Pulled (30 page)

“Broken after I left? I left?” she cried. “I never left you! I could never leave you! Ever!” Her voice softened as she reached out and caressed my cheek. “You were everything to me, my life, my soul.” She removed her shaky hand, taking a step back, withdrawing from me.

I started to pace, desperate to remember every detail of that time. What the hel was she talking about?

Stephanie? I fiercely rubbed my palm over my face. I quickly spun back to her, speaking to her from across the room. “Did you know I came to Dal as for you, Melanie?” She slowly shook her head no, causing my heart to sink. She never knew I came for her? Is that why she thought I didn’t want her? Did she feel rejected because I waited too damn long? I knew I should have gone. Every part of me had insisted I go.

That stil didn’t explain how she knew about Stephanie. God, I hated having this conversation with her, but we had to get it al out, no hiding. I tried to phrase it so I didn’t sound like the asshole I knew I was. “Did...did you know I was with Stephanie after I came back from Dal as?” Even now, that memory made my skin crawl.

Melanie shook her head, her lips pressed

together. Her face was agonized as she forced herself to say it, squeezing her eyes shut, refusing to look at me. “No, Daniel. I found out about Stephanie when I got to Colorado.”

I sucked in the air I couldn’t seem to find. Reeling, I tried to wrap my mind around a fact I had never thought possible. Melanie had come back to me.

“When did you come to Colorado?”

She didn’t hesitate, having no need to search for the date. “July seventh.”

I choked. July seventh. I didn’t go to Dal as until the twelfth. I tried unsuccessful y to control my shaking as everything clicked together. From across the room I stared at my beautiful girl, realizing what I should have known al along. She didn’t leave me.

My heart rejoiced and broke at the same time because Melanie had believed something very, very wrong; believed something so wrong it was powerful enough to destroy two lives—our lives. I felt sick as the possible scenarios ran through my head, each of them leading back to the same person.

“Melanie, what happened when you came to

Colorado?” I closed my eyes against her words, bracing myself for the rage I knew was sure to come.

I squeezed them tighter when a loud sob erupted from her. Her pain echoed around the room. “Stephanie,” she forced out, her voice shaking and cracking, “told me you were happy...with her.”

I bit back the growl that rumbled in my chest. That selfish bitch. How could someone be so cruel, so selfish to look an angel in the eye and lie, the intent only to steal and destroy? And how could Melanie have believed her?

I looked back to Melanie. Her eyes were stil shut as if she were trying to block the memories.

I cal ed softly to her, coaxing her eyes to meet mine, desperate to reveal the truth. “Melanie.” I took a tentative step forward as she opened her eyes. “I would never choose her over you. I don’t know what she said to you, but whatever it was, it was a lie.”

Swal owing, I took another step toward her, narrowing the gap between us.

“It’s true, I slept with her, but not until I’d found out you were married, and even then it wasn’t because I wanted her,” I slowly confessed. “I’ve only ever wanted you.

Every second since the moment I first felt you when your dad dropped you off in my driveway and every day since, it was you. Always you.”

Her face went white, the light reflecting the tears on her face. “She lied to me.” Such a simple statement, but I knew those words meant more to her than anyone could ever know. She struggled against her tears as she painful y ground out the words. “Nine years, Daniel. Nine years, and now it’s too late.”

“No, don’t say that,” I commanded gently. “Do you real y think it’s an accident that I’m here, Melanie? You know as wel as I do that we were brought together again. I can’t live without you. I haven’t lived a day without you,” I pleaded with her. This couldn’t happen. I wouldn’t let it.

We’d been through too much, and it was time to make it right.

She shook her head, looking at the floor. “I won’t come between you and your family. As much as I love you, Daniel, I refuse to be that person.” Of course, she thought I was with Vanessa. I should have realized what she’d meant when she said I had
her
. She had always been one of the most honorable people I knew. This was yet another thing that proved to me she was stil the girl I loved. She would give up what she wanted in order to do what was right.

Sighing, I ran my hand through my hair, searching for an explanation. “I’ve never cared about anyone since you, Melanie, but I’ve
been
with a lot of women.” I stressed the word, praying she’d understand without having to go into al of the sordid details. I wasn’t proud of my exploits, but I refused to hide them from her. “Vanessa and I aren’t together. We’ve never been. It was one night just like al the rest. She caught up with me the very day I saw you again.

That was the day I found out about the baby.” Melanie stared at me from across the room, her eyes intense as she absorbed everything. My stomach was tied in knots, my body rigid as I waited—waited for her to decide. We both knew what this was. She had to make the choice. Neither of us said anything. The room suddenly felt smal as if the ceiling dropped and wal s had closed in, drawing us together. Energy swirled around us, her breath so heavy I could taste it. Our chests heaved as we realized how much we’d lost, how much we’d suffered, how we’d been robbed of so much time. Stronger than al the regrets, though, was the force churning in the air, boiling, surging in our veins. It reminded us of where it had led us, standing mere feet from each other, insisting we didn’t waste another minute.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away as I absorbed everything he said, everything he’d revealed. He’d always wanted me. Somewhere deep within me I’d always known it. Always. He’d lived the last nine years exactly as I did—

alone, each of us in our own way. The air was heavy, the energy building as we both stood staring, unable to move as our minds rejected the lies we’d believed. It was al so clear, and I felt so foolish, but now was not the time for regret. My life was standing feet from me, and this love would no longer be denied.

“Daniel,” I cal ed to him softly and without hesitation. I raised my hand, my fingertips hovering in the air as I beckoned him to me.

Relief washed over his face, and he closed the space between us. He reached his hand out to meet mine, fingertips meeting fingertips, souls rejoicing at the contact.

