I heard her crying in the dark then; her tears slipping down my chest. And she whispered back, “I feel the same way, and I don’t know what to do about it.”
After that, we held each other tight for the rest of the night, my cock still buried to the hilt inside her. Eventually, as morning light started to filter into the room, we fell asleep.
We woke up to the sound of her travel alarm going off. Both the dogs and the kitten had migrated back up into the bed with us. And Leona was purring and licking Lizzie’s face. It was like she knew her new momma was leaving now.
Lizzie started crying and sat up, pulling Leona into her arms, holding her tight. “I don’t want to leave her behind.”
My fingers grazed her side as I gently rumbled, “You could take her with you if you wanted. Find a way to make it work?”
We both knew I was talking about more than just the kitten.
“I don’t know how,” she whispered back. “I’m gone more than I’m home. What kind of life would that be for her? She’d be alone for most of her life.”
“Yep. I get it. That would only be half a life. Best to leave her here.”
“Will you find her a good home? Please don’t let her go back to the shelter,” Lizzie begged.
I hadn’t told her I’d already decided to keep the cat. So I said, “Yeah. I’ll make sure she finds the perfect home. I promise you that.”
Elizabeth dried away her tears as the travel alarm started blaring again. She’d hit snooze, but it hadn’t lasted long enough.
“Will you take me to the airport?”
“Of course I will. Let’s get you packed up and on the road, hon.”
I wouldn’t burden her with all my feelings. She knew how I felt. It was evident in the connection between us. A man didn’t make love to a woman like that unless he felt something real for her.
Thirty minutes later, we were on the road. I’d already told her I’d take care of dealing with the broken-down rental car.
She cried the entire way to the airport, and I held her hand as I gripped the steering wheel tight with the other one.
“You’re going to be just fine, Elizabeth. You’re made of grit and steel. And you’ll see Shelby again soon. And when you do, I’ll make sure to find a way for you to see Leona, too.”
“Do you think whoever adopts her would let me visit sometimes?”
“Of course. I’ll make it a requirement.”
I’d do anything for this woman. Even watch her walk away.
It was the right thing to do, even if it was shattering both our hearts.
As we pulled into the airport drop-off zone, she tried to dry her tears. These drop-off spots never gave enough time for a proper goodbye. But I held her as she clung to me.
Fifteen minutes passed, our embrace never wavering, until a security guard came by.
“You’ve got to move along now,” he told us gruffly.
“I know. It’s just hard to let go sometimes,” I rumbled back as I finally released her from my embrace.
Elizabeth Merley had stolen my heart, and now it lay shattered between us. It lay as a thousand shards fallen to the ground.
Would I ever be whole again? It didn’t seem possible.
“Goodbye, sweet love. Go kick New York City’s ass.”
She looked up at me with tear-stained cheeks and told me, “I’ll come visit.”
“Of course you will.”
