Love Beyond Words

by Dani René

  I may come back one day, but I need time to think, time away from all the mistakes I’ve made. So with these final words, I want you to know how much I love you. The one thing I want you to remember is that you are worthy of love.

  Your life is now your own. This is the only thing I can give you, Heath. Freedom. It’s the only thing I can offer you and after all these years it’s the only thing I know you’ll cherish because you were robbed of it.

  You’re a special man. I want you to dig deep, look inside yourself, find the heart that you buried when Callie died. Once you find it, I want you to unlock it from the cage you’ve been keeping it in and release it. Give it to a woman who will treasure it. Someone who will in turn give you hers. Never forsake or take someone’s love for granted, it’s a gift worth more than all the money in the world.

  Remember son, love with your eyes closed. Because all you need is to feel.

  Love always,

  Mom

  Leah grabs the letter from my shaking hand and folds it up neatly. Slipping it back into the envelope, she cups my face and stares at me. “Heath, I came back here because I need you. I ran because I was confused, hurt, and angry. I should have listened to you. I’ve been around so many people in my life that haven’t been honest and given me their all. This letter just proves your innocence. You didn’t deserve being in that place, and now that you’ve got your life back, let me in. Let me be your life.” Her lips hover over mine for only a moment before I grasp her face and pull her mouth against mine in a bruising kiss.

  All the sadness, anger, frustration, everything that’s been weighing me down dissolves and there’s only me and her. Nothing else. We’re just two people with one soul. Two hearts beating at one rhythm.

  When he breaks the kiss, I look into those dark pools that hold so many varying emotions and all I want to do is make the pain disappear. “Heath, there are things we need to work through. I want this, you. When I left I spent time thinking and there’s nothing more I want to do than fight for us. I’m in love with you, I always have been.” He regards me with so much emotion it leaves me breathless.

  “Baby, I’ve been waiting so long to hear you say that, to mean it. I did two jobs for your father, or...now... actually my father. I never knew who you were when we first started communicating and somehow I don’t think he did either. Maybe after a while he found out, but I didn’t realize that I was writing to his daughter.” The door opens and my mom walks in, a small smile on her face when she takes us in.

  “You two make a lovely couple, you know. I didn’t think you’d actually meet after all these years, coincidence is a strange thing. To see you, Heath, a grown man now, in love with my daughter makes me happy. I remember seeing you a few times when I met with your mom. She was a beautiful woman, inside and out. I never knew why she ever associated with Martin, but sometimes the heart wants bad things.” She slips into the chair opposite us and fidgets with a ring on her right hand.

  “Mrs. Keller, I don’t know how to thank you for bringing this letter. Have you seen her? My mom.” She nods and stares at the table.

  “I did, I took her to the airport. While you and Leah were here, we got together and knew we had to do something. After Ronan found out where you were, he was planning to do much worse. After Leah left, he had a private investigator try to find her. It took time, but I overheard him talking with your father and they were going to come here and mess up the tranquil home you’ve built.”

  “Mom, how did you know that I was writing to Heath?” My curiosity is at an all-time high and I have so many questions, but this is the one that’s been nagging at me.

  “I knew where he was imprisoned. When you chose his number and I found out, I was shocked. It was strange how fate stepped in and aligned your paths. That I had nothing to do with, but as your letters became more frequent, I realized that you had fallen in love with him. Even though you were a young girl and perhaps wouldn’t realize it until later.”

  “That’s why you told me not to settle, to find the man who I could be myself with. The conversation in the library that day. I remember it like it was yesterday. You weren’t in love with Martin and you knew I wasn’t in love with Ronan. You warned me.”

