“What are you doing?” Charlotte asked. “Declan…”
“Charlotte,” he said, his voice stern. “That’s no way to live. And I know that because that’s exactly how I’ve been living the last ten years. Like there’s no point to anything because you’re not with me. And it’s clear you’ve been miserable too. And that’s completely my fault. But I will not allow you to continue to live that kind of life. You’re too perfect, too beautiful, to live that kind of existence. I’m right here, baby. And I’m telling you, we can get past this. My mother’s terrible mistakes are her own. She has hurt so many people and she will never have to pay for them. It’s a fact. I can’t bring you the justice you want and the justice you deserve. But punishing yourself and punishing me doesn’t change anything. It only sabotages your chance at happiness. And you say you can’t have any happiness without me. And I’m telling you that I’m yours for the taking. If you’ll have me. You own me, mind, body, soul… Every cell of my being belongs to you, and you alone. It always has and it always will. And if there is anything I can promise you, it’s that I will make it my greatest purpose in life to make it all up to you. The last ten years, the time before that, every ounce of pain in your life that was caused by my family and by me, I will work myself to the bone to make up for. But it can’t happen unless you let me back in, Charlotte. And I’m wide open. I will free fall to the depths of hell for you and burn. But I would rather live for you. I would rather live for each other.”
His eyes never left hers. She was speechless.
“I couldn’t let you go without you knowing that,” he said. “I’m telling you that I will do anything to make this work. I will lift all the heavy boulders that we have on top of us. Just let me show you. Please. Not just for me. For you too.”
He held his breath. She had him in the palm of her hand, as always. But what she said now would decide everything.
Chapter Seventeen
“Come home with me,” she said, her voice cracking. “Stay with me tonight.”
It was all he needed to hear.
He’d never driven across the bridge so fast. They were back at her house within ten minutes. As soon as he opened the door for her, she was in his arms, her mouth against his.
He lifted her up, something that wasn’t easy with the layers of crinoline under her massive gown. What he’d once admired on her body, he now desperately wanted to get off of her.
He’d carried her up the steps to her front door, his hands under her ass, her legs wrapped around his waist. She was holding onto him for dear life. Like she never wanted to let go.
Declan practically kicked open her door.
Neither of them could recall how they ended up in the bedroom, but clearly that was where this was heading, where it always headed when it came to them. Neither of them felt like thinking about whether it was right.
It took Charlotte forever to get out of her dress. Declan had stripped down to nothing while she figured it out.
“Do you need my help?” he asked.
“No, because you’ll just rip it off me,” she laughed. “And this isn’t mine to rip.”
“You look beautiful tonight,” he said. “Everyone was looking at you.”
“Yeah, probably wondering what the hell I was doing there,” she said. She was in her bra and panties now, both red like her dress. Declan grabbed his chest.
“You’re going to kill me,” he said. “You’re so fucking sexy. Come here.”
She fell into his arms, just as she’d done so many times before in another life. He was the same but different, she’d noticed that the other night. His body was harder, bigger. Stronger. The Declan she’d first loved had been a young kid, practically. This Declan of the future was a man.
He ran his hands up her back, unsnapping her bra with one hand. His other hand slid down her stomach to her panties. He pulled them off her with one forceful tug. Now she was naked; just as he preferred.
She touched his face as he entered her, his thrusts slow at first.
“I love you,” she said. “No matter what.”
“I love you too,” he said, quickening his pace. “You’re the only person I know how to love, Charlotte.”
She arched her back as he started to plunge deeper inside of her. She could feel herself getting close to the brink of an orgasm and he could feel it too.
“You’re going to come for me,” he said. “Say it.”
“Declan, I can only come for you,” Charlotte cried out. “And yes! I’m coming!”
He kissed her then, long and hard as she yelled her pleasure into his mouth. She could feel how wet it had made her. Declan was sliding in and out of her now, easily.
“You feel so damn good,” he whispered. “How could you ever deny yourself this? What we have?”
He was pounding her now, and she could barely take it. It was heaven and hell all at once.