Page 77 of A Slice of Love

Everything except loving you.

Helovesme?

Jonas…lovesme?

I spring to my feet, racing toward the door, hoping and praying I can catch Brad before he leaves because Ihaveto make sure I’m not going crazy and this is really happening.

Swinging open the door, I immediately crash into a brick wall…or Jonas. They feel like the same thing at this point.

He grabs me by the shoulders, righting me.

His simple touch does me in, my knees trying to buckle. Shock courses through me, and so many emotions flying around inside me.

The most notable sensation is relief, because Jonas is here, which means he’s not ready to give up on us.

Neither am I.

“What are you doing here? You should be on a flight.”

“I have exactly one hour. Leroy’s waiting for me in the parking lot.” He rocks back on his heels, giving me a hopeful look. “Can we talk?”

“Make it quick.”

He stumbles back. “Frank, I—”

“I lied. We can’t talk.”

“We…we can’t?”

“No, because I don’t want to spend our last hour together talking. I want to spend it kissing. I want to spend it in your arms.”

He moves with a speed I’ve never seen before, his hands crashing through my hair as he pulls me into him, lifting me by my ass and shoving me against the nearest wall. His mouth slams down on mine with such force it almost hurts.

“Fuck, Frank.” He exhales against my lips. “You had me scared for a minute.”

He presses his mouth to mine again, kissing me long and hard, stealing the breath straight from my lungs.

“I love you,” I confess, pulling away, breathing like I just ran a marathon. “I love you too. I’ve always loved you, even when I was mad at you.”

“I’m so sorry.” Kiss. “For everything.” Kiss. “I want to take it all back and do it all over again all at the same time.”

“I know, I know.”

I kiss him again, loving the feel of his beard scraping against my chin.

I don’t know how long we stay there tangled in one another, but I know I never want it to end.

“Your knee,” I say during one of our short breaks. “Isn’t this killing your knee?”

“No. Your kisses healed me.”

Laughing, I shove at him, wiggling free and planting my legs back on the floor.

He has one arm slung above me, and he’s staring down at me with hunger in his gaze as his fingers play along my skin where my shirt has ridden up. I love the feel of his hands on me. I’m going to miss it.

The reality of him leaving any minute hits me, and I work to blink back tears, my lips quivering.

I crash into his chest, and he lets me cry it out.

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