Gone - Anna Brooks Page 0,79
out of his front door… passport and all.
Izzy drops her forehead to mine. “I love you. Like a lot A lot, a lot.”
“Love you, too, baby.”
“Please tell me this is it.”
I tuck her face into my neck. “What’s it?”
“All the drama. It’s over, right?”
“Doubt it. There’s always going to be drama, but kidnappings? Those are most definitely over.”
She breathes softly. “Thank you for saving me”
“Anything for you.”
My upper body gently rocks back and forth with her in my arms, and I cup the back of her head when she sniffles. Sensing she doesn’t want to talk anymore, I just hold her. And while I’m doing that, I fight with myself to push away the sheer agony of what I was feeling this afternoon.
Part of me wants to forget, but the other part wants to remember so I will never, ever take a moment with her for granted, not that I would have regardless. I knew from the moment I got a glimpse of her, that if I were ever so lucky as to call her mine, I’d worship each minute I had with her. The difference is now, I won’t let a single breath go by without cherishing every beat of her heart… until the very last of mine.
Chapter 20
Izzy
Two weeks later…
“Baby, we need to talk.”
I look over from the sauce I’m stirring to find Damien right next to me. “Okay.”
“This isn’t working anymore.”
My chest depresses like a dumbbell was just dropped on it from ten stories high. “What?”
“Too much baggage. I thought I wouldn’t get sick of it, but it’s weighing me down. I’m sorry. I’ll pack my shit and be gone.”
“But—”
“Don’t try to stop me.”
I collapse to the ground, and my ass hits the floor with a thud. Landing that hard causes the wood to splinter and I fall through the ceiling below me, and the one below that, I keep falling, flailing my arms, seeing Damien’s face through the hole above me getting smaller and smaller as I get farther away until he’s disappeared. “No!” I scream and scream again, and a huge tidal wave curves above me, dragging me along with it. Water rushes into my mouth, and I cough, gasping for air but filling my lungs enough to drown me instead. I paddle my feet, trying to get to the top. Hot tears burn my face even as I’m swimming, and the more I’m under, the darker everything around me becomes.
There is no light to swim to, no surface in sight. “Izzy baby.”
My body jolts as if him speaking my name electrifies me, and I kick with everything I have, fighting to get to him. “Iz. Shit, wake up, honey.”
The current at the top throws me out, and I gasp for air as I sit up, hands scratching at my throat, heart pounding out of my chest.
“Fuck. Jesus baby.”
The soothing tone of Damien’s voice pulls me from my nightmare. He lifts me and sets me on his lap, cradling me like a baby. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” He kisses my cheek, my nose, my chin, nuzzling his head against mine. “I’m here. It’s okay.”
“Damien.” I turn and curl myself in a ball, clawing at his skin. “God, this sucks.”
“I know. What do you need? Do you want to talk about it?”
I shake my head and shove my face into his neck, refusing to let him see me like this. Urgently exploring his skin, I open my mouth to taste him, sucking and biting every inch I can reach. He groans beneath me, and I slide my legs apart to straddle him. His length hardens as I glide down his flat, muscular stomach, and when I reach the top of his boxers, he calls my name.
He winds his fingers through my hair and pulls up enough for it to sting, but I love it. I love the bite of pain; it reminds me that he’s really here. Ignoring him, I reach inside and pull him out. “Iz. Honey.”
I latch on before he can protest any further and his teeth clatter together when his jaw snaps closed. There’s no time to waste, I go at him fast and hard, desperate. Working his shaft and sucking the head of his dick like I’m dying. Because that’s what it feels like.
These dreams are kicking my ass, and every time I wake up from one it’s like I’m starved for him. Empty, fearful they’re going to come true and I have to do everything I can to make him stay.
“Izzy.”