Page 26 of Rhythm Of Our Souls
“It was stupid of me to demand so much from you. I put you on the spot, and when I didn’t hear what I wanted in that moment, I let the hurt do the talking. I regret everything I said. I didn’t mean it. And I’m so fucking sorry that I let you think I did. I’m sorry for leaving you to deal with all the horrors you went through with your parents.” Tears begin spilling down my cheeks. “I’m sorry I never came back. I didn’t know. I didn’t fucking know. And by the time I did, the trial was over. I wanted to come back, I was ready to drop everything to come back to you, but this evil witch of an ex-manager, Julia, fucked everything up,” I growl. “She abused her Alpha powers and commanded me to stay. I wanted nothing more than to tell her to go fuck herself, but I couldn’t
“And I know after she was out of my life, I could have come to you then, but you were already at Calling Wood, starting your new life. A life you deserved more than anything. I didn’twant to mess with that. I didn’t want to drag you into my crazy life. Not when you’ve already been through so much. But please know, I've never stopped thinking about you. I’ve never stopped loving you.” Oh, crap. I didn’t mean for that to come out.Okay, so we’re doing this, why not? You're on a roll, Ally. Just keep going. What’s the worst that could happen?
“And I know that sounds crazy, and I’m sorry if this weirds you out. I know you didn’t feel the same way about me, and damn it, I’m just putting my foot into my—”
She cuts me off by shoving me against the wall, and the next thing I know, her lips are on mine.
Fireworks go off inside me, pure fucking happiness consuming me.
Is this for real? Are Lulu’s lips really on mine?
I moan, the softness of her lips against mine making me shiver. Her lemon meringue pie scent makes my already wet core soaked.
My hands lift, tangling in her hair as I pull her closer, deepening the kiss. Our tongues and lips dance together like they’re long-lost lovers.
And in a way, I guess that’s true. At least for me, it is.
A rush flushes through me, and I feel like I’ve just taken a hit of the most potent drug.
I’m kissing Lulu. And this time, there’s no awkward drunk fumbling. It’s everything I dreamed of and more. I never want this moment to end. All I want to do is wrap her up in my arms and hide her away. Protect her from the world and anything bad in it.
When she breaks the kiss, letting both of us suck in some much-needed air, I panic that she’s going to run away again. But when I blink open my eyes, breathing heavily as my head swims with so many different emotions, I don’t see panic in her eyes.
No, there are tears. And for a moment, I think they’re tears of regret, but when she gives me this blinding smile, my heart kicks up again.
“Did you mean it?” she asks, panting heavily.
My brows furrow together. “Mean what?”
“That you never stopped loving me?” she asks, chewing on her lower lip like she’s afraid of my answer.
A huffed but happy laugh leaves me as I reach up and pull her lip free with my thumb. This smallest whimper leaves her, and god, I want to kiss her again, to hear what other sounds I can pull out of her.
Cupping the side of her face, I stroke her cheekbone, loving how she leans into my touch. “Lulu, you’ve been on my mind every second of every day since that night. While I’ve had a lot of regrets over the years, none of them have ever been my feelings towards you. Just how I went about telling you, and what I demanded after. So yes, I’ve never stopped loving you.” Tears fill my eyes once again as I give her a soft smile. “I mean, how could I? It’s you, Lulu. You're the brightest part of anyone’s life. You’re the kind of person who leaves a lasting imprint in all the best ways.”
“Ally,” she whimpers, her lower lip wobbling. “I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” I put my forehead to hers, breathing her in and trying not to sob that this is happening, that she is here. I’m touching her, smelling her with her skin against mine. We close our eyes and just feel one another. I never want to let go.
“I wanted to say so many things that night. But I was so scared,” she whispers.
“I know.” I pull her into my arms and hold her tightly.
She lets out a little sob as she buries her face into my neck. “If I could go back, I’d tell you that I loved you too. That I wantedeverything you wanted: to share a life together, to be with you every day for the rest of our lives.”
My eyes squeeze shut as tears continue down my cheeks. My makeup artist is going to lose it, but I don’t care.
Her words are slowly healing broken pieces of my heart. Knowing she felt the same way about me... it makes me so happy. But it also kills me because we lost out on the life we should have had together. It’s been seven years that we’ve been apart. Yet with her in my arms, it’s like all of that time has disappeared.
“I’ve never stopped loving you either,” she whispers, and this time I whimper.
She leans back and looks me in the eye. “There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I didn’t think of you. Didn’t wish you were there with me, by my side.”
“Really?”
She nods, reaching up to brush the tears from my eyes.
“I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through, too. I might have had my own horrors, but so did you.”
