MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter Eighty-Two: The Depths of Us
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The night was quiet when Keifer found her.
Jay was standing in their bedroom, her back to the door, her hands at her sides. She was wearing one of his shirts, the fabric falling loose around her thighs, her hair loose down her back. The window was open. The curtains were moving. The moonlight was silver on her skin.
She didn't turn when he walked in. She didn't need to. She knew his footsteps. She knew his breathing. She knew the way he closed the door behind him, the way his hands found her shoulders, the way his lips found her neck.
"You're thinking," he said.
She leaned back against him. His chest was warm. His arms were around her waist. His lips were on her skin.
"I'm always thinking," she said.
He turned her to face him. His hands were on her face. His eyes were dark. The moonlight was behind him, silver and gold, making him look like something from a dream.
"Then stop thinking," he said.
She looked at him. The enemy. The stranger. The man she had married. The man she loved. The man who had been her husband for three years. The man who was her home.
"I don't want to stop thinking," she said. "I want to think about you. About us. About this. About—"
He kissed her.
It was not soft. It was not slow. It was the kiss of a man who had been waiting all day. All week. All year. All his life. His hands were in her hair. His body was against hers. Her back was against the wall. The moonlight was on her face.
She kissed him back. Her hands were on his chest. His shirt was soft. His skin was warm. His heart was pounding.
He pulled back. His forehead was against hers. His breathing was fast. "I love you."
She smiled. "I know."
He kissed her again. His hands were on her waist. Her hands were in his hair. He lifted her. Her legs went around him. Her back was against the wall. His body was against hers.
"Keifer," she said.
He looked at her. His eyes were dark. His lips were parted. His breathing was unsteady.
"I need you," she said.
He carried her to the bed. The moonlight was on the sheets. The curtains were moving. The night was quiet.
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He laid her down slowly. His hands were on her face. His lips were on her neck. Her hands were in his hair.
"Jay," he said. His voice was low. His voice was rough.
She looked at him. "Yes?"
He pulled back. His eyes were on hers. "I want to remember this. Every moment. Every breath. Every touch. I want to remember all of it."
She touched his face. Her fingers were light. Her eyes were steady. "Then remember."
He kissed her. Soft. Slow. A kiss that promised everything. A kiss that said he would never forget.
She kissed him back. Her hands were on his face. Her lips were on his.
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His hands were on her shirt. His fingers were slow. The fabric was soft. Her skin was warm.
"Keifer," she said.
He looked at her. "Yes?"
She pulled his shirt over his head. His skin was gold in the moonlight. The scars were white on his chest. The scar from Singapore. The scar from the warehouse. The scar from the bullet that was meant for her.
She touched them. Her fingers were light. Her eyes were steady.
"You saved me," she said.
He took her hand. "You saved me."
He kissed her fingers. One by one. Slow. Soft. A kiss for each finger. A kiss for each scar. A kiss for each memory.
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He pulled the shirt over her head. The moonlight was on her skin. The scars were white on her body. The scar from the street. The scar from the warehouse. The scar from the bullet that was meant for him.
He touched them. His fingers were light. His lips followed.
"You saved me," she said.
He looked at her. His eyes were dark. "You saved me."
She pulled him close. Her arms were around him. Her body was against his. Her lips were on his.
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The night was quiet. The moonlight was silver. The curtains were moving. The sheets were soft.
He moved against her. Slow. Steady. A rhythm that was older than time. A rhythm that was theirs.
"Jay," he said.
She looked at him. Her eyes were bright. Her lips were parted.
"I love you," he said.
She pulled him close. Her arms were around him. Her legs were around him. Her body was against his.
"I love you too," she said.
He kissed her. Soft. Slow. A kiss that promised forever.
She kissed him back.
---
The hours passed.
The moon moved across the sky. The curtains were still. The night was quiet. Jay lay in Keifer's arms, her head on his chest, his heart beating beneath her ear.
"You're thinking," he said.
She smiled. "I'm always thinking."
He kissed her hair. "What are you thinking about?"
She looked at the window. At the moon. At the stars. "I'm thinking about the garden. About the mud. About the Ferris wheel. About the contract. About the day you put the ring back on my finger."
He pulled her closer. "I'm thinking about the day you took a bullet for me."
She touched his face. "I would do it again."
He kissed her hand. "I wouldn't let you."
She smiled. "You don't have a choice."
He rolled her onto her back. His body was above hers. His face was close. His eyes were dark.
"Keifer," she said.
He kissed her neck. Her shoulder. Her collarbone.
"I love you," he said.
She pulled him close. "Show me."
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The moon was setting when they finally slept.
Jay was in his arms, her face against his chest, her breathing slow. Keifer was awake. He was watching her. The moonlight was on her face. Her lips were parted. Her hands were on his skin.
He touched her face. His fingers were light. Her skin was warm.
"I love you," he said.
She smiled. Her eyes were still closed. "I know."
He laughed. It was a soft sound. "You always know."
She opened her eyes. They were bright. "I always know."
He kissed her forehead. "Sleep."
She closed her eyes. "You sleep."
He smiled. "I'm watching you."
She pulled him closer. "Then watch."
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The sun was rising when Jay opened her eyes.
Keifer was beside her. His arm was around her. His face was close. His eyes were open.
"You're staring," she said.
He smiled. "I'm observing."
She laughed. "Same thing."
He kissed her. Soft. Slow. A morning kiss. The kind of kiss that said he would never leave. The kind of kiss that said she was home.
She kissed him back.
---
The house was waking.
Percy was in the kitchen. Honey was beside him. Aries and Ella were at the table. Lyra was in her corner, Alex beside her. Care was with Cole. Rakki was with Ci N. Mica was with Calix. Freya was with Erdix. Grace was with Denzel. Kuya Angelo was with Ion. Tita Gemma was with Tita Rachel.
Jay walked into the kitchen. Keifer was behind her. His hand was in hers.
Percy looked up. His face split into a grin. "You're late."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "We're not late."
Percy's grin widened. "You're late."
Honey elbowed him. "Leave them alone."
Percy laughed. "I'm just saying."
Jay walked to the counter. Keifer was beside her. His hand was on her back.
Percy watched them. His face was soft. "Three years," he said. "Three years and you're still like this."
Jay looked at Keifer. Keifer looked at her.
"Three more," Jay said.
Percy grinned. "Three more."
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END OF CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO