Page 48 of Always Right

I wasn’t sure my ribcage was enough to keep my heart from beating out of my chest, not with the way he looked at me. The fire in his gaze left a dryness in my mouth that no amount of water would soothe.

“God help me, Hannah...I can’t fucking give you up. I can’t and I’ve tried. Believe me...I’ve fucking tried.” He brushed my hair out of my face, his hold tight around my body...afraid that if he let go, he wouldn’t ever hold me again.

My hands traveled to his chest savoring the soft beating of his heart beneath them. “How did we become so messy?”

Derek let out a sad laugh, shaking his head. “I’ve asked myself that damn question many times.” He hesitated for a moment, his gaze briefly fleeing my own as he thought of his answer. “I think neither of us have been ready. The timing has been off. We’ve had a lot of shit to deal with...things that aren’t easy. Things that aren’t part of a normal relationship. It doesn’t make it less real, though.”

“And what makes you think the time may be right now?”

Derek paused, hesitating. “I don’t. I don’t know when the time will be right for us. I just know I don’t want to give up.”

I considered his words for a moment, offering him a small smile before I leaned in, nuzzling his neck. He was still for a moment, surprised at my actions but soon he rested his cheek over my head as we moved to the music in silence. My eyes fluttered closed, letting his warmth surround me as the world around us ceased to exist.

None of it mattered, not when he was with me.

“A few weeks ago, you asked if I wondered what it would be like for us if we were still together, remember?” I nodded, the night clearly replaying in my mind. “The truth is, I don’t wonder because I already know.”

I pulled away, a smile playing on my lips.

“Really?” He nodded, so matter of fact it made me laugh. “Tell me then. What would it be like if we were still together?”

Derek took a deep breath, his eyes taking a teasing glint. Right away, I knew what he would say.

“First of all...those goddamn boxes would be unpacked.” I laughed, shaking my head as he continued. “You cannot have boxes just sitting there against the wall, Hannah. Really. That’s the first thing we would have done.”

“Okay, okay. No boxes. What else?”

“Your piano.” He answered, no hesitation. Tears burned my eyes because he knew me so damn well. “You’d have your piano so you could play whenever you want to. Whenever you need it.” I lowered my gaze, unable to look at him as he said what I didn’t dare admit. “I know you miss it, Hannah. I know it’s not your career, but you love the piano as much as I love this restaurant. No one else may see it, but I do. So, you would have your piano.”

Once again, Derek rested his head on mine, placing a tender kiss on my hair before he continued. “We would have busy schedules with work and all...but we would always have dinner together with our girls. We would clean up the mess and when one of us has a bad day, well...the other would make it better. We’d put the girls down to bed together...read them bedtime stories...” His hold around me tightened and I let out a shaky breath, my hands holding on to his shirt as he spoke. “Then I’d take you to bed and show you what you mean to me.”

His words were like gasoline, igniting a fire that was dormant within me. So quiet...so full of promise. Only for me to hear.

“I’d make love to you every night...I’d make sure there was never a single doubt in that head of yours. I’d make you forget everything, everyone but us and the way I can make you feel.” He pressed a kiss on my cheek then, and I had to bite down on my lip, hoping a moan wouldn’t escape. “There’s not a thing I wouldn’t do to you if you let me.”

Light-headed, I pulled away, meeting his dark eyes, swirling with emotion.

Desire.

I was sure he could see it in my own.

Wordlessly, I took a step back, then another, until I turned around and walked away. I had no idea where I was going, all I knew was that I needed to be alone, away from the people, away from the crowd.

I entered a storage closet, my hand traveling to my heaving chest as I tried to still my crazy heart but when I heard the lock on the door click, all bets were off.

I turned around, only to find Derek walking toward me as I approached him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing my lips against his.

And dammit, he was right.

He was everything I needed.

Chapter 17

Hannah

His arms wrapped around my body, and I moaned as he pushed me back against the wall, his mouth moving against mine as if he couldn't get enough. Derek was all consuming—all I could feel, all I wanted. His hands held more than just my heart, they held my soul, my body, everything that made me who I am. I felt his tongue gliding over my lip and mine did the same, tasting him while his grip on my hips tightened.

For months I’d fought it. For weeks I’d tried to push everything I felt away, trying to ignore everything Derek caused within me. I was done—tired of fighting. Tired of pretending I could ignore what Derek and I had because it was too strong, too real for me to think I could ever get rid of it.

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