AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We need to talk about this morning when you were trying to get out of here as fast as you could.” I look at her pointedly. She shrinks under my gaze letting me know that I need to ease her into all this. “I wanted to talk this morning but things…escalated…” I trail off seeing her rosy cheeks appear again. Damn this woman can get me hot and bothered by doing nothing. Marcy leans over and places her glass down then looks back at me
“I, well, this is a lot.” She motions between us.”I always wanted, but never expected…” Her eyes widen at me like she just let slip a major secret although it’s one I’ve known for many years.
“You were upset about Matthew this morning. What was on your mind?”
She blows out a deep breath. “I guess it made me feel guilty to hook up with his best friend. I always feel guilty when something goes well in my life, like I don’t deserve it since he’s not here. Like I’m being selfish. Does that make sense?” she asked as she covers her face with her hands.
Pulling her hands away from her flushed face, I take them in mine, squeezing lightly so her attention turns to me.
“This wasn’t just some hookup and you know that.”
“Do I?” she questions.
“Listen, I’ve dealt with survivors' guilt. I’ve asked myself why it had to be him and not me. He had you to come back to. I’ve had countless nights where I lay awake wondering why it wasn’t me.” I pause gathering my thoughts. Tears are streaming down her beautiful face and I know I would do anything to take that pain away. Scrubbing my hand down my face, I continue.
“He isn’t here for you but I am.” She rolls her eyes at my remark, throwing me off. What did I say wrong?
“If you were here for me then why did you leave me alone for so long? You could have visited or even written me from the military. Why did you just cast me aside? I thought…” she hiccups now full on crying. She rises from the couch throwing a decorative pillow down.
“At the funeral you-you kissed me for fucks sake. Do you know what that did to me? I was grieving my brother and making out with his best friend…” Marcy wipes her hands across her cheeks gathering the tears. “I felt so guilty but also confused. You just kissed me and ran away as quickly as you could. No words were said. Just vanished.” Marcy storms around me grabbing her purse but before she can get anywhere I reach my arm out to stop her.
“You aren’t going anywhere, princess. Now get your ass back on this couch.”
“I’m not your ‘princess’, Sam! This is so fucked up.” She runs her hands through her mess of curls grasping hard out of frustration. “I’m not your anything! Let’s just leave it at that, like it was before when you kept your distance. This was a mistake.” Marcy side steps my hand and runs toward the door. I’ll be damned if I lose her when I just got her. She’s mine.
Her hand on the knob, I swiftly pivot her toward me. Our eyes lock, a charged moment suspended in time. The air thickens, anticipation humming between us. What secrets lie hidden behind those eyes? What unspoken desires simmer beneath the surface? The room fades away, leaving only the two of us, caught in this intimate dance of tension and possibility.
“Listen to me,” I cup her face between my hands, “I shouldn’t have kissed you at the funeral.” Marcy scoffs trying to duck away from me but my body has her pinned to the door. “I only say that because it almost killed me when I had to pull away from you.” My thumb rubs a tear from her cheek as her attention comes back to me. Her emerald gems gleam up at me.
“Then why did you?” she whispers, her voice cracking. The room pulses with tension, our breaths mingling in the charged air. Her eyes search mine, seeking answers. Demanding truth.
I let out a deep sigh. “I was going back overseas. I didn’t know what would happen and I didn’t want to cause you any more grief, more heartache. I was trying to protect you, dammit. Don’t you get that? I had to leave…” I lean my head against hers needing the connection.
“I didn’t need you to protect me. All this time I thought you regretted it. It was so unbearable I could hardly breathe.” Marcy sobs into her hands letting out all the emotions she had kept hidden away all these years.
“Shh…I never regretted kissing you. Never. My only regret was leaving you in the first place. But I’m here now and I’m not leaving. You can’t get rid of me, sunshine. I told you that I would always be here for you and it’s time I show you how much I mean that.”
“Really?” her tone isn’t convinced.
“I would never lie to you, baby.”
Marcy wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. My lips brush against hers softly before we hear the timer on the oven sound through the penthouse.
I smile against her lips. “C’mon, let me feed you.”
I lead her to the dining area beside a large bank of windows. Once I pull out her chair, I kiss her temple then head to the kitchen for our food.
The pesto chicken smells divine as I make two plates for us. Placing the wide bowls on the table, I rush to the living room to grab our forgotten glasses of wine.
“Thought you might want this.” I take my seat across from Marcy, my eyes never leaving hers as she leans over to smell the pasta. The euphoric expression that lines her face is all the praise I need.
“Thank you for doing all of this, Sam. It looks amazing.” Her eyes glimmer in the reflection of the setting sun behind me making it hard for me to focus on anything else. I’d much rather sit here watching as she enjoys the meal instead of me diving in as well.
“I needed to make sure you were fed.” My shoulders shrugging as I take a sip of wine. The delicious notes of fruit and vanilla explode over my tongue.
Marcy takes a bite of the pasta, her eyes falling closed as she sighs.
“I never thought I would taste her pesto chicken again. It was always my favorite Italian dish she cooked. This is incredible, Sam,” she gushes as she takes another bite having the same response. The happiness I see on her face makes me want to be the one that always puts it there.
