Page 48 of Shattered Love

Two weeks later

Avery

I lookover at my husband, running my fingers through his hair.

“Dominic.”

His eyes flutter as they land on mine. “Beautiful?”

I smile. “Hey, handsome.” He looks up at me, my heart stutters at the sight. He’s lost weight overnight.

He jumps up. His dark eyes turn jade green as he takes me in. Before I can blink,his lips land on mine, pushing, demanding. It’s a kiss that breaks all others. As our tears fall, pain and love mix together.

People like to think love is gentle, soft, kind, just like a feather floating on the summer wind, but love can hurt. It can be the sharp blade that cuts the deepest. Love is your heart’s greatest wish, yet biggest fear. It wants to love and to be loved, but a heart knows only love is truly capable of breaking it.

“I thought I lost you.” His voice is raw.

I grab his face between my hands. “Never.” I place my palm against his chest. “I will always be here.”

Covering my hand with his. “There is no one else who owns it, Avery. When I gave it to you, it was for forever. ”

I kiss his lips. “You haven't been to see Juliet?”

He shakes his head, looking so torn. “I couldn't leave you, but she’s not alone. Your mom, dad, Carter and Cecelia have all been with her. She is never alone just like we promised.”

I take in my broken husband. “I'm so sorry.”

He grits his teeth, his jaw tense. “What were you fucking thinking?”

Oh, he's pissed, seriously pissed.

That makes two of us. “I was saving the life of the man I love. Don't you see it, Dominic? To me, you’re everything. You might doubt being worthy of my love. I don't care about your past. It made you the man I love, the man who showed me a love that most people don't even know exists.”

He kisses me. This time it's slow, leisurely. Breaking the kiss as a single tear rolls down his face. “Beautiful, seeing you covered in blood…”

I place a finger on his lips, shaking my head. “No, don't think of that, not now. Just hold me. I want to you hold me like only you ever could.”

He tightens his arms around me, so strong yet so carefully. The light catches something, sending hundreds of flecks around the room. It’s so beautiful.

“Dominic, look.”

His eyes widen. As he wraps his arms around my waist, we watch the dancing display.

“It’s just like you. It shines so brightly, it hypnotizes you. So beautiful.”

I smile, leaning into him. “I heard that a lot when I was younger, but nobody ever made me feel it like you did.” I turn in his arms, grinning up at his handsome face. “Remember our first date?”

A smirk covers his face. “Yeah, I took you to that fancy restaurant.”

I can't help the laugh. “Pillars.”

He nods, grinning. “I sat there, opened the menu, and didn't understand a fucking word.”

A full laugh comes from me. “It was in French. Then we went to that little burger place. We sat and talked all night. Well, I talked. You just listened.”

His smirk transfers into a smile as he holds my face. “Because your voice sounded like the sweetest melody. I could listen to you talk forever.” He places a long kiss on my forehead. “Our wedding day…God, I didn't think you could get any more beautiful, but when I saw you, Avery, it was like looking at an angel. I couldn'tbelieve that you were actually mine, that someone so good could love me.”

I start to sway. “Dance with me, Dominic.”

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