me at ease instantly.
She doesn't have to ask me twice. I drop my mouth down onto her. It’s not a sweet kiss. It should be. I love this woman, and I could have lost her tonight. The kiss is almost punishing. I claim her mouth, taking what I want. Fuck that, it’s what I need. I don’t think I could live without her. I’m still not sure how I’ve survived all these years waiting for her.
When we finally break away from the kiss, I drop my face into her neck, breathing her in as we both try to catch our breath. Her fingers run through my short hair. I close my eyes and relax into her.
“You can’t leave me. I’m not sure I could let you go even if you wanted to. Fuck, I shouldn’t say shit like that after what you just went through, but it’s the truth.”
She pulls on my hair. I lift my head. Her mouth is swollen from the kiss. A mixture of guilt and arousal course through me at the sight.
“I love you,” she tells me. I drop my head. So long I’ve waited to hear her say those words to me.
“Say it again.” I close my eyes to savor each and every one of the words.
“I love you.” She gives me the words again. Her fate to be mine was locked long ago. With those three simple words she tosses away the key.
14
Willow
I watch as the rest of the tension drains from Lennon. I open the first aid kit and get to work on his hands. He stands there, his eyes never leaving me as I clean the cuts. He hasn't said the words back to me yet, but I know he loves me.
“You’ve been looking for me?” I ask. I still can’t believe he’s real. But it does explain a lot. Including why I was so drawn to him from the moment I first saw his picture in the diner with Glory. That unexplainable pull I had to him hadn’t only been my imagination.
“You are my wife.” I snort a laugh at his response. But his words have butterflies forming in my stomach.
“Lennon.” I pull at his shirt, wanting to touch him without anything between us. He helps me get it off him, tossing it away. I rest my hand over his heart, feeling it beat.
“It beats for you.” He puts his hand on top of mine. Ahh. He’s going to kill me with his sweetness. If I could fall more in love with him I would.
“I can’t believe it’s you. Over the years I’ve thought about you. I’d convinced myself it was a dream, but still I couldn’t bring myself to uncross off my list that I’d gotten married.” That’s the truth. I could never bring myself to write the word marriage as something I needed to do again.
“It was real. I’ve been looking for you ever since.”
“This is crazy.” I drop my hand to place a kiss over his heart. Is this why I’ve never felt attraction for any other man? Except him. Even his name had drawn me in when Glory said it that day at the diner. My finger had traced over it on the paper.
I remembered the boy's name. He’d only given me part of it. I just thought it was a coincidence. Because the boy I remember from the chapel and the man standing in front of me now look nothing alike at first glance.
“It’s always been you, Willow.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. “You changed my life that day. Gave me a drive and a purpose. At the time life was pretty miserable. It jaded my brother. I think it would have done the same to me. Except I’d met you. A brave girl that looked death in the face and still pushed for her dreams. It made me realize that I had a choice to chase mine. You did that for me. Everything I did after that day was with you in mind.”