“What’s wrong?” Alex asked.

I looked back to him and pressed my lips together tight, holding in the anger.

What the hell was Tom doing here?

“Summer.” Alex shook my arm. “Who is that?”

“Tom.” I sighed.

“Fuck, what the hell?” Anger immediately replaced the tranquil look Alex sported only seconds ago.

It seemed fitting that the minute I started to appreciate what I had with Alex that tom would come and ruin it. Like a reminder that of what could happen to me when I opened my heart.

Alex looked from me to him and his face softened a little. “I’m going to beat the shit out of him.”

“No.” I clutched on to his arm to stop him from going. “I’ll go talk to him.”

Worry washed over his face. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I should. I should talk to him. Just go home and wait for me.”

“I should wait here.”

“No. I’ll come up when I’m finished.” I got off his lap.

He glared at Tom with burning, reproachful eyes and stood too, expression clouded with anger.

“Call me if he tries anything. I mean it, Summer. Call me.”

I nodded wanting to get this over with as quick as possible. I couldn’t believe the nerve Tom had showing up here.

I turned to walk away but Alex caught my arm. “Summer…”

I gazed at him waiting for him to speak but he just looked at me. All his feelings reflecting in the tenderness of his eyes.

It was everything.

I knew that Alex and I hadn’t labelled ourselves as a couple, but I felt everything I thought I’d ever wanted when I was with him. Right from that first night.

“I’ll be okay.” I assured him.

He nodded and I continued walking, heading to the wall across the street where Tom stood.

He straightened when he saw me and had the nerve to smile.

He looked the same, which was ordinary. Nothing striking about him, but had that quirky way about him that I used to like.

I couldn’t believe I’d allowed this man to put me through so much.

“What are you doing here?” I didn’t give him a chance to speak first with any pleasantries. He didn’t deserve it.

“Looking for you.”

“How did you find me?” I knew Eilesh would never have told him.

I’d given my aunt and uncle my new address, but I doubted that they would have told him too because they were as disgusted as I was with him when they heard about all he’d done. I hadn’t meant to tell them but it came out one day when my aunt called me to see how I was doing.

There was no way either of them would have given him my details so how did he know where to come?

And, he had this tentative expression on his face, as if he was scared to reveal it.

“I hired a private investigator. Summer, I thought if you saw the lengths I took to find you, you’d see that I’m being serious.”

“No, I’m outraged. You were told to leave me alone.”

“By Alex, was that him?” He frowned.

“Yes, that was Alex.”

“Summer, look.” He took a step towards me and reached for me but I stepped back and held up my hands.

“No. Tom, please. Don’t touch me or anything.”

“Summer I really messed up.”

“You did mess up, but it wasn’t just what you did. You never loved me.”

“Yes I loved you always and clearly I still do,” he defended. “I was just foolish.”

“You don’t hurt people you love. You do everything, and anything to make them happy and take care of them. You didn’t do anything like that for me. I always had to constantly prove myself to you, and all that time you were with Becca and other women.”

“Summer please. I’m here. That has to count for something.”

“It counts for shit in my book. Tom this ends here. I don’t love you anymore. Please don’t look for me again.”

“That’s it, eleven years down the drain? You won’t give me a chance to make it up to you? To try.” His face turned red and his eyes widened.

“There’s no point. I don’t want the life I used to have with you. I wasn’t happy.”

“Is it him? Alex? You’ve known him for two seconds. We were together for a decade Summer. I’ve known you since you were seventeen.”

“What I have with Alex is none of your business. And the length of time that we’ve known each other is irrelevant. Means nothing.”

“You selfish bitch.” He retorted shaking his head. “I’m here, in Chicago. I did everything to find you. I have apologized repeatedly and you won’t even give me a chance.”

“You’re calling me selfish?” This was ridiculous. I knew it was, and I knew I should have walked away but I couldn’t. Disgust and rage coursed through my veins. “I’m not the one who cheated constantly.”

“How do I know? You were always away, you could have been fucking everyone for all I know.”

“I’m done here.” Best to walk away and not engage in this craziness. I attempted to move away but he caught my arm, tightening his grip on my wrists. “Let go of me.”

“No, you fucking selfish bitch. I’ve been through so much to find you, only to see you shacked up with that jerk. Whore!”

As soon as the words came out of his mouth a force moved him backwards with such power it moved me too because Tom was still holding on to my arm.

He released me and it was only then I saw the person who’d grabbed him.

Alex.

It was Alex, he hadn’t left and gone back to the apartment like I’d asked. But thank God he hadn’t.

A quick one two punch was landed in Tom’s face which sent him whirling.

Seeing it was Alex he firmed up and threw some punches too which Alex dodged with ease.

