Page 84 of Memories of Us

Instead of responding, I kissed his chest above his heart and pulled at his belt. The soft cotton of my T-shirt slid up my back as he tugged it over my head. With a flick of his fingers, the bra’s thick band released from around my ribs and the straps slid down my arms. Chest to chest, skin to skin, he angled my chin to capture my lips with his. He kissed me soft and slow, pouring every ounce of emotion that he couldn't verbalize into me.

I toed off one boot and then the other while he did the same.

Face cradled between his hands, I gave up control and savored the way he made me feel small. Powerful but small. An intoxicating combination that only he could brew.

Making quick work of my jeans, he shoved them and my underwear down my thighs until they puddled on the floor.

He flinched when I wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Are you okay?” I pulled back and scanned his chest. “Does something hurt?”

“Get in the shower.” For not moving immediately, I was rewarded with a quick smack to my right ass cheek. “Now.”

The heat and longing behind his green eyes pushed me back a step, a bolt of excitement and warmth settling between my thighs, building on the heat already there. The shower’s rocked floor massaged the sore soles of my feet, and the warm water soothed the tension of the night from my tight shoulders.

At the opening of the glass door, a waft of cold air prickled my already warmed skin. Standing directly across the small enclosure, Brenton lazily perused up and down my naked body. Hand firmly wrapped around himself, he groaned and stepped to meet me under the hot spray.

The water poured over his dark hair, cascading over his broad shoulders and defined chest. Unable to resist, I reached through the steady stream to skim my fingertips down his rippled abs and back up, sliding my hands over his shoulders and down his strong arms.

“You leave tomorrow?” I asked, not much louder than the hiss and patter of the shower.

“Yes, after the meeting with the attorneys. I'm due back on base at 0800 the next day, so I need to get there tomorrow night. The army doesn't do late.”

Again I caressed up and down his arms, memorizing every muscle, every curve for future fantasies. “You feel good about the progress we've made with your 'episodes'?” I molded my naked body against his and hugged him tightly.

“I think I have a lot of shit to still sift through, but you've given me the tools to work through it all. You were the key, and now with all these memories... I feel like I have a piece of me back.”

A tear slipped down my cheek, disappearing in the streams of water flowing down my face. “Good. Glad I could help.”

“You didn't just help, Beks.” With two fingers beneath my chin, he tilted my faced up to meet his searching gaze. “You saved me.”

My chin trembled at the force required to hold back the tears that wanted to fall. Dropping my head, I pressed my forehead against his chest, my shoulders shaking with a silent sob.

This was goodbye, our last time together, maybe ever.

But he'd given a piece of me back.

And I'd done the same for him.

Even a little broken, I was more whole right then than in the past thirteen years.

He did that, but I still had to protect me. Protect my heart knowing he could shred it beyond repair.

“I love you, Brenton Graves,” I choked out. “I don't want to be without you, but I won't beg you to stay either.”

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