Page 20 of Tangled Up

Sunsets are impressive here, over the ocean. The colors are metallic, blue-silver on the surf, yellow-orange highlighting the clouds. The fiery star dips lower at the edge of the horizon, but my thoughts are hotter in my brain.

My blood burns, and my breath is fast, agitated. I need to do something, but what could I possibly do tonight? It would be a mistake to go to her, beat down her door and get it all out on the table, but wouldn’t that be “confronting the past”?

I spent a lot of time with Mr. Callahan today, talking to him about how he’s felt since the accident. He hasn’t had any memory loss from what he or his niece Sadie can tell. His daily routine has been unaffected. He’s sarcastic and impish like most men his age, and using him as a surrogate is not working.

He’ll never replace the life I lost. He’s an old man who’s had his experiences. It’s not the same. The only thing that will give me peace is going to the survivors and being honest, asking for forgiveness.

Climbing the back porch steps, I walk slowly across the wide patio. The universe has brought us both to this place. I said I wanted to face the past, and it says,Here you go. Do it.

Only, she’s as angry now as she was then.

She’s as beautiful now as she was then.

She tears my insides out as violently now as she did then.

I’ve never stopped loving her.

Dropping to sit on the wicker sofa, I put my head in my hands. My fingers thread in my hair, and I curl them against my scalp.Is there no escaping this pain?

“Why are you torturing me this way?” I groan, lifting my chin and looking up at the sky.

As the final rays of light drown in the ocean, my eyes flicker down to the edge of the patio, and my chest seizes. She’s standing there.

Her dark hair fans around her shoulders in the sea breeze, and her breasts rise and fall fast with her pants. Her skin glows with a sheen of sweat, and she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The heat in my veins funnels below my waist, stirring my dick.

Lowering my hands, I sit straighter. “Carly?”Am I dreaming?

Her eyes are fierce, and her feet make soft thuds as she storms across the wooden patio to where I’m sitting. I stand just before she reaches me, but instead of the warm hug she gave me this morning, she raises small fists.

“Why did you come here?” Her voice is hoarse and ragged as she hits me on the chest. “Why?”

Closing my eyes, I absorb the force of her anger. Every strike is punctuated by a quiet sob, and it breaks my heart.

She’s not hurting me physically. My body is too strong, but she needs this. I deserve this.

“After all this time, after everything that happened?” Her voice goes louder, but instead of another hit, she collapses, shoulders shaking as she starts to cry.

I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight. If only I could go back in time.

“Carly,” I whisper her name, wanting to kiss her.Would she let me?

She’s so small for the oversized place she holds in my heart, and she feels so good in my arms. Her face is tucked against me, and I slide my hand to her cheek, lifting her gaze to mine.

“I’m sorry.” The words are so weak, not nearly enough, but they’re all I have.

Her golden-brown eyes are watery. She blinks several times, and a tear falls onto her cheek like a gut punch.

“I’m so sorry,” I repeat, drawing closer.

She stretches taller, and my arms loosen. I slide my hands over her back as my lips brush hers. Hesitating, I search her gaze once more. Storms rage in her eyes, but we’ve never been able to deny the power between us. It’s as primal as the elements themselves.

I don’t know who moves first, but she’s off her feet, legs around my waist. Our mouths crash, lips part, and our tongues collide. She exhales a little moan, and my cock is an iron rod in my pants. Every nerve in my body is on fire as I sit on the wicker sofa.

She rises onto her knees, allowing me to trace my fingers up her smooth legs, searching higher, tracing over her bare ass.

She makes another soft moan when I discover, “You’re not wearing underwear.”

“Take this off.” She pulls at my shirt, and I quickly whip it over my head.

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