Page 109 of Third Time is the Charm
“Don’t leave… just hold me.” She’d been so strong and so brave earlier, but even the strongest people can’t hold the world up forever.
The trauma of the night was finally starting to sink in – how close she’d come to losing everything. Now she needed his strength to soothe those thoughts.
“Don’t worry, gorgeous, I’ll be holding you all night long… I’ll be holding you all life long.” He kissed her forehead.
His words of reassurance calmed her enough to let him throw back the covers and slide them both underneath, tucking her against his chest.
Sated, safe, and, most importantly, together – they both quickly slipped into sleep.
Chapter 31
Beth slowly drifted into consciousness the following morning, her back tucked snugly against Darcy’s chest, his arms encircling her. She peered over at the clock –it was almost nine.
It had been a rough night – and that was after the still hardly believable incident with Caroline. She’d fallen asleep quickly, but in spite of the pleasurable precursor to her respite, her dreams took her to a darker place where she stood in front of Caroline and Darcy hadn’t gotten there in time. She’d seen him coming around the corner just as the bullet bit into her chest. Pain bloomed inside of her – not from the mortal wound, but because she hadn’t been able to save Darcy – to save them – from Caro.
She’d bolted up in the bed, completely awake and gasping for breath, the pain in her chest feeling incredibly real. Her body was slick with sweat from the fear in her nightmare. Her head spun to the side, a tremulous exhale leaving her body when she saw Darcy still in the bed next to her, his eyes open and aching with concern.
They’d stared at each other for a few seconds; he didn’t have to ask to know what she had been dreaming about. He’d waited for her to say something, but she hadn’t needed any more words; she’d just needed him.
She bent over to cover his mouth with hers, her tongue demanding entrance. Her hand dove underneath the covers, finding him semi-hard for a moment before her touch had him throbbing in her grasp.
“What do you need, baby?”he’d asked. She vividly remembered how hoarse his voice had been with sleep and desire.
“Take me, Darcy. Just take me.”
He didn’t need any more encouragement, rolling on top of her to land between her thighs. He slid himself home inside of her, their lips consuming each other as he plunged into her bringing them both swiftly to another orgasm.
Sliding off to the side of her, he’d pulled her back against him, kissing her forehead as his arms wrapped back around her. “I’m here, gorgeous. I’m always here.” The physical release obliterating whatever fear the nightmare had instilled in her.
She’d woken up twice more over night, but not nearly in the state she’d been in that first time. The second time, he’d held her as she cried, talking to her, soothing her as her tears soaked his chest – a cathartic release of the stress that had built up and had been restrained so that she could be strong.
The last time, she’d woken up in an eerie calm. The realization finally sinking in that there was no one after her, or him, or their relationship any more. They were finally done fighting for their chance; they were finally free. Darcy hadn’t woken up right away that time… but she’d managed to get his attention. That time, their lovemaking had been languid. Whether they were half-awake or half-asleep, they’d been completely consumed; their release finally coaxing her into the dream from which she’d just awoken.
Or was it into a dream that she’d just awoken?
No Caroline. No Mrs. DeBourgh. No walls. No lies. No masks. No Mr. Intolerable.
Only her and Darcy.
She turned in his arms to kiss him gently on the lips.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” came his deep response.
She frowned. “How long have you been awake?”
He groaned. “Since that delicious ass of yours rubbed up against me a few minutes ago.”
“I bet,” she scoffed jokingly.
His hand slid up her side to cup her face. “How are you? I know it was a rough night…”
Her eyes fell from his briefly, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. “I’m ok,” she replied, hesitant to believe her own words.
“Are you?” he asked, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheekbone.
“I think I’m still a little in shock…”
“Well, you had a gun pointed at you less than twelve hours ago, gorgeous. I think that’s understandable.”
