Page 15 of Fight for You

My mouth flies open, screaming out in pleasure, and he continues pounding inside until he finds his own release.

Breathing heavily, he pulls out and collapses beside me on the couch, one arm drapes over my shoulders, possessively protecting me. The leather creaks under his weight as he pulls me close, our sweaty bodies slick against one another. Our hearts races in tandem, the room filled with adrenaline and passion. It is intoxicating, a heady mix that leaves me flooded and completely satisfied. His hand travels down my back, gentlymassaging the tension out of my muscles, his touch tender and soothing.

His chest rumbles as he chuckles, a warm, deep sound. “We are pathetic, you know that?”

“What do you mean?”

His eyes lock on mine and darken. “Thinking even for a second we belong with anyone else.”

It is in moments like these I realize how much I truly love this man. But love didn’t make things easier. There are still problems I need to fix before I can jump back in with him again. He deserves that.

“So, is everything alright?”

“Just have a lot going on, but glad I came over tonight. Somehow, you make everything better.”

He chuckles, running his fingers through my hair. “That’s why I’m here. To make everything better for you.”

The room is still, the only sound being our breathing.

“You know, when I touch you like this,” Leo whispers, moving his hand in circles on my thigh, “I feel like I can do anything, accomplish anything… you make my world a thousand times better.”

Hearing these words strikes a chord, especially with the knowledge that I up and left him all those years ago. I’ve heard from several people how damaged he was, but there was no way I could ever make that better. After everything, he still loved me unconditionally. What did I do to deserve this man?

“Can we talk about us? I’d really like at least a little bit of clarification where we stand…”

I can’t be mad at him for asking, since I showed up at his doorstep and practically threw myself at him… but that didn’t mean I am ready to talk about taking the next step. Things are great with just sex right now and maybe it is best to keep it that way. If I hurt him again, I’d never be able to forgive myself. “Leo,I want to be with you, but there are so many things that I need to work out before we can do that.”

My past with my father really fucked me up, and honestly even with an amazing man like Leo, my doubt and insecurities will come flooding back, and I never want to put him through that situation again. “I’ve got some things coming up. After that, we can revisit this. Maybe for now, we can just enjoy nights like this… often, I hope?”

He takes my hand in his. “I want you to be okay. You just saying that you aren’t ready shows me you are more aware of whatever made you leave me before. I’m not going anywhere, princess.”

11

Leo

I unlock the door to my veterinary clinic and step inside. The familiar scent of disinfectant greets me, mingling with the soft sounds of animals stirring in their enclosures.

“Good morning, everyone.” I flick on the lights. My days are filled with routine check-ups, vaccinations, and the occasional emergency surgery. My overnight animals are going crazy in the back. The best part of my morning is getting to show them some love. Most aren’t used to staying away from their owners. An elderly golden retriever named Daisy wags her tail slowly as I approach, her cloudy eyes shining with trust. “Hey there, beautiful.” I stroke her silky fur before examining the healing incision from her recent surgery. “You're looking better every day.”

As Daisy licks my hand in gratitude, I move on to the next enclosure where a feisty tabby cat named Whiskers awaits his attention. The cat hisses at me playfully, but soon purrs under my expert touch as I check its injured paw. “Alright, a few more days of rest and you'll be good as new.”

My love didn’t stop at household animals. From the tiniest hamster to the largest horse, I treat them all with the same gentle expertise and unwavering dedication. My secretarysaunters in with her huge coffee cup and a bag that is clearly too big for her. “Morning, boss.”

“Good morning. Overnights have been checked on… I’m going to get caught up on some paperwork in my office until my appointments arrive.”

She sits down at the desk and signs in. “Looks like you are good today until one. Pending any drop-in’s of course.”

“Great.”

I retreat to my office and skim through invoices until I notice a newspaper is neatly folded in the corner. Curious, I pick it up and unfold it, scanning the contents.

‘Proposed Commercial Center Expansion: Potential Impact on Surrounding Businesses’ is typed in bold letters at the top of the page. My brow furrows as I read on, quickly realizing my veterinary clinic is one of the businesses mentioned.

Wait a minute. I had no idea this was even being considered.I’ll be the first one to admit that sometimes I am a recluse and miss out on important news, but this changes things.

The document details how the proposed commercial center will not only impact the land surrounding the clinic, but also encroach on the parking lot. The more I read, the more my heart sank. They are going to tear down Page Turners. That is the reason Brylee was so upset last night. Why didn’t she say anything?

Everything I've worked so hard for...I grip the paper in my hands. This new development threatens not only my livelihood but also the welfare of the animals I love and care for. The weight of the situation settles heavily on my shoulders, leaving me with a growing sense of unease and uncertainty about the future.

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