Page 130 of Sweet Wicked Vows

“I understand. Your family needs you right now.”

The corners of his mouth lifted. “Christ, I love you, Evelyn.” His lips softly pressed into my forehead. “There won’t be a day that goes by when I won’t think about you.”

The song ended with the last note hanging in the air.

His mouth lined with mine. “I just want you to be happy, no matter what.”

I closed the gap and captured his lips with mine.

The kiss was soft, yet full of longing. Lips molding together, fitting with each other like they were meant to be. Jaxon took his time, his tongue tracing the seam of my lips. I parted instantly and his tongue boldly slid against mine.

He tasted better than I remembered.

He tasted like home.

I moaned softly as both hands cupped my face and tipped my head back, granting him full access and letting each swipe of his tongue steal my breath. His body pressed into mine, slotting into each curve and groove.

When the band recommenced, we reluctantly broke apart.

The whisper of his lips still on mine as he dipped his chin and walked away.

I stood on the dance floor, lost for words, unable to fathom the new heights of dark emptiness drawing me in until an entire four songs were performed from start to finish.

Everything hurt.

Every muscle. Every nerve. Every beat of my heart.

It all hurt so fucking much because I realized what had just happened.

Jaxon had just kissed me goodbye.

Chapter FortyOne

For the first time in my life, I wished I stayed in New York.

Coming back home came at the worst time. I’d made nowhere near as much progress as I wanted with Evelyn. She kept shutting me out, and there was no one to blame but myself.

I hurt her, and though I stopped before any more damage was done to her father’s name and business, I feared the echoes of my wrongs would forever haunt us.

I knew there was always going to be a long road ahead for us, but I didn’t care. I’d do anything, everything in my power, to make it right with her.

Whatever made her happy.

Even if it meant walking away for good?

Shaking away the thought I feared to explore and filled my nightmares, I walked through myGrand-mère’s front door and was instantly greeted with chaos.

Everyone, including Frederic, had flown home.

Olivier stood in the kitchen, eyes bouncing between Frederic and Elliott, who were so busy screaming at each other that neither of them noticed my arrival.

“A care home is better equipped to look after her,” Frederic snapped. “Twenty-four-hour care, staff on stand-by, and trained medical doctors too!”

Elliott shook his head. “A person’s mental state affects theirhealing. She never wanted to go into a home. She always said that she’d rather we kill her. If you put her in a home, her mental state will deteriorate, and that, in hand, will affect her physical progression. I see families make the wrong call all the time, and it has a detrimental effect on the patient.”

“Stop thinking like a doctor for once!” Frederic slammed his fist on the counter. “Think like her fucking grandson.”

“I can think like both,” Elliott gritted out. “We need to bring her home.”

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