I sucked in air, my heart stopping as his eyes went from our fingers to my face. His mouth turned up, giving me the saddest, sweetest smile I’d ever seen. “I missed you.” I nodded, never agreeing with a statement more.

Tears continued to stream down my cheeks as I offered him my own smal , sad smile.

He wiped my tears away, my hand never leaving his. His smile grew, true joy final y shining in his eyes, but his words stil fil ed with sadness. “I missed this face.” He dropped my fingers to hold my face with his hands. His touch was so soothing and fil ed with love that it stirred every nerve in my body. “And this mouth.” His thumb ran over my bottom lip before his mouth captured mine in a kiss fil ed with adoration.

I clung to his biceps for support. My legs felt weak as I stared into his eyes. His love was so intense, yet his soul held so much sorrow. I wondered if his hurt went so deep that he could never heal.

“And these eyes,” he choked out the last words as he gently moved in and kissed each of my eyelids. He pul ed back, his hands gripping my shoulders. “I missed nine years.” His hands trembled against my skin as he held me, his anguish apparent, and I could hold back no longer.

I took his face in my hands and pul ed his mouth down firmly against mine, crushing my body to his, demanding that he never let me go. He reacted instantly.

One hand found my lower back while the other dove into my hair, pul ing me even closer. His lips were fervent but gentle and sweet—always, always sweet. My body was on fire, desire coursing through me as I ful y gave myself over to him. This time I wouldn’t hold back.

My hands traveled from Daniel’s face to his hair, tugging slightly, and he final y opened his mouth. I sucked in his bottom lip and ran my tongue against it, holding it firmly in my mouth. He growled from somewhere deep in his chest.

“Melanie,” he murmured as his mouth took over mine. His hand traveled from my head, down my neck, and over my spine to join the other at the smal of my back. His warmth surged through my body. The heels of his hands pressed into my ribs as he caressed up and down, thumbs grazing the sides of my breasts.

I pul ed back, panting, gasping for air. His eyes searched mine, scorching, fil ed with need. He must have found his answer in the flush of my face because his hands abruptly moved to my thighs lifting, and instinctively I wrapped my legs around his waist.

I whimpered as he pressed into me. I longed to feel al of him. He crashed his lips back to mine and began to walk, whispering against my lips, “Where?” I nodded to the guest room. “There.”

His eyes darted behind me, and he carried me to the room, never breaking our kiss. Kicking the door shut behind us, he carried me across the floor to the end of the bed. The sheets were stil twisted and tangled from my night of sleep.

Careful y, he laid me on the sheets, taking a step back to stare down at me with intense eyes. I’d never felt more loved, or more cherished, his reverence evident as he looked at me in adoration. He slowly licked his lips, swal owing, his words thick in his throat as he said, “I love you, Melanie.”

“I love you, more than anything,” I answered.

He stood above me, his body visibly trembling.

“This is forever.”

I lay propped on my elbows, looking up at the beautiful man standing before me, his statement simple as he promised we’d never be apart again.

I whispered back, “Forever.” I would take nothing less.

The room was dim, the windows covered, the sun a faint glow through the slats of the shutters. His face softened, and he slowly crawled up the mattress to me, kneeling between my legs. His hands rested on the bed on either side of my head, his body hovering above. Dipping down, he lightly grazed his lips over mine. My lips parted, anticipation building.

My hands traveled up his arms to rest on his neck.

His skin was hot, and his pulse throbbed under my touch.

My hands pressed against him, desperate to feel his love and desire with every beat. Reaching out, he caressed my cheeks, my lips, and my eyes. The same hand ran down my neck and onto my chest, his fingers splayed out while my heart slammed against his hand.

“How did I ever stay away from you? I heard this cal ing out for me every day.” I could feel his breath across my face, his words so sad, fil ed with so much regret. “Did you hear mine?”

“Yes.” I breathed out as my whole body began to shake under his. His presence was overwhelming. His eyes swal owed me, drawing me deeper into his soul, his beautiful soul that held so much sorrow and so much loss.

Covering his hand with my own, I held his hand firmer against my chest. “My heart only beat because I could stil feel your love. It was the only thing I had.” His hand slowly moved, pressing into my skin through my shirt. He brought his mouth back to mine, his lips smooth as they moved, his tongue sweet.

Exploring the body they’d missed so badly, my hands ran slowly over his chest and his arms. His muscles twitched when my fingers trailed over them. I moved my hands to his back, pul ing him to me, silently begging to feel him—al of him.

His hand snaked under my back, drawing me closer, his body pressing firmly into mine. “Daniel,” I said with a moan in the back of my throat.

My whole body ignited as he began to slowly move against me. He wet my neck with open-mouthed kisses, and tingles shot down my spine when he traveled across the sensitive skin to the back of my ear, licking and sucking the whole way. He moved further down my neck, over my shoulder, and kissed a trail over my col arbone.

I found the hem of his shirt and tugged. He sat back, and I ripped the fabric over his head, tossing it to the floor and leaving his heaving chest exposed. He threw himself back at me, this time his mouth urgent. His hands were everywhere as he ran them up and down my body.

“I wish I could tel you what I’m feeling right now,” he whispered against my lips, his voice hoarse with desire.

“How many times I fantasized about this.”

“Yes...,” I whispered back, unable to voice my own emotions—too many, too strong.

He gathered both of my hands in one of his, and the other skimmed the exposed flesh of my arm. His hand grazed my jaw and my neck before massaging my breast.

He released a heavy breath when he found the band of my pants, his fingers trembling as he tugged the drawstring loose.

He pul ed back, looking me in the eye as if to ask permission. I raised my hips, and his hand slid between the fabric and my skin, pushing my pants down inch by inch until they fel to the floor. His fingers caressed my bare skin, awakening the desire I’d always held for him but never thought would find release.