Redemption(30)

Evan blinked back his tears and smiled as he kissed my hand. “I love you, too.” He turned and walked to his car. I watched as he pulled away, and then I shut the door behind me.





Chapter 8



Dean



Redemption comes to those who wait,

forgiveness is the key.

Tom Petty



I felt sorry for the poor little fuck. Anyone who ever came into contact with Tyler would naturally fall in love with her. That was just the kind of person she was. I hated what I was doing, but I never said I would play fair. I warned Tyler I would fight for her at all costs. I felt bad it was at the cost of Evan’s heart, but she was never his in the first place. No one would ever truly love her and take care of her like I could. She had to realize that.

I waited in the shadows for five minutes after Evan left. I wanted to give Tyler a little bit of time to calm down after what she must have been going through. I didn’t get off on it like I thought I would. None of this was child’s play. It involved fucking with people’s hearts and minds. I wasn’t a bad person. I just couldn’t play nice when it involved my Tyler.

I knocked on her door, and I didn’t have to wait long before she answered. She looked sad and a little bit resigned to something, but I wasn’t sure what. Was it the ending of one relationship, or the beginning of another? I hoped both, but I wasn’t going to jump to conclusions. If she wanted me in her heart, I had to tell her my secret. We could never move on unless I did. I didn’t want to carry this burden on my shoulders for the rest of my life. I needed to unleash my guilt. I needed her to wash it all away and accept me in her arms as her Dean that once was, is now, and could be later. I had to be honest and lay it on the line for her. Only then could we truly move forward.

“I hope you’re pleased with yourself.”

She looked a little angry as she stepped away from the door and walked into the living room. She also looked absolutely beautiful with her long, flowing hair and black dress with the slit up her leg. What I wouldn’t give to slide my hand up her thigh right now and take her how she wanted me to. I could be as gentle or as rough as she wanted it. Her pleasure had always been mine.

I shut the door and followed her into the room. “To be honest with you, Tyler, I didn’t enjoy what just happened here. Evan seems like a good man and I feel bad for him. I didn’t intentionally go into this planning on hurting him, but you have to be honest with yourself and me. Did you ever really love him?”

Tyler sighed and sat down in the sofa. “No, not in the way he wanted me to.”

I sighed in relief and sat down next to her. “It will be hard on him for a little while. By fuck, I know what it feels like. He will get over it and move on, but I will never get over you and move on, and that is the biggest difference here, Tyler. Can’t you see that?”

She nodded and closed her eyes. “I can’t hide how I feel about you, Dean. I think you know you have always been in my heart—”

I interrupted her. “Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ in your next sentence?” She looked at me sheepishly and I sighed. “Tyler, what’s holding you back? Please tell me and I will fix it. I’ll do anything you ask. I just need to know so I know what to do.”

She looked up at me for a moment and I immediately felt lost in her eyes. I never seemed to tire looking into them. If forever was in there somewhere, I’d dive in head first.

“I don’t know whether to trust you again. I don’t know whether to trust anyone after what you did. The whole thing affected me in ways that never healed me, and I don’t know whether I can heal after that.”

I moved closer to her and took her hand. “Tyler, I know I need to work hard to gain your trust again. I know I fucked up in the worst way possible, but I’m determined to make things right. Do you at least believe I’m not here to harm you? That I’m here because I want you back?”

She nodded. “Yes, I believe that.”

I squeezed her hand. “Then let me in and I’ll show you how good letting go can be. I’ll show you that loving me is the best feeling in the world. I’ll show you just how worshipped I can make you feel. You’re up here.” I raised my hand high in the air. “And I’m down here.” I placed my hand lower. “It is always going to be that way and do you know why?” She shook her head. “Because you’re sheer presence alone brings me to my knees. I will always be down here because I worship every single bit of ground you walk on, and every single step you take.”

She gave me a little cheeky smile. “Are you quoting a certain song lyric?”