Page 83 of Too Far

Idon’trealizeI’mstill gripping the steering wheel with both hands until she’s at my side, peeling my fingers from it.

Wordlessly, she places my hands on her hips, then smooths over my jaw with her fingertips. Her pale blue eyes study me, inspect me, relieved but flooded with an overwhelming sense of dread.

There’s so much I want to say: Truths I want to share. Parts of my soul I’ll readily bare. Words I want her to hear every day.

Only moments ago, we were inches away from losing our shot at forever.

She brushes her hands over my neck, then holds me tight.

We’re both still too stunned to speak.

But I make sure she knows. I make sure she fucking feels it.

Gripping the back of her neck, I tilt her mouth to mine and kiss her hard. Claiming her. Forcing my tongue between her lips and caressing until she sighs.

She opens for me—my beautiful, responsive Jojo—and then she matches my intensity, as if sensing this is what we both need.

To feel alive. To restore our connection.

To take the hurt and the pain, the fear and terror of the last few minutes, and transform it into something good.

Something real fucking good.

I don’t back off, don’t even give her a chance to catch her breath as I kiss her harder, devouring her. I’ll swap out the fear for lust. Until every nerve in her body is on fire. She’ll feel me everywhere, and I’ll make this nightmare feel like nothing more than a bad dream.

A throat clears behind me. I ignore it. The sound comes again. Then again. Persistent motherfucker. Finally, I pull back.

But not before I tell her my truth.

“I love you. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you feel that. Always.”

It may not always be easy. I can’t promise her that.

I don’t even feel confident enough to swear I’ll always be able to keep her safe.

But showing up, staying true, loving hard?

That I can do.

And it’s exactly what I intend to do for the rest of our lives.

Chapter 35

Josephine

Astrangecalmhassettled over me. I’m barely shaking as Kendrick helps me off the boat.

The ground is soggy beneath my feet, making it hard to get traction. Eventually, we find more solid ground, though we have to dodge sharp rocks and stay mindful of the uneven earth.

Finally, we reach the more familiar pebbled beach.

Decker closes the distance. In a heartbeat, he’s in front of me.

I’m silent as I collapse into his arms.

With one hand at the back of my head and the other at my waist, he maneuvers me this way and that. First to look me over, then to hold me tight against his chest.

Like he never wants to let me go.