Chapter 27

27

" W hat did you say?" Destiny asked as she cuddled against Faith's chest. She could feel Faith's hand lazily stroking up and down her back.

Faith sighed. "I'm home," she repeated. "The few times in my life when I've felt like I was where I was supposed to be were with you. You may be my destiny, but you're also my home."

"Oh, baby," Destiny said softly. "I have felt off balance for so long, but when I saw you at the site that day something inside me changed. This is going to sound so sappy, but I know now our hearts were tired of being apart."

"That's not sappy," Faith replied. "I felt it too. It was such a feeling of anticipation, like something big was about to happen."

"It certainly did," Destiny said.

"Mmm," Faith murmured.

They held each other for several moments as Destiny snuggled in as close as she could get to Faith. They were so relaxed and even though Destiny didn't want to sleep, she was afraid it might sneak up on them. "Are you going to take me back to my apartment before work?"

"What if I don't want you to go?"

"Mmm," Destiny moaned as Faith's arms tightened around her. She started to chuckle then couldn't keep from laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"I've kept a bag in my truck since I spent the night." She giggled. "But my truck is at my apartment."

Faith joined her laughter.

"Are we ever going to get this right?" Destiny asked, raising up and looking into Faith's eyes.

"I love you, Des," Faith said softly. "That's all the right I need."

Destiny leaned down and kissed Faith tenderly. She pulled away slightly. "The other day you said you liked kissing me more than just about anything." Her hand snaked between them and she ran her fingers through Faith's wetness once again. "What's the anything?"

"Mmm," Faith moaned, staring into Destiny's eyes. "Right now it's this." She raised her hips and closed her eyes as Destiny's fingers slipped inside her once again.

"God," Destiny groaned. "This is the best." She began a slow rhythm and Faith's hips moved with her.

"Yeah," Faith moaned. She opened her eyes and looked at Destiny. "You know when we were afraid to tell each other things?" She groaned as Destiny's fingers slid in a little deeper.

"Mmhmm," Destiny replied.

Faith gently pushed Destiny's shoulder and rolled them onto their sides until Faith was on top of her. She grabbed Destiny's shoulders and sat down on her fingers. "I really like this."

Destiny put her other hand on Faith's hip and shifted slightly so she could move with Faith. "God, baby," she murmured as they began to move together. "You should've told me about this a long time ago."

Destiny's thumb found Faith's pulsating clit and she was rewarded with another glorious moan.

Faith threw her head back and the sweetest sound echoed around the room as Destiny pushed up and held her fingers still. She could feel Faith's warmth gush over her fingers as Faith collapsed on top of her.

"Fuck!" Faith exclaimed in a whisper. "That was intense and fast."

"Babe," Destiny said. "Look at me."

Faith raised up just far enough to see Destiny's face.

"I'm never letting you go," Destiny said passionately.

Faith swallowed and stared into her eyes. "I'm never leaving you again."

Destiny raised up so their lips could meet in a soft kiss.

"I'm sor?—"

"No!" Destiny said forcefully, putting her fingers over Faith's lips. "We're only looking forward."

Faith smiled and nibbled the end of Destiny's finger.

"I love you," Destiny said.

"Can you feel my love?" Faith asked.

"Mmhmm," Destiny replied as Faith began to kiss down her body.

"I can't stop," Faith said. "There are so many things I want to tell you, but maybe right now it's best if I show you."

Destiny felt Faith's lips and tongue kiss and lick a delicious trail down her body. As much as she wanted to bask in the euphoria they'd created she couldn't wait. "Here it is again," she said breathlessly. "I need you, babe. Now!"

Faith's tongue took over Destiny's body. She reached down to comb her fingers through Faith's hair and fisted the blanket with her other hand. Faith had always known where Destiny needed her most, but this was so much more. Destiny could feel love with every touch. Faith would take her so close to going over the edge then bring her back just enough for another wave of delicious sensations.

Faith moaned and Destiny knew she was about to explode into their world of love.

Destiny shuddered and took a deep breath. She let their love surround her then reached for Faith. She pulled her up for a soul-melting kiss.

"Together," Destiny whispered.

"Always," Faith replied softly.

Destiny stirred and found her cheek resting on Faith's chest. She remembered they were about to fall asleep, but couldn't do anything about it. They were too comfortable, too spent, too happy to move.

"Mmm," Faith murmured. "We did something together yesterday that we love."

"We sure did," Destiny said, yawning. "Over and over."

Faith giggled. "We did, but that wasn't what I was talking about."

Destiny raised up and looked into Faith's eyes. "Oh, you mean the presentation."

"Yes," Faith said. "But this was going to happen whether we gave that very successful presentation or not."

Destiny smiled. "It almost happened Sunday afternoon and I planned for it to happen after your birthday party tomorrow. That's one reason I asked to stay with you."

"Oh," Faith said as a delighted look covered her face. "Was this my birthday present?"

Destiny rested her head on her elbow and slowly ran her thumb along Faith's cheek. She'd never imagined her love as a gift, but she certainly considered loving Faith Fields a precious honor she would never take for granted again.

