Page 67 of Choose Me

"I know we never planned for all this, but I can't imagine our life without her. Without you. Without this dysfunctional family, we've created."

"I feel the same way," I whispered, "But we haven't actually talked about everything that happened...with Everett and I...and you and Sydney."

He sighed, "What happened with Sydney was not intended on my part. I will take accountability for the fact that I shouldn't have drank as much as I did. I thought I made it clear to her that I was happy with you, but she--"

"Took advantage." I interrupted. "Brock told me. The thing is, I know your heart, and I know there is no way you would do something like that to me. But seeing that video, regardless of the circumstances around it, hurt me. Couple that with you being gone, and I wasn't in the right headspace to forgive you."

"I never meant to hurt you. You are and always have been the only one I want."

Tears stung my eyes as I looked at the man I loved more than anything.

"I'm so sorry for what happened with Everett. I feel like I betrayed you and the life we have worked so hard to build."

"I won't pretend that it was easy for me to watch, and if he were anyone else, I would have killed him the second we got out of there. Margaret left you no choice. It was either you fuck him in front of me, or we all would have been dead, and she would have run away with Izzie." He pressed his lips to my knuckles and rested his head on my hands. "Honestly, I would have made the same decision if it meant saving you and Izzie's lives."

I lifted his head to look at me and saw tears in his eyes. "Baby, I'm so sorry. So incredibly sorry."

"Do you love him?"

I stared into those beautiful blue eyes that I loved that now had tears pooling in them. "My love for him is not the same love I have for you."

"What does that mean?"

"I love you deep in my soul. My heart aches for the love you and I share. My love for you is so intense it consumes me. We have endured and survived together, and our bond is stronger than any force of nature, as if it was woven into the very fabric of existence. You are my shelter from the storms and my soul mate. I am an island surrounded by your ocean, relying on you for peace and stability. Without you, I am lost and incomplete. But Everett is like the ocean during the storm, unpredictable and unexpected, like a raging tide coming in to sweep me away. He surprises me with his suddenness, yet is constant in his presence. I didn't ask for these feelings, but they've found their place inside of me. He was there for me when you couldn't be, and as much as I wanted to blame you for that, I can't. Love can take many forms, and I don't understand it all. But I do know that the thought of losing either one of you takes my breath away."

James listened intently, his jaw clenched as he processed my words. He released a deep, heavy sigh and stood up, running his hands through his hair. "I never thought I would have to share you with anyone else."

My stomach dropped.

"But now that I'm here, I can't imagine my life without you two. My love for you is the same as your love for me, and nothing will change that. If you love him, then I love him too. I want you to be happy, and I know that he will protect you and Izzie with his life, and you two are all that matters to me. I'll admit that I don't know how to navigate this threesome thing, but I would do this for you if that's what you wanted."

I stood up and walked over to him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. "I don't know how to make this work, but I am happy as long as I have you. I don't even know what Everett feels about all of this. He seems happy just being here with us. He hasn't pushed anything more with me, so it would probably be best to have a conversation with all of us."

"You're right. We can talk to him when he gets home." He started to pull away, but I grabbed his hand, refusing to let him go.

He lifted his gaze towards me, confusion on his face. We hadn't been intimate since I had Izzie--partly because of the six-weeks-no-sex rule but because he had given me space to deal with everything. He was always considerate of me and my feelings, ignoring his own.

I leaned in, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him, my hands wandering over the muscles of his chest. "James," I whispered against his mouth, pulling him closer to me, "I need you."

He looked at me for a long moment, his hand cupping my cheek, before closing the distance between our lips. It was a slow, tender kiss full of emotion and love. I wrapped my arms around his neck; the familiar warmth of his body enveloped me, and I felt safe.

He scooped me up in his arms, carried me to our bed, and lay me down gently before crawling on top of me. His lips trailed down my neck, his hands roaming over my body. Within seconds, both of us were naked and kissing each other in a raw and primal way, full of need and desperation. My hands grabbed his hair, pulling him towards me. His breathing was deep and heavy as his lips ventured over my body. He hovered over me, his arms braced on either side of my head as he looked at me. His eyes held mine captive, his penetrating gaze filled with emotion.

"You are mine. I will never let you go."

I nodded in response, knowing he meant it.

"This is forever."

"Promise me," I whispered.

"I promise."

His kiss was possessive, his weight pressing me into the bed. I arched my back against him as his fingers trailed down my stomach and brushed against my clit.

"James," I moaned, shifting my hips against his hand.

"I've missed this pretty pussy of yours."

---