Page 65 of Between the Ropes

“I love you,” he says again, softer this time, like he’s breathing life back into me. “I will never stop loving you.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, his words carving their way into my soul. Then, before I can stop myself, I crash my lips into his.

The kiss is desperate, all-consuming, full of every emotion we’ve been holding back. His hands slide down my back, pulling me closer, closer, until there’s no space left between us. My fingers tangle in his hair, his low growl vibrating through my body as his tongue brushes against mine.

We lose ourselves in each other, and for the first time in weeks, I feel whole.

When we finally break apart, our foreheads rest together, and he gently wipes the tears from my cheeks. His fingers are soft, his touch reverent.

“I’ll never let you go again,” he whispers. “I swear, Natalie. You’re it for me.”

I nod, my heart full, and for the first time, I let hope bloom again.

48

The moment she opens the door, my chest cracks wide open, and the guilt that’s been eating me alive surges to the surface.

Her eyes are puffy, swollen from crying—crying because of me. I’m the reason for her pain, and seeing her like this nearly brings me to my knees. I want to touch her so badly, to pull her into my arms and never let her go, but I don’t deserve that. Not yet.

She stares at me, her lips parted like she wants to say something, but no words come out. Her breath catches, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. God, I’ve missed her so much. I’ve missed her smile, her laugh, the way she makes everything in my life feel right. And now? Now all I see is the pain I’ve caused her, it’s written all over her face.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to speak. “Natalie,” I say, my voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and it shatters me all over again. I’m raw, my broken, jagged pieces exposed, and I lay it all out for her. Every ounce of guilt, regret, and love I’ve been carrying since the moment I walked away.

Her tears spill over, and before I can stop myself, I reach out, cupping her face gently in my hands. She doesn’t pull away. Instead, she leans into my touch, and it’s like a lifeline for my broken soul.

When her lips finally touch mine, it’s like a jolt of electricity shoots through my entire body. In that instant, I’m alive again. I kiss her with everything I have, all the passion, all the desperation, and every ounce of love I’ve been holding back. My hands roam her arms, her back, pulling her as close as I can. She melts into me, her body fitting against mine like it was always meant to be this way.

How could I have been so stupid? How could I have let her go?

When we finally break apart, both of us breathing heavily, I rest my forehead against hers. “Spend the week with me,” I murmur, my voice low but full of intent. “Let me fix this. Let me show you I can fix this.”

Her eyes meet mine, searching, hesitant. “What about work?”

“Screw work,” I reply without hesitation. “This is more important.You’remore important. I took the whole week off. Please, baby, let me show you how important you are to me. Give me the chance to make this right.”

She blinks, her lips trembling. “Okay,” she whispers.“I’ll spend the week with you.”

Relief washes over me like a tidal wave, and I can’t help but kiss her again, slower this time, savoring every second. She’s everything. She’s my home.

We pack fast, neither of us willing to waste another second apart. Clothes, essentials—it doesn’t matter. All that matters is getting away. By the time we hit the road, the sun is dipping low, painting the sky in shades of gold and deep violet. The world blurs past in streaks of headlights and palm trees, but all I can focus on is her.

I’ve rented a place in Key West—a secluded little house on the water, far from the chaos of the city and UXW. No cameras. No interruptions. No distractions. Just her. Justus.

The hum of the engine is steady, but the silence between us is thick, filled with everything we’ve been through. Unspoken apologies. Lingering pain. The weight of time lost. Then, out of nowhere, her hand slips into mine, fingers threading together like she’s afraid I’ll slip away again. Like she needs the contact as much as I do.

“I missed you,” she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper, but thick with emotion. The kind that guts me. The kind that makes me realize just how badly I hurt her.

I squeeze her hand, holding on tighter, my heart twisting in my chest. “Oh, baby… I missed you too. More than you’ll ever know.” I swallow hard, stealing a glance at her tear-filled gaze. “And I’m so fucking sorry. This should have never happened.” My grip tightens like I can somehow anchor her to me, make her believe this.Make her believe in us again.“I swear to you, Natalie, just like you belong to me, I belong to you.”

Her breath hitches, her fingers tightening around mine. Her eyes shine in the dim glow of the dashboard, but this time, it’s not just pain staring back at me. It’s hope.

For the rest of the drive, we don’t need words. The silence isn’t heavy anymore—it’s warm, filled with quiet understanding. My thumb brushes over her knuckles, memorizing the feel of her skin, grounding myself in the one thing that has ever truly mattered.

She’s here. In my truck. By my side.

And this time, I’m never letting her go.

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