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He tips my chin, and I lift my eyes to his, those expressive obsidian stones so intense as he speaks. “I won’t hurt you, Charly. Whatever this is, whatever happens, I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
My heart swells and warmth overflows, surging through my veins. “I know.”
I don’t know how, or why, but I do. I can feel it in my bones. Bryce isn’t like Greg, or anyone else I’ve met. Which complicates things further, because I’m certain this could be more than a fleeting summer fling. Throwing caution to the wind could be a mistake, but it’s the only option I have at this point.
Because after kissing Bryce, I can’t go back to not kissing him.
He dips his head, and my lips meet his. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, searching for mine, and we kiss like this is our last moment on earth. His hands are in my hair, gripping my roots at the base of my head, tugging it back so he can ravage my mouth the way he wants to. My fingertips slip under the hem of his T-shirt, skimming past the scar on his spine, and digging into his shoulder blades. Urgent and frenzied, we pour our worries into one another, and get lost in the moment.
If all we have is here and now, then this is exactly where I want to stay.
In this lighthouse, high above the ground, having the best kiss of my life.
Bryce
“Do you mind if we head home?”
“Of course I don’t mind.” Charly’s eyes scan my body. “Is everything okay?”
I shake out my right leg. “I’m getting pins and needles in my foot. That’s usually a warning sign. I don’t think I’d be in good shape if I spent another night here.”
She lets out a relieved breath. “Me neither. Don’t get me wrong, last night was incredible. But I need a real bed, and a shower.”
I smirk. “The city girl isn’t into camping?”
She scoffs. “I think I held my own out here.”
“Minus the part where you ran screaming from the invisible snakes last night.”
She points her finger in my face. “Show no one that video if you know what’s good for you.”
I chuckle. “You’re no fun.”
On the ride home, I rest my hand on Charly’s thigh, stroking her bare skin with my thumb. As much as I would’ve loved to have spent another night under the stars with her, I know I need to get home. Soaking in a warm bath, and getting off my feet will help.
It’s not always easy accepting help, or admitting when I’ve hit my limit. Sure, when I needed assistance getting up out of my wheelchair, I appreciated it. When I dropped something, and it hurt too much to bend and pick it up, I welcomed the help. Those were things I couldn’t do on my own. But then people around me started taking over the tasks I could do. They assumed I wasn’t capable. They dismissed my ability because of my disability. I stopped expressing the pain I was in so people would think I felt better than I actually did—so they’d stop doing everything for me.
Part of me didn’t want to tell Charly what I needed today. There’s still that nagging fear whispering negativity in the back of my mind, telling me that Charly won’t want to hang around for long once she sees how bad things can get. Like everyone else. But I swallowed my pride, and told her because she trusted that I would. She hasn’t doubted my abilities thus far, and she lets me be in control of my decisions. I owe her my honesty.
The drive home only makes the pain worse, and by the time we get to the inn, I need Charly’s help getting out of the truck, and around back to my place.
“I’ll feel better after the bath,” I tell Charly as she flips on the bathroom light.
Her lips tilt, but I can see the worry in her eyes when she flicks them up to mine.
“I’m fine. I promise.” I tear my shirt over my head, and toss it onto the floor.
Charly leans back against the edge of the sink, her gaze falling to my bare chest, and sliding down my abdomen. “Yes, you certainly are fine.”
I hook my finger through her belt loop, and pulling her closer. “You don’t have to stay if you want to go get Edward, and see how Nana’s doing.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
Never. I shake my head. “No, but—”
“Then I’m staying. Nurse Charly, at your service.”
My eyebrows jump. “I like the sound of that.”
