Page 68 of Icy Heart, Empty Chest
“Yes, Cor. All yours. And you’re mine too.” I smiled. This was heaven.
He turned on his side to face me. There was still some low light illuminating our faces.
“You’re an amazing woman, Cor.”
I snorted. “Me? What’d I do?”
“The last two weeks you’ve been cleaning up after me, forming plans, getting in places, listening to my bullshit. You forgave me. You let me back in, love.” Even in the post coital afterglow, the word “love” had me beaming.
“I couldn’t help it. It was you.” I put a hand on his neck. “You opened me back up again.”
He glanced down to my legs and I laughed. “Pervert.”
He drew me closer and took on a seductive tone. “I told you I’d dreamed of us together. I didn’t say how many times I dreamed it.” His fingers drifted down to the small of my back and then splayed over my behind.
“I’d frequently wake up rock hard, dreaming of having you in so many ways, all till you cried out my name. I’ve wanted you, your smile and sass for a while. Getting all of this,” he added, grasping my ass firmly, “was just a bonus to the dream come true.”
“How often?” I asked coyly.
“Weekly.”
“I feel stupid in a way,” I admitted. “I could have had you for years.”
“No, Cora,” he said firmly. “Don’t go down that path. I don’t want any regrets at all between us.”
I nodded. It did feel a bit like a fairytale.
“I may have dreamed about you occasionally as well,” I blushed.
“Oh?” That smirk of his.
“Of course. Have you seen your reflection? And,” I said, letting a deep breath out, “you always had a way of smiling your way into every corner of my heart. Picked me up. Encouraged me. Listened.”
I wasn’t shocked at the depth of my feelings. I was shocked at myself for not having done anything about it for so long.
“I resisted you for so long and I didn’t have to,” I said, brushing a lock of his hair back. “You may have taken out your heart but I was the fool.”
He opened his mouth to argue but I put a finger over it. “Let me get this out.”
“I’m a hardheaded jackass who should have forgiven you a long time ago. Forgiven myself too,” I said, with a shrug. “I wish I had known years ago he was hurting you. Threatening you.”
“I’m not sure it would have made a difference, Cor.”
“I am. It would have made all the difference in the world. You tried to get to me, risking your own flesh. You tried so hard.” A tear slipped down my face. “Sounds terrible but I’m glad he’s gone.”
Damien nodded. “I can’t disagree.” A little time passed, just content in his arms before I spoke again.
“This still feels surreal, Dae.” I snuggled deep into his chest, the small hairs tickling against my face.
“I’m sure the bubble will burst when you realize that I snore or I’m terrible with laundry and that my cooking skills are abysmal.”
“I’m pretty sure I realized all of those things when I went into your house. The only problem I foresee is that we both suck at laundry.”
“I noticed your laundry chair; I have one too.”
I laughed. It was nice feeling this light hearted. Like I have something to look forward to for the first time in a while. It was amazing.
He suddenly pushed us apart slightly to look at my face with a pained expression on his face in sudden remembrance.
