AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Stop,” I say, gripping her so she can’t go too far. “I want to stay in this moment a little longer.”
She settles back down, nuzzling against my neck. Her leg draped over me, body wrapped around mine. “I want to live in this moment.”
My fingers drag up and down her bare back. I love that she gets goosebumps every time I touch her. I’ve never felt this close to anyone before. It scares me as much as it thrills me.
“Remember when I told you my dad killed someone?” There really isn’t any other way to segue into this conversation, so I just blurt it out.
She nods and scoots up to lean against the headboard.
I suck in a deep, long breath, then release it through my lips. “The person he killed was my mom.”
The shock of that statement consumes her. Every muscle in her body freezes, eyes wide, hands gripping her thighs. The last piece of the puzzle in her mind clicks into place.
“I was thirteen,” I continue. “Watched the whole thing. He strangled her and there was nothing I could do.”
“Why?” Her voice is barely audible. “Why would he do that?”
“He was a drunk. Always beat on her. That night, things just … I don’t think he even knew what he was doing. I tried to stop him, but … I couldn’t save her.”
Her fingers interlace with mine as she lays her head on my shoulder. “How awful it must have been for you to witness that.”
I lift her hand to my lips. “It was.”
“No wonder you don’t want to speak to your father.”
“I thought about it. Many times. I don’t know what would be worse: He apologizes and is remorseful, or he’s still the same piece of shit he always was.”
“I think it’d be more difficult to swallow if he regrets it. You’d be faced with the decision to forgive him … or not.”
“I don’t know if I have it in me to forgive him.”
“Maybe you don’t have to. Maybe a person doesn’t deserve forgiveness after he does something so heinous.”
I press a kiss to Carla’s hair, inhaling her sweet scent.
“What do you think about finding Woods?” she asks.
“You know, for so long I held this grudge against him. Like I blamed him for everything that happened to me.”
“Because you wanted him to make everything better for you.”
I nod. “I’m not sure how I feel now. I guess it’s something I have to think about.”
“That’s a good first step.”
Carla’s phone vibrates on the nightstand. She glances at the screen and giggles. “Mal’s been blowing up my phone. She’s going to die when she finds out about us.”
I drag her body until she’s on top of me, straddling me in complete naked beauty. “And what will you tell her about us?”
She lifts a shoulder, avoiding eye-contact with me. “That we kissed.”
“And?” I prod her with my morning wood and her eyes close as a moan escapes her lips.
“And that we had sex.”
“And?” I brush my thumbs over her nipples, leaning down to take one into my mouth.
“And … that we’re … in love.” She’s grinding her hips against me.
