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I noticed her body stiffen and was disappointed I probably ruined the mood and something utterly fabulous. But I didn’t get the reaction I thought I would have, and her words shocked me to my core.
“It’s okay, Braxton,” she choked out through tears. “I most likely can’t have children at all anyway. I told you before that some things I still need to say may change how you feel about me.”
The dam broke loose as tears turned into rushing water, now falling steadily from her heartbroken eyes, and huge sobs spilled from her trembling lips.
I didn’t know why she said what she had, but nothing would change my mind about her, and she needed to know that. She was breaking my heart, so I finally pushed the comforter down, removed her sexy shoes, and then yanked the covers up over us, wrapping my body around hers. Rolling to my back, I pulled her up on top of my body and tucked her close, holding on. I would stay like that for hours if I had to. It wasn’t too long, before her sobs, turned into hiccups, and then with her body over mine, face tucked into my neck, my girl fell asleep.
When she woke up, we would talk, but for now, this is what she needed. I would do anything for her, she was part of me now. Jurnee was imprinted on my heart.
Chapter Twenty-One
Braxton
As I also drift off to sleep, I know something major has happened. I have fallen in love for the first time in my life.
With Jurnee.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jurnee
Waking up in his arms,the heat of his body surrounds me, and I try holding on to the content feeling it brings, but can’t help the worry that consumes me over what I told him before I drifted off. I am also scared to death because I completely skipped over the ‘fall with me’ segment he mentioned while we danced earlier tonight. I’ve already fallen head over heels in love.
With Braxton.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jurnee
Raisingmy head from Braxton’s sinfully sexy body, I looked up at his face so calm in sleep, which was a vast difference from the intensity that had overtaken it during the throws of passion earlier. His chest rising and falling in rapid motion, the rhythm of it and his pulse in tune with one another, eased my bleeding heart.
I was terrified at what his reaction would be to my earlier confession, which had probably taken away from the beauty of our lovemaking. But it was time I knew how Brax felt, not only about what I said but also regarding what happened between us. Brax, I loved the sound of his name shortened and wondered what he would think of me calling him that.
He did call me Dimples, so…
My hand slowly started tracing circles on his smooth, sculpted chest as I admired and read the tattoo over where his heart laid. I saw it when he undressed but was too caught up in the moment to see what it said. It was the only ink I’d seen on his body, showcasing just how much the words must’ve meant to the man himself.Through the hard times, we find strength. Within the strength, we defeat our weakest moments. And in those moments, we find the power to heal.As I recited the words aloud and continued to gently caress him, Brax stirred from his sleep. “Hey beautiful,” he said, a little groggily.
He still thinks I’m beautiful?
Hope soared through me at his words, like a bird taking flight into the open sky. “You still think I’m beautiful?” He looked confused by my question, but it was hard for me to believe in things sometimes. I had come a long way, but there were times that doubt crept right back in.
“Jurnee, of course, I do. I don’t know what happened, or what is going on, and I know what you said probably scares you and breaks your heart, but it doesn’t make me love you any less.”
What the heck! Holy shit batman!
Nobody but my adoptive parents and my girls had ever said they loved me. Certainly not a man, except of course my father, but that was way different.
“You love me?” I asked, daring to hope that it could be true.
“I know it’s probably too soon, but yeah, Jurnee, I’ve fallen in love with you.” Braxton’s handsome, sleep-lined face was soft but serious.
Oh my gosh, I was about to come out of my skin.Braxton loves me. Even after what I’d said, or not knowing the whole story about the fears I carried, he still loved me. Which was good, right? Or maybe I was jumping ahead too much? Not many things early on in my life worked out, and I hadn’t had relationships flourish in the past, but there hadn’t been anyone in the guy department that interested me to make me truly care. And I was scared the other shoe would drop and it would all be taken away from me at some point, so I always held myself back.
I didn’t know if I could survive losing Braxton. I had fought my way through cancer, dealt with my birth mother abandoning me when I needed her most, and made it out of the foster care system whole. But having Braxton love me, only to lose him later, may have been the one thing I wouldn’t make it through.
Try Jurnee, he’s worth it.
He was, I knew it deep down, and so it left me no choice but to follow my heart and give him the words back that my soul was dying to set free.
