Her Touch(30)

He parks in the same spot and then turns off the truck.

“If you’ve been with someone, I don’t care, sunshine,” he growls. “Okay, I care. I fucking care a lot, but I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself. I should’ve done more than just leave that note, but I was scared if I talked to you in person I wouldn’t do the right thing.”

“I didn’t read the note,” I admit.

His mouth opens a little and quickly clamps shut. He looks like he’s trying to get himself together, but then I hear a string of curses leave his lips.

“No wonder you fucking hate me. You thought I walked out without a glance back. That…that night was the best thing that ever happened to me. Knowing you had been feeling the same things I had been. I wanted you to be my life. I want you to be my life but I knew I had to step away for a little. Let you grow up a little more, then I could have you.”

“I don’t hate you.” My words come out breathy, and it’s like a weight is being lifted off my heart. Eli unclips my seatbelt and pulls me into his arms.

“Oh God, sunshine. You must have thought I was an asshole,” he says softly as my face burrows into his neck.

“What did the note say?” I mumble against his warm skin.

“I love you and I’ll be back.”

I pull away, wanting to look into his eyes. I know my face is still blotchy from the crying earlier, and I’m sure I look a freaking mess, but I don’t care. I’m smiling so big it almost hurts my face.

“There you are. That’s the sunshine I’ve been missing.”





Chapter 16





Eli




“You love me?” she asks, running her finger along my jaw.

“With everything in my heart. I love you so much, Maggie. That’s what’s been eating away at me. You and Major had become my family, but you were too young for me to have those feelings for you. When they started to change and I knew I couldn’t have you, it was tearing me up.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Then that kiss…”

“That kiss,” she repeats, leaning her body into mine.

I can’t stand it anymore and I put one hand on her neck, bringing her mouth closer to mine. “I think I need to see if it’s as good as I remember.”

My lips connect with hers, and every memory I had of that first kiss is nothing compared to now. The image I had doesn’t hold a candle to the way she feels in my arms, the softness of her lips, or the warm heat of her tongue. The kiss is consuming, and her arms go around my neck as I hold her close and enjoy the feel of her. The first time we kissed it was like throwing gasoline on fire. This time it’s like hard woods that have turned to simmering coals, where the heat could melt glass. Everything about this kiss is different, yet it’s like I’ve come home.

I run a hand over her hip while the other trails a path from her jaw to her neck. Her delicate skin, softer than the petals of a rose, has me entranced. I can’t get enough of her, but I don’t want to rush it. I know I can’t.

With more willpower than I ever thought I possessed, I break the kiss and press my forehead to hers. “Better. It was better than I remembered.”

“I love you, Eli,” she says, and I pull back to see her big blue eyes so bright and happy.

“I knew it all along,” I tease, and give her another soft kiss. “But we have to be careful, sunshine.”

“It’s okay, I’m on the pill,” she says, and bites her lip.

“Maggie, that’s not what I meant.” I clench my eyes shut thinking about the fact that she’s already on the pill, or that she wants to have sex. Jesus. I need a second to catch my breath. “You’re seventeen. I love you so much, but there’s only so much we can do right now. And I want to wait until your birthday.”

“But—” She starts to protest, but I place my finger over her lips.

“Please, sunshine. This means a lot to me. I care about the Major, and as soon as he comes back I want to talk to him about this and let him know my intentions.”

The reminder of our situation at home makes her sit up a little straighter in my lap.

“Okay,” she answers. “I get it. Maybe this isn’t the best time to take that step.”

“I wanted to wait until your birthday to come back. But now that I’m here, I won’t deny my feelings for you. We’ve got plenty of time to figure out us. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You promise me.” She narrows her eyes on me, and I smile as I rub her jaw.

“I promise you with all that I have. I’ll never leave you again. You’re my heart, Maggie. Leaving it behind was absolute hell. And I’ll never do it again.”