AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This place isours, not mine,” I whisper. Her body stiffens in response.
“Why?” she says as she lets out a breath.
“I want us to build a home together. Something we create that we love every inch of. A place to grow a family. As soon as I saw the listing, my mind immediately thought of you. I saw us growing old here together. I couldn’t bring myself to go back to the penthouse after what happened there. The guilt has been eating me up. I don’t expect you to forgive me right now. I don’t expect you to want to move in with me, either. I… just wanted to show you how serious I am about you, about our future. This house and I will be here waiting until you’re ready.”
I hope it doesn’t take long, but I’m prepared to wait for as long as it takes for her to find her way back to me.
“Oh Keller,” she sobs, nestling her face into my chest. I stroke her silky hair as she lets it all out. Tears sting my eyes as I take in a shaky breath. I’ve broken her. Wetness soaks through my hoodie. These are tears I have caused.
“Shhh, Baby. I’m so sorry, Sienna, I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you so bad.” I choke out the words.
“Why did you have to leave me?” her barely audible voice whispers through sobs.
Using my thumbs to hook under her chin and pull her head up to look at me. As she sniffles, I gently pad under her eyes, chasing her tears away. “I promise you I will never, ever leave your side again. I will never cause you pain like this again. I will cherish your heart over my own. I will love you until the day I die, and then I’ll love you through eternity.” My voice breaks as I let it all out to her.
“I’m starting to understand, Keller. It just fucking hurts so much that you could break my heart like that. That you could break me.”
“I know. I would give up everything I have to go back in time and stand by your side. I thought I was protecting you by ripping out my own heart. I was completely and utterly wrong. For the rest of my life, I will regret that.” I offer her a sad smile. “I love you, Princess. Always and forever. Even if you never forgive me, you’ll always own my heart.”
We stare into each other’s eyes for a few moments, nothing else matters.
“Kiss me.” She whispers, so quietly I barely register her words.
Stunned, I look at her, her eyes red and blotchy, her skin pale, yet she’s still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.
“I said, kiss me,” she repeats, this time louder.
Lowering my lips to hers, I capture them with mine, slowly deepening the kiss. Pouring every ounce of love into it. My hands wrap around her hair as my tongue slips into her mouth, lapping her up, our teeth clattering together. She tastes like fresh mint. My cock twitches against my jeans in response as I let out a low groan into her mouth.
“I’ve missed you so much, Baby,” I say as I take her mouth again, this time hungrily. Her arms wrap around my neck.
Regretfully, I pull myself from her, instantly missing her lips on mine. I have to do this the right way. Shock is written across her face as she stands there staring at me, her cheeks flushed and hair now wild, her swollen lips just daring to be taken again.
“I want to do this right, Sienna. I want you to come back to me with your whole heart. No doubts, no concerns, both feet in, ready to live the rest of your life with me.”
I can’t believe I’m doing this. I have to.
She isn’t ready. I can still sense her nervousness around me. She doesn’t trust me.
Her arms fold over her chest. “You’re doing this to me now? You’re really turning me down?” She shouts, pain flickering through her eyes.
“Yes.” The words fall out of my mouth. “All in, baby, I need you all in. I can feel it. You aren’t there yet, so I have more work to do.”
She lowers her head and lets out a sigh. That’s when I wrap her up in a tight embrace and whisper in her ear “This isn’t a goodbye, Princess. I’m not giving up, not now, not ever. Everything here will be here waiting for you to come home.”
“I can’t keep doing this, Keller. Just take me home and leave me alone.” She lets out a defeated sigh and I do as she wishes, the ride home in complete silence. She gets out of the car and slams the door, not even glancing back my way as she storms into her apartment.
Fuck.
* * *
I head straight to the gym to do what I do best. Punch shit.
“FUCCCK” I scream, as I erupt a barrage of punches into the heavy bag. Releasing every ounce of devastation that consumes my body, into the leather. It’s the only way I know how to cope; to fight. Every muscle in my body is screaming at me to stop. Sweat drips off my forehead into my eyes, my lungs are on fire.
Smashing my head into the bag, I grip around and take in some deep breaths. Spiraling, I’m spiraling into the darkness and I’ve just pushed away my only hope into the light.
I can feel the stares of the rest of the gym beating into my back as I stand there, almost hyperventilating into a punch bag.
