Page 120 of One Last Time
He closes his eyes as if he’s in pain and nods. “I know, and I hate myself for it. I could tell you all the reasons I had in my head, but it doesn’t change anything. The idea that you were behind it was more than I could take. I’ve never loved a woman the way I love you, Kristin. It was all there in front of me, the timing, the email, the facts that you knew were in black and white. To think that you could betray me was . . . I don’t even have words to describe how much ithurt.”
I don’t need the words because I lived it. The way I felt for him was otherworldly. I loved Noah with every fiber of my being. He was the happy in my ever after. Giving him my heart was the easiest decision I ever made and the hardest thing to takeback.
“It took you three days. Three days that we knew it wasn’t me, but you didn’t even text me. Nothing until now? Why? What changed that made you decide I am worth fighting for?” I find myself inching closer tohim.
His hand lifts, brushing against my cheek, leaving a burning streak in its wake. My lungs ache as he stares down at me. Noah has always taken my breath away, but right now, I feel as though I’m frozen. If I move just the slightest bit, I couldcrack.
“I didn’t know until about fourteen hours ago, and I was on a plane within an hour. So, I didn’t know.” Noah’s nose brushes against mine, and I breathe him in. “You’re worth everything. I’m a fool who doesn’t deserve a second chance, but I’m begging for one. Just this once, forgive me, and I’ll never hurt youagain.”
I close my eyes, and a tear leaks out. Resisting Noah has never been something I’ve done. From the day I met him, he’s had a hold on me, and I don’t think I ever really had a choice in falling forhim.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I murmur while moving my hands to his chest. “Just promise you won’t walkaway.”
Noah’s hands cup my cheeks. “I promise. I don’t think I could surviveit.”
Our eyes meet, and I see the regret he feels. “I know Ican’t.”
“Forgive me,” he pleads. “Forgive me for being sostupid.”
“I did the second I sawyou.”
It’s the truth. The instant our eyes met, my forgiveness was his. Noah is the man I love. He’s the one I want beside me, and even if he left, he came back, and I can’t endure the thought of giving up on a secondchance.
Noah pulls me to him as his lips move closer. My fingers slide up his chest and around to the back of his neck. I hold on as our mouths find each other. He kisses me like a dying man who found a cure to save him. For the first time in three days, I’m able to breathe without pain in my chest. His tongue slides against mine, and I couldcry.
Our lips break, and he presses his head to mine. “I didn’t know if I’d ever get to kiss you again,” he admits. “I would’ve never stopped trying to win youback.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, rest my head on his chest, and melt into his embrace. “You wouldn’t have had a hardfight.”
He rubs his fingers against my spine. “I love you,Kristin.”
“I love you,” I say, lifting my head to look into hiseyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t believeyou.”
It still stings, and we still don’t know who did this, but he cameback.
“I can’t fully blame you. If I didn’t know with absolute certainty I didn’t do it, I would have a hard time. This person went to a lot of trouble to make it look like I wrote thatarticle.”
Noah brings his lips to mine several times before releasing me. “Do you know who did thisyet?”
“No. The only proof we have is that it wasn’t any of my devices. There are still a lot of unanswered questions swirling around. Who else knows? How did they find out? And how did they know to use my information because I can’t tell if it was to destroy me or you? But Jackson is on his way with those answers, I hope,” I tellhim.
This person is deeply entwined in both of our lives. There are names I refuse to entertain because I can’t fathom they would do something like this, but Noah and I don’t know a lot of mutualpeople.
“What did you tell the kids?” heasks.
“They’ve been with their father while I tried to pick up thepieces.”
Noah rubs his thumb against the top of my hand. “I’ll fix what I broke. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make you feel safe with me. You will never have to question how I feel, sweetheart. I love you with every piece of me, and I won’t doubtyou.”
Catherine clears her throat as she opens the door. “You guysokay?”
Such a loaded question. But when I look in Noah’s eyes, I don’t have to think too hard. He’s here. He loves me. And he believesme.
I look back at her with a smile and then nod. “I think we’re going to be justfine.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Catgrins.
