Page 79 of Between Dusk and Dawn

"I think I—" He paused, shaking his head as if he didn’t believe the words he was about to say. "I just didn't know how to deal with it. I promise you, I won't run away again. We'll face whatever comes our way together, and I'll do everything in my power to make it right."

"Walsh?" I questioned.

"Mm-hm?"

"Kiss me already," I muttered. We had never kissed before, never realized we wanted to until this moment. The intimidating Walsh Solis, the man who sought to take me down and ruin me, was no longer standing before me. Now, he looked at me like I was the only thing he wanted. Searching his eyes for any hint of hesitation, none came as his mouth hovered over mine.

Taking his time, savoring what was his, he inhaled deeply. Though I couldn't fathom he was smelling anything beyond the mustiness of the bar, the corners of his mouth twitched into a soft smile.

And then his mouth dropped onto mine.

His lips met mine in a slow, deliberate dance. The kiss held a blend of tenderness and urgency, like brushing a canvas with strokes of desire. The softness of his lips ignited a fervor deep within me. Each movement was deliberate.

My fingers instinctively found their way into his hair, threading through the strands as I pulled him closer. His longer, black locks were surprisingly soft. The sensation of his stubble on my cheek sent shivers down my spine, a reminder of the raw power that defined Walsh.

As the kiss deepened, his hands found a resting place on the small of my back, and I arched off the chair every so slightly, creating a connection that fused our bodies together.The world faded into insignificance, and all that remained was the intoxicating exchange.

When our lips finally parted, a breathless tension lingered in the air, and our eyes locked in an unspoken understanding. The kiss had become a bridge, a silent agreement that spoke volumes about the uncharted territory we were stepping into.

In that moment, amidst the dim glow of the bar's ambiance, Walsh and I stood on the precipice of something unknown, something that held the promise of healing and connection in the wake of our tumultuous unfolding.

He pulled back only slightly, nodding over to the drink sitting on the bar top. "You didn’t drink?"

I shook my head. "No. Just wanted to…feel like home." I shrugged because it sounded stupid, then Walsh grabbed my hand.

I now knew what home felt like….what it tasted like, and I’d never get another high quite like it.

"Can we go home? I have a surprise."

I nodded, snapping out of the lust-filled reverie I’d been in. Walsh threw a hundred on the bar and interlaced our fingers, and reveled in the fact we fit so well with each other.

As we walked out the door, the familiar black SUV was waiting for us, and this time, Walsh held the door open for me as I got in, then slid in next to me.

"Let’s go home," he murmured.

Chapter Thirty-Four

As we neared Dansport, Madison had drifted into a peaceful slumber on my lap, succumbing to sleep the moment we left Isles. I made a brief stop at her guesthouse, retrieving her bag, and a pang resonated within my chest when I had to get it.

The realization that she felt the need to escape, to run away from the place I had designed as her haven, haunted me. Her perception of the house as a prison struck me deeply. What I intended as a home had become a source of confinement for her.

My absence, meant to give her space, had made the environment feel suffocating. Over the last few hours, I worked tirelessly with the limited manpower available during the holiday, determined to rectify the situation. Each decision was made with her comfort in mind, aiming to make the space one she would willingly return to.

By the time we approached the estate's metal gates, darkness had engulfed the house. Anticipation and anxiety filled me as the car came to a halt. Madison stirred, her eyes fluttering open. The soft glow of the dashboard lights illuminated her features, and she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Her red hair spilled over her shoulders, tousled from sleep, and a delicate flush graced her cheeks. Her vulnerability stirreda mix of emotions within me. For a moment, the weight of my efforts felt justified as I glimpsed the potential for her to find solace in the transformed space.

"I want to show you something, sleepyhead," I murmured as I guided her out of the car and into the main house.

She paused and glanced over at the small apartment over the barn, tugging me to a full stop so I had to see what she was looking at. But instead of the pain I expected to cross her face, a soft smile graced her lips.

"I named her Fire." I narrowed my eyebrows, not understanding what she was talking about. "The horse that you’re apparently allergic to."

There was a long pause before I broke out into a laugh. "You told me when I first met you. I asked you to tell me something truthful, and you said you always wanted a horse."

I could see the words as they swirled around in her brain. "You remembered."

"Of course I did," I responded as if that was the silliest thing she ever said, because that was the fucking truth. I cared about everything she did. I always had.

---