Tom was stupid enough to lunge himself onto Alex.

I screamed when the two hit the ground because I knew it wouldn’t be Alex getting hurt, it would be Tom.

True to my thoughts, Alex flipped Tom over with very little effort and gave him a few punches in his face again. Then he grabbed him around his neck and in one fluid motion rose with him, and hoisted him up into the air. He growled like a ferocious hell beast and shook Tom like a rag doll.

Alex was tall and all muscle. I knew he was strong but I’d never seen the extent of his strength. Tom wasn’t exactly a small guy or meagre in any way. He was what most considered to be average in stature and was a few inches shorter than Alex.

Those details had no impact on what I saw before me because Alex continued to hold Tom high up choking him.

“Alex,” I cried.

He looked like he’d lost his mind.

“How dare you speak to her like that?” He growled.

Tom flapped about, trying to escape from the clutches of doom.

“How dare you? Miserable bastard. You have no respect for women, and you had none for her.” Alex balked.

Tom started gasping for air. It was only then that Alex dropped him, but he stood over him with an air of command and authority.

“Apologize now.” He screamed at Tom. “Look at her and apologize, for everything.”

Tom looked at me, tears filled his eyes and trickled down his cheeks. “I’m sorry. Summer, I’m sorry.”

I stared at him, wordless.

There wasn’t anything I could think of saying.

“Don’t come here again,” Alex told him sounding more like himself. “Just leave her alone.”

Tom nodded. He was a pitiful sight to watch but I didn’t want to entertain any sympathy for him.

When Alex took my hand I gripped onto him and walked away, leaving Tom with all the curious eyes that saw what happened.

As we walked away it felt like another chapter had been closed in my life and I actually felt free.

“I’m sorry you had to see me that way.” Alex apologized the minute we stepped into the living room.

I answered by throwing myself into his arms. Warmth filled me, surging through my body , igniting hope in my soul and healing in my heart.

I felt this sensation before in small sparks but today I got the full impact.

Every touch fed the feeling. His arms around me, caressing my shoulders, then cupping my face.

“Thank you.” I told him.

“I don’t like fighting, especially fighting someone weaker than me. Makes me feel like a bully and I hope you don’t think less of me.” He actually looked worried.

“No, oh God Alex. That was the first time I’ve ever had anyone defend me.”

“He was hurting you, and calling you names. You… you are mine and I couldn’t allow him to do that.” Affection glowed in his eyes.

I felt it and in that moment I realized what was happening to me.

The pieces of my broken heart were all being put back together. It started from when I first met him. All it took was that first look.

It sparked the reconstruction and as the weeks went by those little tingles were shards of my heart fitting together to make me whole. Today, and after what happened just now with Tom, enough of me had been repaired for me to know what was happening.

I felt myself and the strong woman I used to be return, as if she’d been placed back inside me.

I didn’t feel broken anymore, or like I was less of anything.

It was liberating and exciting.

And, all because of him.

Alex.

He healed me, but it wasn’t with this mere attraction thing we’d created. I knew the difference, and knew something for what it was when I felt and saw it.

I was healed with love.

“I am yours.” I told him getting lost in thought at this revelation.

His face brightened and I saw his heart reflect in the tenderness of his gaze

I opened my mouth to continue but he silenced me with his lips giving me a heated kiss that set my soul on fire.

Everything was pushed from my mind as the kiss swept me out of reality and into our dream world, reminding me that I craved and desired this man. He’d been able to mesmerize me with just a look and make me feel whole.

I couldn’t get enough of him.

There was something more personal about his touch today.

I noticed it straightaway.

Alex angled my mouth for a deeper kiss, pressing his lips more firmly to mine, waking every cell in my body.

He scooped me up into his arms and carried me upstairs to his bed, setting me down in the center gently.

We kissed and tore at each other’s clothes until we lay there naked, skin to skin against silky sheets.

His hands moved magically over me compelling me to arch into the curve of his body where I melted from the fire that consumed us.

My body welcomed him as he penetrated deeply, burrowing towards my core. My inner walls rippled against him and each thrust racked with pleasure.

Passion and heat flowed between us, pure and explosive. I could feel it everywhere and all around. As if it had taken on its own life force.

This was beyond sex. Beyond attraction and had no rules.

It was reaching a higher plane of thought and feeling.

It was something I’d never experienced before.

Pure bliss and contemned raged inside me, holding us in the bonds of ecstasy for what could have been eons.

It was only when a wild orgasm rippled through me, too intense to control, that I came back to earth.

My body buzzed from the experience, a million glowing stars sparkling around me. Around us.

Alex cried out his own release and collapsed next to me breathing heavily.

We were both trying to steady our breathing but he pulled me into his arms, close to his heart where I would have happily stayed forever.