Page 32 of I Love You Again
She was breathing hard, and her hair was wet with sweat, but she smiled when he looked at her and that made him feel a littlebetter.
“Are you okay?” he asked, moving so that he was next to her. He rested his hand on the flat contours of her smooth stomach and watched the rise and fall of herbreasts.
“I’m okay,” she answered, still trying to catch her breath. “That was reallyamazing.”
“I didn’t hurt you, didI?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m more worried about falling asleep.” Her lids lookedheavy.
He pressed his lips to her. “Sleep baby, you needsleep.”
“No,” she shook her head. “I don’t want this night toend.”
She held his gaze with a pleading in the beauty of her brown eyes, and if he had the power to freeze time he would have in thatmoment.
He took her into his arms and held her, knowing exactly how shefelt.
Knowing what she meant. He didn’t want the night to endeither.
It wouldn’t just be about tonight. it was about the years spent without each other. The years they lost. There were so many of them. Toomany.
But it was for a reason, and whichever way he looked at it, it was hisfault.
The second he thought that, a perfect recollection of why he couldn't have her entered his mind. Brad had staved it off all night, but in his mind’s eye he saw Jim's face. His look of disapproval, declaring his dying wish that Brad leave Trina alone. Brad promised he would, and look at him now. The strength of the memory seized him but he didn’t let go of her. He held on to her, taking in the precious moment they sharedtogether.
He only released her when she fell asleep. Brad then slid off the bed and went back to his room. There he sat until the early hours of the morning.Thinking.
He thought about everything, absolutelyeverything.
He thought of the ring in his suitcase, and his stomach churned with frustration and the tension he’d allowed to build within hissoul.
Brad had never been able to get over Trina, and what the hell was he to donow.
"Brad," Trina’s soft voice broke into histhoughts.
He looked up and saw her standing at the door wearing one of those long T-shirts that brushed against the top of herthighs.
“Hi,” hesaid.
She walked into the room and came over to where he sat on the windowledge.
“Are… are youokay?”
It was evident that he wasn’t and he wouldn’t try to hide how he felt. He slipped his arm around her waist and held her beforehim.
“I’m going to take a walk. I just need to get my head aroundstuff.”
He’d intended that to be a way of assuring her so she wouldn’t worry but it was a poorattempt.
“Why, what kind of stuff did you need to get your head around?” She gazed up at him. Looking deeply into his eyes, searching for an answer. “Do you… regret lastnight?”
His heart ached when a tear ran down hercheek.
“No baby, no. Don’t you ever think that. You…” he held his breath and looked her over. “You’re the very best thing that’s ever happened tome.”
“You too, forme.”
He shook his head. “No. I’m not.” That was just the problem. No matter what he felt for her he was never the best thing, or the best person forher.
