Shuddering at his kind words, I fisted his T-shirt in my still-damp hands and clung to him as I let my tears fall. All this time, I’d held myself together because Rose needed me to stay strong. Sure, I’d spoken to my best friend and business partner, Jeremiah, about everything that had happened between me and Jackson. Just like I’d talked to my twin brother, Henry. But they were both in California, several states away. Our only communication was through phone and video calls.
It had never dawned on me until right this moment how starved of human touch I’d been. Of course, I had Rose, and we’d often hug things out, but there was a huge difference between that and a therapeutic hug from another adult after you’d just bared your soul.
“I’m here now, Daniel,” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear as he nuzzled into my hair and tightened his arms around me. “You can lean on me.”
Heaving out a wet breath, I relaxed into his hold. Right now, it didn’t matter that he was over a decade younger than me. It didn’t matter that he was only going to be here for a short while.All that mattered was that he was holding me, lending me his strength as I fought through long-held pain.
Slowly, I let his shirt go and tentatively wrapped my arms around him, my forehead resting on his shoulder while I got myself together.
“That’s it. You’re okay.” While he continued to rub circles on my back, his other hand rested on the back of my head, his fingernails gently scratching my scalp. The sensation made me shudder. “You’re okay.”
Eventually, I pulled back, my hands falling to his thin waist as I moved away and my head down from the embarrassment that I couldn’t stop myself from feeling. “Sorry about that….”
Marshall ducked down so he could catch my eyes before he gently placed his palms on either side of my chin. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing to be sorry for.” He lifted my face so he could look me in the eye without hurting himself. “It’s okay to cry it out. Hasn’t anyone told you that?”
Snuffling a little, I shook my head. Mostly, Jeremiah had told me to focus on something else, and Henry had simply pointed out how illogical Jackson and I had been as a couple. My other family members had all been sympathetic, but none had said to let myself cry.
“Oh, honey.” Keeping his hands where they were, he wiped his thumbs over my cheeks, wiping away the last of my tears. He gazed at me with those large, soulful, sapphire-colored eyes so full of sympathy. A tiny, soft smile played on his plush ruby lips as his eyes flicked down to my lips.
And then, before I knew what was happening, he was kissing me.
Chapter Six
Marshall
Thispoorman.Thispoor, sweet, heartbroken man. How I wanted to wrap him up in my arms and hold him tight for longer than just this moment. Protect him from all the crap that had happened to him and to Rose, even though it was years ago now. By the sound of things, he’d kept all his focus on getting Rose stable and not worried at all about going to therapy for his own benefit.
It was crystal clear that he needed someone to listen to him, someone he could confide in and tell all his worries to. How many friends did he have that he could talk to about all of this? Did he have anyone at all? The way he’d been clinging to me as he fell apart made me wonder if the answer was no.
Maybe it was something I could broach with him later—ensure he had help set up for after my Jeep was fixed and I left Rockdale. Something in my chest clenched hard, making me realize that a small part of me wanted to stick around longer than just the hopefully few days I’d need to get my car sorted.
For now, I’d happily be the one he could lean on, the one he could cry to, the one who could hold him close and protect him from the evils of the world.
The one he could kiss.
For all his hesitancy about kissing me last night, there was no reluctance now.
After the initial and expected jolt of surprise, he relaxed against me, his lips melding to mine. The soft bristles of his beard tickled me as his hands slid up my sides slowly before he growled, losing patience. He gripped my head and tilted it a tiny amount to get the angle right, and then his tongue teased my lips, begging for entrance.
As soon as I granted it, he plunged in, exploring my tongue with eager licks and sucks.
This wasn’t just a kiss; it was a claiming.
My eyelids fluttered shut as I leaned into him, my fingers running through his beard before they gripped his hair, holding him close as we devoured each other.
I whined when he pulled away from me, chasing after him as he gasped for air.
“Wait,” he panted, holding me at bay, his hands trembling as they held my head in place. “Wait.”
My gaze flickered between his eyes. “What’s wrong?” My fingers drifted down from his scalp, gently tracing from his cheekbones to his jawline.
Breathing heavily, he let my head go, only to grip my wrists to stop my fingers from wandering. “You’re so young.”
Confused, I tilted my head to the side, studying him with a slight frown, trying to understand where he was going with his line of reasoning. “But you’re obviously interested.”
“I shouldn’t be.” His eyelids fluttered shut as he took a slow breath and shook his head gently with what seemed to be regret.His grip on my wrists loosened enough to allow me to cup his chin, and I rejoiced when he subconsciously leaned into me.
“Why not?” I watched the minute changes in his expression. The emotion that seemed to take prime position was anguish, his eyebrows bunching up in a furrow. He wanted me, wanted this, but he was fighting it, just like he had last night.
