He snorted. “Hopefully not.”
“Us. I mean us. Will we—will you—you’ll want me like you do now?”
Isaac smoothed his free hand over his chest, and I saw the future in his eyes. Saw him shift through his entire life in a heartbeat.
“Yes. Always.” He swallowed. “I’ll always look for you—and I’ll always find you.”
“I’m going to stay,” I blurted, standing abruptly and pacing away from him to keep myself from reaching for him again. “I want to stay.”
“Then stop running from me.”
“I have to. I need to get some air or something because—"
“Tara,” Isaac said darkly, rising from the couch with control, “don’t run from me.”
I smiled.
This time, I didn’t listen.
I ran, racing through the living room and down the dark hallway. I was aiming for the guest room, but I forgot which end of the hall it was, and when I flung open the nearest door, it was to find myself standing in a large bathroom.
“Shit,” I hissed, whirling to find Isaac directly behind me.
I made it into the shower, heaving the glass door between us. He caught it easily, one strong hand holding it open as he caged me in. My back hit the shower wall. My chest brushed Isaac’s bare chest with every breath.
He kissed me like he couldn’t get close enough. Kissed me until I couldn’t feel the cold under my feet. Water sprayed down on us suddenly, and we still didn’t stop.
Wet clothes peeled from my body. Every ache and bruise was exposed, and Isaac touched each of them, cataloguing them. Soothing them.
My fingertips did the same to his, tracing the purple outlines that cut across his abdomen. I dropped to my knees, lips following the same path.
“No.” Isaac lifted me, curling my legs around his hips. “I need to feel you in my arms.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him to me. “I’m here.”
He inhaled, eyes falling shut. “You’re here.”
Then he was inside me, and all the tumultuous waves calmed. For a brief moment, there was nothing but him. Us. The bond pulsing between us like a tangible thread. A chain, locking our hearts together.
I didn’t feel shackled, though. I felt lighter. Whole.
In that tiny moment, it all made sense. Everything that led me here had a purpose. Had meaning.
Isaac moved, shifting his hips. My forehead fell to his, breath coming in uneven pants.
Fresh waves started to crash against me, but this time, they were all pleasure. Ecstasy building and building. It was too much. Too much sensation.
Until I came tumbling over that edge with a cry, Isaac following me—always following.
All at once, the world came rushing back. Cold water pelted me, and I gasped. Isaac reached for the handle, cranking it the opposite direction. He set me on the shower floor with a groan of pain and I cursed when the temperature of the water went from frigid to scalding.
He twisted, shielding me from the water as he found the perfect middle. I looked up at him, soaking wet, tattered jeans at his ankles, bruises all over his face, and I laughed.
He laughed too, lips curling into that dazzling smile, and even though it wasn’t okay now, I knew it would be.
Whatever happened before, it brought me here.
Exactly where I was meant to be.