Breathe for Me

chapter Twenty-Four



11 months later



Chelsea stopped outside Xander’s apartment door and quickly slipped her panties off, scrunching them into her bag. She glanced round to ensure the corridor was still empty. It was. Xander had texted her ten minutes ago on her way home from university with the no-knickers instruction. Smiling, she unlocked the door and went inside.

“How was your class today?” Xander called from the kitchen.

“Good.” Chelsea went to the doorway and sent him a look—waiting for his next instruction.

“Come here.”

Oh she’d be coming real soon given the size of his erection. The guy was naked—that had been the instruction she’d replied to him. He’d chosen to sit on a dining chair, his cock armed, fully loaded and aiming right at her. He gestured so she walked forward, hitching her skirt to sit on his lap. She chose to straddle him face to face—but didn’t take him yet.

“Do you know what today is?” he asked, idly stroking the inside of her thigh—her weak leg. It’d never be as strong as the other, but that no longer mattered. She shook her head.

“Random fire drill day.”

“Really?”

“Well it was a year ago.”

“So it’s a year since we met?” She slid her hands up his chest and curled them over his gorgeously broad shoulders.

He nodded. “Happy anniversary.” He wrapped his hand round the nape of her neck, pulling her close to kiss her tenderly. Lovingly. But at the same time, the tease lifted her dress to her hips.

“I love you.” He kissed his way down to her collarbones.

But she sensed something wasn’t quite right. He was too tense—not in a purely sexual way. A worried way.

“What’s wrong?” She drew back to look into his eyes as she asked.

He licked his lips and looked her straight in the eye. “Marry me.”

Warmth burst in her chest. It was like all the fireworks in the world had gone off, lighting her from the inside out. “Yes.”

He lifted something from the table beside him. A jewellery box. She hadn’t even noticed it when she’d come in. She’d been too excited about seeing him.

Now she looked at it and then, concerned, looked at the diamond that she still wore on her right hand. Tom’s diamond.

“Shall I take this off?” she whispered. “I should take it off. I’m so sorry. I should have done that months ago.” But it was just there. Part of her. She wasn’t an accessories girl—didn’t wear a different necklace with each outfit. She just wore what she had—which was Tom’s ring. Now she realized how insensitive that might have been.

“No.” Xander’s hand gently covered hers.

“You don’t mind? It doesn’t bother you?”

Xander shook his head. “I feel sorry for him. He had everything. He had you. And you are you, in part, because of him. Loyal, loving. Strong. I’d like to have met him. He sounds like he was a nice guy. And though he’s gone, he’s a part of you and I don’t think you should have to forget about him. So if you want to, wear it.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “Xander.” She’d never met a man more generous. More accepting. More loving.

“I don’t feel the need to give you a bigger diamond.” He grinned wryly but his eyes were somber. “To compete. There’s no contest. He’s dead. I’m here now. And I know how happy you are with me.”

He opened the box. The ring he’d selected for her was a sapphire, the blue the exact shade of her eyes. Diamonds sat on either side.

“You can wear both rings,” he said. “One on each hand.”

It was beautiful. But she could hardly see it through her tears. “I don’t deserve this,” she struggled to speak with the huge lump in her throat. “The love of two fine men.”

“You do.” He took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. “Everyone deserves more than one shot at happiness.” He drew in a breath. “Even me.”

“And I’m so happy,” she whispered.

“You love me.” His eyes burned into hers and she read the rawness in them. “You need me.”

She nodded, cupping his jaw. “And you love me. You need me.”

“More than you’ll ever know.”

She lifted up a fraction and slid onto him, locking tight onto his body. He looked up at her—the most gorgeous, confident, vulnerable smile in his eyes.

There was a time for play and a time for nothing but love. This was nothing but slow, sweet love. He was her beautiful lifesaver.

“I love you so much.” She held her breath as the sensations build so unbearably.

“Breathe for me,” he said hoarsely. Holding her, rocking her to pleasure. “Breathe for me.”

“Kiss me so I can.”

And, as always, he did.

THE END