Page 128 of Cross the Line

“I’ve made my decision.” I was still attempting to compose my thoughts, but her tone was resolute. “And I want to be with you. Only my brother can decide if he wants to have a relationship with me going forward.”

“I know, but I just…I need you to be sure.” I stared at the floor, unable to meet her eyes. “For a while, I thought my family would come around too. I thought they would care more about me than their beliefs. I can’t tell you how painful it was to realize that ultimately wasn’t the case.” I let out a slow, steady breath. “But as devastating as that was, none of it would compare to losing you.”

I didn’t even realize a tear had slipped down my cheek until she was kissing it away. Then my other cheek, the corner of my eye. Her movements were gentle and full of love. My eyes fluttered closed.

“When you decided to cut ties with your family, I’m sure it was painful,” she said, and I nodded. Even now sometimes, it still hurt to think about. “So how did you do it? What gave you the strength to make that decision?”

“I knew it was the right thing.”

“Even though your entire life, you’d been taught to believe differently. Even though it went against everything your parents believed.”

“Yes.”

“And did you do it expecting you might change their mind?”

I shook my head. “If anything, I’d hoped that taking such a drastic step would show them how serious I was.”

“But there was no guarantee. And so you did it anyway, knowing the risk you were taking.”

“I…yeah.”

“Then trust me when I say that this is painful, but I know it’s the right thing.”

I rested my forehead against hers, searching her gaze. “You’re sure? I don’t ever want you to regret choosing me.”

“I’m not just choosing you.” She smiled, some cheekiness peeking through. “I’m choosing myself.”

I tilted my forehead to hers, surrendering. I loved Logan, and I was done trying to convince her we shouldn’t be together. I had to trust that she was making the right decision for her, just as I’d made the right decision for myself all those years ago.

Maybe it would show Levi how serious Logan was about us, about her faith in me. Maybe not. But she was making the decision with eyes wide open, and she was making it for herself.

I threaded my fingers through her hair, pulling her to me. She was on my lap, cradled in my arms. We were kissing, and I didn’t want to stop touching her for fear that she’d vanish once more. She was my home, my center, and I would do anything for her.

“You have no idea how much I missed you these past few weeks.”

She smoothed her hands over my shoulders. “I missed you too. Thank you for being patient.”

“I would wait forever for you.” I kissed my way down her neck, between her breasts, tugging on the hem of her shirt until it was sailing toward the floor. “But now that you’re here, I’m not letting you leave again.”

She laughed, the sound a balm to my soul. “That might be a bit problematic once the season starts.”

I peeled her bra aside, anointing her skin with kisses. I didn’t want to think about it. As much as I loved my job, I was already dreading the travel. For the first time since I’d severed ties with my family, I felt as if I had a home. And it was all because of this woman in my arms, my name on her lips as she writhed against me.

“Thank you,” I rasped against her neck, wishing I could breathe her in.

“For what?” She cupped my cheek, brown eyes searching mine.

“Taking a chance on me,” I admitted. “Loving me.”

“Always.” She kissed me, and then I laid her down on the couch and showed her just how much I loved her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

September

Carson dropped a kiss on my head. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” I stared at the blank computer monitor where my reflection stared back at me.