Page 35 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

"I'm so sorry, Charlotte," he murmured softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But whatever happens, whatever you need, I'm here for you. You know that, right? Nothing changes. You still have my whole heart.”

Tears welled in Charlotte's eyes as she buried her face against Nash's chest, the weight of her guilt and fear threatening to overwhelm her. She clung to him as if he were her lifeline and finding solace in his comforting embrace.

"I love you, Nash," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

He tilted her chin up, meeting her tear-filled gaze with unwavering determination.

"I love you too, Charlotte," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "Forever and always, sweetheart. And I promise, no matter what happens, we'll face this together as a team. He doesn’t get to hurt anyone anymore, especially you."

With a tenderness born of their shared love and understanding, Nash leaned in, capturing Charlotte's lips in a kiss that spoke volumes of their devotion to each other. It was a kiss filled with longing and promise, a silent vow to weather whatever storms may come their way.

In the hushed intimacy of the moonlit room, Nash carried Charlotte to their bed, their connection deepening with each passing moment as he laid her down, moved over her, and began to show her all the ways he loved her. From the intimacy of removing each piece of cloth between them to kissing every inch it revealed, he showed her pure and unadulterated love, and she felt every tender moment branding her soul and marking her as his. Their entwined bodies seemed to speak a language of their own, a silent symphony of desire and devotion that echoed throughout the room. Nash's touch seemed different now; it carried the promise of a forever igniting fire within Charlotte, filling her with a warmth she had never known before. As his fingers traced delicate patterns along her skin, she shivered with anticipation, her senses heightened by the sheer intensity of their shared passion.

With a tenderness that belied the urgency of their desires, Nash's lips met Charlotte's in a kiss that stole her breath away. It was a kiss filled with longing and a silent declaration of their love for each other. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the exquisite sensation of their bodies pressed together, their hearts beating in perfect harmony.

As the kiss deepened, her movements became more urgent, fueled by the raw intensity of her selfish need for his touch and he seemed happy to satisfy such needs by matching her pace. Her skin burned when Nash's hands roamed freely over Charlotte's body, mapping every curve and contour with a reverence that left her trembling. With each caress, he seemed to unravel her, unlocking the depths of her passion with a skill that bordered on the divine.

Charlotte responded, her fingers tangling in Nash's hair as she pulled him closer, her body arching instinctively towards his touch. In the heat of the moment, their inhibitions fell away, leaving only the raw, unbridled passion that burned between them like wildfire.

They moved together in perfect synchrony, their bodies melding seamlessly into one another, the world outside ceased to exist. Time seemed to stand still as she was lost in him and in the exquisite pleasure of each touch, each kiss a testament to the depth of their love.

Finally, they surrendered to the sweet release that washed over them like a tidal wave. In that moment of blissful Charlotte knew they were no longer two separate beings but one, bound together by an unbreakable bond.

The moon cast a soft glow through the curtains, bathing the room in a gentle light. She had found solace, strength, and a love that she’d never known before. Charlotte’s heartbeat slowed it’s wild racing as she snuggled deeper into Nash’s protective embrace. This was different. He was different –– and it spoke volumes to her heart. She held no doubt that the love she had for him and the love he whispered to her would withstand the test of time. Wrapped in Nash’s arms, she drifted to sleep, knowing that whatever tomorrow held, they would face it together.

Just before her body fully relaxed into sleep, Nash shifted slightly. Opening her eyes, she glanced up at him, noting the way his gaze lingered on her. Trailing a single finger down her cheek, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, whispering her name into her ear…

“Charlotte?”.

“Hmm?” she replied, still floating in a state of satiated bliss.

“I’m going to marry you.” He said. “As soon as this is all over. I’m going to marry you and love you forever.”

17

“Wow.” Kenzie settled back into her seat as Coy parked the car in front of the ranch where she had spent her childhood.

“You okay?” Coy inquired, sensing the sudden shift in her demeanor.

“I can probably count the number of times I’ve been here since…”

“Since your husband took his own life.” Coy finished for her. “If this is too much, I can go in and grab Glen’s things. You can wait here, in the truck.”

“No. It’s not that.” She smiled weakly. “It’s… odd, really. I’ve had a hard time coming here because, while you’d think I’d have a million memories of my childhood flood my mind, that’s not the case. I don’t have the happy memories, Coy, just the last vision of seeing my husband –– dead.”

“I can’t imagine.”

“No. You can’t.” She said subtly. “No one should ever have to see that.”

“You still feel that way? What do you see now?” Coy asked. “Still see those things?”

“That one, but not… that part.” She confessed, her gaze wandering over the familiar landscape as waves of nostalgia washed over her. “I remember being here with him. With my dad and Uncle Glen. I also remember all those times we all got together for a cookout or some ranch gathering.”

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

“It isn’t. Why don’t I feel that heaviness? The ache in my gut. The dread?” she asked. “It feels odd being here, that’s for certain, but only because it’s been so long. Like, I missed it. The good memories… they’re back.”

“Maybe you found closure, Kenz. Or, you were able to move on from the state of grief you’d been living in.”

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