Brody - Ellie Masters Page 0,118

her place, I stop at the top step of her porch and debate the wisdom of my decision.

The door swings open, surprising me. When Grace’s soft voice says my name, my heart leaps for joy.

“Grace.”

Her entire body trembles. She clutches her phone tight to her chest, turning the knuckles of that hand white. Her sun-kissed complexion is gone, and in its place, a sickly shade of loss and betrayal takes over.

“I’m here.” I open my arms, and she rushes into my embrace. The way my arms wrap around her feels right. We simply fit together.

She leans against me and doesn’t say a word. That’s okay; we don’t need words. I breathe her in as she settles against me. My need for her hums through my blood as my fingers float through her hair, stroking through the tangles. I touch her face and sweep my fingers along her cheek and over her lips. She lifts her hands, encircling my back, and snuggles in.

“I miss you,” she says.

“I missed you more.” God, I missed holding her in my arms. I miss the scent of her hair and the sound she makes when she gasps. Easing back, I take a long look at her and wonder how I survived three weeks without her.

“Mark was here,” she says.

“I know.”

“And…”

“I know.”

I’ve kept tabs on Grace, first through Asher, then through Mom. Jesus, I wish I’d been by her side, but I’ve had time to think about what she said. I cup her jaw and tip her face to look at me.

I lean down, and she lifts on her toes, closing the distance, offering herself, and silently pleading for a kiss. My gaze unerringly latches onto her beautiful, angelic face, creased with pain and tarnished by betrayal. I wish to take all her pain and carry it for her.

Her eyes simmer, heating with the undeniable pull we share for each other. Blistering heat sweeps through me, manipulating the flow of my blood, and sending it to awaken a desire I can’t contain.

My balls tingle. My cock swells. I hold Grace in my arms, knowing this is exactly where I belong.

I’m desperately in love with Grace Atwood.

This thing between us is a potent force. Like gravity, it pulls us together. Electricity shoots along my nerves until every cell in my body is aware of her presence. Bound together by the irresistible force of a brutally flawed, but healing love, we’re destined to be together.

“These last few weeks have been the worst of my life.” She turns her face to mine, tilting it up, seeking to reestablish our connection.

“They’ve been the worst.” It’s a truth I’m ashamed to admit.

If Grace felt a tenth of what I endured these past few weeks when I turned my back on her all those years ago, I don’t deserve her forgiveness. I definitely don’t deserve her love, but I’m hopeful. “You captivate me.”

“Brody…”

“I have something to say.”

For a decade, I’ve avoided the trap of relationships because some small part of me knew what I lost when I walked away from this amazing woman.

“You don’t have to…”

“It’s taken a decade too long, but we’re together now. Or, at least, I hope that’s still the case. Mom always told us that love is nothing without action. Trust means nothing without proof. And being sorry is meaningless without change.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m not done.”

I may never be done telling this woman how much I love her, how resilient she is, how strong, how amazing, how incredibly wonderful, and… I could go on and on. She lays her head against my chest and takes in a deep breath.

“I’m sorry for pushing you away.”

“I love you, and I’ll show you every day for the rest of my days how very much I’m in love with you. It’s my hope that I never cause you to doubt me, or lose faith in me, and I promise to never break your trust again. I’m sorry for all the pain I brought into your life. It’s my hope you’ll forgive me, and continue to forgive me, when I fuck things up. I’m not perfect, but I have changed. I changed for you, but more importantly, I changed for myself. Before you came back into my life, I was existing, but not really living. I was going through the motions, floundering to find happiness with empty, meaningless sex. I thought that meant I was in control, but it was really a hopeless spiral. A spiral