The tears are streaming down my cheeks now, and all I can do is bury my face in my hands, breathing in with tearful sobs.
“I’m sorry, Parker… I really am. For everything.”
“Amy…” he whispers my name and, reaching for me, peels my hands off of my face. I look at him, desperation taking hold of my heart as the tears run free down my face. He’s going to say he hates me. He’s going to say he wants me out of his life for good. And then I’ll lose him. Forever. The man I love will be gone.
“We didn’t break up because of you. That marriage ended because Kate didn’t want to be married; what she wanted was my money. And she used as much of it as she could, all so that she could set herself up as the Governor… And once she became Governor, she left. Which was okay. I don’t think I’ve ever loved her.”
“It doesn’t matter, Parker… This mess we’re in, it’s all my fault!” I continue, unable to process the soft tone of his voice and his caring words. All I feel right now, and all my brain is capable of understanding, is the utter despair of being on the verge of losing the man I love.
Because I love him, I really do.
It’s true; I’ve been fantasizing about Parker ever since puberty hit, but it was nothing more than just a silly girl’s fantasy. But that blossomed into real love now, and it’s the first time in my life that I’ve ever felt something like it.
“Shh, Amy,” he hushes me, placing one finger across my lips and caressing my cheek with the back of his free hand. “I know your mom, and I know how ruthless she is. You’re as much a victim as I am.”
“But --”
“No. No buts, Amy,” he cuts me short, placing both his hands on either side of my face and forcing me to look up into his eyes. “And I don’t want to hear anything about you leaving.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Why?” I ask him, wiping the tears off my face with the back of my hand. “Why, Parker?”
His lips open up into an easy smile, and then he leans forward and brushes his lips against mine.
“Because I love you, Amy, that’s why.”
I blink once, and then twice, my eyes locked on his as my brain tries to understand the meaning behind his words. Because I love you, Amy, that’s why; his words echo inside my head like some soothing prayer, and I feel the gentle embrace of hope silencing all that despair and anxiety.
Maybe it isn’t all over. Maybe there’s hope. And maybe, just maybe, I won’t lose the man I’ve come to love with all my heart.
“I love you…” he repeats, almost as if he’s trying to make sure that I understand him. Finally managing to offer him a weak smile, I return his kiss and then look into his eyes once more.
“I love you too,” I whisper, closing my eyes and surrendering to his embrace.
Love—sometimes it only shows up when everything seems lost.
27
Amy
This might the sweetest kiss we’ve shared so far. There’s something special about a kiss when love has blossomed. In a sense, it’s almost like magic. Corny, right? But it doesn’t make it any less true.
I reach for Parker, grabbing at his tie, and I let my fingers slide down the smooth fabric until I have my palms pressed against his pectorals. I feel their rugged outline under my fingers, and I loosen the knot on his tie. Our tongues are dancing around one another, lost in a soft dance of love and lust.
“I love you,” I repeat, slowly pulling back from him and looking into his eyes. I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of feeling these words rolling over my tongue.
“Love you too,” he says, placing his hands on my knee and sliding it up to my thigh. We lean into each other once more, our lips drawn together, and I undo the knot on his tie and pull it from around his neck. Slowly moving my fingers, I start unbuttoning his shirt, popping button after button, and then I un-tuck it.
I rest my hand over his abs, feeling their smooth hard curves, and then I curl my fingers around his belt, pulling him into me.
“Someone’s pretty eager,” he whispers into my ear, and then tucks one arm under my knees and pulls me into him while he goes up to his feet. I place one arm around his neck, my eyes never leaving his, and he carries me in his arms across the room we’re in. In silence, he carries me up the stairs and then heads straight to the bedroom, only putting me down on the floor so that he can lock the two large double doors behind us.
“I want you so much,” I tell him, my mind ordering me to rush to him, which is exactly what I do. I close the distance between us with one sure step and, pressing my body against his, I pin him against the wall while I crush my mouth against his.