Chapter 18

Dana

His words drove lust through me, but shock covered my nerve endings. Had this beautiful man left his life in the middle of the day and flown to New York for me?

Had he left everything behind to run hard and fast until he found me?

"How did you..." I reached for him, wrapping my arms around him and lifting up as he leaned down and consumed me.

The soft press of his lips was nothing compared to the hot wetness of his tongue, sliding past mine, taking control of my mouth and forcing me to comply. I was lost. Completely.

"Um, guys. I'm going to head to the office. Something just came up. Call me later." Olivia's voice broke through the cloud around me.

I pulled back and turned. "You sure? I don't want to-"

"Yes. Positive." She smiled, wagged her eyebrows, whispered 'hot' and walked out.

"Why did you run from me?" He brushed my hair back as I turned and looked up at him.

"I thought I was the only one that cared about us." I pressed my fingers into the thick muscle along his lower back and snuggled in tightly. "I told you that I loved you last night, that I was willing to give up everything for you-"

"And I failed to validate your words." He leaned down and brushed his nose by mine, his scent staining my lungs and leaving my knees weak.

"Yeah. Something like that." I cupped the back of his neck, pulling him down for another long kiss. I'd almost forgotten we were in the middle of a coffee shop in New York. The sound of some giggling kids pulled me out of it.

"Let's go walk in the park and talk about everything." He kissed me once more before releasing me and taking my hand. He picked up his coffee and walked toward the door.

The handsome thug sitting by the entrance stood and opened the door for us. "Enjoy your day, guys."

"Thank you," I turned my head to study him as we walked out into the freezing cold. He looked like someone that belonged in the middle of a drug deal somewhere, but something about his voice and the way he smiled led me to believe differently. I couldn't help but notice the way him and the barista girl kept making eyes at each other. Judging people had to stop. Especially judging myself.

Kendal stopped suddenly, almost throwing me off balance. He gripped my waist and turned his chin down, pressing me with a stern look. "Let me be perfectly clear about one thing."

I swallowed hard as emotions raged deep inside of me. I didn't want him angry at me or upset. I wanted him to feel comfort. Warmth. Overwhelming love when I was around.

"Yeah?" I choked out.

He brushed his thumb by my face. "Don't ever run from me again, Dana. Don't turn your phone off and don't ignore me. I wouldn't do that to you."

I nodded. I could understand that. "Don't keep things from me. Karen and Bethany told me about the shit you were dealing with at the University last night. They told me that Heather was claiming that you guys fucked three times up there."

He paled. "Shit. I wanted to tell you about that."

My heart broke. "You wanted to tell me that you were sleeping with her too?"

"What? No." He rolled his eyes and moved back, grapping my hand and moving toward the road. "Get ready to run. New Yorkers drive like shit and they seem to earn cosmic points for hitting humans. Go!"

I ran beside him and tucked myself under his arms as we reached the other side and walked to the park. "So you didn't sleep with her?"

"Not in a million years, baby. I'm yours. Or I am if you still want me." He glanced down at me as we turned to walk down the snowy bank into the park. "She went to the President of the University and claimed something like rape. I'm not sure how that works since it was three times, but anyway... that's what I had going on yesterday."

I jerked him to a halt. "And if we're going to be together, then I'm the first person you call and tell that sort of shit to. I'm supposed to be the one standing beside you. Not Damon or anyone else. Me."

He cupped my face and leaned in for another long kiss. "Forgive me. I'll not make that mistake again."

"What does this mean? Do you love me? Do you want us to be together?" I was putting my heart on the line, but I had to. I was weary from running not just from him, but from love in general. I needed a soft place to land, a warm body to hold me at night, someone to be mine.

He smiled and kissed the tip of my nose. "I fell for you the moment I met you. I remember it like it was yesterday. Do you?"

Tears burned my eyes. "Yes. I was dealing with Mr. Jackson. He wouldn't take his pills for anyone but me. You were with Mandy." I paused as my voice broke. "Her arms weren't working that day and I could see the pain all over her."

"I remember." His eyes filled with tears too.

The memory swept me away.

Kendal was bent over Mandy's bed, rubbing her long brown hair back and trying to soothe her with his promise that everything would be okay, but it wouldn't... it couldn't...

"Move," I mumbled to Jackie and took her spot on the other side of the thrashing girl. She was a year younger than me, but she looked ten years older. "Amanda. Look at me."

I reached out and gripped her chin, turning her and forcing her to look at me.

"Hey. Be careful with her." Her brother's voice was sharp, condescending.

I ignored him and smiled down at her. "Remember what we talked about yesterday? Old Mr. Jackson?"

She panted as her eyes moved about wildly, but she stopped thrashing for a minute.

Releasing the tight hold I had on her, I leaned down and pressed my elbows to the bed beside her, leaning my chin on my balled up fists. "You should have seen him this morning. He chewed up those damn pills again."

Her brother took a few steps back and let out a shaky breath. I wanted to glance up and get a good look at him, but she needed me to remain locked on her for a little while longer.

"No w-w-water?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as tears spilled down into her hair. "I'm scared."

"I know, sweetheart." I leaned forward and pressed my forehead to the side of her head like I would do to my older sister when life had dealt her a shitty blow. "I'm right here, though. Your brother is here, the nurses are here, hell, old man Jackson is still here. We're not going anywhere."

A soft sob left her, and I glanced up and locked eyes with her brother, motioning for him to come closer.

He moved in and bent over, wrapping her in a tight hug and tucking her face into the side of his neck as she cried softly. The moment wasn't mine to have, so I moved back and wiped my eyes before moving out of the room. I wasn't sure I'd seen a more stunning man in my life.

Messy brown hair, strong shoulders, sensual lips and deep green eyes. My heart fluttered in my chest as I pressed my back to the closed door.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered against his chest as he held me tight.

"Me too, baby." He moved back and forced me to look up at him. "I love you with every part of my heart. I'd do anything to have you as mine forever."

"Even quit your stupid job?" I laughed through my tears.

"It's already done." He leaned down and kissed me a few times as I tried to process his words. It was already done?

"Wait. What?" I moved back and put my hand in the middle of his chest. "You left UT?"

"I did." He smiled. "I'm not sure where I go from here, but I know a beautiful woman who's a little bit bossy who might help me figure it out."

I let out a small yelp of joy. "So we can be together?"

"Oh hell yeah." He glanced around. "Let's find a place to celebrate the future."

"You horny bastard. Is sex all you think about?" I snuggled up to him and purred softly.

He glanced down, his eyes darkening. "When you're around? Yes."