Page 54 of Love Me Carefully
“I wanted to see you before I left.” He looked at her seriously. “There’s something I need to say before I go.”
“Terrell,” she began. She stopped because she wasn’t sure what to say. She was certain he was going to say something about what had happened between them. An hour ago she’d known exactly how she was going to deal with this moment. But right now, sitting mere inches away from him, she wasn’t sure.
His two fingers to her lips silenced her. “I heard everything you said about your relationships, and while I don’t understand your reasoning, I can clearly see what prompted you to think the way you do. But you’re wrong, Leah. Relationships can work, marriages can last. I believe that, and I want to prove it to you.”
She started to speak, raised a brow at him, then moved his fingers from her lips, giving him a leery gaze while she did.
Terrell shrugged and gave her a crooked grin.
“I’ve been thinking over my little four-step method and realize that it may’ve been a little rigid.”
“A little?” Terrell sighed. “Falling in love is as natural as breathing, Leah.” He turned to her, his hand cupping her cheek. “And ever since that night I bumped into you I’ve been having problems taking a deep breath whenever you’re not around. You are like air to me, sweetie. Do you understand?”
His brown eyes were intense as they bore into her. She understood alright—she understood that she was about to suffer a breathing deficiency of her own. He was so close, his words so surreal, she wondered if she could possibly be dreaming. All her life she’d secretly wondered what it would feel like to be loved—and even though he hadn’t said the words, the look on his face, the gentleness of his touch, gave her hope. She tried furiously to blink away the tears forming in her eyes. “I understand that, since meeting you, something in my life has changed. You’ve changed me, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t scare the hell out of me.” She chuckled even as one fat tear rolled down her face.
Terrell’s heart swelled with emotion as he watched her struggle with new feelings. It couldn’t be easy for her after believing for so long that she’d never be in a meaningful relationship. But that was where he came in. He’d show her what it felt like to be loved, to be cherished. He’d put all her doubts to rest, that was a promise. “It’s okay to be afraid, baby. But I’m right here to chase all those fears away. I’ll take care of you.” He pulled her close enough so his lips could lightly brush hers.
Leah allowed the contact, reveled in the sensations swirling through her and sighed. “If we do this, it’s all or nothing, Terrell.”
He pulled back slightly, his fingers moving to massage her scalp, the nape of her neck. “I’m willing to give you everything I have, Leah. That’s how serious I am about us.”
Leah shook her head. “I don’t want all your material possessions, I have my own,” she said, thinking of the end of his previous relationship. “I want you, all of you.”
Terrell heard her words, knew exactly what she was saying. Now he was the one overwhelmed with emotion. “Tanya was a stepping stone in my plan for my life, Leah. I know now that was all she ever was. But you, you’re my future. I can feel it.”
With an unsteady finger she pushed his glasses up on his nose and smiled. “I’m going to hold you to that, Mr. Pierce.”
He smiled. That smile effectively melted every bone in her body, and she knew that she was doing the right thing. No four-steps could’ve ever led her to this moment. She hadn’t dated Terrell, not one time, not six or seven times. He’d simply waltzed into her life and shaken her to the core, reducing that plan of hers to gibberish.
“I just want to hold you, Ms. Graham.” And with that he pulled her into his arms, placing light kisses on her neck as she embraced him.
She was locked in his arms when the sudden potential for danger hit her and she felt panic creep slowly up her spine. “You’re going to Jamaica to confront Donald, aren’t you?”
Terrell heard the panic in her voice. “I have to make sure my mother is safe.”
“But Donald is involved in things that are way over your head, Terrell. You can’t save her all by yourself. You have to think logically for a minute.” He had to think of how she’d feel if something happened to him. “Your mother would much rather you be safe and cautious than for you to do something irrational. It would kill her if something happened to you. Why don’t you just let the FBI handle it?”
“I can’t.” Pain and turmoil were clear in his voice. “I owe her everything. Don’t you understand?” His eyes softened as fear and concern for one woman mixed with desire and longing for another.
His words gripped her heart, squeezing desperately. He would go to Jamaica, she knew it positively, regardless of what she said or did. He had to save his mother. She’d think less of him as a man if he didn’t at least try. She realized then that he was so much more than just a good man—he washerman.
“I do understand, baby. I do.” She caressed his freshly shaved jaw, biting her lip to keep from crying and begging him to stay.
“When I get back—” he began.
This time it was her lone finger on his lips asking for silence. “When you get back I’m going to make you never want to leave again,” she whispered.
Oh God, I don’t want to leave you now.He kissed her finger, then the next one, until he’d loved each one and moved to her lips.
Opening his mouth, he deepened the kiss, drowning in her sweetness. On a soft moan Leah granted him access. Tongues dancing, mating, joining them in a way words could not. They clung to one another with hopeless longing.
Nikki walked in to find her best friend in a heavy lip lock with Ms. Rosie’s son, of all people. Yeah, Nikki thought, Leah had a lot of explaining to do.
Clearing her throat loudly she said, “Hello?”
Cold water could not have been more effective than the shocked sound of Nikki’s voice. Leah backed away from Terrell who, for a brief second, stared irritably at the woman who’d entered the room.
“Hey Nik.” Leah pulled her robe closer and faced her friend. “Um, you know Ms. Rosie’s son, Terrell,” Leah said, chancing a quick look at him.
