It's Not That Easy

Chapter 22 - Overwhelmed

And you know, when you've experienced grace and you feel like you've been forgiven, you're a lot more forgiving of other people. You're a lot more gracious to others. - Rick Warren

Chapter 22 - Overwhelmed

Addy's POV:

Ma per la grazia di dio.

He doesn't make any attempt for his shirt, and I am left sitting staring a hole through his clothing, trying to see if my guess is correct. "I can't believe you did that," I can't get my eyes off of his chest. "I don't know if I should hit you or hug you."

"If it's ok with you, I like the second option." He attempts to joke, but I'm not ready to joke about this, yet.

"Why did you put that puzzle in front of me, and not give me a warning?" I'm completely caught off guard. As soon as the words tripped out of Helen's mouth, I knew what Edward had done, but I sat there waiting for dinner to be over so we could talk...

This piece of inked flesh has fascinated me since the first time I saw it this past summer. I've traced it, I've toyed with it, I've kissed it, I've licked it...and I love it. It's a part of this man I adore. This hidden puzzle that means something to him, something that has defined him enough to make it a permanent part of his body.

"I don't want to have this conversation right here on the front porch. Can we go somewhere? Even if it's just inside to another room?" He asks and I nod.

He reaches out his hand for mine, and I stand and kiss his chest. He lets out a breath that he had been holding. "Good, for a minute you had me worried."

The sound of the table being cleaned off is in the distance as we walk down the hallway from the front door. He squeezes my hand and tells me he loves me, and he doesn't take his eyes off my face.

When we get to guest room, I lock to the door. "Before we talk, I need to know we're ok." He says to me.

"We are," barely escapes my mouth and he is on me, kissing me like he did earlier when we were in the river. It's slow, methodical, and sexy as hell. My heart is overflowing, and I've never felt so cherished.

I go for his buttons, and he watches me as I watch my progress. With one shirt on the floor, I pull his t-shirt over his head and examine the intricate details of my knot and me written on his chest. My finger traces each word, and I blink to clear my eyes of water.

"As soon as I heard Helen say the words, I knew. I just knew. You put me on your chest." I touch one of his words. "This is me." He doesn't have to say a word, because I know it's true. He nods anyway and lets me continue tracing. "Why?"

Edward's POV:

"You are the embodiment the most redeeming word I know." She looks up at my face not understanding what I mean. "It means mercy, forgiveness, kindness, and love. What's more redeeming than that?" My thumb rubs circles on her cheek, but I don't block her view of my tattoo.

"But, you're right, when you say it's you, because it also means beauty, dignity, elegance, and charm." She looks up at me, still holding back tears. "Addyson, all of that is Grace. All of that is you."

She stares back at my chest, following the pattern around with her eyes. "But why?"

"I wanted to keep a part of you with me, forever."

"What if..."

"You're the first person to figure it out. I'm quite sure no one else cared enough to know. It could have been secret forever." It's surprising how little, people are curious when they know the relationship has a time limit.