She stood in the dingy cell, unsure of how to respond or what to do. She wasn't accustomed to anyone being so honest about their feelings towards her. At least not in a positive way. She almost wished he had been angry, been enraged. That she could handle. But when it came to love, she was an outsider.
Nothing she told David had been a lie. She had tried to clear his name but Conrad intercepted. She had loved him deeply and desperately. And she had done what she needed to do to protect her children. And yet she felt like a liar, a fraud.
He promised he wasn't going to hurt her and she believed him, but when he wrapped his arms around her she felt her body stiffen. She wanted to embrace him; she wanted to feel herself crumble in his arms. She just didn't know how.
At the restaurant he confessed to his own sins. He had killed Conrad. She felt her eyes sting, the first time she let herself feel anything for her ex-husbands demise. She hated to admit it, but she missed Conrad. She may have even loved him. And David had taken him away in one foul swoop. Would anything stop him from doing the same to her? She listened silently as he explained the anger over the horrible things Conrad had said to their daughter. She knew David had a point, Conrad could easily drag her down with him. He had taken something from her to give her more. The way he promised that he would do anything for her sunk in. Her life was tattered and damaged; she knew she needed protection. For the first time since their reunion she reached over and grabbed his hand.
As they headed back to the van she grabbed him by the hand, leading him to the back of the van. She hadn't noticed the blanket before. He had laid a blanket down before lying her down. She was touched by the gesture although her brain reminded her of being drugged and abducted before such a kind gesture. She didn't trust her words quite yet so she remained silent.
She couldn't deny the emotions he had stirred up in her but she didn't know what to do. With men like Conrad and Pascal love was a power play. She held out until they proved their love. They had to work to gain her affection. David, on the other hand was different. David didn't win her over 20 years ago. It was instantaneous. She knew it and he knew it. Trying to rekindle that relationship she unzipped his pants, excited by the way he inhaled his breath. She was silent as she straddled him, lowering herself until he was inside of her. She let her head rest along the side of his, still not ready for kisses. He must have sensed her apprehension because he didn't make an effort to kiss her, instead he let his hands hold her hips loosely. It didn't take long, which she suspected was because he hadn't been intimate since the last time they were together. The last time he was an innocent man.
She finally rose, pretending to flatten the wrinkles from her dress although she knew they wouldn't come out. She had acknowledged her feelings the only way she knew how and yet the words still didn't come to her.
"Vee..." He purred, making her close her eyes. She had always prided herself on being able to separate her heart from her brain but he made everything inside her come alive. She wanted to let him in and yet she was too terrified of being in such a vulnerable position.
"It'll be dark soon. We should get out of here." She said, unsure of where they were or where they were heading. Her bluff worked and he nodded without finishing his previous thought.