  She nods with a wry smile. It’s as if someone was writing a story of my life and added in a twist and turn at every corner. I feel as if I’ve been on a roller coaster, but now, I want to get off. It’s time for me to find my own way. To take a slow, meandering ride. “I tried to tell you, but I was afraid. You were always so outspoken and I knew if I told you about your real father that you’d do something silly and get hurt. Now you’re a grown woman with a level head and I know you’ll take what I’ve told you and not do anything brash. Jonathan, your father, he’s a good man. He would have looked after us, but I was too scared to take you and run. It turns out now that I’m finally free of the Keller name, I can find my own way too. And I plan on doing just that. I drew up the paperwork so that he couldn’t refuse the divorce. I don’t want anything that man has to offer. Surprisingly, he let me go without a fight. I suppose all these years of living in an unhappy marriage has finally affected him.”

  Her gaze settles on me and Heath and I wait. This is it, I can finally meet my real father. I’m awash with excitement, nerves, and anticipation because I want to see the man who is part of me. “Are you going to find him?” She nods. Heath strokes my arm gently and it calms me, it’s as if he knew I needed it. He reads me like a book. His own personal diary. His sunshine.

  “Yes, I’m going to meet him in town and we’ll talk. He might want to meet you, but that’s up to you. I’ve booked into the bed and breakfast on the main road and I’ll be there for five days before I head to Chicago. If you have time, we can do something together, or I can come up here and spend time with you both.” I nod, pushing up off Heath’s lap, I walk to my mom and pull her into a hug. She feels so small, frail almost.

  A woman who’s endured so much, but still has the strength to love. She reminds me of myself. I glance at the man who now holds every part of me in his strong hands and I know I’m safe. He offers me a grin that melts my heart and ignites a need deep inside me. An ache to be with him.

  I break the hug and regard my mom. “Heath can take you into town. We’ve got the truck.” She nods and I can see she’s exhausted. “We’ll pick you up for dinner at about six. I’ll cook.”

  “Sounds great. Thank you, Leah.” With that, we head outside and I watch the red truck head down the drive. I glance around the ranch that’s given me a second chance and I take a deep breath. Since I can remember I’ve always had to make sure I act a certain way, or dress a particular way, but now, all I am is me. The only thing expected of me is to be myself. And that is something I can do.

  I lean back in the warm, bubbly water and close my eyes, remembering my mom’s face last night at dinner. My heart aches that she’s gone, but I know she had to go chase her dreams.

  “Leah, I’m so happy you’ve found a good man. One that will care for you and love you.” Her hand squeezes mine and the tears blur my vision. We’ve had a long, rocky road, but as I look at her now I know she’s happy for me. Truly happy.

  “Thank you, Mom. He’s amazing. I wish you didn’t have to go.” She’s leaving tomorrow. I’ve just now got her back, and she’s heading off. But she needs her own happiness. I just hope my father is good to her. My real father. “Do you think he’ll ever want to meet me?”

  “He does, you tell me when you’re ready and we’ll come visit. Okay?” I nod.

  “I’d like that. To have both my parents here.” And I would. I’m not lying to her or telling her that because I want her to be happy. To be able to meet my real father would be strange, but I’d like to see where I come from. The ache to look into his eyes, to know that he’s the one who is part of me, or I’m part of him, that’s what I’d like.

  “Sunshine, are you in here?” Heath’s deep rumble comes from the bedroom and I slosh water onto the floor as
I sit up.

  “I’m in the bath,” I call out to him and when he steps into the doorway, his large frame fills the space. Dark eyes rake me in and I notice the smirk curling his lips.

  “Now this I can get used to.” He pulls off his T-shirt and unbuckles his belt. “Mind if I join you?” I shake my head with a giggle.

  “As long as you wash my back, I don’t mind.”

  “Oh darlin’ I’ll do more than wash your back. I’ll make sure your whole body is clean, then I’ll have to dirty you up again.” He gives me a cocky wink as he steps out of his faded blue jeans. The man is incredible. For someone hitting forty to look this good is astonishing. His torso is tanned from working outdoors. Strong arms and a beautifully toned stomach, with a lickable V pointing to his thick, hard cock. Muscular thighs that have me licking my lips. Everything about him screams raw, primal sex. “Like what you see there, Sunshine?” he quips with amusement.

