Chapter 29

Abby

My heart raced when I saw the letter, addressed to me in Cohen’s neat handwriting. It made my pulse run, pounding in my chest as I took it to my room and opened it up. I read over it, my eyes welling up with tears when I saw his words. I had been pushing away my feelings for Cohen and pretending that they didn’t exist, that I didn’t miss him desperately, his smile and the sweet way he kissed me. I read the letter over again, smiling when I read the words, how he wanted to replace the letters I’d lost. I held the letter to my chest, closing my eyes, pretending that I could hear the words in his voice. Then I pulled out a piece of paper, sat at my desk and scribbled something off to him, the only words I could find to say.

Cohen,

Please keep sending the letters.

Abby

I left immediately to mail it, sending it to Cohen as soon as I could. I didn’t know why I was doing it—I should cut him off completely, I knew, refuse to answer the letter so that I could move on. I had been trying to move on for months now, and even though I had settled into my new job taking care of an old woman, had made friends with the maid, and was generally happy, something ached within me knowing that Cohen was gone from my life.

The next few days seemed to pass slowly, with me eagerly checking the mail before Alice, the maid, got to it. She teased me for being so excited to hear from someone I’d apparently chosen to leave behind. Sometimes, she’d ask questions, but I found that it was almost impossible to open up about Cohen and admit even to myself that I had lost him.

The next letter I got made my heart freeze in my chest. I carried it upstairs with shaking hands and opened it, smiling as I read the words.

Gabriella,

I’m so happy you want to receive my letters. I cannot tell you how much it means to me to be able to tell you that I love you as often as I want to, even if I will never hear from you in response. I was thinking about you in bed last night. Nothing dirty. I can’t bring myself to fantasize about you in that way without you here next to me. No, in my mind, we were in bed curled up together, doing something stupid like eating pizza and watching movies. I just want to spend all day with you without getting out of bed. I wouldn’t mind if it was just for one day. I never got to enjoy a quiet moment with you and we never really had fun. The rare times I made you laugh were the best times for me, and I really wish I’d been able to do it more.

I hope this letter finds you well and happy, Abby. I think about you constantly. I wish you nothing but the best. I know that I can’t love you in person, but know that no matter what, somebody far away wishes the best for you, and would love to make you happy.

I’ll send something soon.

I love you, Abby.

Cohen

I chewed on my lip, my heart seeming to stop while I read the words. Just one day. One day in bed with Cohen, no sex, just laughter. I closed my eyes and dreamed of it, taking a deep breath, trying to recall his scent and his touch and his rare smile. I put the letter down and wrote one back, though I hadn’t been planning to.

Cohen,

Just one day. No sex. I want to talk.

Abby

The next day I mailed the letter, feeling like I would hold my breath until I got a response. A week passed and my heart sank more each day, knowing that I had pressed my luck. Cohen wouldn’t come—he was only fantasizing. I had left him and given him up when he needed me most. The letters were just to get things off of his chest, because he needed somebody to open up to after the emails had stopped. My mood grew dim until one day there was a knock on the front door. I ignored it, as usual, grumbling as I went into Ms. Wilden’s room to check on her.

“Abby,” came Alice’s voice downstairs. “There’s a man here for you.”

My heart skipped a beat in my chest and my breath caught in my throat. I closed my eyes for a moment, then glanced in the mirror and tried to fix my hair before I left the room. My eyes met Cohen’s as soon as I closed the door behind me, and his face broke into a wide, handsome smile.

“Hello, Gabriella,” he said in a polite voice.

“I didn’t think you were coming,” I said to him breathlessly.

“I’m sorry it took me awhile. I wanted to clear my schedule,” he said. I stared into his eyes, biting my lip.

“You promised me a day,” he said, gazing over me, his eyes traveling over my body.

“I can’t—”

“Sure you can, honey,” Alice said, touching my arm. “I’ll take care of the old lady. Go.”

I looked at Cohen, slightly unsure now that he was standing in front of me. At the same time, I wanted to jump into his arms. He held his hand out to me, a small smile on his lips.

“Just one day,” he said. I found myself slipping my hand into his, smiling back at him as he led me outside and to his car.

“Where are we going?” I asked him.

“To my hotel,” he said, then glanced at me quickly. “No sex. Pizza in bed and a movie.”

“No sex,” I repeated, though even the word on his lips made my body grow warm, especially between my hips. “Just hanging out.”

“Right,” he said. “That’s what I want.”

I stared at him for a moment, just drinking him in, his handsome features and the light smile on his face.

“You look good,” I said to him. “Happy.”

“I’m only happy because you’re here,” he said. “But I do feel good knowing that Bella and Gregory are gone.”

“I’m so happy, Cohen,” I said, reaching for his hand in the center of the car, taking it and squeezing his fingers. “For Paul, for you—”

“What about you?” he asked. “Are you happy in general?”

