Page 141 of Running to You

He looks like me.

And maybe it was because he hadn’t slept that his eyes prickled, that he had to clench his jaw to keep his chin from wobbling.

Or maybe it was because, for the first time, he was looking at…his son.

Eliza was still talking. He had no idea what she was saying, hadn’t been able to focus on her words. Until…

“I’m so sorry, Sam. Can you ever forgive me?”

And that did it.

He stood suddenly. Stepped back.

Forgive her?

She thought he needed to forgive her? After all the cruel things he’d said to her? The terrible ways he’d treated her?

He didn’t understand how she could have left. He didn’t understand so much. But he did understand what mattered. That she’d had a child, on her own. That she’d done everything she could to protect that child.

His child.

Eliza didn’t need Sam’s forgiveness. He needed hers.

He pulled her to her feet, not missing the quiet gasp or the fear in her eyes.

As if he might hurt her.

Never.

He wrapped her in his arms and held her close. Overwhelmed with emotion. But it wasn’t enough.

He backed up to look at her, this beautiful, beautiful woman. He pressed a palm on her cheek, into her hair.

She blinked, those wide eyes filled with confusion.

If he could speak, he would, but he didn’t know how to put into words all the things he was feeling.

So he kissed her. He told himself to be gentle, to be tender. But his body was moving much faster than his brain. He urged her lips open and dove in, feeling her relief, tasting the salt in her tears. Or maybe those were his tears. And he didn’t even care, couldn’t have stopped them if he’d wanted to.

She melted against him, her arms snaking around his neck.

He wanted every single part of her. He backed her to the wall, braced one hand against it, the other behind her back, arching her closer. Feeling the warmth of her pressed against him.

He would never get enough of her. Never wanted to let her go.

He heard, or maybe felt, the little mew she made in her throat. The sound exploded desire in him, and he groaned.

Groaned and stopped and stepped away.

But he couldn’t stand the distance.

He pulled her against his chest and held her there. Catching his breath. Breathing in her scent.

Slow down.

Because there was a right way to do this, and there was a wrong way. And he knew the pain in choosing the wrong way. He wasn’t going to screw this up again. No way.

Eliza laid her hand against his heart. “I’m… I don’t know what you’re thinking. But…I’m sorry, for all of it.”