Page 141 of Severed By Vengeance

Derek threw open the passenger side door and reached inside, pulling out a stack of containers in a tied-off plastic bag.

His hesitation suddenly made sense.

Making a run for it, Derek was about five feet from my porch when he slipped on the wet grass, sending the bag of containers into the air and into a muddy puddle.

The roar of obscenities that flew from his mouth pierced through the heavy patter of rain.

“Stay here.”

Derek didn’t notice when I opened the front door. He was standing over the ruined meal, facing away from me. Another string of expletives reached my ears as he bent over to examine the bag before kicking it across the lawn.

He set off for his car.

“Derek!”

His drenched figure froze and turned around slowly. The hood on his jacket served no purpose and sagged over his eyes. He tore it off, revealing his rage. His blue eyes pulsed with every heavy breath he blew out, droplets scattering across his mouth.

The soaked hoodie was plastered to his torso, and I couldn’t help ogling those muscles and broad chest.

“Eva, I’m sorry I was late. Clyde, that bastard had a fucking family emergency. And what kind of name is Clyde anyway?” He pushed his hair back, away from his forehead, hands over his scalp out of frustration. “So I tried to do this all myself, and it was fucking hell. Took me all day. And that goddamn Deimos got into your lunch.” Derek clenched his fists as he explained how he nearly dropped him off at the pound.

He was in a full-blown tirade, yet I’d stopped listening. My thoughts focused on what he’d said earlier.

The chef couldn’t make it, so he decided to prepare the meals himself.

Tears sprung to my eyes. He’d spent all day determined to make this sweet gesture for me, and it all went to hell in the rain. My chest swelled with love and adoration, and for the first time since finding out the truth, my brain and my heart had finally synced.

“Derek,” I whispered, my voice lost in the downpour. I tried again, but he was still venting and asking for forgiveness.

I shut my eyes and inhaled a deep breath, preparing myself for what I was about to do, for the decision I knew I couldn’t take back.

I darted off the porch and into the rain, stopping a few feet in front of him.

“Eva, what are you doing? Get back inside.”

“Is it true… what you said?” Hair stuck to the sides of my face as I squinted through the rain and strong winds.

“Eva, please. We can talk inside.”

Ignoring him, I pressed on. “Answer me. Right here, right now. Do you love me, Derek? Would you wait for me as long as it takes?”

His jaw tensed, stormy eyes cutting through me. “I love you so goddamn much. And you’re mine. Every part of you is mine, so I’ll wait for you forever.”

I hugged my body and lowered my head, my tears mixing with the rain as they slid down my face.

“I don’t want you to,” I said, my voice piercing through the storm. I looked into his eyes, and even against the downpour, I knew they were glistening with tears and emotions I’d never seen from him.

“Angel, please.” His voice was thick, desperate.

“I don’t… I don’t want you to wait for me, Derek. I want you to take what’s yours right now.”

He stilled, as if processing my words or making sure he heard exactly what I’d said. For that moment in time, it was as if nothing and no one existed but us. Even the storm had faded into the background. It was just me and Derek, eyes on one another, afraid to blink away the droplets for fear the other would disappear.

A broad smile split his face, and we made a run for each other at the same time. I leaped into his arms, my legs circling his waist as he held me tightly to his chest.

“Baby, I’m so sorry.”

“Stop apologizing and fucking kiss me already.”