I didn’t answer him, but took a deep breath. I didn’t want to admit the agony of losing him, especially if this was only going to be one day of spending time together, just to get a feel for each other before he was gone again.

We pulled up to the hotel a few minutes later, climbing on the elevator, his eyes on mine.

“You look perfect,” he said, rubbing his hand over his mouth, keeping it busy to stop himself from reaching out to me. My body seemed to tremble just standing within feet of him, trying to keep a stupid smile off of my face.

“I look terrible,” I said. “I didn’t even get a chance to change.”

“No,” he said. “I always did like seeing you dressed like a little nurse.”

I couldn’t help but to laugh, shaking my head at him. There was a moment of quiet as the elevator continued to rise, and when the door open we went down the hall and into his room. He immediately sat down on the bed, patting it next to him. I hesitated for only an instant before I sat down next to him shyly, staying a few inches away.

“So,” he said, picking up the remote and turning on the TV. “What do you want to watch?”

“You really just want to sit here and watch a movie with me?” I asked him.

“I am dying to just sit here and watch a movie with you,” he said. “Even if that’s all you’ll let me do.”

“Why are you here, Cohen?” I asked him softly. “Why did you write me that letter?”

His eyes were on mine—strong, powerful and sweet at the same time.

“You know why I wrote you that letter. I love you. I think about you every day. I dream about you every single night.”

“And this—this would be enough for you? Just this one day?” I asked him.

“If this is what you want,” he said, handing me the remote. “I’ll order the pizza.”

I turned the TV off and he watched my hand as I lowered the remote, putting it on the table.

“What if I want more than a day?” I asked him as he leaned into me, nuzzling my cheek with his nose.

“Do you?” he asked, his voice almost breathless. “Is that what you want?”

“I want every day,” I admitted to him, allowing him to take my mouth in a kiss as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Every day like this.”

He smiled against my lips.

“Say that again,” he said.

“I love you,” I said to him instead, and I felt his breath catch in his throat as he kissed me again, slipping his tongue into my mouth. I tasted him thoroughly, deeply, my hands twining through his hair as I pulled his body on top of mine. All of my reservations flew away with that kiss, realizing that I never wanted to spend another day without him.

“I love you too,” he said, his lips moving to my neck, then to my shoulder as he undressed me. I took his clothes off, too, and then we were naked and pressed together as we were meant to be, our mouths connected as his body moved on top of mine.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked me, nuzzling my breast, taking one of my nipples into his mouth to suck on it lightly even as he asked questions, as if he couldn’t help himself. “I want you to be positive this is what you want.”

“Cohen,” I said to him, pulling his face to mine, taking his cock in my hand and guiding it inside of my dripping wet pussy. “I want you. I’m yours.”

“You’re mine,” he growled as he started riding inside of me, his hips slow as he looked into my eyes. “Forever.”

“Forever,” I whimpered.

My hips moved underneath his, rising to meet him, taking him as deep as I possibly could. It felt like I couldn’t get him deep enough until he took my legs and wrapped them around my hips, pulling me closer, flipping me onto my side so that we were lying face to face, his cock buried deep inside of me. He smiled at me when I bit my lip, taking it and sucking on it gently as he wrapped my leg around his hip and continued to make love to me. I couldn’t stop kissing him, taking his mouth over and over, feeling as if I was breathing for the first time in months. I moaned as I came all over his cock, my body trembling, still desperate to keep taking him. We didn’t slow down or stop until it was dark outside, and even then it was only long enough to order a pizza and eat it, laughing, enjoying each other’s company in a soft, light moment. When we were done, he took me into his arms again, and I thought he was ready for another round when he laid me down on my back and looked down into my eyes.

“Gabriella,” he said. “I have one more letter to give you.”

I raised my eyebrows at him as he reached over into the table beside the desk, then handed me an envelope. With shaking hands, I opened it, unfolded the letter, and read it with tears in my eyes, laughing.

Gabriella,

How did I know you couldn’t resist?

This is my final love letter and the most important one. I want you to marry me. I want you to be mine forever.

You can say no, but you probably won’t.

Love,

Cohen

I laughed, swatting him on the arm with the paper, chewing on my lip as I gave him a shy look.

“What if I say no?” I asked him. He grinned.

“In this case, I’ll know you’re just trying to be difficult.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked him playfully. He nodded, leaning in to kiss me.

“Say yes,” he said softly. “Please say yes.”

“Is that a command?” I asked him. “As my boss?”

“No, that’s a request,” he said. “As your husband.”

I smiled at him, kissed him back, pressing my lips to his cheek as I nodded.

“Yes, Mr. Ashton,” I said to him. “I’ll marry you.”

“Good,” he said, slipping my body under his, taking my mouth in a kiss even as he took my body with his hips, filling me again and again. We fell asleep after our day together, only this time I knew I wasn’t leaving.