  “Oh, I do, very much so.” With another rake of my gaze over him, I lie back and trace slow circles around my nipples.

  “Jesus, baby, you’ve got me so fucking hard. Come here.” With a swift tug, I’m out of the bath with my legs wrapped around Heath’s waist. The bubbles and water drip onto the tiled floor as it squelches between us. I can’t stop the giggle that falls from my lips. The crown of his cock nudges me and I lean in to kiss his lips as he lowers me onto his thick erection.

  This man fills me like I’ve never felt before. “Heath…” His name on a moan is enough to drive him mad because he steps into the bedroom and lowers me onto the bed without breaking our connection. A roll of his hips has me bucking mine against him, matching him stroke for stroke. “Oh, God, that… Heath… please…” Each drive into me knocks me breathless and I can’t form coherent sentences.

  “Look at me, Leah. I need your eyes on mine. I need you to see my soul.” When our gazes lock I feel the heat of him, our hearts are tethered with an unbreakable rope and I know this man is my forever, my happily ever after.

  It took us years to get here, but it’s the only place I want to be. “I love you, Heath, more than words.” Twining my hands around his neck, I pull him down and our lips feather against each other.

  Before he kisses me, he whispers. “I love you with my eyes closed, I love you beyond every word or letter I ever wrote. I love you because you’re my Sunshine, and I can’t live through another cloudy day.” Tears prickle my eyes and he becomes blurry as I fall even deeper for a man who gave me my own life. He gave me freedom when he had none, and now I vow that I’ll give it back to him every single day of forever.

  Our bodies move faster as I feel an orgasm coiling and tightening, then something deep in my core tugs and pulls at me. “Oh!” My toes curl as my body pulses around him, his thick cock plunges, drives, and thrusts. Faster, deeper, and harder.

  And suddenly I’m soaring amongst the clouds and all I see is him.

  His body locks, and he pulls me against him tighter than ever before. We’re so close it’s as if we’ve become one, molded into a single entity, and his release fills me. In that moment, I pray we’re always going to be this close.

  Opening my eyes, I find myself alone in bed and I shoot up. The room is quiet but there’s a faint sound coming from the doorway. I swing my legs over the bed and head to the entrance. Pulling open my bedroom door, I get a whiff of something that makes my stomach grumble.

  The music wafts up along with the amazing smell of what I can only guess is breakfast. As I pad down the stairs, I hear her. Leah is singing along to the first song we ever danced to, Blake Shelton’s “Sangria,” and it reminds me of our first kiss. She tasted so sweet, like an intoxicating mix of love and forever.

  She wiggles her ass as she sways to the song and I lean against the doorjamb, taking in the woman who gave me a chance. “I could wake up to this every morning,” I rumble, startling her as she spins on the ball of her foot like a ballerina.

  “Good morning, handsome.” She runs up to me and jumps into my arms. Her playfulness has me chuckling. After spending most of last night inside her, I can’t believe I’m growing hard just having her in my arms. “Is someone needing attention?” She giggles.

  “Darlin’ if you keep wiggling against me, I’m going to fuck you right here on this table,” I growl, but it only makes her rub herself against me even more.

  Her golden waves frame her angelic face and those honey colored eyes shimmer with mischief. “Promises, promises,” she counters and I lift her up and place her on the wooden table. Without asking, I tug her panties and shorts down her slender legs. Trailing my hands up her thighs, I push them open and find heaven.

  Diving in, I lap at her core. Sweet, intoxicating, and delicious. This is a breakfast I could eat every day. Using my thumbs, I open her to my gaze and my tongue darts into her center.

  “Oh, Heath, God, yes.” Her fingers tangle in my hair, tugging and pulling my mouth against her. Her thighs clamp around my head and I know she’s close. With one finger, I slide into her tight pussy and I can’t stop the groan that falls from me. She’s hot and her body pulses around my digit. My cock throbs with the ache to be inside her.

