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“I didn’t want to wake you,” she offers with a small smile. Only, I’m not buying it.
“Why did you leave so early?” My question is a simple one. But I see her take a deep breath like it pains her and she is resigned to tell me her answer.
"Last night… I felt like Cinderella. I felt beautiful, carefree, being with you was amazing. But my life is not that, Harrison. It's none of that. I haven't felt carefree in forever, I never wear pretty clothes, I never feel beautiful. I needed to get home to my reality, which is far different than your luxury penthouse with its perfectly curated art and luxurious amenities,” she says quietly, and I don’t like it. Not one bit.
“You are beautiful. You are beautiful every damn minute of every day. And if I have to show you that, I will,” I growl, wrapping my hand around hers, where she remains sitting on the hospital bed.
“I feel like your dirty little secret, Harrison. I want to be with you, more than anything, but I guess it will just take a little getting used to.” She leans into me, where I stand in front of her, her body relaxed from the painkillers, no doubt.
“Beth, I know you have responsibilities. You have your dad to take care of, and that can be overwhelming. Let me help you. I want to be with you, every second. I want to touch you more than I should, and I know the next few months will be tough, but you are not my dirty secret, Beth, you are my hidden treasure,” I tell her with my feelings on the line, wanting to drum it in, wanting her to know that she means way more to me than that.
I look down at her and notice her eyes getting glassy. My tough, beautiful woman is vulnerable in my arms right now. Not something I have seen from her before, and my heart clenches in my chest, the pain of seeing her upset almost suffocating me.
“Just promise me no more getting onto the roof?” I say to her in warning, because I still can’t believe she did that. She remains suspiciously silent.
“I will call Eddie to organize a building maintenance team to come to your place tomorrow to fix it.”
“No! I don’t need charity, Harrison. I can do it myself,” she says with a huff, her stubborn self now back in action.
“It is not charity. It is me looking after you.”
“I don’t need looking after and I don’t need your money.” Even in her tired state, she slides off the bed, coming to stand right in front of me.
“You listen to me, Beth. Last night was not a one-night deal for me, and I thought I made that clear, but I will once more. I want you. All of you. I want you in my bed. I want you working by my side. I want you in my life. So I will fix your goddamn roof, and I will do it with my money, whether you like it or not.”
I am panting. I am so angry. We hold each other’s eyes, and if looks could kill, I would be the one lying on the bed right about now. But something switches, and before any more words can be spoken, I take her in my arms and kiss her.
21
BETH
Igrip onto his shirt with my good hand as his lips devour mine. His hands cup my face, pulling me toward him, holding me like he never wants to let me go. Our lips mesh as our tongues explore, and I whimper a little at his touch. The pain I feel in my hand and my hip is now long forgotten. All I can feel is him.
There is no hesitation, no feeling of uneasiness, just pure want, need, and demand, as he keeps my lips against his. He is warm, his body covering mine, cocooning me in a warm blanket of security I want to wrap myself in and never leave. I never thought I was the type of girl who would find the dependability of a man comforting. I have always managed to look after myself and my dad. I am independent, strong, and used to doing things on my own. But my body melts in his arms, and when he holds me, it is like everything is going to be alright. He smells of a mixture of sunscreen and summer breeze, and I want to lie in his arms forever.
We pull back slowly, looking at each other. Our breaths labored, my grip on him remaining. His hands stay on my face, cupping my cheeks as his eyes search my face. I see the concern etched in his brow, that deep line telling me he is worried, and any annoyance or anger I had earlier has now dissipated.
“You're stubborn. Has anyone told you that before?” he says, resting his forehead on mine, looking right into my eyes.
“You’re bossy, has anyone told you that before?” I counter before we both smile softly at each other.
“You seemed to like it last night...” he murmurs, and I start thinking about the filthy things he said to me, and my body betrays me instantly at the memory.
“I liked it very much last night…” My voice is breathy, and I see Harrison grit his teeth. Our hunger for each other is still very much alive.
“If anything like this happens again, you call me straight away.”
“Absolutely not. This kind of thing happens all the time.” I almost laugh at the look on his face, but refrain.
“What do you mean, it happens all the time?”
“Harrison, I fall, I tumble, I spill drinks, I fall off roofs. I am clumsy, a clutz, a catastrophe.”
“One. You are none of those things. Two. I am calling Eddie to organize someone to fix your roof tomorrow, and I am not taking no for an answer. And Three...” he pauses, looking into my eyes.
“And three?”
“And three, you call me the minute anything like this happens again,” he repeats, just to drum it into me.
