Page 73 of Come Back for Me
His face scrunches. “No, that’s one time each, and they never touched again.”
“Is that what you’d want if we were together?” My fingers slide against his palm.
He clears his throat. “No. Once I have you, Ellie, you’re going to want more time with me as well.”
“Is that so?”
Not that I doubt him in the least. I want him now. Touching him, kissing him, is a drug that I can’t quit. I can’t imagine how it will be when we finally make love again.
“Most definitely.”
“I look forward to the challenge.”
Connor rises to his feet and comes around the table. “They say that dancing is like having sex with your clothes on.”
“They do?”
“Yes. Will you dance with me?”
“Now? But there’s no music.”
He grins as he extends his hand. “We don’t need it.”
I place my hand in his and we walk a little away from the table, which took up most of the dance floor. Connor stops, and I step into his arms. Together, we sway, our cheeks resting on each other’s, arms holding on to one another. He was right. We don’t need music.
I close my eyes and commit this moment to memory. Here we are, in the bar where we met so many years ago, dancing just like we did that night.
I feel it all, the warmth of his body, the strong muscles that make me feel safe, and the way I seem to fit perfectly against him.
Connor pulls back so our eyes meet. “I could stay like this with you forever.”
“Me too.”
And I want to. With him, the world is filled with possibilities and safety.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Connor urges.
I want to confess it all to him because he needs to know what I’m feeling. “That when I’m with you, I’m not the broken woman I sometimes feel like. That you look at me in a way I only dreamed was possible. It scares me, yes, but it humbles me as well. I think about how much I want something more with you even though it feels like it should be way too soon.”
His thumb strokes my cheek. “I think if we were anyone else, it would be. You’ve been mine since the night we met in this bar. When we gave ourselves to each other, it wasn’t the way either of us planned. I know you, Ellie. I see you for all that you are, and I think that maybe you’re just starting to see yourself.”
He’s the man who wants to slay dragons and has the fortitude to do it. I don’t fear telling him things. He is the calm in the storm that rages around me.
I shake my head, looking away. “I don’t deserve you.”
His thumb lifts my chin so our gazes lock once more. “It’s me who doesn’t deserve you, Angel, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to give you up.”
We stay like this, just moving to the sound of our heartbeats, making our own music.
After a few more beats, I look up at him, hoping what I’m about to say doesn’t destroy the perfect night we’ve been enjoying. “I got something today.”
“Is it about the court case? I got my subpoena today too.”
“No, it’s not about that,” I chew on my lip nervously.
“Ellie.” Connor’s concern is laced in my name. “I promise, it’ll be okay. I’ll be right beside you, and with the way the judge ruled the last time, I’m sure that it’ll go your way.”
“No, I know. It’s not that. I know you won’t let him hurt us,” I say. “I actually got something else—results, really.” I try to ignore the sliver of fear in his eyes as I walk over to my purse. I pull the envelope out and hold it in my hand. “I didn’t open it. I really wanted to, but I thought it should be something we do together—that is, if you want. Or I can open it and tell you.”
