Page 64 of Chasing Liberty

“I don’t want to talk about those two ever again.”

“We never have to.” He ran his hands down his face. “But we do have to talk about us. You can trust me. Always.”

“Wyler—I…” She sucked in a breath. “I’ve been terrible to you.”

“At times, and yet here I am. When do you stop carrying all the responsibility of life on your shoulders, Liberty? You’ve been made to feel like you need to explain yourself to people, and when that doesn’t work, you block them out. You’re an amazing woman. And you’re not alone. The day I married you was the day I made a promise that you’d never have navigate this life by yourself again. The marriage might have started under rocky circumstances, but you and I are good together.”

“I’ve made such a mess of things.” Tears rolled down her cheeks and she turned away, not wanting him to see her vulnerability.

“A little. But we can get beyond this.”

“The baby…I did want it. I’ve been so stupid. And I want you too.”

He reached over and wiped away the remaining moisture on her cheeks with his thumb. “What can I do to help?”

“How about starting with a hug?”

He went to her and wrapped his arms around her. She relaxed against him, letting all the tension she’d been carrying around leave her body.

He held her tightly. “You didn’t have to do his alone. I would—will—have been there for you every second. When will you accept that?”

“Wyler, I…” She couldn’t get the words out.

“What? Talk to me.”

She pulled back so she could look up at him, “I do love you. I’m sorry for pushing you away.”

He used the backs of his knuckles to brush the damp hair away from her cheeks. “It’ll take more than this to ever make me leave your side.” He sucked in a breath. “Seeing you so heartbroken made me feel so useless. I didn’t know what to say or do. I shouldn’t have walked away from you. I should have camped out on the doorstep until you gave me a chance.”

Several expressions flitted across his face. He snaked his arm around her and pulled her close threaded his fingers through her hair, soothing her with his gentle touch. He offered more than his touch though. Wyler gave her security and peace. Something she’d craved for so long but could never seem to attain.

“You don’t want your freedom?”

He swore under his breath. “If freedom means being apart from you, I don’t want it. Don’t you get it by now that I meant it when I said I’m not leaving? I love you.”

“Wyler, I feel like I can’t figure out my emotions.”

“Please don’t second guess me.”

She swallowed hard. She laid her palm against her warm cheek, drawing from his energy. “Months ago, I couldn’t come to terms with that. I never knew I could care for someone so much that the very thought of not having you in my life makes me feel like I’ll suffocate. I’m a strong, confident woman, but you make me such a stronger person.”

“It’s about time. Now was that so hard?” He grinned and cupped her cheeks and lowered his mouth to hers.

His kiss was gentle, explorative. She was caught in the centripetal force of the connection.

Anticipation grew within her.

His hands cradled her face, a gesture so tender and powerful. He held her as if he held something precious and fragile.

When the kiss broke, she looked up at him, losing herself in the deep verdant pools of intensity. In the silence they exchanged a wealth of emotion in a single glance.

He led her outside and around the corner, into the shadows, and pressed her against the wall. Their lips met again and all doubt that had existed just moments before resolved within her. Their need was fueled by loss.

Liberty was lost in Wyler’s embrace, adrift in her revelation to him that she loved him. As their kiss deepened and his hands were on her breasts, kneading the sensitive mounds, it was as if they were rediscovering each other. Relearning a language as old as the mountains and seas themselves.

His mouth dipped to her neck where he pressed a trail of kisses from her ear to her collarbones. He tugged the neckline of her shirt lower to expose the tops of her breasts. He kissed the mounds, giving each attention.

She plunged her fingers into his thick hair, tugging at the strands as she arched her back.

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