Rise: Populations Crumble, Book 2 by Gandy, A. (read book .txt) 📕

I have left—I want it to be with you. You have turned my whole world on its end, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. When I wake up next to you in the morning, I feel like the luckiest man on this earth, and when I fall asleep next to you, it’s with a smile on my face. I don’t want to pull you into a political life you don’t want. But I want you, and I’ll do anything it takes to keep you by my side.” His voice rings with sincerity.

Tears brim over, and I can’t stop them. I suck in a gasping breath, so overwhelmed by his words that I don’t even know how to respond.

“Hey, hey, please don’t cry. I don’t ever want to make you cry, my love.” He swipes at the tears trailing down with his thumbs, and then plants a kiss on my cheekbone. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way, this is still new between us.”

My heart wrenches at that, and I finally find my tongue. “That’s not it. I—” The tears are coming faster now, but I fight through it to tell him what’s in my heart. “I want to be all in, too. I want you, too. I—I love you, too.”

The biggest smile I’ve ever seen crosses his face, and his joy shines so brightly that he eclipses the sunshine on this cloudless day.

“You love me, too?” He kisses my forehead and wraps both arms around me, pulling me against his chest so tightly I can barely breathe.

That gets a laugh out of me. “Patrick, I need some air, please.”

He chuckles and loosens his grip but doesn’t let me go. I go up on my tiptoes and press a kiss firmly to his lips. I can tell he’s surprised, probably since I was crying. The tears have dried now, though, and I’ve got something else on my mind. I wrap my hands around his lower back, and pull him in tightly this time.

He kisses me back with matching fire, and I feel a rush of tingles from my head to my toes. One of his hands wanders up and threads into my hair, and I turn my head to deepen the kiss. We stay locked together like that for a long moment before he pulls back, a regretful look on his face.

My chest is heaving, heart pounding like a drum. “What’s wrong?”

“I know we need to stop; I don’t want to push you. I am so, so grateful you’ve given me a chance.” He gives my arm a light squeeze.

I step forward again, invading his personal space, and put both hands on his warm chest. “I don’t want to stop. I want you to kiss me again.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Are you sure? We’re in the middle of nowhere, and we can take our time. There’s no rush.”

I pull his face down to mine, and kiss him again, letting my actions speak. He threads one hand back into my hair, and shrugs the pack off of his shoulder before gripping my waist tightly with his other hand. A few more heated moments pass in a blissful blur before he pulls away with a groan.

“Sadie, I need to stop. If we don’t stop, I’m going to want to take things further—and our first time shouldn’t be out here in the woods with nothing but a picnic blanket.” He gestures to the beautifully colored trees lining the quiet path.

“You’re wrong.” My voice is quiet but firm. “This is better. It’s just you and I; no politics, no pressure, no blinking resort lights or cha-cha alarms. You and me, as we are right now.”

His eyes darken as I tell him what I’m thinking. He grips my hip again, and a thrill shoots through me at the possessive touch. “Are you one hundred percent sure? This is what you want, right here, right now?”

I step back into his chest, and slip my hands under the hem of his t-shirt. He sucks in a breath, but doesn’t move. He’s going to make me say it.

“I’m sure.”

The fire in his eyes makes me forget the cold, forget everything but him in this all-consuming moment.

Friends in Low Places

Three days later I’m settled in the chaise lounge in our room, a throw blanket in my lap and a cup of fresh cocoa from Patrick in my hands to ward off the chill as night falls. Life with Patrick is beyond anything I expected coming into this program. I was afraid I’d get matched with someone who was my opposite, who I clashed with, who I couldn’t come to love and respect. Patrick is my opposite in many ways, sure. But, I have already developed so much appreciation for his kindness, determination, and the fact that he’s down to earth. If I didn’t know better, I would still believe he was Patrick the NLC guard, nice guy on an average path.

At first, I thought who his family is detracted from his ability to be a good fit for me as a husband; but as time goes on, I see how well we fit. It is even more amazing to me that he is so real, so him, despite the pressure and attention he’s fought off for years with his father’s job. Hopefully Teddy will see it that way too. Eventually.

A rock settles in my gut. The way things unfolded with Teddy is something I regret deeply. I’ve started and crumpled at least ten letters to him, since they left for home. I am going to write it tonight. Whatever comes out, I’m sending it, no matter what. I let my own embarrassment get in the way of honesty, and that’s not something that’s ever happened to me before.

I set the blue-patterned mug down, and pick up my pen again.

Teddy,

I am so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about Patrick. The truth is, I was ashamed. When I left home, everyone was so supportive and so