Page 82 of Freeing Emily
I gasp when he gently caresses my still-sensitive pussy.
Getting off the bed, I head to the ensuite. After relieving myself, I dress in black leggings and an oversized knit sweater. Walking back into the room, Liam is already dressed in the clothes he had on earlier.
He sits facing me at the end of my bed.
“Come here,” he gestures for me to sit next to him. Striding over, I sit cross-legged on the mattress.
He watches me, brows slightly pinched. His eyes are filled with nervousness.
“What?” I ask, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I meant what I said, Em. I want to take care of you like I should have in the past.”
I chew on my bottom lip, and he reaches out, using his thumb to pull it from my teeth.
“I’m fighting for you. And this time, I’m going to win.”
I peer at him through lowered lashes. My heart rate begins to speed up.
“I trust you with my life, Liam. But I can’t trust you with my heart.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to win back your heart, Emily. If I need to walk through Hell to do that, I will.”
I lower my gaze to my hands and pick at the nail polish. “You know nothing of Hell, Liam,” I whisper.
Taking my hand, he places it on his lap. Using his fingers, he traces circles on my palm. The feel of his skin tickles mine but it’s also comforting.
“We both have our versions of Hell. I want to know yours. I want to fight yours.”
I close my eyes when the burning behind them rises. I don’t want to cry anymore. I’m so tired of crying. So tired of feeling lost.
Just… tired.
“I know you don’t trust me. That’s my fault for pushing you away. There are no amount of words I could say that would express how sorry I am. How regretful I am.” He takes my chin between his forefinger and thumb, forcing me to look at him.
“I should have said this before but I’m saying it now.” His eyes pivot between mine and they soften. “I love you, Emily. I’ve loved you for so long that my heart is bound to yours.”
I feel the first tear slide down my cheek. Liam watches it for a moment before using his thumb to swipe it away.
“You don’t need to say anything right now. But I know. I know that you love me.”
Words are lost to me. I’ve dreamt of hearing him say that to me for so long, especially when I thought I’d never hear them.
He intertwines our fingers and pulls me toward the door. “Let go to the garden before I need to leave on an assignment.”
The closer we get to the garden; the more tense Emily becomes. Her face is drawn tight and her hand trembles in mine. Another piece of my heart fractures. Seeing that a place that used to mean so much to her – to us – is a place she’s dreading visiting.
Stepping into the clearing, Emily pauses and scans the space. The wildflowers have started to bloom with the warming of the weather, songbirds chirp wildly – as if to celebrate her return.
She takes a hesitant step forward and reaches out toward the first flower. The moment her finger caresses the soft petal, a small smile forms on her lips.
I release her hand and place my hands in my pockets. I watch as she moves from flower to flower.
Every so often, she will take in a deep breath. Soaking in the different smells that she once loved so much.
She moves through the foliage, toward the center of the garden and falls onto her knees. Her head falls to her hands and her shoulders bob as she begins to cry.
As much as I’d like to walk over and comfort her, she needs this.