“Alone in my room that night, I realized a few things. That I trusted you completely.” He kissed her collarbone, and she could feel him shudder beneath her fingers “I also realized that if I was going to love you, I needed to allow myself to fall. Without a net, without a mask, because if I was going to be with you, you were the type of woman who deserved everything.”
She wiped the corners of her eyes, but then he took her hands in his, needing to say more.
“It wasn’t until you almost walked out of my life that I knew I had to take the risk, that I had to push away what I’d always been taught, and go with what I felt in my gut. To go after what I wanted.” He moved closer, his lips hovering over hers, breathing the same breaths, breathing the same air. “Because somewhere in the darkest moments, beauty lives. Waiting for you to take hold of it and run. I didn’t sleep at all that night. I went to the hotel lobby and bought every flavor of chips I could find.” He kissed her lips then, though only barely. “It was the best day of my life, because it was the day I decided to go after you.”
Sobs were jolting from her body, and she couldn’t take it any longer. She gripped him to her chest, hugging him harder than she thought possible. “I love you, Tristan Montgomery. I love you so much.”
“And I love you, Samantha Elizabeth Smiles.” He then carried her to their bed, where she convinced him to make love to her even though she was sick. Because try as he may, the Devil could bring sickness, but he could never prevent them from loving each other. Even without a net to catch them.
THE END