Page 64 of Falling Again

TWENTY-SEVEN

CHLOE

Now

“I think I want to leave Auburn Hills,” I tell Tyler just moments after he returns to bed from the bathroom.

“Whoa, wait, what? Where is this coming from?”

“I don’t mean like, right now. I’m quite attached to the cottage, and the ducks, and you,” I say, blushing. “But, like at some point in the near future. I think I want to experience life where I’m not tied to anything or anyone,” I declare.

He nods, and I bite my lip, nervous of my confession. “Where do you want to go?”

I smile. “Anywhere.”

“For how long?”

I think it over. I’m not sure how long. I don’t think forever; I want to come back if I want to, but I also want freedom to go wherever. “However long I want,” I decide.

He nods, thinking over what I’ve just said. I wait for him to convince me otherwise and tell me it is unwise. I was hesitant to say anything to him, especially now. But something about Tyler doesn’t make me fearful that I’ll lose him. I know, in my soul, he’ll be there, always. He’s just that kind of person.

“Well, do you need a travel companion?” he asks, and I feel my eyes bug out.

“What? What about the ranch?”

He shrugs. “I’ll rent it out.”

“But, what about Scooter?”

“He loves car rides.”

“What about Lucy? Or the ducks?”

“My neighbor just got an alpaca that I think Lucy would enjoy hanging out with, and the ducks take care of themselves.”

“But, but, what about your job?”

“What about your job?” he retorts, and I purse my lips.

“Touché. I mean, I hadn’t figured that part out yet. I also don’t really have a timeline. Just a thought.”

“I think it’s a great idea. And if you’ll have me, I’ll go wherever you go. Whenever you decide to go.”

I stare at his face; his glasses are set on the nightstand, so I see the freckles that pepper his cheeks and forehead. His dark-red eyebrows are scrunched ever so slightly, as he waits for my response. His hair is deliciously disheveled. I want to wake up to his face every day.

“Only if you give me a shoulder rub every day.”

“Deal,” he says, scooping me up and pulling my front closer to his. We are both still naked from my early morning wake-up call. Tyler kisses my neck and reaches down to my backside, squeezing and rubbing. He snakes a hand between my center and presses two fingers inside me while rubbing me with his thumb, and I release a yelp. “Oh god, you’re so wet already. Is this all for me?” he asks.

I arch my body toward his and bend back, mumbling a string of nonsense words. He catches one of my breasts in his mouth, and I release a long moan. His touch electrifies my whole body, my whole soul. My heart beats and yearns for him.

“Chloe, you’re so perfect,” he whispers against my skin, still trailing kisses along my skin and pumping his fingers inside me. I lift his head to mine and kiss him hard. I grind against his hand, chasing the sparks dancing in my core.

“I love the way you make me feel,” I say against his lips. I want to say more, but that little voice inside of me from my past creates doubt. It’s warning me, pushing to the surface images of those I’ve loved and how they let me down—telling me I’ve opened myself up to people who tore apart my vulnerabilities.

Tyler kisses the corners of my mouth and brushes my hair out of my face. He removes his fingers, sheaths himself with a condom and slides into me. I feel his fullness so sharply, and my eyes open to meet his warm brown eyes. He looks at me so fiercely, yet gently, and rocks into me. It feels different from before. Before it was intense and nearly desperate, and now, it’s filled with longing. He’s taking his time, savoring me. He kisses my chest, my neck, and the edge of my jaw. He kisses my lips and bucks into me firmly. He pulls his head back and looks at me in the eyes as if he’s searching for something. Validation. Truth. What’s in my heart.

“I love you, Chloe,” Tyler says and kisses me quickly before I can reply. He looks at me again, continuing, “I’ll love you for as long as you’ll let me. I will do whatever I can to bring out your best self, and I’ll show you every day how much love you deserve. Because you are incredible and I’m so lucky to have you, if you’ll let me.” He kisses each of my cheeks and wipes away the tears I didn’t realize were falling. The little voice in my head goes silent. No one has ever treated me with such love and respect as Tyler. My heart grows and bursts at his words.