Chapter 117
472 Words
She stirred in his arms now, made a soft sound in her throat. He kissed her eyelids and she smiled, opened them up slowly.
“Good morning,” Dallas said, his voice husky with emotion.
“Hi,” she said. “You were watching me sleep?”
“You know it.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “You’re so beautiful, baby.”
She searched his eyes, and she saw that he was telling her the truth. Tears slid down her cheeks as the miracle of that truth just washed over her, overwhelmed her with its sweetness.
“I love you, Olivia.” He kissed her, then gently wiped the tears with his thumbs. “More than I can ever say.”
“I love you too.” Her voice trembled, and he pulled her closer. They lay quietly for a few minutes, just listening to each other breathe, loving the closeness and warmth between them.
“Hey,” he said suddenly. “It’s Christmas in a couple of weeks…”
She propped herself up on one arm, and gazed at his handsome face. “It is indeed. You got any plans?”
“No. Jim and Chris are off back home, and Dean’s going to California with Emma. I was just going to go to Mark’s place, maybe. What are you doing? Your Mom’s here, right, so I guess you’ll be with her?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Mom and I are going to spend the day at the shelter in Parker, with the families.” She traced his muscled chest under his t-shirt. “Maybe you want to join us?”
He blinked. “I thought that having a man go in was a bad idea…”
She smiled and he gazed at her, amazed at how bright and brilliant she was. “Not the man who saved my life. They know all about you, and you’re officially invited.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Then I’d love to come and meet them. I’m glad they’ll have me.”
She kissed him now and he responded, his hands in her hair, his legs intertwined with hers, his huge body protecting and encircling her smaller one. He murmured that he loved her, that she was the strongest, most amazing woman that he’d ever known.
And that was the moment when Olivia really knew that when she was ready to make love to Dallas, she’d look into his eyes and have no doubt whatsoever that for him, she was truly beautiful – inside and out.
Dallas would look at her naked body and he’d crave and kiss every single inch of it… he’d run his hands and lips over it, and she’d feel like the most desirable, sexiest, most stunning woman in the whole world.
Scars and all.
- Writer
