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“I’m so sorry, Angel.” He had failed her. He could barely look at her. He was so ashamed. He broke eye contact and looked down. Nothing he could do or say would ever be able to undo what had been done. He couldn’t bear the fact that he had caused her pain. All along he’d promised her one thing, that he’d never let anyone hurt her. Just one thing, and he couldn’t even keep that promise.
She laid her palm against his jaw, rubbing her thumb over his lips. “Shh. I know, baby. I know.” She ran her hand over his face, tucking a lock of hair back.
He reached up, took her hand in his, and kissed her palm.
She rolled to her side and tucked up against him, resting her head on his shoulder. She put her arm around him, and he pulled her close.
He closed his eyes and rested his chin on top of her head.
***
“Sleep baby,” she said. She felt him nod his head slightly in agreement. She lay there listening to the rain and to his heart beating, feeling his chest rise and fall with his breathing. She felt contentment. She wished they could stay like this forever; that she would never have to leave the safety of his arms.
She could feel his breathing change and knew when he’d finally drifted off to sleep. She looked up at him, studying his face. He looked so peaceful, but he’d said that there was no peace to be found in his dreams. She wondered if it would always be like that for him.
***
It rained all day, and Cole slept most of it away wrapped in Angel’s arms. The last light was fading from the sky when he finally woke up.
He found himself face down across Angel’s chest, the side of his cheek resting on her breast. He became aware of little things, the sound of the rain against the windows, the warmth of her skin, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. She was running her hand through his hair, softly, repeatedly. It was heaven. He could lay here and have her touch him like this forever. He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, enjoying the feel of her hands so tender on him.
“You awake?” she whispered.
He lay there not moving, trying to prepare himself for what he was afraid was coming. Would she want to leave him now? “Baby, I’m so sorry.”
Her hand paused in stroking his hair. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Angel, you have to know—”
She cut him off. “Please, Cole. I can’t deal with it right now.”
“All right, baby doll.” He gave in. He was unsure how to proceed, not sure where he stood, where they stood. Was there even a “they” anymore? He knew the best thing he could do for her was to let her go. But he didn’t want to. God, help him. He couldn’t. Not now. Not yet. He cursed the selfishness of it, but he didn’t care. He just wasn’t ready to let her go. He wasn’t ready for this to be over. He lay there, listening to her heart beating in his ear.
“What are you thinking?” He had to know.
She resumed stroking his hair. “Nothing.”
“Tell me, please. I know I hurt you. I let you down. God, you must hate me now.” When she said nothing, he realized how badly he had wanted her to deny it. The muscle in his jaw tightened. He tried to prepare himself, to protect himself from the hurt. “If you want to leave…I won’t stop you. I’ll take you myself, wherever you want to go. But…”
“But, what?” she prompted.
“But that’s not what I want. I don’t want you to leave. Not yet. Not yet, baby.”
She stared at him.
“Let me take you away from here, just the two of us. Just a few more days together, please, baby. Will you stay? Will you give me that?” He rose up slightly and looked at her.
She smiled at him in the fading light and nodded.
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly, their lips barely touching. He hung suspended above her, resting on his elbows. Her hands came up and framed his face, pulling him down to deepen the kiss. She trailed her nails down over the muscles in his shoulders and arms. He heard her moan, and he tightened his arms around her. His mouth moved to her jaw, trailing kisses to her ear. “I want you,” he whispered in a low, gravelly voice.
Her mouth trailed kisses along his neck, moving to his ear, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her lips. She paused with her mouth just over his ear, and she whispered back, “Then take me.”
He rose up and looked down at her. “I don’t want to hurt you. Your back is still tender, and—”
She pushed back on his shoulders, rolling him to his back. Then she threw her leg over him and moved on top. Her hands pressed to his chest as she rose up and straddled him.
His hands closed around her hips. He smiled up at her. “You’re sure?”
She smiled back and nodded.
His hands tightened around her hips, and he lifted her, positioned her, and surged inside her.
