“How could I not?” he asked, dragging her up to stand betweenhis knees. “That’s when I realized I had a purpose again. Becky,you give me reason to live.”
Unable toresist, she grabbed hold of his face and pressed their foreheadstogether. “Sweet Kelley. You take such good care of me. I wouldhave been all alone in the world had I not met you.”
“Love, you are the sweetest thing, a gift from above. My littlefairy princess. If you hadn’t come into my life when youdid…”
“Stop.”
“It’s true. I thought I was getting better but I wasn’t. Evenwith Crispin and Dorian around, while they helped, I still couldn’tsee the forest for the trees. It’s when you came along and gave mea reason to live did I finally start coming around, as much as Ifought it at first.”
“But ever since I met you, all I’ve done is take from you,” shelamented. “I’ve been nothing but a needy mess, more of a burdenthan anything. Here you were suffering in silence.”
“Love, it was that very neediness that helped me most. You see,while I fought it at first, by looking after you, I realized I wasnot as selfish as I had believed. By helping you, I helped myself.Do you understand?”
“I think so. You’re not selfish in the least. You’ve beennothing but generous and kind.”
“Because of you.”
“You really think so?”
“It’s true, Crispin pointed it out when I couldn’t see it formyself.”
“Crispin…”
“Yes, Crispin, sometimes he can be quite sharp,” Kell said witha smile. “He was the one who pointed it all out to me. And he’sabsolutely right.”
“Maybe, but I think it was always in you. Just hiddenunderneath all that broody Gothness you wear so well.”
“When I first realized the truth, that I was in love with you,I was scared shitless. I didn’t think I deserved you. I thought Iwould only disappoint you or let you down. I was afraid if I hurtyou that you’d leave, ripping my heart out in theprocess.”
“That’s silly, Kelley. You’re the best thing that could havehappened to me.”
“We’re good together, I realize that now.” He leaned in andkissed her. “We were meant to find each other. It was fate thatsent me crashing into you that day. Fate brought us together.Becky, you’re a gift from God. I’ll never let you go. I’ll nevergive you a reason to leave.”
“Such a romantic Goth,” she sputtered, overwhelmed. “I loveyou, Kelley.”
“I love you too, Becky.”
***
Following theirvisit to the Keele family headstone, Becky asked if they couldvisit her granny’s niche. After a brief stop at a flower shop, theydid just that. It wasn’t exactly the way Kell had imagined spendingNew Year’s Eve but it was for them where they needed to be.
“Got it?” he asked, having hoisted her up to reach the vasewhere she hung the tiny wreath.
“Yes, thanks to you,” Becky said, again grateful to have him ather side. Her granny’s niche was at the very top of the structure.She would never have reached it on her own.
Placing Beckydown on her feet, he stood quietly behind her, allowing her amoment with her thoughts. Every now and then, he had to forcehimself from taking hold of her. Being witness to her tears wasnothing short of pure torture. But in his heart, he realized sheneeded this moment alone with her memories.
Sweet Becky… she too had lost so muchin her young life, suffered so much sadness of her own. Yet thething was, she still had hope in her heart. He had recognized itfrom the day he crashed into her, to the night she showed up on hisfront door and begged him, with those big green eyes, to let herstay. Hope is what drew him to her, compelled him. It called tohim. And if anything ever threatened to shake it from her, he woulddo whatever necessary to crush those doubts and keep hopealive.
“Ready, love?” He took her hand when she turned to him. Whenall she could do to keep from falling apart was nod, he tugged herin close for a much-needed hug.
“Let’s get out of here, Kelley.”
“Now, I want nothing but smiles for the rest of our stay,” hesaid, taking her hand.
“Me too for you,” she agreed, putting on a braveface.
“Deal.”
Chapter 52
Becky and Kellspent the remainder of New Year’s Eve celebrating the event amongstthe multitudes of people crowding Nathan Phillips Square. A giantbandshell was set up for the festivities and many bands were linedup to perform. While it was standing room only, Kell, looking theway he did, had no problem intimidating everyone on his way to thefront of the stage.
“Such a scary Goth,” Becky teased, staring up at him from thefortress of his arms. “If only they knew the truth.”
“They do. I am scary. Only you don’t get that.” He cracked asmile at her.
“Is that right?” she challenged, taking a moment to look at himthrough everyone else’s eyes. Indeed, he was scary and intimidatingin his militia inspired goth gear, his features cold and hard. Withthat scowl on his face, she could understand why he had easily cutthrough the crowd. To the outside world, he was quite the force tobe reckoned with. But she knew better. To her, he was Kelley, sweetmisunderstood gothy goodness all wrapped up in one gloriouspackage. Best of all, he was hers and she was glad forthat.
“Shut up, you, and enjoy the show,” he said with a devilishwink.
After a nightof festivities, followed by countless romps of shameless sexaction, Becky woke up feeling incredibly awesome if not a wee bitsore in certain areas of her body. She turned on her side andopened one eye to find the cause of that delicious ache staringback at her with an equally euphoric look on his face.
Such abeautiful creature, he was. Those red streaks of hair framing thatgorgeous face. It shouldn’t be allowed, really. For a man to be sobeautiful. It was a good thing he had that hard edge to balance himout, to keep others at a distance in
