Page 45 of Love You Still
Vance falls to the side, pulling me tightly into his chest. “How about we take a bath, and I give you a full tour of the house?”
“Do you have a claw-foot tub?”
“Of course, I do. I wouldn’t have dared forgotten.” He smirks before kissing the crook of my neck as he inhales deeply.
“Is it big enough for two people?” I ask him, a smile tugging on my lips.
“I’ll make it work,” he promises before rolling off the bed. “I love you,” he whispers before planting a kiss on my forehead.
I watch as he flashes me a smile before sliding his jeans back on, leaving the top button open before he turns around and walks into the bathroom. I know that I still love Vance. If I’m being honest with myself, I still love him with all my heart. But I need to figure out if I’m staying in Tyson’s Creek or going back to New York before I utter those words to him. My decision will determine if being in love with each other is enough because, in reality, love doesn’t always conquer all.
Chapter 17
Vance
“You didn’t skimp on anything, did you?” She smiles as she saunters to the clawfoot tub, running her index finger along the edge. “I don’t think there’s enough room for two, though.”
“Are you sure about that?” I raise my eyebrow at her in question as I brush past her and turn the water on. I know full well that if either of us wants to enjoy the tub, there is no way we will both fit inside, but I love to watch her squirm. “Don’t you want to sit on my lap?”
Her cheeks pink in embarrassment, giving me just the reaction I wanted. “Why don’t I go order us a pizza, and you can relax up here in the tub?”
“What? No gourmet meal planned for us this evening?” she teases as she takes a seat on the edge of the tub, her long legs once again on full display as she crosses her ankles.
Images of those legs thrown over my shoulders while I devour her core, lapping at her juices as I make her scream my name for the second time tonight filter through my mind.
“Eyes up here.” She snickers as she leans forward and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Pizza sounds amazing.”
I should be embarrassed about being caught ogling her, but I’m not. I shrug my shoulders before shutting off the water and turning toward the linen closet. I quickly reach inside, grab a towel from the stack, and place it on the floor beside the tub.
“If you need anything, just holler. I’ll grab us a bottle of wine and be back before you know it.”
“You’re going to keep me company after all?” she says as she reaches back and unhooks her bra. Her eyes remain locked with mine as she lowers the scrap of lace down her arms, dropping it on the floor.
My cock instantly hardens against my zipper as I stride toward her, pulling her against my chest and slamming my mouth to hers. We both groan as I run my tongue against the seam of her lips, and she parts them slightly, giving me the perfect angle to taste every part of her mouth.
I slide my hand up her back and wrap her hair around my fist, controlling her movements, and grind my cock into her belly, letting her know that, in this moment, there is nothing on my mind but her. “Climb in before I change my mind.” I turn on my heels and stride out of the bathroom.
The sound of her tinkling laughter follows as I stride out the door. Once I get downstairs, I order a large supreme pizza, Selina’s favorite, and take a seat on a barstool. Tonight has turned into something out of my wildest fantasies. What I thought would be a simple night of trying to get Selina to open herself up to me again has turned into so much more. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but maybe Selina and I are finally headed toward our happily ever after.
Selina and I haven’t spoken more than a few words to each other since she came back to town months ago. I never understood her need to keep me at arm’s length, but after tonight, everything makes sense. Selina thought I cheated on her. She saw me with her own two eyes in the arms of anotherwoman, someone she had never seen before, taking comfort in a way that only she used to provide for me. I can’t blame her for jumping to conclusions, but she still should’ve talked to me about it or any of our friends, for that matter. I want to believe that if we’d had the chance to talk, everything would’ve worked out, but to be honest, I’m not so sure. Selina and I loved each other beyond measure. I would have done anything to make her happy, and I believe she’d have done the same, but where would that have left us?
Would we have survived the last sixteen years? Would life have gotten between us, leading us down different paths toward the future? I’d like to believe that wouldn’t have been possible, but honestly, I don’t know. Letting Selina go was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life—the other being watching my best friend lose the love of his life—but I don’t think I could’ve been there for them both.
Connor was a shell of himself when Lydia passed, going through the motions, but he was no longer living. His heart and his soul died when she did. Everyone was there for him, letting him take the time to heal and helping him take care of Jade. He slowly found his bearings, learning that life didn’t have to end because Lydia was gone. Now, he has Audrey and Love. He’s finally learning to live again. So, now it’s my turn.
Here is my second chance to find happiness with Selina. The time may not have been right when we were younger, but now that she’s within my reach, I plan to hold on tight. We have a lot to talk about. We need to take time to get to know each other again, but the love I feel for her will never waver. It’s time for us to stop focusing on the past and start looking toward the future. No matter what happened between the two of us all those years ago, we have a second chance to find love and happiness with each other now.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
My head snaps toward the doorway at the sound of Selina’s voice. “I don’t know if you’re ready for what I’m thinking at the moment,” I say as I rub a hand down my face.
I thought she was gorgeous wearing her own clothes, but seeing her standing in my kitchen, wearing nothing but one of my flannel shirts, has got me hard all over again.
“How about that tour you promised me?” She smiles brightly as she strolls further into the room.
“It’s not much. The bones are there, but I could use some more furniture.” I reach up, rubbing my hand across the back of my neck, suddenly embarrassed.
Bringing Selina here to see the house was the perfect idea a few hours ago, but after what we just shared, it seems inadequate. I built this house with Selina in mind, wanting to ensure everything was perfect before she saw the space, and now here she is. I shouldn’t have brought her here before it was ready. This house was originally something I built to keep her close to me, hoping that one day she would come home and see it. But now that we’ve reconnected, it’s so much more.