“That’s ironic. That’s today’s date.”
“It’s not weird. She asked for the specific room number.”
I don’t have time to process the meaning as I take the room key he offers and roll the cart down the hall. My main goal is getting to Presley.
Chapter 33
Presley
It’s over. I sigh in relief and drape across the bed, too drained to remove my shoes from my aching feet. The door clicks, and I assume Ace has returned with a bucket of ice.
“Thanks again, Ace. Help yourself to a drink.” I don’t even roll over to face him, but just close my eyes and try to remember exactly what I said tonight. The whole speech seems like a blur. The only thing I remember is the look on Finn’s face the one time I allowed myself to glance at him.
“Who the fuck is Ace?”
At the sound of his voice, I leap and scream at the same time, my pulse racing. “Finn?”
“Expecting someone? Someone named Ace?” The muscle in his jaw ticks as he stares at me.
“Yes, he was getting me some ice. My feet hurt.”
His eyes rake down my legs to my feet and then back up, landing on my face. He steps from behind the service cart and stalks to me.
I’m frozen in place until, suddenly, he’s in front of me. The heat and intensity in his gaze sends a chill down my spine. His usually crystal blue eyes have deepened into a sea-blue and are swirling with emotion.
One of his hands grips my hip as the other glides over my shoulder, up my neck, and cups the back of my head, urging me forward. He runs his thumb along my jawline and tilts my face to his. Confusion fires off in my brain with his act of intimacy.
“W-w-what are you doing?” I stutter.
“This shit ends tonight. I’m sorry I was an ass earlier. There is no excuse for my behavior. I blame it on self-preservation. Seeing you tonight hurt a thousand times more than taking a bullet. When you b
rushed your lips across mine and walked away, the finality of the situation set in. I came after you, but I was too late. My heart and head were in a raging battle to find you and drag you back to that bathroom, so I could tell you that you are the most wonderful thing in my life. It’s not the other way around. Letting that moment slip by, and you walking away, was the biggest mistake of my life.
“When you entered that room tonight, emotions washed over me I’d never experienced before. If I could have gotten to you without making an ass of myself, I’d have been by your side. I physically had to restrain myself to my seat. Hearing your story crumbled the last bit of restraint. No more pride, no more misery, it was over.”
“Do you forgive me?” My voice quavers.
“Forgive you? It’s me who should be asking your forgiveness. You tried to reach out to me, and I ignored you. I’ll never forgive myself. I didn’t throw away your letters or delete your texts. It was too hard to look at them, but I knew one day I’d need to. So I lied to you.
“Right here, right now, I’m telling you that I love you more than you can ever imagine. My heart belongs to you forever. Tell me you forgive me.”
I let out an anguished cry and throw my arms around his shoulders, shaking as I sob with happiness and relief. “Of course, you—”
I don’t get to finish my sentence because his mouth crashes against mine, his tongue slipping between my lips. I whimper at the invasion, then meet him stroke for stroke. My chest quakes against his as I continue to cry while pouring weeks of pent up frustration and heartbreak into the kiss.
The faint taste of whiskey fills my taste buds, and I press closer, flexing my hands at the base of his scalp. Goosebumps run up my arms and neck as my blood starts to boil with need. I grow dizzy but don’t dare pull away.
The salt of my tears leaks through our lips and coats both our cheeks. He deepens the kiss, his hand on my waist sliding down to grip my ass, and rocks his hips into mine. The thick bulge in his pants hits my pelvic bone, and I moan, grinding against him.
The slam of the door and loud clearing of a throat jolts me out of my haze, and Finn growls, tearing his mouth away from mine.
“What?”
Poor Ace is looking at us with wide eyes and his jaw hanging open. I can only imagine what we looked like when he walked in.
“Um, here’s your ice, Presley. I had to go to a few different floors.”
“Thanks, Ace,” I manage to say before hiding my face in Finn’s neck.