She’s definitely been crying, but she recoiled when I touched her, so I guess a hug isn’t what she needs right now.
“Okay.” I sat down across from her. “Whatever it is, we can work through it.”
“I don’t think this is something we’re going to be able to work through.” She lifted her head slowly. “I got a job offer from Cardinal Advertising.”
“That’s—that’s good news. Right?” I tilted my head to the side.
“It’s my dream job.” She threw her hands up. “Except it’s my dream job—in New York.”
“New York.” I blinked in surprise. “They want you to move there?”
“Yes, and if they had offered me this job two months ago, I would be packing right now. Instead, I’ve been sitting here crying since I got back to my apartment because…” Her words trailed off.
Because of me. Oh my god.
“Chloe…” I shifted over to the couch and grabbed her hand—thankfully she didn’t pull away. “I would never want to keep you from something that you’ve worked so hard for. This iseverythingyou wanted.”
“It was.” She exhaled sharply and wiped a tear away. “But I never expected to meet someone that changed my entire perspective on love—I never expected to meet someone as incredible as you.”
“So, this is our bump in the road…” I shook my head back and forth.
“Bump?” Her eyebrows raised. “It feels like a mountain.”
“I want you to think back to what I said to you in the first letter I wrote. Real love requires work and absolute devotion. It’s not always easy. There are bumps along the way, and that’s when it gets tested—that’s when it gets complicated.” I reached over and brushed her hair out of her face while simultaneously wiping away a tear. “We can get through this.”
“How?” She squeezed her eyes shut, seemingly trying to fight the tears that refused to stop. “If I take this job, I’ll never see you again. It’s not like I could ever ask you to follow me to New York. Your family is here—Abby. She woulddieif you left. We’ve been together less than two months—how could either of us make that kind of commitment at this point, even if it feels right?”
“So, we throw it all away because there are a few bumps? I told you from the beginning that I wasn’t the kind of man who could do that. Yeah, it might not be as picture perfect as being able to spend every spare moment we have together, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible. I can come visit you—you can come visit me.” I wiped away the newest tear. “We have a foundation built—we don’t stop there. Wetry—even if it doesn’t work—we fucking try.”
I pulled Chloe into my arms and held her. I let her cry. Hell, I wanted to cry too. As much as it hurt and as much as it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest, I knew she couldn’t turn down the opportunity in front of her. It was too important. I didn’t know if our relationship could survive the test that we would endure once we were pulled in opposite directions, but I refused to give up without trying to make it work. I held Chloe for nearly thirty minutes before the tears finally stopped. Her head raised slowly, and she kissed me. It was different than the other kisses we had shared. It was raw and primal—with more than desire on her tongue. She was showing me that she was willing to fight for our relationship too—and that need wasn’t going to be satisfied with just one kiss.
“I need you.” She pressed her lips to my ear. “Please make love to me.”
The rules no longer mattered to me. It was no longer about teasing or flirting. We both needed the passion—we needed to feel it burn—to the point that it consumed us. I crushed her lips beneath mine. I pulled at her clothes, desperate to feel skin-on-skin with nothing between us. My cock quickly started to engorge in my pants, and it begged to be freed from the fabric prison. Chloe fell back on the couch and I was on top of her immediately, pulling her shirt over her head—removing her bra with a quick tug—kissing her nipples as soon as they were exposed to my tongue for the very first time.
“Oh god…” She moaned and tore at my shirt—the buttons didn’t matter—they snapped and then my shirt was on the floor.
“I’ve wanted you for so fucking long…” My lips pressed against her ear and then I started kissing her neck.
“Then don’t hold back—please don’t stop.” She gasped and started to fumble with my belt.
The doubt that had held me back—the rules that were there to define our relationship for us—they were not important. The only thing that mattered was the need that burned between us brighter than lust ever could. She needed the fury and the passion. I needed to pull her back from the edge—to show her that there was nothing that would ever stand between us. Distance was a challenge—not a barrier. It was something we could get through together, as long as we both wanted it. I certainly did. There was no way in hell I was going to lose her after tearing out a piece of my heart and putting it in her hand.
