23

Will

The sun streamed through the window and cast a golden hue onto her shoulder. Her skin glowed under the light, lending her the appearance of some mythical creature. And perhaps she was. The way she gripped my heart and changed my world, nothing short of magic could explain it.

She had stayed.

The whole night.

Something so small felt like a milestone.

Running my finger along her shoulder, goosebumps rose on her skin. I rubbed them down, but that only stirred her awake. Turning over, she smiled. "Good morning."

Grinning, I traced her lips with my finger. They were still swollen from last night. "How did you sleep?"

She stretched her body and arched her back. "Like a baby."

My gaze dropped to her flat belly and for the first time, I wondered what it would be like to see it swell with our child inside of her. The thought wormed its way into my mind instead of running away.

I pulled her body on top of mine, wanting to feel every inch of her on me. "Last night was perfect."

She circled my nipple with her finger, and it puckered for her. It awakened my cock, too. I groaned. "Don't start something you can't finish."

"Who says we can't?"

"Don't you have work today?"

She nestled her cheek against my chest but kept circling my nipple. "I don't remember the last time I called in sick."

"Well, then, let's see if I have something for that sore throat of yours," I teased and she smacked my shoulder but shook her head with a laugh.

I tried to sit up, but she pushed me back down. She resumed her caress over my chest and I relaxed into the pillow.

"There's something I want to ask you, and I'm afraid you won't answer." The hesitancy in her voice was unfamiliar.

"I'll tell you anything you want to know."

"I asked you before but you talked around it."

My body knew her question even before she even asked it. So, in a way, I was ready for it.

She spoke into my chest, and my skin tingled from her breath. "Why do you help those women?"

Several reasons flickered through my head. All of them were the truth, some more pitiful versions of it than others. I wasn't sure which one would scare her off, but I went with the shortest one.

"Because I couldn't save my mother."

She swallowed and nodded. "Tell me about her."

My body tensed. I didn't know what to say because I hadn't expected her to ask that. I'd expected her to want to know the circumstances, not the woman.

Thinking about my mother was something I rarely did anymore. Instead, I pushed away the memories. I hadn't intentionally thought about her in years. At least a decade—maybe even a lifetime ago.

"She was funny," I said softly. Christina's smile pressed against my chest.

"She had a great laugh. It was contagious. She would make up these strange songs that made no sense, but you couldn't help but laugh with her because it was all so ridiculous."

Christina didn't comment, just listened.

"She took school seriously, though. Always asked if I'd finished my homework and if I paid attention in class. She would pull out my work and quiz me if I had a test the next day.

"And I could never lie to her. I tried when I was small, but she always knew when I was lying, so I stopped. She told me she'd never be angry with me as long as I told her the truth."

I ran my hand along Christina's back as my gaze became unfocused.

"She was beautiful." My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. "She wasn't glamorous or anything like that. It was a quiet beauty. She wore a ponytail most of the time and yoga pants, but maybe it was her smile that made her beautiful because she could light up a room with it."

I thought about the times she didn't laugh or smile. As I got older, it became more frequent.

"My dad lost his job when I turned twelve. It changed everything."

Christina stirred beneath my chin. "What happened?" she asked.

"He became angrier every day. Especially when he drank. He felt useless and blamed her for saddling him with a kid when he could have been a professional athlete had he not been forced to get a real job to pay for his new wife and child.

"She always sent me to my room when he started talking like that. But the walls were thin and she couldn't keep his ugly words away. It wasn't too long afterward when he started throwing more than just words at her." A memory of my mother's scream rang through my head.

Despite Christina's warm touch, my body went cold, and I shivered.

"I'm so sorry," she said and kissed the spot on my chest just above my heart. Her lips were like a balm on an old wound.

"I tried to step in, many times, but she would get angry with me and send me away. I wanted to help her ,but I didn't want her to be angry with me, either. So, I did what I was told. One day, it went too far."

Tears welled in my eyes and I pressed my thumb and middle finger to my eyes to stop them from falling. "She was gone."

I couldn't go on with the rest of the story. The details were too gruesome, and my uselessness too much to relive. Besides, it didn't matter how it happened, only that it did.

