Page 108 of That First Night
“I will always be here for you,” I say as I take her chin in my hands and lean in to press a soft kiss to her lips. “There's nowhere else I would rather be than right here with you. Tell me what you need.”
“I just need you to hold me.”
“I’ve got you,” I say just as I pull her head to my chest and hold her tight once again. My hand strokes the back of her hair. “I’ve always got you.”
“Thomas?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Take me home.”
* * *
Peyton has her arms draped around my neck and her face buried in my neck as I carry her into the bathroom in the penthouse. I gently place her down in the middle of the bathroom and move to turn on the bathtub. She doesn’t move from where she is standing, and I see her gaze looking out the windows behind the tub.
She’s numb. She’s completely and utterly numb.
Slowly, I move to stand in front of her. Her gaze shifts to me as I see her watery eyes looking back at me. My hands find the hem of her oversized tee and she doesn’t move to stop me. Slowly, I remove the shirt, my eyes never leaving hers. There is nothing sexual about this and that's not my intention. She needs me in so many ways right now, and I plan to take care of her in any way she needs for the time being.
She doesn't stop me as I hook my fingers into the waistband of her sweatpants and push them to the floor. Her hands rest on my shoulders as I bend down for her to step out of them.
“Thank you,” she says hoarsely.
“I got you, baby.”
I slowly remove her bra and panties before I place her in the warm bathtub. I remove my jeans and t-shirt before I climb in behind her. She scoots forward to allow me to sit behind her. Her head tips back to rest on my shoulder as she lays there allowing me to wash her body with the sponge.
“She’s really gone, Thomas.”
“I’m so sorry, Peyton.” I continue to wash her arms with the sponge and press a kiss to the side of her head. Tears spring my eyes, but I blind them back knowing she needs a strong pillar to lean on right now. “I know how much she meant to you. She was an incredible woman.”
“She was.” She nods. “I know she's no longer in pain, though. She deserves that and that is what I am choosing to hold onto.” I don’t answer but continue to wash her and plant kisses on the side of her head. I know that nothing I say will take away the pain she’s feeling. “Tell me how the rest of last night went,” she continues. “I’m really sorry I bolted out of there without finding you.”
“Hey,” I say as I move so she can turn her head to look at me. My hand cups her chin to hold her there. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I will say that I was very nervous when I couldn’t find you. I may have had a minor panic attack.”
“What?” A half grin forms on her face as if she’s making an attempt to let out a giggle. “Why would you have a panic attack?”
“I thought,” I pause as my eyes bounce between hers. “I thought I lost you again.”
“You could never lose me, Thomas.” She turns her body which allows her hands to cup both sides of my face. “You won’t lose me, okay?”
“Peyton.” I melt as my arms wrap around her small waist. “The way that I felt that night, all those years ago when I lost you. I never want to feel that again.” She starts to speak, but I cut her off. “I know that I knew nothing about you other than your first name, but I felt something when you were near me. This wild electricity shot through my body that night. When I saw you again in the park five years later, I felt it again.”
“I felt it too,” she murmurs. “I still do.”
“Sunshine.” I lean in close, so my lips are hovering close to hers.
“I love you, Thomas.” She cuts me off and I swear the air in my lungs can’t escape as I hold my breath and pray this isn’t a dream. My pulse begins to pound wildly in my chest as I continue to stare in her eyes.
“Say it again.”
A soft giggle comes from her, “I love you, Thomas Ford. So much. You have no idea.”
My hands cup her face as my lips crash to hers. I have never felt so whole and complete in my life. This is everything I could ever want and then some. All these years, I have never told anyone those three little words. But I know I can now say them without hesitation to her because I feel it in every part of me.
“I love you, Peyton.”
She moves her entire body to straddle my legs so she's able to wrap her arms around my neck and she crashes her lips to mine again. I can feel a smile on her lips as she kisses me fiercely.
