48. Booth
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
booth
It’s our last today .
The past week has passed us by at breakneck speed.
We’ve tried to soak up every waking second, minute, and hour together when work allowed it.
With the restaurant experiencing a sudden spike in bookings and her preparing for the project in Berlin , our time together hasn’t been what we hoped.
Tonight, responsibilities are forgotten.
Nothing but she and I exist in the four cedar walls of this cozy sanctuary.
As per her request, we spend one last day at The Nook .
It hasn’t snowed since she met Harvey , and slowly it’s thawing.
The drive up is quiet, yet peaceful, the crackle of the radio keeping us company as we navigate the winding roads.
When the familiar A -frame cabin appears through the windshield, it all becomes very final.
I kill the engine, but neither of us makes a move.
“It feels full circle,” she murmurs.
“ A lot happened the first time we stayed here together…”
A knot lodges in my throat.
All I manage is a nod .
We unpack the truck, put the food in the fridge, and start a fire.
There’s no discussion about what we do next.
We just do it—our minds and bodies in sync.
Aly unpacks a small easel and paints in front of the window while I pore over the instructions of my newest LEGO set.
There’s something comforting about sharing a space with someone, not talking, but finding solace in their presence.
That’s how it is for the next couple of hours until a light touch on my shoulder has me looking up.
Aly jerks her head, asking for me to make space on the sofa.
I shuffle back, and she snuggles into my side, a blanket hiding our entangled limbs.
I wish we existed in a circle.
With no end.
Infinite todays together.
After spending weeks without acknowledging the ticking clock, it stops today.
She rests her cheek on my chest, fingers tracing small patterns on the back of my hand as it rests on her hip.
“ I’ve never struggled to find the right words before, but when I search for the words to thank you, my mind pulls blank after blank.”
Our fingers weave together.
“ You have nothing to thank me for.”
Her gaze burns into the side of my face.
My favorite little frown is aimed my way when I glance down.
“ That’s just it. Everything you’ve done has been so selfless. Even when I was awful to you, you kept your promises and showed up for me. Relationships have been difficult for me in the past because of my defensive nature, yet nothing scared you off.”
The pulse on her wrist matches the tempo of my heart as I raise it to my lips.
“ You fucking terrify me, Aly .”
Her frown deepens .
“The feelings I have for you petrify me. There’s no controlling or ignoring them. You stormed into my life, with your sharp tongue and silver eyes, and owned me from that day onward. Now that I have you, you’re leaving.” My forehead falls to hers.
“ Nothing about this is fair, but if anyone needs to be thanked, it’s you.”
“What did I do?” Her eyes fluttered closed, but I don’t dare shut mine.
“You gave yourself over to me—piece by beautiful piece until a breathtaking mosaic rested in my palms. I would have accepted anything, but now I have a masterpiece to carry with me. Reminding me of our time together.”
Her eyes fly open, panicked almost. “ This isn’t goodbye goodbye . I’ll still keep in touch about the restaurant.”
My laugh lacks all humor.
It’s not goodbye, she’s right, but she’ll be the owner again.
Not mine. “ That’s the other thing that scares me.”
She tilts her head.
Voice heavy with emotion, my head lowers until our lips are inches apart.
“ Saying goodbye to this. It splits me down the middle, knowing that tomorrow is the last time I get to kiss you.”
Her lips purse.
“ Why is it the last time?”
“Aly…” My sigh blows through the wispy curls framing her face.
Something ignites in my chest that she’s putting up a fight.
“The distance was an issue at first, and yes, our schedules are equally demanding, but it could work. We could make it work.” She rises to her knees, towering over me, hands resting on my shoulders.
“ What I feel for you doesn’t scare me, Booth . It did at first, and that’s why I pushed you away. But no one understands me like you, and I can’t imagine you not being a part of my life.” My body shivers as she drags her nails over my scalp, tilting my head to meet her sanguine gaze.
“ If I see an opportunity, I take it. And I want this.” She pauses, pinning me with her stare.
“ Tell me you don’t?”
“That’s exactly it, Silver .” She falls into my lap with a single tug.
My next words are bitter, leaving an acrid taste in my mouth.
“ I want this—you—too much for it to not work out because I’m here and you’re there. Eventually , I’d want you to stay and I can’t ask that of you.”
Her silence is telling.
“I dream about it—of a life together. I’ve run a million scenarios over in my head and if I thought there was even the tiniest chance you’d be happy here, fucking believe me, Aly , I would have asked weeks ago.” The sad yet accepting look in her eyes obliterates everything I have left.
“ I’ll never be the same after you, Silv . Never . ”
She knows I’m right.
And fuck, if I’ve never wanted to be wrong so much in my entire life.
“Today then.” Her voice is hoarse, like she’s been screaming for hours.
“ We make the most of today. Give me one last memory to remember our time together.”
So I do just that.
With a jagged heart, my lips meet hers fiercely, drinking down her gasp like the sweetest nectar.
She clings to me as we stand, already grappling with my clothes on our journey toward the bed.
Space is the last thing we need, so as her back hits the mattress, I fall with her.
That’s all I do with Alessandra Argiros .
Fall.
“I’m taking my time first. Later , I’ll give you what we both ache for.” Grasping the hem of her sweater, I reveal the milky skin of her stomach and lay gentle kisses around her navel.
“ There’s no forgetting you, but I’m going to make love to you like I’m afraid it’s possible.”
With a strong grip on my hair, she leads me back up her body and captures my mouth before mumbling, “ Love me now. Fuck me later.”
Love me now.
My heart protests in my chest, screaming, I’ll love no one the way I do you.
But I love her too much to ask her to stay.
Letting her go is all I can do.
We strip each other bare.
Her sublime body stretches out underneath me.
The gentle curve of her breasts, the dark curls surrounding her face like a midnight halo, and the silent gasp she makes as I drag my fingers through her slick center are things I will remember when I’m six feet under.
“Always so wet and ready for me, baby.”
She reaches between us to grasp my cock and brings it to her entrance.
Her back arches when my tip grazes her already swollen clit.
“ Only you. Only ever for you.”
A primal surge threatens my control.
I tamp it down, savoring every second as her tight heat draws me in until I fill her to the hilt.
“Ah, fuck, Aly . Fuck ! How does it get better each time?” I groan against her throat.
“Because it’s us. You know me. My body. But right now I need you to move. Please . ” That single word, whispered like a prayer, is my undoing.
I push her knees to her chest, driving deeper.
With our eyes level and heartbeats in tune, we move in lazy synchronization, rocking together slowly.
Her nails score down my back with each thrust. It’s unhurried as we build up to the crescendo.
I’ve never been a man of faith, but if I were to follow a religion, it would be her .
No god, but a goddess.
My silver goddess . I’d pray for her presence to bless me and worship at her altar daily.
As her walls grip me and her cries increase until she’s panting desperately against my skin, I know nothing will ever compare.
“Give it to me, Alessandra ,” I demand, hand stroking up her sides until my fingers lock around her jaw, keeping her gaze on mine.
“ Give me those sweet little noises that I’m going to dream about.”
Suddenly, she triggers, her head thrown back in ecstasy as she rides out her orgasm.
She clings to my shoulders, chanting my name.
I’m quick to follow as I spill deep inside her, filling her so perfectly until our combined releases leak onto my thighs.
It’s not long until we’re losing ourselves to each other again.
This time, we don’t savor.
We take. We receive.
We give ourselves over completely.
It’s fucking euphoric, yet all I can think is I have the woman of my dreams in my arms and I’m about to let her slip away.