Page 6 of Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You
Purple tinted foam speckles her body as she stands in front of him, her shoulders slumped in defeat, her eyes shiny with tears. The pounding of his head and heart almost drowns out her soft plea. “I wish you would believe me.”
With trembling hands, she grabs a towel and wraps it around herself before turning to step out of the tub. He jumps to his feet and grasps her elbow to help her. What the hell is he doing? She was released from the hospital less than an hour ago, and he’s already driven her to fucking begging, to running away from him. “Of course I do. Come here.”
Gurgling water circles their legs, yet she remains motionless, rolling the thick, white cotton between her fingers. All of her vulnerability exposed with his bullshit irrational reaction to her secrets. His hand curls around her waist, and he draws her against him, cradling her head. “No more freaking out. I promise.”
She clutches the dripping fabric clinging to his chest. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry.”
“You never have to apologize to me. I let you down, and you did the best you could.”
He rubs her back, soothing both of them until her breathing calms and her small fist unclenches. Damp fingers slide under his shirt and around his waist, returning the ferocity of his embrace. The feel of her delicate touch sears his skin, grounding his turmoil and bringing him back to the simplest truth he knows. He cannot survive without her. “You know me too well. You thought I’d lose it, and that’s exactly what I did. I don’t know why you put up with me.”
“Because I know you’re hurting over Carter.”
Emotions he doesn’t want to feel well up in his chest, aching with loss he doesn’t want to admit. Nothing can come from thinking about that motherfucker’s betrayal, except making her even more fearful. “I don’t want to talk about that bastard.”
“Okay, maybe not right now. But, you’re going to have to. We both are. We can’t ignore what happened.”
That’s all he wants to do—hide away with her from the rest of the world. At least for a little bit longer. Then, he and Max will finish their plans, and everyone threatening her happiness will be eliminated.
Another minute passes before she speaks again. “I also know you’re loving and protective and generous.” Although he can’t see her angelic face, a smile radiates through her voice and her words. “No one else makes me feel the way you do. I love you.”
Even when he puts her through hell, she always finds a way to bring him back to heaven. “I love you more.” At her soft laughter, he raises his head from the crook of her neck. “What?”
“We aren’t going to be one of those lame couples who fight over who loves whom more, are we?”
Her humor is just a cover for her insecurity. His Jekyll and Hyde behavior must end. She needs stability in her life, so she can trust in his love for her and their baby. He presses his lips against her ear. “No, I’m going to be the man who stops fucking up and spends the rest of his life making up for what he’s done to you.”
“I know you’re worried, but I’m fine.” Her face glows with happiness as she steps back and puts her ring-less hand on her stomach. He has so much to make right with her. “I’ve only known I’m pregnant for a short time, and I already love this baby more than I ever thought possible. It’s not just about me anymore. If I didn’t trust you completely, I wouldn’t be here.”
Only a few inches separate their bodies, yet the distance between them is too vast for his arms aching to hold her again. One last barrier to overcome before he can allow himself to accept the absolute faith she places in him, hoping it’s strong enough for both of them. “Promise me if I ever do anything to scare you, you’ll leave.”
Worry flickers in her huge eyes as she shakes her head. “You won’t.”
As the mother of his child, she needs to know he’ll do what’s best for her. No matter how much it destroys him. “I swear I won’t fight you on it. I have to know you’ll do whatever you have to do to protect yourself and the baby. If you ever have any doubts—”
“I don’t. Not about you.” Wrinkles of uncertainty line her face, her body tense, waiting for his answer. A consequence of his panic, he must earn back her confidence in his commitment to her.
“Me neither.”
A genuine smile lights up her beautiful face while she watches him yank off his wet clothes and wad them into a ball before throwing them onto her towel now crumpled on the floor. Fizzy water laps against his stomach from his body sinking down into the tub and pulling her between his legs. Her contented sigh as she relaxes against his chest releases all the tension gripping his body, and he kisses the top of her head. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”
She entwines her small hand with his, making their connection complete. “I didn’t think you were a bubble bath kind of man.”
“For you, I’m anything you want.”
Still in awe his baby grows inside the woman he loves, he caresses her stomach as they cuddle. Imagining the roundness that will develop soon, only intensifying her natural beauty. Just a few days ago, he was alone, living in a hell of his own making. Now, she gives him a family, creating an unbreakable bond between the three of them.
His lips curl into a smile despite himself. How did she describe it before? A wife, kids, and a dog chewing up your shoes. All he needs is a ‘yes’ and a puppy to make her perfect dream come true.
“I went to the doctor yesterday and had my first ultrasound.”
Hesitation coils through her voice rather than the excitement it should convey. He forces himself not to react, not to give in to the guilt coursing through him. Unable to blame anyone but himself for that bastard seeing his baby before he did. Fucking father of the year. Motherfucker took her to the doctor while he tried to use drunken, meaningless sex to numb the pain of ripping out his heart and watching her walk away with it.
Her limitless ability to forgive is the only reason she’s wrapped in his arms instead of Evan’s. His grip tightens around her waist, and he kisses her delicate shoulder before whispering in her ear. “I’m sorry I wasn’t where I should’ve been.”
“I shouldn’t have gone without you. I thought it was over between us, and I was grasping for anything that would make me feel closer to you. The whole time all I thought about was you, wishing you were there with me.”
“You’ve always had me, even when I was too fucking stubborn to admit it.” Strands of her hair float around them, and he curls one around his finger, blowing out a deep breath. “What was it like?”