"You've been patient with me since we ended up in that shack," Destiny said.

"Have I thanked you lately for saving me from those dogs?" Faith said with a playful smile.

Destiny chuckled. "I wanted to take you in my arms and never let you go," she said as tears began to burn her eyes. "Thank you for giving me time, but Faith, my love, I want our arms around each other from now on."

"Even when we're scared," Faith said softly. "Because there will be times when we're afraid."

"But we'll be afraid together," Destiny said.

Faith nodded. "We've promised to be together forever before and I meant it when I said it then, but I doubted myself. You know now how I was thinking."

Destiny nodded and continued to caress Faith's cheek.

"I can't imagine not sharing all of myself with you. I knew who you were all along, but now I can trust myself."

"I don't like the idea that we had to go through this to get where we are right now," Destiny said. "I think we would've grown together. You would've seen that we belonged together and I would've given you the space to do that."

"All that matters is that we've made it here together right now," Faith said.

Destiny smiled. "I know you're right, but I still can't stand what Gloria did to us."

"We're stronger than her," Faith said. "Believe me, darling. She'll get hers one of these days."

Destiny nodded. "We've got a happy life to live with absolutely no room for thoughts of her."

"That's my girl," Faith said.

"I like being your girl," Destiny murmured, bringing her lips to Faith's for a sweet kiss.

"I'll take you back to your apartment to get ready for work, but I don't want to be without you ever again."

"You won't," Destiny said. "We'll figure it out."

Faith sighed. "Yes we will. What do you have planned for today?"

"Well," Destiny said, drawing the word out. "I'm going to sit on a mower since I was accused of being more of a CEO type than a hands-on boss."

"I did not accuse you," Faith said, her eyes widening. "I simply asked a question."

Destiny chuckled. "What about you?"

"I may be a hands-on boss, but it's because I expect good work," Faith explained. "However, I compensate my workers fairly. It's Friday and I try to plan things so they get finished early and can enjoy their weekends."

"Imagine that," Destiny said. "I try to do the same thing."

Faith chuckled. "We talked about how we'd run things enough times that I'm sure our companies are very similar."

Destiny nodded. "Maybe we should talk about our companies."

Faith raised her brows. "We don't have to do that right now. How about I show you the benefits of a tiny shower?"

Destiny smirked. "Babe," she said. "I don't have any other clothes to put on."

Faith smiled. "You can wear something of mine. I'm just taking you home."

Destiny smiled. Hearing Faith call the apartment her home didn't feel quite right to Destiny. When Faith left, the apartment no longer felt like a home. There was an emptiness yet Destiny couldn't bring herself to leave. This tiny house had felt much more like home lately and Destiny was pretty sure why. Faith was here.

"What's that look?" Faith asked. "You know, you could put that skirt back on." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Just so you can take it off of me again?" Destiny asked with a grin.

"What a great idea."

Destiny leaned down then stopped. "Why did you want to know what I was doing today?"

"I hoped we could have lunch."

"That would be nice," Destiny said. "Where are you working?"

"We are finishing up another house that was sold in the Hutto subdivision," Faith said.

"Oh, that's where you were coming from that day you had a flat on your trailer," Destiny said.

"Yep," Faith replied. "Don't you have something in that area?"

Destiny nodded. "We mow and do maintenance at a couple of apartment complexes on the Round Rock Hutto boundary line."

"Maybe you could try that mower out over there today?" Faith asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Maybe," Destiny said. "But right now, I'd rather try out your shower."

The sweetest smile grew on Faith's face. Destiny thought her heart was going to melt in her chest. "I love you so much," she said and pressed her lips to Faith's.

The kiss may have started softly, but it quickly became a scorching flame as they held each other tightly. Faith pushed up from under Destiny and smiled. "I love you, too."

Destiny watched Faith scoot to the end of the bed, stand up, and offer her hand. She smiled and took it. "I won't let anything come between us again, but it takes both of us."

Faith nodded and took Destiny's other hand. "I've been hiding things all my life to try and keep from getting hurt. When I hid parts of myself from you I ended being hurt more than I could've ever imagined and I hurt you in the process. I showed you the Faith I was afraid you'd run from, but you didn't. You ran to me."

Destiny tilted her head. "I'm here now and here is where I'll always be."

"I don't want to hide anything from you, Des," Faith said. "You don't have to be careful and try so hard with me anymore either. Like I said, I'm home and this is where I'm staying. With you."

Destiny felt tears pool in her eyes. She pulled Faith into a tight hug. Standing at the foot of the bed, both naked, exposing their innermost selves: Destiny had never been happier and felt so loved.

"I didn't mean to make you cry," Faith said.

"They're happy tears," Destiny said, looking into Faith's eyes which were misty as well.

"You believe me? I promise you can trust me, baby."

"I do," Destiny said. "I always have."

Faith let out a big breath and shook her head. "I don't know why you do or how I got so lucky, but I'm holding on this time, for life."

Destiny chuckled. " We're holding on."

Faith nodded and led them to the shower.

Destiny knew the hurt and the pain from the past couldn't be washed away, but this new love was stronger, honest, and true.