Jordan had never heard Woody be so direct, and she'd certainly never had someone admit to a willingness to fight so hard for her. Would he really never let her go? She suddenly knew that her game was up. That if she let him go, she'd never have him back. That if he stayed, she'd have to figure out how to be loved by him. Which choice would prove more difficult?
If she let him go now, she felt like she'd be alone forever. If she called him back, he'd make love to her and she'd be his forever…she knew he meant that. A decision had to be made quickly, because he was backing up…out the door and then out of her life forever.
God, she didn't need this stress added to her day. If he left, there were no more chances. It was now or never. Her whole life flashed before her eyes, what it was like before and after Woody came into her life. The answer was suddenly clear.
"Woody!"
Woody stopped. He felt like running fast…losing her was one thing, but he didn't know if he could hear her say the rejection aloud. He knew he must look like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Woody, make me yours. Stay. Forever. I won't run anymore. I won't fight this anymore. I'm ready. I…I need you to not let me go. But…I'm, uh…I'm hard to hold onto. Can you really do that?"
She sounded so desperate, so scared, yet perfectly sincere. He could do it. God, this woman really was everything to him. He could tell by her voice that she meant what she said as much as he had. He swallowed. It was real. He was looking at the rest of their lives here, in this moment.
He closed the front door and advanced toward her…it was all washing over him. His love for her, their history together, their future together.
He felt like he was walking toward his destiny, not just a naked woman in a tub. Where could he possibly start with something this important…nothing seemed reverent enough. Nothing seemed like it would be enough to show this beautiful, amazing woman how important she was to him.
He didn't want to have sex with her, he didn't even want to make love to her. He wanted to worship her. He wanted to make her feel like she was the most important woman ever born. Because to him, she was.
"I mean it, Jordan. I can, and will, hold on to you forever. You are hard to hold onto, but I'm strong. I can do it now that I know you want me to." He finished closing the distance between them. Without thinking, he just reached into the tub, put his arms under her and lifted her.
His breathing nearly stopped as he watched the water cascade off her body. He pulled her to him, soaking wet and all, carried her to the bed, and set her down.
His mouth found hers. Heaven. He was now tasting the most perfect flavor of his life.