Page 110 of Forbidden Eyes
“I'm not begging, Fia. This makes sense.”
“Yes, for you. You’ve just—”
“Stop. You told me to tell you what my version of love could offer you. Well, this is it. You don’t want some of the life that I’ve been a part of, then let me change it." He stands and moves around the room to me, pulling me out of the chair to stand with him. "Do we have a deal? Because if we do you need to ask yourself if you’re ready.” My eyes gaze up at him, body pressed into his firm frame by his fingers at my back.
“Ready?” I question breathlessly.
“Yes, because if you say yes then we’re doing this. A team. All in. Together. I love you, Fia. Never said it before, never will to anyone but you.”
“I love you, too.” My eyes fill with tears that, for once, are born from happiness rather than sorrow. “Yes. A team. Our team. I love you. So much.”
His lips crush mine as he grabs my waist and pulls me closer into him. He backs us up through the room until my thighs make contact with something, but he picks me up and sits me on the table before my mind can process it.
“First job as CEO, I’m going to fuck you on the board table.Mywoman. Myboard table.”
The giggle that starts erupts into laughter as I wrap my arms around his neck. “That sounds interesting. Did you lock the door?” I whisper, feathering kisses down his throat.
“I don’t fucking care. And neither should you. Tomorrow we start on business. But right now, it’s been too goddamn long since I’ve been inside you. Don’t ever fucking deny me that again.”
“You know, now that I’ll be living in the house…”
“Notthehouse.Myfucking house. If you’re here, you’re with me. End of.”
“You're sure?”
His lips and teeth travel over my clavicle, my chest, biting at the fabric keeping my skin from his touch.
“Stop talking stupid and get naked. We’ve got a lot to do tomorrow, but for now…" He backs away from me, slamming and then locking the door. "Clothes. Off.”
Epilogue
Two Years Later
“Do you have to go back?” I sound like a whiny child, and I suppose I am. These visits are all too short for my liking.
“I’m sorry, darling. Our time is always so short.”
“There’s an easy way to solve that, Mom.”
“And I’ve told you many times before, that’s not my life. My life is with your father in New York. You have your life here, with Carter,” she says, stroking my cheek.
She’s right, of course, but it doesn’t stop me pouting.
It’s taken a long time to finally feel settled here in Chicago, even with Carter doing everything he could to make me feel at home. For me, home was with my family, and a big part of that was my mother. Still is. I’ve had to learn that just because I don’t see her every day, it doesn’t mean she’s not a huge part of my life. She is, but just speaking to her on the phone doesn’t seem to cut it.
“When are you next going to visit?” I ask, hopeful that it won’t be more than a couple of months.
“Well, that depends on your father. He’s sick, Fia. You know this. He’s been in and out of the hospital these last few months. Maybe this time you could come and visit us?”
The anticipation in her voice nearly crushes me. Despite everything, I still waver about visiting him, or even picking up the phone to talk. But then I remember the pain and fear, the blood, and the man he showed to me in that warehouse, here on our drive, too. Nothing Mom has said over the last two years has suggested that he’s changed in any way. And then there's my stupid pride, of course. He used to tell me I meant the world to him, that so many of his actions were for my benefit or to keep me safe, but in these last few years he’s never tried to get in touch. Never once turned up or tried to visit. It’s not a secret where I am. Even if he doesn’t like it.
“I’m not sure, Mom.” And that’s the truth of it. Part of me still feels split open by it all, regardless of the happiness I feel with my life here.
“Just think about it. I’d hate for you not to have another chance.”
She says it so matter-of-factly, like talking about a time when he won’t be around is inevitable. Some small part of my heart clenches again, aching for my daddy in ways I don’t know how to manage. What will happen to Mom when he does go? Tears filter into my eyes at the confused dynamic still resting inside of me.
“Are you okay, Mom? I’m sorry we’ve not spoken about him, and although I might not want to speak to him, I’m sorry you have to see him unwell.” I clasp her hand, desperate for her to stay rather than have to go back to him and face losing the man she lives for.