As if I could ever forget.I take his face into my hands and give him a deep, passionate kiss. “Then fuck me and show me who I belong to.”
His eyes darken, and he laces our fingers as he presses my hands into the mattress above my head, pinning me beneath him. He pulls himself almost completely out of me, and then he drives back in with such speed and force that I gasp. He pulls out and plunges into me, again and again. His grunts grow louder, sweat beading along his skin. I open my legs wider to accommodate him.
He releases one of my hands to hike up my knee, throwing my leg over his shoulder, pushing himself as deep as he can get. His punishing rhythm is exactly how I need it. I see stars. I’ve never been this close, this connected to anyone.
He releases a strangled groan. “You feel so fucking good.”
I grab a handful of his hair, rolling my hips to meet each of his thrusts. “I’m yours, James.”
“And I’m yours.”
Thrust.
“You have me.”
Thrust.
“Always.”
Thrust.
“Always?” I ask, breathless.
“Always, Phoenix.” He drives into me and locks his eyes on mine. “This is forever.”
An overwhelming surge of emotion clogs my throat, and hot tears sting my eyes. There’s so much I want to say, so much I need him to know. But in this moment, I can’t get the words out.
So, I give him my body and hope he can feel all that’s inside my heart.
He kisses me hard and rubs his thumb over my clit as he plunges into me over and over. Pleasure builds deep in my core as a wave of ecstasy rises until I can’t fight it anymore. It crashes over me and pulls me under.
I cry out, letting James hear what he’s doing to me. And when my orgasm fades, I watch as he succumbs to his own. A beautiful mixture of intensity and vulnerability is etched onto his face, and his eyes are ablaze as he gives me everything he’s got.
We’re both out of breath as he eases off of me and curls himself around my body, holding me tight. We’re too wrapped up in the moment to speak, and there’s a long moment of comfortable, sated silence as we lie together.
Then James’s low voice floats into the air. “I know you said you didn’t like the ending of my book, but I like the last line, ‘Surely, someday she would find him.’I’ve been drifting through my life these past several years, like I was wandering a desolate island after a shipwreck. I didn’t know if I’d ever find love, or if anyone was out there for me. Then you walked into my life—albeit with a baseball bat—and you found me. Everything clicked. It’s like our paths were meant to cross, like everything we’ve endured has been for the sake of something bigger.
“You make me incredibly happy, and I will give you everything I have in me to make you happy too.” He hugs me tight. “I love you. You have my heart, Phoenix. Do you understand?”
I blink through my blurry vision and turn in his arms to face him. “I do understand, because I love you too, James.”
And all I can think about for the rest of the night is the fact that I almost missed this. My life was almost cut short, and I would’ve missed out on knowing James.
On falling in love.
On this second chance at life.
And for the first time, I’m so damn grateful that my mother found me and got me to the hospital in time.
21
Phoenix
Daily Affirmation: “I am letting go of people that no longer serve me peace.”
“I’m soproud of you, Leo.”
He drops his chin and hides his smile. “Thanks.”