Chapter 43
Maybe I’m a manipulative son of a bitch. But I did do it out of a genuine need to protect her. And I wanted to be alone with her.
I’m a fucking man in love, for fuck’s sake.
Not that I know what to do with that fact. Except keep her safe no matter what.
I borrowed one of West’s trucks to drive Everleigh home. As soon as she slid in beside me and we were alone, I turned to her and grabbed her hand.
“I have a lot I need to say to you, Ev.”
“Theo,” she whispered, her eyes searching mine. “I do, too.”
“Me first,” I insisted. The words tumbled from my mouth like an avalanche. “This entire thing went sideways, Ev. I shouldn’t have done what I did in the temple without you knowing it was me. I should have been a fucking man and told you exactly how I felt about you from the fucking start.”
“I think I –.”
“No please let me finish,” I interrupted. I was afraid if I didn’t say it all, I’d screw this up, too. “The truth is, I love you, Everleigh. I’ve loved you for a long time. And I was a coward not to come forward sooner. I was afraid of West’s reaction, yes. But more than that, I was afraid you wouldn’t feel the same way.”
All the emotions I’d stuffed down came rushing to the surface and I blinked away the tears springing to my eyes. I wanted Everleigh to see that I was a man, one who could stand up for the woman he loved, one who was strong and was able to protect her, no matter what.
I’d failed on all fronts so far, but I was determined to make everything right now.
All of it hinged on her reaction.
“How could you be afraid I wouldn’t feel the same way, Theo?” She asked. “Couldn’t you see the way I reacted to you every time you were near me? Couldn’t you see the way I was drawn to you, despite my best efforts to stay away?”
My heart soared at her words. I squeezed her hands, my eyes searching hers for what I so desperately needed to see.
“I love you, Ev. With all my heart. With all my soul. And no matter what happens with West, that will never change.”
“I love you, too, Theo, I always have,” she said, her whispered words like a much-needed salve on my ragged heart.
I kissed her, the taste of her mouth nourishing me like a man starved.
She pulled away, her eyes bright with tears and happiness. I’d never seen a more beautiful sight. My heart soared with joy. She loved me, too. I was sure at that moment that nothing could knock me off this high.
But I had more to say.
“I have more I need to say. I need to apologize to you, Ev.”
“For what?” She looked like an angel sitting there, the sunlight streaming over her face as she looked over at me.
“I’m sorry it’s gone this far. I’m so sorry for what happened to you. It was all my fault, even if you say it wasn’t. I was so worried about you. I’m so glad you’re safe, and I swear I won’t let anyone else hurt you again.”
She smiled over at me now, the same old shy smile that I remembered from so long ago.
“Thank you,” she whispered. Gingerly, she touched her hair, shaking her head. “I can’t believe all this shit happened at all.”
“Hey,” I whispered, grabbing her hand and squeezing it again. “You’re so beautiful, Ev. Your hair doesn’t matter. In fact, you look fucking hot as hell with short hair. Not that that matters, but it’s true. Nobody can take your beauty away from you. Ever.”
Tears sprang to her eyes as she squeezed my hand back. “Thank you, Theo.”
She intertwined her fingers with mine and my heart skipped a beat.
Something so simple. So easy. Her hand in mine. And yet, I dreamed a million times of doing it and never thought it would happen, not in a million years.
Everleigh had always been my forbidden fruit.
I’d always known how delicious and addicting she would be if I tasted her. I was right. And now, I couldn’t get the taste of her out of my mouth.
Now, I wanted more than a taste. I wanted all of her.
Later, when we got to her place, I had her wait in the truck while I searched through the rambling mansion to make sure we were alone. Once I was satisfied we were safe, I walked back out to the car and opened her door.
“It’s safe. Let’s go inside.” I grabbed her hand and led her into the house.
Once we were in, I locked the door behind us firmly.
And then I did the one thing I’d been dying to do since I saw that she was alive and safe for the first time in that fucking basement.
I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her as tightly as I could.
She melted into me, laying her head on my chest and letting me hold her. My hand landed on her hair, cradling her head tenderly against me.
“Oh, Ev,” I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. “I’ve been dying to wrap my arms around you.”
“I’ve wanted this for so long,” she murmured.
“I love you, Ev. Forever.”
“I love you, too, Theo,” she smiled, her face shining like sunshine on my soul, warming it, nourishing it, loving it. I thought it might burst out of my chest from pure joy.
She sighed, her entire body humming against mine. We stayed like that for a long while, absorbing the comfort our spirits so desperately needed. When she looked up at me after a few moments, the storm raging in her blue eyes told me everything I needed to know.
Enchantingly beautiful, the emotion played across her face like a poem in the midst of being created, my own heart drowning in the silence.
We didn’t need words.
We didn’t need promises.
We didn’t need to dig up painful memories of our shared past.
All we needed right then and there was each other, the comfort and familiarity and newness of our connection, all swirling around together in a temptation that neither of us could continue to ignore.
My lips melted against hers like they were home.
At long last, they were exactly where they were meant to be…