“For me?”I blink.
“Yeah.Clothes.Shoes.A jacket.A laptop.Some shampoo and body wash.Stuff like that.I… wanted you to have choices.Things that are yours.”
My throat tightens.“You did all this for me?”
He shrugs as if it’s nothing.“You deserve it.I want you to be comfortable here.”
I turn before I can think and wrap my arms around him.He goes still for half a second, then melts, hugging me back, his arms strong and warm and familiar.His chin rests lightly on top of my head.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” I whisper.
“You don’t have to.I wanted to do this for you.I want to take care of you.I have this need to give you everything.To see you happy.”
I pull back enough to look up at him, and there it is.
The truth that’s been building for days now.The quiet peace inside me whenever he’s near.The feeling that I’m not trapped anymore.I’mwith someone.
Someone who chooses me.
Someone I choose back.
“I love you,” I say.
His breath stutters.Then those dark eyes soften in a way that makes my heart flip.
“Say it again,” he demands.
I smile.“I love you, Abe Williams.”
He cups my cheek, thumb brushing under my eye so gently it almost hurts.
“I love you, too, Roxie.”His voice is rough with emotion.“More than anything.”
Then his lips are on mine.The kiss is slow and sweet, no urgency, no pressure.Just warmth.Safety.Home.
“What now?”he asks when we break the kiss.
“Now, I think you should take me to bed,” I whisper.
His eyes light up and heat with need.“Whatever you want, mate,” he growls.
I grin as he scoops me up in his arms like I weigh nothing and carries me to our room.He lays me down on the bed, and for the first time in a very long time, I don’t feel trapped.
I feel chosen and safe and loved.
The rest of the world can wait until morning.Tonight, I simply let myself belong.
To him.
To this.
To us.
ELEVEN
Abe
Five Years Later…