Page 89 of Cavern of Silence
"Let me clean up first."
"I'll do it. You cooked," Tinker volunteers.
"Are you sure?"
"Yep. This was great. Thank you."
Ryker leads me to the bedroom and shuts the door. "I can't do this."
My gut drops and my insides shake.
You hurt him too much. He doesn't want you anymore. Why couldn't you just accept his apology on the deck and move on?
"I'm..." I swallow the lump in my throat and try not to cry. "Okay. I'm sorry I hurt you." I spin to leave so I don't break down in front of him.
He steps in front of me. "Julieta. Wait. Where are you going?"
"I..." I cover my face to hide my tears.
He cocoons his body around me, and the ache in my chest only escalates. "Don't go."
I sob into his pecs.
"Shh. Tell me what I can do to get things back to where they were. Please."
I tilt my head up. "You aren't done with me?"
"No. I meant I can't do this, as in, I need things to be right between us so we can move forward."
I reach for his face but freeze inches from it so I don't touch his bruises.
He puts his hands over mine and holds them against his cheeks and closes his eyes.
"Am I hurting you?"
He keeps his eyes closed and releases a breath. "No, baby. I need to feel you. To know you're still here and want me."
"I never stopped wanting you."
He opens his eyes, and they're glassy. "Forgive me for what I did."
"I do. I already did."
"Don't ever give up on me."
"I won't. I couldn't."
"I can't lose you. Not now or ever."
"Kiss me, Ryker. I need you to kiss me," I whisper and trace my thumb over his swollen lips.
We give each other everything we have in our kiss. And in it is a promise to keep moving forward because life without the other is another form of hell on earth.
And we've both already been to the fiery pit and back. Any more time there would be extra cruel.
For the first time in years, a feeling creeps into my chest. It takes me a moment to understand what it is. It's hope, and it swirls around my faith in him and in us.
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