I tried to inhale, but my lungs felt tight, as though my throat was clogged and my body numb.

Christina wrapped herself around me and rubbed my arms. Her touch penetrated through the numbness, at least enough for me to catch my breath.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"I just wish I had done something to have stopped it. So, now I do whatever I can to prevent anything like that from happening to another woman. If Gabby needs me, I'm there. If I can stop it, I will. If I can get a woman to safety, I will do whatever needs to be done."

I rubbed her back. "I know a big part of it stems from guilt and wanting to make up for what I let happen to my mother. But, lately, I've realized that those experiences have helped prepare me for something else."

I hesitated. I didn't know how she would take this, but it was the truth.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"They prepared me for you."

She sat up. "But I wasn't abused."

"No. But all these women, and all these difficult circumstances, taught me to be patient. They shaped me and prepared me for you."

Her eyes rounded, and then she looked down.

I'd said too much. Damn it. But it was the truth. I'd thought about it the other day when I'd gotten frustrated with Tina and realized that learning to be patient made me a better man for Christina.

She shook her head. "I don't know how you do it."

"Do what?"

"Take a bad situation and make it good."

"I haven't always seen it that way. Not until you came into my life."

She laughed but there was no humor behind it. "You are a better person for your experiences. But me? I became angry and bitter."

"Your parents were murdered. Your sister and brother abandoned you. It's hard to see the good in that. And you are not bitter, Christina. Jake told me what you said to him about not messing with Nikole. You warned him not to hurt her. You are loyal and protective of the people you love."

She inhaled deeply and placed her hand on my cheek. "I think you were made for me. You didn't have to go through all of that. I think you were born this way. Thoughtful, caring, patient, compassionate," she traced my cheekbone and lips as she spoke.

I grabbed her hand and brought it down to my chest. My heart pounded against her palm and I knew she held it even though there was bone and flesh between us. She owned me and I would do anything for this woman.

Slowly, she shook her head. "You know, I've been called strong and resilient before. And I used to think it was a compliment that I needed to be those things to be appreciated. But I get tired, too. I get emotional, even though I don't show it like everyone else. But I'm exhausted. I want my life to be easy and uncomplicated."

A tear fell down her cheek and she swiped it away.

I held her face between my hands. "I don't want to scare you, but I've never felt like this before. I'm not going to let anything happen to you or us. I'm here, baby. Through thick and thin, I will be right here for you. I lo—"

She placed her finger on my lips and smiled. "Not yet. I'm not ready yet. But soon. So damn soon, it scares me."

She slid her body against mine and snuggled into my chest again. I knew I'd never be able to wake up without her beside me. Not when I knew I could have her in my arms.

I closed my eyes and squeezed her tightly.

She may not be ready to hear those words yet, but I could wait. If it meant being with her, I could wait forever.

***

Christina was dipping a strawberry under the chocolate fondue when her cell phone beeped. "Could you check that?" she called as she slipped her tongue beneath the dripping fountain.

I laughed. "You know, I have better uses for that tongue." I waggled my eyebrows when she looked up. She couldn't stop laughing and ended up getting her nose caught beneath the chocolate waterfall. "Oof," she said and grabbed a paper towel by the stove to clean herself up.

"Never mind," she drawled. "I'll get it."

Picking up a piece of pineapple, I popped it into my mouth and watched her read her message. Her eyebrows pulled together and then a brilliant smile spread across her face.

"What is it?"

She looked up and pounded her fist on the countertop. "Fuck, yeah."

I chuckled. I loved seeing her happy, even if it had nothing to do with me. "Making you scream that out in bed is going to be one of my goals," I teased.

This time, her eyebrows did a little dance for me and I laughed out loud. "Come here." I pulled her next to me and pressed my lips to her shoulder. "What is it? What made you so happy?"

"I just received a letter from Faye's husband's attorney. He's not going to contest her request for full custody of the children."

"He's not? That's quite a change of heart."

She smirked. "Not really. I told his attorney that I was ready to speak to friends and coworkers about his temper. Seems he didn't want me poking around at work or in his personal life. He may have other demons he's trying to keep quiet."

