Her breath caught as his hands slid up her neck, cupping her head tilting it back to look up at him, as his fingers twisted into her hair.
“I may not have a home now. I may not be good enough for you. Fuck knows that we both come with baggage. But I would give everything I had to be with you Winter. The day that I saved you was the day that I was remade.” His blue eyes were searing into her, like a beacon calling her home. Roaming her face, as if he was memorizing every inch, every part of her.
“I’m nothing without you, Winter.” He whispered the last bit, right before he kissed her.
His lips slid over hers as her heart started a frantic rhythm, pounding in her chest. Everything, all the feelings he created, hitting her in the chest all at once. Her fingers clenched, grasping at his shirt as she went up on her tip toes trying to get more.
That feeling low in her belly grew, unfurling, curling upwards and wrapping around her, warming her from the inside, till she could hardly stand it.
A year ago, she would have never thought that she would be in this place. Here with a man that she was quickly falling for, wrapped in his arms, kissing him.
But she was.
And it was more than beautiful.
It was magnificent!
His fingers in her hair twisted slightly, the slight pinch making her gasp, but she followed him anyways as he pulled her farther up to him. His lips nipping along hers, his tongue coming out to soothe away the sting, before he drew back leaving her dazed.
“I love you, little bird,” he whispered, the words healing another part of her. A part that she didn’t think would ever be whole again.
Her eyes widened at his words, her lips opening to tell him that she loved him too. But before she could he stopped her.
“Shh. You don’t have to say anything back. When you’re ready, you can tell me what I already know.” She leaned into him, her knees weak at his words, desire swirling around her making her ache for something that she didn’t even know was possible.
He slowly gave her one last kiss, gently letting his lips trail across hers, to the corner, then her cheek and neck and collar bone, before pulling away.
“As long as I have you, little bird, I’m happy.”
Even in her current state, floating on a high from his kiss, she knew she would never accept that.
She would let him think that for now though.
But she wouldn’t rest until he had his family back.
It was the least she could do for him.
For the man she loved.
***
They were piling everything that he wanted to take with him, by the door when the knock came. Or more accurately she was sitting, heartbreakingly, watching him sort through a lifetime worth of stuff and fit it into three suitcases.
“Rick,” he said as she came off the stool, walking up next to him. Silently supporting him.
His face was blank, the mask back in place, falling over his face so quickly that she had almost missed it.
It was scary that he could switch that fast. That his life had demanded it of him.
“Hey, man can we talk?”
Mark hesitated and looked to her. Only when she nodded did Mark step back and let the man in.
She didn’t know Rick at all, but if it would help Mark right now, then she would take it.
Rick glanced around the room, eyeing the bags then turned to them.
“Listen man, what Dominic did was shit, but you have to know it’s not about you at all.”
