“It’s not the same,” Declan retorted.
“No, it’s not, not exactly, but it doesn’t change the fact that I love you, Declan. And if that night hadn’t happened, my life would have taken a different path, and your life would have too. We might never have met, and I would never have experienced the kind of love you gave me. I would never know the man you are inside, the man who would protect me at any cost, who would live with pain as long as he knew I was alive, and the kind who turns himself in just to give me a little control.”
“I’d give you everything I have.”
“I know, and that’s why I came. Why after a sleepless night, I chose to forgive you, to accept your love, and give you mine in return.”
“I don’t deserve it.”
“Maybe not, but I do.”
“You deserve so much more.”
“I deserve you, Declan. I deserve you.”
That was all the encouragement Declan needed before reaching Megan with two long strides.
“I don’t know what I did in life to get you. I should push you away, tell you that I’m no good for you, but I’m selfish, and I don’t think I could take watching you walk away from me. I love you so much, so fucking much,” he told her as he held her close. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her cheeks were stained with tears. Her hair was pinned up in a loose ponytail, something she probably threw together quickly that morning, and yet, she was the most beautiful person he had ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on.
“I love you too, Dec. I love you so much my heart broke when I thought you betrayed me. Not necessarily because you hurt me, but because I loved you despite the fact that I hated you. I detested the fact that I couldn’t stop my heart from calling to you even though you ruined me. There was something missing deep down. And knowing it was you hurt that much more because I loved you that much. I could have faced my rapist, but I couldn’t face it being you, and yet, I still needed you. But it wasn’t black and white. We were given trials, like your dad said, and we’ve overcome them. I’m ready for this to be the greatest love.”
He captured her mouth with his own, feeling the soft satin of her lips press against his, the low moan escape her lips as his hands moved into her hair. It was gentle, yet hungry; it was smooth, yet filled with lust. Declan put every emotion he felt into that kiss. He needed her to feel the depth of his love. He loved her with a thousand suns, a million moons, and gravity be damned; a dozen universes wouldn’t be enough to capture his love. He needed her to feel that although things hadn’t been entirely his fault, he still felt an unwavering remorse for what he did to her, even though he was too selfish to allow that to stop him. He needed her to feel just how much he agreed with her – he was just as ready for the greatest love.
“So you’re my therapist?” Declan chuckled as they broke apart.
“Huh?” Megan asked, her lips swollen from his assault, her eyes glazed over with desire.
“In the police station, you said you were my therapist.”
“Oh yeah, definitely.” She giggled. “I have a feeling we’re both going to need years and years of therapy. And lucky for you, as your personal therapist, I’m sticking around…just so you know, to make sure you don’t pull anymore stunts.”
“We’ve come full circle, huh?”
“Yep, but this is only just the beginning.” She smiled before getting serious. “I may have been joking about being your therapist, Dec, but together, we’ll help each other through anything.”
“Always.” And then he captured her lips once more knowing that from then on, every breath she’d take would be his. It started with brutality, it turned to betrayal, but it ended with love.
Epilogue
Ten years later…
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,” everyone sang to her, their voices a mixed jumble, especially when it got to the part where they said her name. She heard a chorus of Meg, Megan, even a Mommy mixed in. She blushed, after all these years, still not one hundred percent comfortable with all the attention she was getting, but she had learned to not only live with it but appreciate it in spite of her insecurities. She had been blessed in life. It hadn’t seemed that way for many years, but now, as she gazed at her loving husband, the man who had both beaten her down and raised her back up, her four-year-old little sweetheart Lana, named somewhat after Lucas, and all their friends and family beaming at her, waiting for her to make a wish, she wasn’t sure she had a wish to make. Before she had stepped into Declan’s office, she had been bedraggled, frustrated, not quite ready to give up on hope, but pretty close to it. She had seen countless therapists over the years, some at the insistence of her parents, some on her own, others recommended by other therapists, and she always had some aversion to them. But Declan with his warm smile, his friendly attitude, and his calming touch—he was a spark in her monotone life.