Page 122 of Forgotten Pieces

Instead, she wraps her hand around the back of my neck, pulling our foreheads to meet. “Yes.”

The need for her turns carnal with that one word. I lift her up and she wraps her legs around my waist and laughs as I carry her into the house. I climb the stairs, each step making my leg feel stronger, as our lips never part. I walk into the bedroom and sit on the bed with her straddling me. I finally pull away from her. “I mean it, Tacoma.”

“So do I.”

We slowly undress each other as we reacquaint our bodies. We make love in a way we never have before. Because for once in our lives we don’t need to be a secret, don’t need to meet by a lake at night, hidden by the stars. This time we have the freedom to be together and nothing has ever felt better.

We proclaim our love for each other over and over again, our bodies slick with sweat, lips swollen from kisses, throats dry from moaning. But our love, our love is strong and it keeps the fire going.

* * *

I lazily draw circles on her thigh that’s laying over my hips. Her fingers play with my hair that’s starting to grow out again. Our noses almost touching as we share a pillow, staring at each other.

“What happened to your leg?”

I bring my hand to her face and kiss her lips, once again grateful she is here. “It got crushed when a building exploded.”

Her eyes widen with fear.

“I’m okay, Tacoma. I was on a mission. We rescued someone. I made it out.”

“Are you okay?”

I know she means mentally more than physically. I nod. “I managed to save a good amount of people. I was the last one out of the building. My team carried me back. My team,” I say as I bring my hand down to her neck, holding her eyes on me. “I didn’t lose anyone this time. They saved me. In more ways than one.”

Her hands grip my face as she gently presses her lips to mine. “You are an amazing man, Ryder Thompson. I am so happy I can call you mine.”

“I’m yours, birdie. Forever.”

She smirks at me and giggles, “So you really want to marry me?”

“If I could do it today, I would.”

She crawls up my body, straddling me. “Me too.”

Epilogue

Three months later

Tacoma

I belt out an Ella Fitzgerald song into the candlelit room of the jazz club, my eyes focused on my husband who is sitting in the front row.

We ended up eloping a few weeks after he asked me to marry him. Neither of us needing to waste time letting it happen. We waited nine years to be together. That wait was long enough.

I smile at him as I sing the last few notes of the song. He’s on his feet whistling and applauding, just like he does every night I sing. A blush takes over my cheeks as I thank the audience and step off stage. Ryder is waiting for me at the side staircase as I step down and he wraps me in his arms. “More amazing than the other night,” he whispers in my ear.

He tells me that every night I perform. And I don’t mind hearing it at all.

We walk over to the bar and each order a whiskey. My pre and post show ritual still in place.

We clink our glasses together and sip our whiskey at the same time Charlie walks over.

“You two are so cute it’s annoying,” she says with a laugh.

“You’re just jealous,” I tease.

She shakes her head. “I’m just glad you’re back, Tacoma. I want to fire every last one of my damn bartenders. I swear Talisman was ready to crash and burn.”

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