I shook my head. "I love how this mind of yours works. It's as sexy as those flats you wear."

She barked out a laugh and pressed her head against my chest. "Yes, those are sexy and I'm sticking to it."

I kissed her lips. "We should go downstairs and tell Faye."

"Yes!" She rushed out of my arms and ran toward the bedroom. I followed closely behind her. Teetering on one leg, she pulled on her panties and I groaned.

"Had I known you were naked under that T-shirt, I would have never suggested going downstairs."

"But you did, and now I can't wait to tell Faye the news."

She washed and dressed quickly and nearly raced to the elevator. When we reached Faye's door, she knocked twice.

A blue light twinkled next to the camera Jager had installed outside the door. I knew Faye was checking it before answering. Several minutes later, Faye opened the door. "Hey," she looked between the two of us, probably figuring something was up. But fortunately, Christina's smile must have eased her mind. "Is everything all right?"

Christina's cheeks brightened. "Yes. Can we come in?"

"Of course," said Faye, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry to be rude. I wasn't expecting company, and the place is a mess—"

Christina waved her off. "Oh, don't worry about that. My place is a mess and I'm the only one living in it."

"What's this all about?"

"I think Faye should sit down," I said, worried Christina's news may make her a little weak in the knees.

"Yes, yes. You should sit."

"Uh, oh," said Faye, but sat down on the couch. "Just give it to me straight. I can take it."

I pulled up a chair and sat down in front of her. Christina remained standing. "We did it," she said. "You won."

Faye's eyes narrowed. "W-what?"

Christina pulled out her phone and showed it to Faye. "I just received an email from your husband's lawyer. He's no longer contesting your petition for full custody. The children are yours and you don't have to worry about him taking them."

"W-what?!" Faye said again, only this time she covered her mouth with both hands and tears pooled in her eyes.

"Yes. You will be awarded full custody of your children."

Faye rubbed her face and eyes with her hands and cried. "Oh my God. I can't believe this."

Christina sat down and rubbed her back. "It's true."

"I've been so worried about losing them. I—I've lost sleep and held them close to me in bed, afraid that I might not have this every night moving forward. And now—" Her voice broke, and she inhaled raggedly. "And now I don't have to think about that anymore."

"No. You don't," I said.

Turning to Christina, she pulled her into her arms. "Thank you," she whispered. Her voice was hoarse.

Just then, the seven-year-old walked into the room. "Mommy. Are you OK?" She wore pigtails and a rainbow T-shirt with pink clouds. My throat tightened when I realized she would never have to witness another terrifying screaming match between her parents again. Christina had saved her from that.

"Yes, darling," Faye said and opened her arms. Her daughter ran to her and threw her tiny arms around Faye's waist. "Everything is more than OK."

Christina wiped something from her cheek and turned around. I smiled. She wasn't angry and bitter. Her past hadn't turned her into any of those things. She was kind, loving, and cared about people.

I stood, and Christina got up, too. "We'll give you some privacy to process the news," she said.

Faye nodded while hugging her daughter. She smiled, but tears streamed down her face. My vision blurred, and I stepped away before embarrassing myself.

"Oh, by the way, Will. I've nearly closed on an apartment in the city. I should be ready to move out by the end of the month."

I shook my head. "There's no rush, Faye. You're welcome to stay as long as you wish. And if you like this neighborhood, I can find something for you in the area that you can afford."

"I can't afford this area," she said.

"Oh, I think you can. I know a guy."

She nodded. "Thank you."

When Christina and I closed the door behind us in the hallway, she turned to me. "You know a guy?"

I shrugged. "I don't like people feeling indebted to me. Best if she thinks she got a great deal."

"You are something else." She shook her head and walked toward the elevator.

When I joined her, I pulled her beside me. "So are you. I'm not the only one running around saving people. You've done a damn good job of that yourself."

She narrowed her eyes and then smiled at me. "Do you really think that?"

"I do."

She licked her lips and stared straight ahead. A small smile played on her lips and I felt like some superhero, thinking I was the one who put it there.