I peeked up at her; there was fear on her face. It matched how I felt. I shrugged. “How we got together, the lies, the betrayals…we doomed ourselves before we even started.” I felt the despair welling inside as I shook my head. “We love each other so much…and we don’t trust each other at all.” Push come to shove, we’d both feared the worst about each other, we’d both believed the worst about each other. It was so possible that we might hurt each other that it made the thought of us staying together seem…impossible. Where do we go from here?

Kiera didn’t object to my statement. She couldn’t. She knew it was true. Her eyes watered as she stared at me, as she contemplated the hopelessness of our future. Her breath became so fast it was erratic. She tossed her arms around me and squeezed with everything inside her. Panic in her voice, she squeaked out, “Don’t leave me.”

I wrapped my arms around her, her stress and my pain cinching around me tight. I can’t leave you. Not again. I’m not strong enough. “I won’t,” I told her. “I’m yours, Kiera, for as long as you want me.” I would never end it with her again. Even if…even if she did cheat on me. Next time, if there was a next time, it would be her choice to end things.

Pulling away, she cupped my cheek and frantically searched my eyes; I could feel them growing heavy with tears. “Forever, I want you forever,” she stated.

A tear rolled down my cheek as I stared at her. “I want that too, Kiera.” It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

She touched her lips to mine, wanting me, needing me. I tried to push out the desolation as I let my love for her consume me. She hadn’t betrayed me. I hadn’t betrayed her. Our fear of hurting, our fear of pain, that was what made us doubt, and the doubt was what made us not trust each other. But we could work on that. God, please let us be able to work on that. I needed her.

Kiera’s fingers tugged at the hem of my shirt, lifting it. I paused from her lips to pull it off. Her hands drifted down my stomach to my jeans. While I moved my mouth softly against hers, she unbuttoned my jeans, then carefully unzipped them. I kicked off my boots, then sat up a little, so I could take off the rest of my clothes. Kiera’s fingers explored my bare skin while I removed her shirt, her pants, and every last obstacle between us.