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Her blonde hair is down around her face in messy waves and she’s wearing what I’ve come to realize is her favorite sweater–the one that always falls off her shoulder. She’s smiling in a way that lets me know she’s forgiven me before she even says a word. Relief pours over me like a warm shower after a long workout.
“Jules,” I breathe out after I’ve climbed the steps to stand in front of her.
She looks up at me, her green eyes rimmed in red, but crinkled at the edges. I want to touch her, to pull her in, but I wait to hear what she has to say.
“I was coming to find you. Your letter.” She pauses. “I don’t have the words to convey how much it means to me. Adrian, I forgive you and I want more with you too. So much more,” she whispers the last three words. Happiness like I’ve never known washes over me.
I slide one hand under her jaw, holding the side of her face. She leans into the touch, igniting the burning desire within me that I’ve sought to keep at bay. My other hand settles onto the curve of her waist, pulling her against me. Her pupils are dilated and when my thumb strokes her cheek, her lips part.
“Are you sure?” I ask her, though her body is telling me everything I need to know.
“I’m sure.” Her voice is quiet and breathy, a tinge of nerves in her tone.
I lean down, hovering my mouth above hers, relishing in the way she tilts her head in expectation. Our hearts beat in tandem like a drum roll anticipating what’s to come.
The first brush of my lips against hers is a burst of light into the darkness, like the first rays of morning light breaking through the trees that line our shared lakeshore. Her hands– resting on my chest–fist the fabric of my running shirt as if her legs might give way beneath her. The desperate gesture sets something off within me and the reins on my desire drop.
My hand sinks into her hair as we melt together and I back her against the glass door of her cottage. She gasps against my lips and I steal the sound with another kiss. Her tight grip on my shirt is the only harsh thing about Juliette in this moment. Everything about her is soft and giving. Her mouth parts further, deepening the kiss. She tastes even sweeter than I imagined, like warm cinnamon tea.
There’s nothing but us. Nothing but my fingertips sifting through her silky hair and the warmth of our mouths colliding. Nothing but the way my hand splays her hip like it was made to. Nothing but giving and taking freely, no holding back.Nothing but us.
The need for air wrenches us apart. We’re left gasping in the cool breeze. Her eyes meet mine and her pink lips tilt into a secret smile reminiscent of the one she gave me on my doorstep weeks ago.
“What are you thinking?” I rasp.
She gives me a little shake of her head, still wearing that smile. “Just a theory I had about you. I was right.”
I trail my lips up her jaw to her ear.
“What were you right about?” I whisper against her ear, making her shiver.
“The way you kiss,” she breathes out. I brush my lips down her neck, heading toward the exposed shoulder that’s teased me since the first time she wore her favorite sweater.
“Care to elaborate?” My teeth graze the dip where her neck meets her shoulder. I’m rewarded with a gasp that has me smirking against her skin.
“I-I thought we wouldn’t break apart until we were gasping for air. That you’d be the type to not let go once you decided to hold on.”
“Mmm,” I hum against her shoulder, pressing one last, lingering kiss there before drawing my gaze back up to her. “You’re right, but it’s not because that’s the way I am.” I brush her hair out of her face. “It’s because of you, Jules. You’re worth holding onto.”
A tear escapes the corner of one of her jade eyes. I gently swipe it away with my thumb then tip her chin up to press my lips against hers. I’m quickly becoming addicted to the feeling. More tears begin to fall. I pull her against my chest and kiss the crown of her head. Her arms wrap around my waist and squeeze.
“Are you okay?” I whisper and she sniffles.
“I’ve never felt worthy before, I’m not sure I believe I am.”
I’m gutted by her words, heartbroken that anyone could look at this angelic woman and think of her as anything less than priceless. “Then take your time. I’ll be here showing you your worth every day, until you see it too.”
Her tears wet my shirt as we stand in the fading afternoon sun. After what seems like both forever and a breath, Juliette speaks.
“Sunshine?” she murmurs into my chest.
“Yeah, Jules?”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Jules.”
Chapter thirty-one