  Before she comes, I pull my finger from her and lick it clean. Rising, I push my boxer briefs down and grip my erection. “This what you want, Sunshine?” She nods with a soft giggle and I drive into her. Deep and punishing. Her body bows off the table and my grip on her hips tightens as I thrust into the love of my life.

  She’s lost in pleasure and I can’t take my eyes off her. Soft, plump lips part as she whimpers. Her eyes flutter open and closed, I know she’s trying to focus on me but she’s lost. I reach between us, circle her clit and she cries out as her pussy clamps around me so hard I lose all control. For the first time since we’ve been together, I fuck her.

  Hard, fast, and deep. Her body trembles beneath me and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. “You’re all mine, Sunshine. Every inch of this perfect body.” Her moans echo around us, the room smells of sex, and I lose all control when she reaches between us and tightens her fingers on either side of my cock as I slam into her.

  “Yes!” Another orgasm hits her as I find mine and I seat myself so deep inside her, I’m sure she’ll feel me for days. “I guess that was breakfast.”

  I lift her off the table and help her slip her panties back on. “Definitely, now go make me something to eat woman,” I respond with a sharp spank on her ass.

  “Don’t order me around mister!” she retorts while wiggling her delicious ass. Chuckling, I join her in the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee.

  “I want to make you dinner tonight.” She stops and stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What?”

  With a shrug she regards me. “The last time we had dinner, it didn’t go so well. I want this to turn out better than the last.”

  We spent the afternoon at the riverside relaxing. It’s a day I’ll never forget. Leah in my arms, laughing, telling me about things she loves and hates, about her quirks that I’ll get to know over time, but mainly telling me that she’s finally happy.

  After spending all her life surrounded by obligations and rules, she’s now realizing that all she needs to be with me is herself. As the sun went down, we enjoyed the last of the sunlight before we came inside. Now, I’m finishing up dinner and I’ve got a plan to ask her to marry me. Only, I’m nervous as all hell. I don’t want to mess this up because it will be the first and last time I ever do this.

  I’ve told her to dress up because we’re celebrating. I’m wearing a pair of dark wash jeans and a black button up. It will be one of the few times in my life I’ll be wearing a dress shirt. The next time I’ll get dressed up is when I’m saying my vows.

  The table is set with two long white candles that illuminate the area giving it an ethereal feel. I’ve set placemats opposite each other, and there’s two glasses filled with red wine. I’ve roasted some vegetables, made honey glazed grilled chicken and even chunky fries. It’s not a romantic meal, b
ut that’s all I could find in the kitchen. “Wow.” I turn and my breath is caught in my throat.

  Leah is dressed in a knee-length, sky blue, flowing dress, which hugs her breasts and waist, but flares at her beautiful hips. Her ballet flats are white and contrast her smooth skin, which has a slight tan from being outdoors. Exquisite.

  Her long golden hair is straightened and she has a touch of lip-gloss, which shimmers under the low light. If I didn’t know any better, I would have said an angel just stepped down those stairs, because she’s living, breathing before me and I realize what a lucky fucking man I am.

  “You look amazing.” They’re the only words I can croak out. I feel like a teenage boy on his first date because I’m at a loss for words. “Sit.” I pull out a chair and she glides toward me. That’s what it looks like and I’m struck dumb. She slips into the seat and I turn to the stereo system.

  The music starts in the background and I join her at the table. “You’ve gone all out, haven’t you?” she questions and her face is alight with amusement and happiness. When Leah smiles it’s like the sun rising on the horizon. Blindingly beautiful. She breaks every rule of what a woman is.

  “I had to impress you, Sunshine.” I lift my glass and she lifts hers. Our eyes lock and I swallow the lump in my throat. Emotion tears at me, tugging at my heart and I realize if I don’t do this now, I’m going to chicken out and I don’t want to do that. I need her to know, to say yes, to give me one more thing. Her life.

  “Thank you, but you know that you don’t have to do anything to impress me. You’ve already stolen my heart. I’m yours, Heath.” The tears that glisten in her honey pools make my heart ache. Even though I know they’re tears of happiness, I never want to see her cry.