Page 29 of Forever Love

I allow her to lead me—or maybe drag me—up the stairs and into my room. Once inside, she pulls back the covers on my bed and we climb in. With the covers tossed over us, she wraps her arms around me again and holds me close, letting me cry out all the feelings I have about all this.

That must have been horrific for everyone. Thank God Braden didn’t end up like that. At least Ella didn’t suffer. Marty…

I’ll never understand how he could just walk out on Nick and me. I would think if I lost the person I loved more than anything, I’d want to cling to the lives we created together. But maybe I don’t understand.

I look down at the incredible girl—woman—wrapped in my arms. The one who soothes my soul. I can’t imagine a more crushing pain than losing her, losing the comfort she gives.

Her fingers mindlessly twist through my hair, her face nuzzled against my neck.

“Mai.” My voice is high and raspy.

She lifts her head to look into my eyes. No. I think she’s looking into my soul with those deep, hot cocoa eyes. “I love you,” she whispers before brushing her lips against mine.

At that small amount of contact, I become unhinged. “I love you so much. If I ever lost you…” I shake my head and smash my mouth against hers, claiming it, needing her to know exactly how much I love her.

Emotions flow between us—love, support, comfort, desire, need.

Clothes fly off and soon it’s the two of us, eyes locked, expressing the deepest connection I’ve ever known, and all the things we can’t seem to find words for—how deeply we love each other, how we’ll always stand by each other, how we never want to lose each other, how tightly we’ll hold onto each other.

And then one more word trickles through my brain.

Forever.

I’ll do all of that with her forever.

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