Page 100 of Wasted Oil

Just speechless. My eyes search the green orbs staring back at me, the warmth of his hands on me keeping me at surface level.

With my heart racing, I’m overwhelmed with pure bliss. I feel his whisper on my lips as our noses graze each other.

“Truth or Dare, Boots?”

My mouth once again goes dry. I roll my tongue through my lips bringing much needed moisture.

“Dare.”

I waited with a bated breath for his response.

He gives a slight chuckle before talking again,

“Be mine.”

Before I can respond his lips are on mine in a searing kiss of passion. Every emotion, every I’m sorry behind it. I kiss him back with fierceness matching his saying I’m sorry and asking for forgiveness. All is granted when he pulls away resting our foreheads together.

"Can you forgive me, Mel?” He mutters.

"I forgave you the minute everything was said and done.” I take a deep breath and pull away to stare at him with agony in my gut.

"But how can you forgive me?" I ask with a shakey breath.

Rhett smirks, making me shudder but before I can ask again his hand reacts to mine dragging me closer to the Burning Barrels.

“Mel, I’m going to tell you exactly what we told your brother. You both are not responsible for what your father chose to do with his life and the abuse of power. We want nothing from either of you other than we all hopefully find peace in our new journey’s.”

Rhett reaches his free hand behind him bringing a rolled up manila envelope, the identical one I had told X to give to the Parker’s. My eyes fixated on the memories of the contents inside fluttering to shut out all the horror convicted at my father’s hands. Rhett raises his arm up over the barrel.

“Here’s to letting go of the past.”

Sparks from the fire flicker through the dusk sky.

In our moment of relief, I’m lifted up in his arms and his warm lips back on mine this time sliding his tongue in asking for permission to deepen the kiss. Our hearts beat rhythmically, falling in sync. He feel’s it. He has to feel what he’s doing to me, what he’s always done. The pull on my mind, body and soul is eternally devoted to him.

My voice is gravelly and laced with longing for more privacy.

“I love you Rhett.” Butterflies spread like wildfire in my stomach making my cheeks burn both of embarrassment, more euphoric sense of love. Saying those words out loud to him feels more surreal than when I was on stage moments ago.

“Say that again.” He asks, smiling, making his dimple deepen and my cheeks blush.

Ay dios mío.

He’s mine.

Fuck that feels good to say. Still blushing immensely, I look deep into his eyes.

“I love you, Rhett Parker.” Both his hands are framing my face, his thumb tracing my bottom lip I’ve released from my teeth. His eyes bounce from my lips up to my gaze but before pressing forward he pauses still with his eyes locked on mine.

“I love you, Melanie Alvarez.”

My brows pinch together with tears pulling behind my eyelids. If I could live in a moment for the rest of my life and replay it would be all of today. So many dreams have been made reality.

His lips are warm, so full of desire and everything that is now mine.

Clearing of a throat breaks our moment from our trusted friend.

“As much as it pains me to stop this beautifully hot moment— I’m sorry. The final number is coming up.”

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