8. Chapter 7
Marissa
The soft flannel felt like heaven against her dampened skin.
She rolled the fabric of its collar between her fingertips and brought it to her nose to inhale its woodsy, masculine, distinctly Shane scent.
She rolled the sleeves up, the hem of the shirt resting at her knees, hoping the buttons that strained across her breasts would not pop.
With a sigh, she padded barefoot down the staircase, halting on the last step. He was shirtless, and his biceps flexed as he lifted a log and placed it into the fire.
He peered at her over his shoulder. “You okay?”
She nodded, forcing herself to speak. “Y-yes.” She settled onto the sofa nearest to the fire, pulling her legs beneath her. It felt unexpectedly natural, as if they’d stepped into another lifetime while they sat wordlessly listening to the wind howl, rattling against the rain-beaten windows.
“I did it for you.” Shane broke the silence. “When I left...” His voice was low. Rough. “I wasn’t running from you. I was running from myself.”
Although a million unanswered questions screamed silently in her mind, she sat wordlessly waiting for him to make her understand.
“My drinking wasn’t getting better,” he continued. “When I started hiding bottles, I knew I didn’t have it under control. I’d been fooling everyone but myself.”
Shane despised weakness. Being this vulnerable with her had to be beyond difficult for him. She placed her hand on his thigh, hoping to ease some of his burden.
“I drank before work,” he admitted, his eyes never straying from the fire as he placed his hand atop hers. “I drank after work.”
Marissa shifted her hand palm up, a silent surrender to let him know she wasn’t going anywhere as she entwined her fingers with his.
“You were the only light in my personal darkness. I knew you would have stayed in Newport if I’d told you my plans. I couldn’t allow you to forfeit your education. I couldn’t live with myself if I destroyed your future.”
“You were my future,” Marissa protested.
He shook his head, his expression pained.
“Not a good one. Being saddled with a man while he battled his own demons wasn’t fair.
I wasn’t sure I could overcome the addiction, but I knew that if I kept doing what I was doing, I could never give you the life you deserved.
” His voice cracked. “I loved you enough to walk away. For you to shine and blossom into all I knew you could be. And I’m so fucking proud of the woman you’ve become. ”
Marissa leaned against him, resting her head atop his broad shoulder. “I hate that you went through that alone,” she said with a sniffle.
“I still fucking love you more than life itself. Selling my share of O’Halloran’s and checking into the thirty-day inpatient rehab was worth the pain if you’ll give me another chance.”
Marissa couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It hurt her heart to know he’d suffered all alone. “I never stopped loving you either, Shane.” She lifted her head from his shoulder to peer up at the man who owned her heart.
“I’ve been sober ever since.” Another crack from the fireplace echoed through the room.
“I still go to meetings. I sponsor other alcoholics now.” He looked at her for the first time, his eyes filled with sincerity, love, and unabashed desire.
The fire crackled between them. Outside, the storm continued to rage, only igniting her desire for him further.
“Shane, I’ve heard enough.” Marissa swept her lips across his. “Let’s spend the rest of the night making up for lost time.”