All Chapters of The Journey Collection: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The rehab facility had an entire room with different machines and contraptions specifically designed to assist with walking. The space was large, and multiple patients worked with different physical therapists at the same time. And while I'd thought that would give Sarah hope and encourage her to see other people struggled, too, somehow, it only made her struggles worse. Her insecurities were preventing her progress as she worried more about what other people saw than focusing on the task in front of her. No one inside these walls other than her own team paid the least bit of attention to her, yet in her mind, they were all staring. Her eyes scanned the perimeter of the room as the therapists got her into position between two bars. She held on for dear life to keep her balance, although she zoned in on everything else going on. Kappi-the newest therapist to her crew-was getting frustrated by her inability to reach Sarah. It was like Sarah had a wall up that she couldn't see pa

There was a hint of animosity in his tone when he said my little sister's name, but I let it go. She wasn't high on anyone's list these days, but I still hadn't figured out what was going on. And anytime I tried to get information, Austin would snap at me, Daddy would find a way to change the subject or leave the room, and Charlie didn't know any more than I did. Or I didn't think he did. "You didn't have to say it back, you know?" He broke the silence, but I wasn't sure what he referred to. I looked over at him, furrowing my brow. "What do you mean?" I was lost. "Didn't have to say what?" "It." His ears were pink, and it was easy to see he was flustered-I just had no idea why. "I didn't want you to feel obligated." "Charlie, I'm not following you." "The other day after physical therapy-" I thought back to what he might be referring to, and there was only one culprit. "When you told me that you loved me?" And now I was flustered. If I'd

His gaze flitted up, and I wondered if he had realized what he'd started and now wanted to back out. Yet that wasn't at all what I saw when my eyes met his. Charlie's chest heaved, and I finally let go of the air I'd held and hoped he couldn't feel my erratic pulse. With care and tenderness, he spread my top open and exposed my marred skin. I didn't glance down; I knew what I looked like. What was once a creamy, smooth surface now looked like a battlefield. Charlie dropped his gaze and one by one, he kissed every mark. I took deep breaths each time his lips met a battle wound, and I attempted to relax, but having Charlie Burin this close kept me in a constant state of arousal. The mattress dipped as Charlie moved the blankets and situated himself between my thighs. And when he dragged his fingers from my knee to my waist, my cotton shorts bunched at the top of my thigh. He squeezed my hipbone just a bit and then grazed my side over my ribs until his thumb rested under

He shifted to see my face-cradling me-and chuckled when he realized I'd been staring at him. "You hungry, sunshine?" "Not overly." That wasn't exactly true. I wasn't ready for food, but I wished Charlie would feast on me. I pulled him down by the back of his neck to bring his lips to mine. It took so little to coax Charlie into affection, and I loved that I never had to ask or tell him what I wanted. One kiss was all it took, and he picked up from there. Today was no different. As gentle as the breeze around us and as peaceful as the water, Charlie's touch warmed me like the sun. With his mouth on mine and his hands in my hair, the world around us faded. I didn't worry about getting caught when we removed our clothes, and I didn't consider anything outside of us when he made love to me under that tree. He devoured my cries of pleasure and filled my ears with groans of his own. And when he'd taken me to the highest place possible, we fell over the cliff of ecsta

"Sarah, you need to go to the doctor. This isn't normal." She'd been sick since she'd gotten in touch with her sister. For any other woman, depression might not be an issue that caused that great a concern after only a couple days, but with Sarah, it was always something that kept me on high alert. And when the vomiting starting without a fever or any other symptom, I insisted she see a physician. Her body had started to lock up on her, and she had a hard time walking. She was stiff and uncomfortable, and I hated seeing her unable to move. "You're overreacting, Charlie. I'm fine." She rolled her neck to face me. "Don't you have work to do at your parent's house?" I did. More than I'd ever catch up on, but Sarah was and always would be my priority. Twin Creeks could wait, and there were other men there to help. They'd been making do without me since Sarah's accident; another day wouldn't hurt. "Sarcasm doesn't suit you, sunshine." I jerked my head toward the porch. "Come