Page 98 of Chasing Sarah

Accepting what happened makes their deaths so… final.

A sob breaks through and I raise my hand to my mouth, trying to push the emotion back down.

Rhys’s arms wrap around me tightly and he lifts me into his lap. His lips press against my temple, his fingers tracing light circles on my back.

The comfort gives me the courage to keep going.

“Everything happened so fast… so fucking fast.” I glance up at him as he peers down. “One second, I had a family. The next… They were gone.”

Lifting my eyes to the ceiling, I blink rapidly. But it’s no use. The tears fall despite my best efforts to keep them at bay.

“I-It still hurts.” I clench my fist and press it firmly against my chest. “When will it stop hurting?”

He lifts me bridal style and strides down the hallway and into the ensuite. I gasp when water suddenly rains down on me.

I hadn’t realized he stepped into the shower. Both of us are still fully clothed.

“Rhys.” I move to climb out of his hold.

“Don’t,” he murmurs. He lowers himself to the shower floor, setting me on his lap. “Just sit with me for a little while, yeah?”

Nodding, I rest my head against his hard chest. His black shirt is sopping wet, sticking to every inch of his broad frame.

We sit in a comfortable silence. The sound of his heart beating and the rise and fall of his chest with each breath he takes is soothing.

When the water finally runs cold, he pats my thigh. “I’m gonna need you to get up. My ass cheeks are numb.”

Bursting with laughter, I climb off him and rise – unsteadily – to my feet. I hold out a hand and help him stand. He steps closer, our noses barely touching. Water cascades down the slopes of his plush lips.

“Rhys. I -.”

“Tell me,” he whispers when my sentence remains unfinished.

He cups the side of my face, holding me as close as humanly possible. Our breaths mingle.

“I-.” The words refuse to come out. I want to say them so fucking bad, but I can’t. His thumb softly brushes along my bottom lip.

“Tell me,” he urges, almost as though he knows what I want to say.

He smiles warmly and presses his lips to my forehead. “You might not be able to say the words right now, but I know.” Another kiss. “I know, baby. And I feel it too.”

* * *

“Sarah.” A soft kiss meets the bare skin of my shoulder. “Sarah, wake up.” Another kiss.

I groan. “Why am I waking up?”

Rhys’s chuckle warms my heart.

“I want to take you somewhere before I have to head out with Declan.”

I stretch my arms outward, arching my back like a cat. Rhys presses a soft kiss behind my ear, and I shiver.

A dark, satisfied chuckle coasts up my skin. Then he’s gone.

My eyes fly open, and I frown at his retreating back. “Get up, babe!”

Huffing in lighthearted annoyance, I climb out of bed and get ready.

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