Hometown Hero

Chapter Eighteen: Everything

I wasn't scared.

I was terrified.

The door closed, and I wondered if he could hear my heart over the rain, because I swore it was shaking the house off it's foundation. I stood, watching him hide Lexy under an umbrella as he walked back to the door.

“Give me...” He kissed me, touching his hand that rested on Lexy's back “Just wait here.”

I nodded, and he walked up the stairs, down the hall, disappearing through the door. Part of me said follow him, but I needed to give him time with his daughter. I smiled to myself; I'd give him as long as he needed if she was the only 'other woman' in his life. I rocked on my heels while I tried to warm up, and grit my teeth to stop the chattering. Seeing Indie close the door behind him noiselessly, he walked down the stairs tentatively. It was too dark, but we were still able to find each other.

My hand found his hair, moving it away from his eyes.

His hands found the rest of me. His freezing fingers trailed over my skin, and I heard him speak.

“You're so cold.” He whispered, pressing his forehead against mine. I nodded, opened my eyes, and stared at the beauty in front of me.

Covered in rain, Indie looked unbelievable. Water trailed down his skin, beading on his long dark lashes, and making him tremble. I assigned my lips the job to warm him up.

My uncontrolable quivering vibrated through my teeth, and when they bit his lip, I hesitated. But he didn't mind. Pulling me against him, he backed me slowly toward the stairs.

I didn't think I could make it all the way up. My legs felt frozen, my jeans sticking like a second skin. Indie lifted me, my knees bracing his waist, and it was the first time I realized; he was suprisingly strong for someone so slender.

“Still a cliché?” He asked, laughing softly as I kissed the rain off his face. He backed against the bedroom doors, and I reached around, opening them slowly, which made him laugh. I buried my face in the curve of his neck, the delicious smell of his cologne and the rain making everything inside me warm up.

I don't know how we got from the doorway to the foot of the bed, but I didn't really care. All I knew was Indie stopped, and rested me just past the edge, separating us. I tried to catch my breath, but there was no point.

How easy it was for me to discard my clothes when I was this cold. I balled my shirt up, tossing it into the corner, and deciding. Deciding that whatever happened, from here on out, I'd do whatever I could to keep Indie as close to me as I could. As long as he wanted me, I'd be with him, next to him, wherever he was.

Watching him, there was so much I wanted. I wanted to make everything better, to make his pain go away. Even if it was just for a little while. I wanted it so badly. I kept kissing him, tearing up my bad thoughts and trying to rid myself of them.

“Dawson, Dawson.” His voice so soft, “I'm here. I'm right here. You don't have to cry, love.” I hadn't realized I had been. I touched my cheeks, Indie reaching for my wrist “We don't have to do this. If you want to stop, we'll stop.”

Damn him. Damn him and his perfect words and his empathetic nature that was so uncharacteristically genuine.

I kissed him, reaching and peeling his shirt away. His arms balling me against his chest, and I shivered. I wanted heat, my body felt so cold. Everything felt cold.

And of course, Indie did what he always did. He held me, giving me his warmth and never asking for anything in return.

“I'm nervous.” I admitted, “I'm scared.”