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“I didn’t take you seriously but I can see how it would worry you. I spent too much time trying to figure out how to get you back to me. Girls weren’t even on my radar. That girl Charlie saw was quickly dismissed. She snuck on the bus and waited for me. When she came onto me, I shut her down and showed her the door.”
“Dec, I know you don’t want to talk about Finn but I need to tell you something. I love Finn; I’ve loved him for most of my life. But you are the love of my life. He knows that, I know that, and I want you to know that.”
There it is. The personal demons that have filled my head the last few months vanish. My Raven’s still here even though we’ve gone through hell.
“I feel the same way, you are my everything. I won’t let you down again. If I have to spend the next sixty years of our lives proving you’re my reason for living, then I take the challenge. You’re the love of my life too, and together we will write the most beautiful love story ever written.”
“You think we can make it? Even after everything?”
“I know we can, we have no choice.”
She loosens her body and allows me to pull her to me. Her breathing evens out when she falls asleep. I kiss her temple endlessly thinking about how I need to make this up to her.
Chapter 9
He Wasn’t You
Raven
I wake up to a stream of light coming through the curtains. The heat and warmth of Declan’s body wrapped around mine makes me feel cherished. As much as I tried to ignore and deny the feelings I felt so deeply for him, when his arms are around me I know. I am his forever.
I have no idea what time it is but I don’t want to go back home yet. I can’t hide forever, but I have a lot of questions facing me back in Nashville. Also, I think Declan and I need more time alone. I start school in a few weeks and by then we’ll know what’s in store for Sayge.
The last two days have been the most emotionally draining of my life. Leaving Finn at the airport in France torn my heart out. I knew things would be different for us when we got back to Nashville, but I never expected him to stay. As soon as I get home, I’m going to call him and talk through his decision. It’s not too late to come back.
Declan’s soft beard rubs along my neck and his teeth graze my ear. Instantly my body reacts and my nipples harden under my nightie. The new facial hair is a complete turn on.
“I know you’re awake.”
“Go back to sleep.”
“Why would I sleep when you’re awake? What time is it?”
“Not sure, but I need to run to the bathroom, and then I think I’ll try to sleep again.”
He lets me loose, and I reluctantly get out of bed. When I see my reflection in the mirror it is obvious, I had a crying fest yesterday. My face is swollen and blotchy; my eyes are blood shot, and my hair is out of control. After I use the bathroom and brush my teeth, I run a washcloth under the cold water and plaster it against my face to try and relieve some of the swelling. Declan knocks at the door, and I open it without removing the cloth.
“What are you doing?”
“I look like shit, I’m trying to get my face back to normal.”
“Do you think I could use the bathroom while you do that?” I hear him lifting the toilet lid and scuffling his shorts.
“Gross! I’m not standing in here while you pee! I’ll meet you back in bed.”
A few minutes later the bed moves and he pulls me over to him. He takes the cloth off my face and throws it to the side.
“Is my face any better?” I ask.
“How much better could it get? It’s pretty fucking perfect to me.”
“Is the puffiness gone?”
His face gets serious, and he runs his hands through my hair. “Yeah babe, the swelling went down. But you’re still beautiful to me.”
He’s so close but holding back, waiting for me to make the first move. I lift my arm up and run it through his hair and down his face. I stop when my fingers touch his lips, and then rub my fingers across them toying with his ring. He surprises me by sucking the tips into his mouth kissing them delicately. I pull back but only to lift myself and replace my fingers with my lips. He opens his mouth and accepts me. At first, I’m slow and sweet but then I crush my body against his and put all my feelings into my actions. Our tongues swirl together, and our heads rotate. He lies on top of me with our bodies pressed together. The kiss is passionate and needy, and his erection pokes my hip. We move against one another reacquainting from the long hiatus. His fingers glide down my neck and lower the straps of my nightie over my shoulders. When the cool air hits my throbbing nipples, I suck in a breath. Goose bumps cover every inch of my exposed skin, and I shiver under him.
He moves slightly breaking our kiss to move his lips down the path his fingers traveled. When he gets to my chest, he pulls back and stares. After a few seconds, I squirm feeling uncomfortable. He raises his eyes to meet mine, and I see so much in his expression; lust, love, the primal instinct to wrap me in his arms and never let go. I reach up and run my hands over his biceps and grip his shoulders. He still hasn’t moved, and he’s staring almost through me.
