Page 127 of I Never Stopped Loving You

“Focus. This is serious.”

“I’m fine. I just need to rest.”

“Open your eyes,” I command, and he finally stops fighting me.

He opens his eyes, and his pupils respond correctly.

“There. Happy?” he grumbles.

“Yes. Thank you. I’m going to take a quick shower. Want to join me?”

“As tempting as your wet naked body sounds, I think I need to take your advice and rest. And if I follow you in there, I’ll be doing everything but resting.”

I lean and press a soft kiss against his lips before sitting up, still straddling him, and gently rolling my hips sensually teasing him.

“Willow, if you don’t get your ass in there right now, I won’t be the one resting because I’ll fuck you until you pass out…or I pass out.”

He laughs when he feels all the muscles in my core clench against him.

“That’s not fair. You can’t say shit like that,” I huff as I roll off of him, but before I can get off the bed, he pulls me in for another kiss.

“I meant what I said, Willow. Every fucking word. I’ll always protect you and do anything to make you happy.”

He cups my face before gently kissing me again.

“Your smile is the light in my darkness. I’ll do anything to keep it burning bright.”

The amount of butterflies ready to explode out of my chest is overwhelming. How can he cause my head to spin from just a few words?

Three words are dancing on the tip of my tongue. Ones that I’ve never said in an intimate way to another person. But I can’t say them, not yet. It’s too fucking soon, and who’s to say this time next week he could be sick of me after we spend so much time together?

“Go get in the shower before I drag you back into this bed and never let you go.”

“Yes, Sir.”

I give him a flirty wink before walking slowly into the bathroom. I can’t help but wish he’d follow me even though he truly does need the rest. Well, there’s always later tonight for round two.

CHAPTER 57

NOAH

OCTOBER FLASHBACK

Last night was horrible. I tossed and turned all fucking night. My eyes are literally burning from the lack of sleep. It doesn’t help that Angela sent a flood of hateful texts before finally telling me she was blocking me. I swear every time I started to doze off another text from her came through.

As I descend the steps into the labyrinth, I swear my stomach might release the small amount of food and coffee I was able to choke down. I have to stop halfway down the steps to get my head on straight.

Between the lack of sleep, my father breathing down my neck over this fucking Vallero case, and also the fact that the piece of shit I’ve had imprisoned down here for the last four years has managed to figure out exactly who I am, I feel like I’m losing it. I have a feeling he’s going to try to use it to get under my skin.

I’ve searched for her for years. I’ve hunted down everyone who was ever involved in her life. Her grandparents are all dead, but she was never with them. I had tech friends hack the different offices of the police departments that were involved that horrible night, but still, there’s nothing. It’s like she just disappeared, faded away on the breeze.

I tortured James for months trying to find out if he actually did kill her or if he knew where she was. He screamed and asked me who I was, even back then. He never once seemed to remember me. Then again, back when I was a kid and involved in Willow’s life, he was a drunk, so it wasn’t surprising that he didn’t seem to have a clue.

I’ve realized that the devil himself can’t be broken by torture, physical or mental. I need to find Willow soon before I snap and kill him myself. I’ve been saving him for her for four fucking years, so it’d be a waste to let him die now.

The door creaks open slowly, and I can hear Rayes crying from deep inside the tunnels. The sounds echo around me, slowly calming my nerves. That is until James opens his fucking mouth.

“So, Noah, still haven’t found my baby girl yet?”