Page 68 of Acceptance
Cupping her face, he lays down beside her, resting their heads on the pillow. “I’m so sorry. I never should have said it. Myhead… I should’ve listened to my heart. I just didn’t trust it because it was broken.”
“I’m sorry, Venom.” Her lips gently touch his as she runs the back of her fingers over his cheek. “I’m sorry I did that to you. If I could change it and take it back, I would. I’d give anything to take it back.”
“Me, too,” he says, claiming her mouth and deepening the kiss when she parts her lips.
They lose themselves in each other, hands everywhere, as though they can’t break contact for fear of the other disappearing. Before he knows it, they’re both naked, and he teases her as he thrusts his cock between her legs but not entering her.
“Wait,” Marnie says, her hand on his chest even though her leg hooks over his hip. “Are you really single? Cinder’s gone?”
“Cinder’s so far gone that I have no idea where she is. But, no, I’m not single.”
Her eyes lock with his. “You’re not?”
“I might be getting ahead of myself, but it’s up to you. I’m yours, if you’ll have me.”
“Really?”
The way her lip trembles as she searches his eyes makes him love her even more. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Venom,” she says, kissing him as the tears fall and hit his tongue.
“William.”
Leaning back again, she looks perplexed. “Pardon?”
“That’s my real name. William Maddox.”
A smile spreads across her face, and his heart damn near explodes. “I can call you William?”
“You’re one of only a handful of people who know my real name. I want there to be no secrets between us.”
“I love you, William,” she whispers and shifts her hips, guiding him inside her.
It’s the first time they’ve been together since they were in Summerville, and it feels magical. The way she digs her heel into his ass as she tries to pull him as close as physically possible to the small moans and pants from her lips as she moves with him makes him see it’s the right choice. The only choice.
“Tell me you love me again,” she whispers with her lips against his neck.
“I’minlove with you. I finally feel like I can breathe again, love.”
Marnie nibbles his skin, and he knows she loves the nickname she used to fight against. The thought of making her Marnie Maddox in the not-so-distant future excites him as his orgasm approaches.
“I’m close,” she moans, her fingernails gently scratching his back.
Shifting his hips, Venom thrusts harder and faster, his hand pulling her leg higher against his side, thankful when he feels her muscles clenching around him. They both cry out, his release filling her as he remembers he should have pulled out.
If she minds having no barrier between them, she says nothing. But the moment she begins to sob softly, he worries he screwed something up.
“Marnie? What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t think I’d ever have this again,” she says and kisses his neck as they remain connected as one. “I was so sure you’d never forgive me, but I still had to try. I couldn’t give up.”
He runs his hands over her hair as he tries to soothe her. There’s not much he can do besides tell her how much he loves her and how sorry he is for lying.
If he’s honest with himself, he wasn’t sure he’d ever have this again, either, but he can’t tell her that. Not now. Shecarries enough guilt with her, and he makes the decision to put everything in the past. Forgive and forget.
Marnie and Venom are officially together, and this is home. Marnie is home.
Chapter Twenty-Three
