Bonnie unlocked her house and stepped in, carrying a big bag of groceries. Before she could finish locking the door behind her, David appeared beside her. He flashed her a smile that was difficult not to return.
“Everything okay?” she asked him.
He didn’t stop smiling. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“Well, you were almost at the door waiting for me”
“That’s because I missed you,” David replied.
Bonnie simply blushed and looked away from him.
“Let me help you with that” he said, but Bonnie moved out of his reach and headed for the kitchen. He followed her. “You don’t have to. Besides, your shoulder hasn’t healed fully”
“You know I’m not helpless, right?” he said behind her. “I’m just injured, and I have seen worse injuries.”
Bonnie dropped the bag and glared at him, “I’m sure you have. But like I said, your shoulder isn’t completely healed yet,” she said. “Don’t put so much stress on it for now. I can handle the bag, and while you are here, you will do exactly what I say.”
“Yes, ma’am” David said playfully and Bonnie smiled at him.
It had been just two days since they left the hospital, and after so much pleading, Bonnie had been able to convince David to come stay with her until he got better. She couldn’t bear the thought of him being alone at a time like this, even if he spent a lot of time trying to convince her that he would be fine on his own. He’d refused any medication beyond the tetanus shot for his wound, and since she couldn’t convince him to take anything else, she’d insisted that he come with her, which he thankfully agreed to.
David helped her put away the groceries, then followed her out of the kitchen to the living room. He took a seat, then gestured for her to join him. Even if they didn’t talk about it, they both knew there was an elephant in the room… there were things they still needed to talk about.
Bonnie crossed the room and sat beside him on the couch. She put her hands on his knees and squeezed. “Everything okay?” she asked.
She was instantly sorry she’d touched him, as heat streaked through her body. She’d been so concerned about him during the shooting and after but she couldn’t deny the chemistry that remained between them despite everything that had happened.
She didn’t want to push for a relationship even if that was what she wanted, but he had to be the one to make the move this time. It was very frustrating for her, because if not for this decision, she was sure that they would probably be in her bed, giving each other that intense pleasure they’d experienced on the boat. Oh, she missed those moments on the boat… when it was just the two of them and nothing else mattered. It was late now, though, the house was dark but for a few can lights in the coffered ceiling and if he didn’t say what she wanted to hear, she’d just go to bed and cry her stupid heart out.
“Yeah I’m fine,” David replied. “I just wanted to talk…and to start by telling you that I’m sorry”
“Why are you sorry?” Bonnie asked. Maybe he knew how she felt-about the heat rushing through her along with desire. Maybe he felt it, too.
David groaned inwardly. She wasn’t going to make this easy for him. “For pushing you away” he said as he avoided her gaze. I hurt you in the worst way possible. I refused to acknowledge the way that I felt about you because I was worried about you being in danger because of my job. But that’s not all of it. The truth is that I was also afraid because you made me vulnerable. You still do. You have me…. Every part of me… and the thought of letting someone have so much influence on me was new and scary…”
Bonnie squeezed his knees again, but she didn’t interrupt him. He was saying the very thing she’d wanted to hear for so long, and she wanted to remember every moment of it.
“I love you, Bonnie,” David continued, “I know you might not believe me because I’ve acted like such an asshole and I don’t blame you, but I need you to know that I do…. From the bottom of my heart. I planned to tell you before Jonathan grabbed you and when I found out that he had you, I went crazy. All I could think about was your safety…. And when he said you told him that you didn’t believe I’d come for you, I wanted to punch something. I made you feel that way. I made you think that I didn’t care when I fucking do, but there is no way that I wouldn’t have come for you. I love you, Bonnie…. And all I want to do from now on is love and protect you…. if you will let me.”
“Fuck, Bonnie, please say something” David added when she remained quiet. “Do you forgive me? Will you give me a chance to show you how I feel about you?”
Bonnie smiled up at him. She couldn’t stop her eyes from getting misty. “Of course,” she replied. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to hear you say. I love you too, David. With all of my heart, I do.”
David breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn’t resist the urge to tease her. “So are those tears of joy I see?” he asked playfully.
Bonnie glared at his teasing her even while her pulse quickened. It excited her. If they were kids, it was like he was pulling her pigtails, letting her know he liked her. Or maybe that was what she preferred to think.
He looked down at her hands on his knees and his body tensed while his topaz eyes darkened with desire.
He loved her, Bonnie couldn’t help replaying his words in her head. He loved her and he wanted her…. Like she wanted him…
“Are you alright?” he asked as he watched her.
Bonnie nodded. She was. For the first time in a long time, she was.
“I tried to stay focused… especially on the boat ” he said, “I kept telling myself not to get distracted.”
“You were distracted?”
“You know that I was,” he said. “It annoyed and excited me at the same time. Right from the moment I saw you…. To dancing with you…To kissing you and making love to you.” His voice lowered to a deep rumble in his chest. “I couldn’t stop wanting you… and even after I left, I thought about you every fucking day. I wanted to love you and be in bed with you every damn night.”