His quiet command must have been tethered to my core because no sooner he said the words and I was freefalling. His name was a raspy cry on my lips as I held his hands in mine, riding the crest of fulfillment.
He closed his eyes before swearing softly. “Jesus, Ce, I want to—”
“Let go for me.” I echoed his words, knowing my hold over him was as powerful as his over me.
The grumble deep in his throat was almost primal when that first blast seared me. I’d never experienced this before and I suspected he hadn’t either. It was raw and real and scary and perfect, all at the same time. I felt the surge, the rush, hot and fiery, like his body’s intent was inundating mine with his essence.
When I felt the last rush, I collapsed on his chest, threading my hands through his hair. I’d felt connected to him before, but this experience just intensified everything. It was like my heart was locked to his and I never wanted to free it.
I finally rolled over, curling into his arms as he brushed my hair off my face before looking down into my eyes. “I love you, girl. Like that crazy-obsessed, you’re my world, kind of feeling.”
I giggled, thinking I couldn’t have put it better than my songwriter had. “Ditto.”
We laid in silence for a few seconds, wrapped up in each other’s arms before he said, “Best childhood memory. What is it?”
I thought he knew everything about me already, but he’d never asked that before. “Um, it would have to be on my grandparents’ farm. We’d all get together for Sunday dinners, aunts, uncles, cousins, and we’d come early enough to help my grand-daddy collect eggs and feed the animals.” A content smile spread over my face. “I loved that.”
“Where was their farm?”
“About twenty miles from here. When my grandparents passed my daddy and his siblings sold the place, but I know Daddy would have liked to keep it in the family. Unfortunately, they couldn’t agree, so it was sold off to the highest bidder. I always drive by when I’m in town. The new owners seem to be maintaining it pretty well, so that’s good, I guess.”
“We’ll have to take a drive by there on the way to the hospital. I’d love to see it.”
“Hmm.” I ran my hand over his chest, before outlining the ink that represented my initials on his arm. “What about you? Favorite childhood memory?”
“That would have to be working on cars with the old man. He had this classic Corvette, a ’67 Stingray, and we’d work on it together from the time I was about thirteen, I guess. Every weekend. The best day of my life was the summer I turned seventeen and he finally let me drive it.”
I laughed, trying to imagine Knox at that age. “That’s sweet.”
“I knew how much he loved that car.” He stared at the ceiling, running his fingertip over my shoulder. “Cool as hell when he finally let me drive it.”
“What happened to it?” I asked. “The car?”
“Mama sold it after he passed.” He cleared his throat. “I should’ve kept it. At the time, I couldn’t stand to look at it. Hurt too much. But now I’d give anything to take it out for a spin again.”
“Maybe you could track it down?” I suggested. “If your mama kept the paperwork the VIN number would be on it, right? I’m sure if you offered the current owner enough, told them your story, they’d let you buy it.” I tipped my head back, looking him in the eye. “Don’t you think?”
“I never thought about it, to be honest. Maybe.” He smiled. “Sure would be nice to have that old car again.”
“Is that why you and my father bonded so quickly?” I asked. “Because of your passion for old cars and motorcycles?” If Daddy could have hand-picked a son, I had no doubt it would be someone like Knox, who shared all of his passions.
“I guess so.” He chuckled. “But honestly, I’d never met anyone quite like Chee. Scared the shit out of me first time we met. I’d known a lot of old bikers, from playin’ the bar scene, but it was different with him. I knew he was sizin’ me up, tryin’ to figure out whether I wanted to get in your pretty little panties.” He squeezed my butt, making me laugh. “I had to convince him I was just a good friend, before he started to trust me.”
“You don’t know how many times over the years he asked why the hell I couldn’t find a boyfriend like you instead of wasting my time with all those losers, as he called them.”
“That surprises me. All that BS online about the women I’d screwed around with. I would’ve thought I’d be the last dude he’d want his little princess to hook up with.”
“He knows you.” I tapped his chest. “He knows your heart. Same as I do. Knows you’re a good man, that your friends and family are everything to you. And I guess he thought you’d be careful with my heart, if I ever came to my senses and gave it to you.”
He kissed me before he whispered, “Best damn gift I ever got, angel. The day you trusted me with your heart.”
* * *
We’d taken the long way to the hospital, driven by my grandparents’ old farmhouse, even though it was hard to see much on the dimly lit country road. And we’d talked, the way we used to before we became a couple. It was a relief, knowing that even though he was my lover now, my boyfriend, Knox was still my best friend too.
By the time we arrived in the ICU Charli and Mama had already spent time with Daddy, so I was granted a few minutes before he had to turn in.
“Hey, you,” I said, pecking my head into his room. “Up for one more visitor?”
