Page 53 of Return to the Island

“What are you doing?” she asked, looking at me over her shoulder.

“I’m not leaving. Last night without you was hell.” I hadn’t liked sleeping without her. I missed the feel of her next to me in bed.

“You’re the one who sent me here without you.” The snip to her voice shouldn’t have surprised me. I didn’t have words to respond. She was correct. I had sent her here, thinking I needed to prepare my condo for her, brace my parents for our announcement, and go into my office, where I hadn’t been in nearly three weeks. Instead, I’d slept restlessly without her, given myself a headache in trying to rationalize with my father, and not completed one bit of work. I was a mess.

“I’m sorry. How many times can I say it? This was hard for me.” Piercing eyes looked up at me.

“Do you think this was easy for me?” Her voice was low, and my heart begged to be ripped from my chest. “It’s taken me years to get this far. I was on a good path. Life was fine.”

“Until I returned.” She remained in her doorway, blocking the entrance to her apartment.

“Did you think we could just come back here and pretend nothing ever happened? Different but the same? We have a history that other people know began under…” Her voice faltered. Under a rape. Under a court case. Under a restoration process. “Did you think I could fall into place with them? I don’t want to be anywhere near them.” She leaned against the door jamb, her arms wrapped around her middle. My ring still glistened on her finger.

“I wanted them to accept you, accept us.”

“Why?”

“Because all my life he’s disapproved. I just wanted him to see I was doing something right.” My hands flapped in the air before swiping through my hair. “I wanted my mom to see I’m happy.”

She didn’t return the smile I tried to give her.

“Why was Abby there?”

I sighed. “My father called it reinforcements. He didn’t realize I’d be announcing our engagement. He thought if the Goodwins were present, I’d be reminded where my loyalty lay. He hoped I’d be swayed away from you.”

“Are you?”

“Mouse.” I exhaled in warning, shaking my head as my hands slipped into my pockets. “Can we please go inside?”

I didn’t want to keep airing everything in the hallway. She stepped back, and I entered her shabby chic apartment. Done in soft white and pale blues, it was comforting although a bit feminine. The couch was a bright blue color, but I didn’t feel comfortable sitting. She walked toward a small kitchen island, separating the seating area from a galley-style kitchen. Bracing her back against it, she placed her hands on the counter, gripping the edge.

“Why was Rory there?”

“I have no fucking idea.” A huff escaped, and I decided to take a seat after all, sitting heavily on her couch. Taking a look around her apartment, I realized we had only existed in a tent, a tree house, and a hotel resort room. We’d never spent time in a living room or near a kitchen. It was a little strange and a lot removed from where we had come from. Suddenly, our redemptive island seemed a million miles away, like her.

“He said he wanted his turn.” She shivered and I wanted to reach for her, but I sensed my touch would not be welcome. “What if you hadn’t come for me?” Her voice choked, her body visibly shaking as if her skin crawled.

“I told you. I’d always find you, Mouse.” A sob escaped, and this time I stood, approaching her.

“I love you,” I whispered as I tugged her to me. She didn’t return my embrace, and my heart shattered.

“Prove it,” she said, and I pulled back from her. With her eyes closed, and her voice low, she spoke again. “Take away the memory.”

Bracing my hands at the edge of the lace covering her breasts, I ripped the material, exposing two gorgeous globes eager for my touch. Her nipples peaked in the cool air of her apartment. Her eyes opened wide, a touch of fear, a question of temptation. I spun her to face the counter, and tugged at the short zipper, yanking the shirt down her hips. She stood before me with a skin-colored thong and nothing else.

“Mouse,” I hissed, running my hands over her firm ass. Her hands gripped the counter, knuckles white, and I worried this was too much. “Are you sure about this?” I nipped the shell of her ear, and she pressed back against me.

“Different but the same.” The statement sounded like a question. “Show me.”

I spun her back to face me. One hand cupped her jaw tugging her to me for a kiss. The other cupped between her legs, entering her swiftly with two fingers.

“Me,” I groaned against her mouth. “Only me.” I released her, gripped her hips and hitched her up to the counter. Spreading her knees, I bent to mine. Her eyes gleamed as she looked down at me.

“Only for me,” I hissed, and then blew air on that spot, the way I knew she loved. She leaned back on her elbows, one leg slipping over my shoulder. My mouth covered her, lapping at tender folds and sucking her in. She purred, a sound I loved to hear and she only made when she was close and the release would be big. She screamed my name as I drew against her with my tongue, painting a picture of my desire with broad strokes over her puckered flesh. Sitting upright, she reached for my head. I picked her up and carried her to her couch.

“Different but the same,” I said, demanding she notice me. I removed my belt with a sharp snap, but she didn’t look up at me. Next came my coat, then my shirt over my head. She reached up for my belt loops, tugging me down to her. I loved her greedy. I loved her ready, as my fingers found her as I straddled over her.

“I love you,” I said, hoping she felt it in every touch of my fingers, every kiss from my lips. My mouth took hers again, pressing to her words I didn’t have. Apology. Love. Forever.

My pants were slipping down my hips, and I stood briefly to finish removing them. I tugged her upward, switching our positions. She straddled me, lining me up with her entrance. Anticipation built between us as she rode the tip a moment before falling over me, enveloping me in her warmth.

“Fuck,” I groaned. Twenty-four hours and I didn’t realize how much I’d missed her. We fit like two pieces of a puzzle, and I needed her. She fit my edges, and I soothed her curves. We were perfect—together. Overcome with emotion, I gripped her hips, holding her to me, as I thrust upward. I wanted to go deep, as deep as I could go, reaching her heart, hoping to fill her with my love.

“So close, baby,” I groaned, slipping my thumb to that spot, rushing her to get there again with me.

“So good,” she murmured over me, her hair tickling my face as she held my shoulders for balance. She rocked over me, taking me hard within her. I loved her like this.

“I love you wild,” I said. Her eyes focused on our joining.

“I love you,” she said, her voice hesitant, but I didn’t want to question her in the moment. Her eyes glistened, and my hands clutched her hips. Stopping would kill me, but I didn’t know what to do as a tear splashed down on my face. “Don’t stop,” she whispered. “Don’t ever stop.” My thrusts increased, penetrating harder. She rolled with it, matching each thrust. Together we came, and her mouth fell to mine, capturing my litany of profanity, praise for the orgasm that gripped me from all the ends of my body.