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I jog up the steps and enter my front door, eager to tell Lilah. The house is dark and quiet. I walk to the living room, and the excitement bubbling in me bursts.
She sits in a chair with her back to me. The TV isn’t on, and for a moment, I think she might be asleep. But she shifts and pulls a blanket up to her shoulders. I must be imagining the grim atmosphere in the house.
“I’ve got good news,” My feet eat up the final few steps around the chair, and I come to a halt, soaking her in. “What’s wrong?”
I drop to my knees in front of her chair. Her damp hair lays over her shoulders, and she’s fresh-faced and makeup-free while wearing her sleep cami and shorts. I wouldn’t think much of it except for the red tint around her eyes and her desolate expression.
She bites her bottom lip and tears pool in her eyes.
“Lilah, what happened? What’s going on?” Taking her hands, I bring them to my lips and kiss her knuckles as my insides clench.
I’d mentally prepared myself for her to fall off the wagon—or I’d thought I had.
“Just a rough day, that’s all.” Her voice is scratchy, as though she’s barely used it today.
“Did you…”
She shakes her head vehemently. “No, I’m still sober.” Her eyes squeeze shut. “But I want to use so badly right now.”
I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her tightly, letting her know I’m here. I can’t fight her internal battle for her, but I’m here and willing to do whatever I can to get her past this momentary rough patch.
“What can I do?” I murmur into her hair.
“Nothing.” She pulls away. “Tell me your great news.” She rubs her eyes and gives me a pleading look, obviously wanting to forget whatever demon she’s fighting.
Although my enthusiasm has waned, I figure it will distract Lilah. “I’m close to signing on to another movie. And if things go as planned, this will be my first eight-figure deal.”
Her smile grows. Though she’s clearly happy for me, there’s still a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. “That’s amazing. All your hard work, all the sacrifices are paying off. I’m so happy for you.”
“For us, Lilah. Be happy for us,” I say, because for me, it’s not I, it’s we.
“I am.” She places her hand on my cheek and kisses me softly, tenderly as she opens her mouth for my tongue to slide in. She closes the kiss sooner than I’d like. “Will you make love to me?”
I pull back and meet her gaze. A depth of emotions swim in her eyes—love, pain, remorse, shame, and most importantly, hope.
“Always.”
I drag her forward on the chair until she slips off and onto my lap, straddling me. Cupping her face, I meet her lips with a kiss fueled by desire and desperation.
Lilah needs to savor my love for her right now.
After a few minutes, I lead her to our bedroom, where I strip her bare and worship her body with my mouth.
“You’re everything to me,” I say, twirling my tongue around her nipple.
“You are my past, my present, and my future,” I whisper into her inner thigh.
“You are all that matters,” I promise her before sucking on her clit.
Once I’ve sated her with my tongue, I push inside her with our eyes locked. I force myself to keep my eyes open despite the pleasure coursing between our bodies. She must need the connection too, because her eyes never wander.
“You are the best thing that ever happened to me,” she whispers.
I want to respond, but she climaxes soon after. The pulsing of her center sends me over the edge, and I spill into her with ecstasy in my body and love in my heart.
Afterward, she lies in my arms and falls asleep. I hope I was able to show her how loved she is.
* * *
