Free Summer Solace by Maggie Ryan

couple of days but I did come look for you. I had to get your address from the hospital nurse. She knew something was wrong when she witnessed the fight in the waiting room. She took a chance on giving me your address. I wanted to hear you tell me why you would lie to me. You were never there. I was deploying, remember?” he asked.
    She nodded, the memory as clear as if it had been yesterday. The evening at the club had been one meant not only to allow them to play, but to give them memories to hold onto while they were apart. If everything had not gone to hell in a hand basket, Joanna would have left that club with his collar around her neck. Instead, she had left the club with nothing but heartache and fear.
    “I…I had to report,” he said softly. “I was gone for eighteen months. I wrote but never got a reply. I did another tour and then another. I had nothing to come home for. I went by your house but some other family lived there. I…I guess I finally did give up. God, I feel like such a fucking fool. You needed me and I should have been there. I’ll never forgive myself.” 
    Joanna felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her soul. She was sobbing, but no longer in pain. She cupped his face this time.
    “Gabe…Gabe, don’t…please don’t say that,” she begged. “You didn’t know and I was too scared to get away. I wanted to finish school. That was the only way I could ever get out and support myself. I never got your letters. I was never told you had called. I guess I thought they were right. I just stopped thinking about anything but school. As soon as I graduated, I left and never went back. They sold the house and moved…I haven’t talked to either of them in four years. I will never forgive them for what they did...they had no right to destroy what we had. I hate them both!” 
    Gabe could hear the vehemence in her voice. He didn’t want her to carry that sort of anger any longer. He took her hands in his and kissed the palms. “They aren’t worth your anger, sweetheart. You’ve beaten them. You not only survived, you grew strong. You made a life. Joanna, you won,” he said, his voice full of wonder.
    The first real smile gradually formed on her face. Her lips trembled, but the smile was there as she said,  “I did…didn’t I?” 
    Nodding, Gabe bent down and brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was light as a feather and yet the jolt shot through them both. “The price was higher than you should ever have had to pay, but, Joanna, you are an incredible woman. I love you. I have always loved you. I swear never to let anyone or anything come between us ever again if you will only give me another chance,” he promised.
    Joanna sobbed and laughed at the same time. The elephant had been dismissed and all that was left were the two of them. She threw her arms around his neck.
    “I love you, Gabe, God, I’ve loved you forever.” 
    The peace of the woods seemed to seep into their skin. They kissed until they were both breathless. When they finally came up for air, Gabe said, “What a fucking waste…five fucking years were stolen from us. How can I get over that?” 
    Joanna stroked his cheek. “What’s five years when we now have forever?”
    Gabe smiled. This was the woman he had fallen in love with, always optimistic, always searching and finding the silver lining in any cloud. He chuckled when he heard her stomach growl. She looked surprised.
      “Well, how romantic is that?” she said as she laughed, her eyes shining.
    “Guess I’ve got a lot to remember about being a good Dom. I’ve practically ravished you and haven’t even fed you yet,” Gabe said with a grin. His words caused Joanna to shiver in a very good way. Her stomach might be rumbling, but her heart was thudding and her pulse racing. She felt a tingle between her legs and was not the least bit interested in food. Gabe laughed and shook his head. He grinned. “Nope, I can read you like a book, young