Without You (Without You Duet Book 1)

by Marley Valentine

I’m not a people person on the best of days.

“Are you always so glass half full?” I want to lie, because when it comes to me and my life, I live and breathe negativity. I wallow in nothingness and convince myself life is better on my own. With no feelings, no friends, no family.

“You think after the last two weeks, and the longest twelve hours of my fucking life,” he says hoarsely, “you weren’t the first person I wanted to see?”

Emotion gets stuck in my throat; how did I ever think this man was indifferent and unfeeling? Love pours out of him, like he’s been waiting his whole life to shower someone with it.

But the two of you…” “The two of us, what?”

“You’re the beat of my heart, the blood in my veins, the strength in my bones. None of me works without you. And if you need me to tell you every fucking day for the rest of our lives, then I will, because you are more than enough. You’re everything.”

“He might’ve had a piece of my heart, Deacon, but you own it. It’s yours till the day you say you don’t want it.” “Never,” I breathe into his neck. “I will never not want you.” “I’m so, so fucking sorry she said that to you,” he cries. “You are not less than or undeserving of anything, Deacon Sutton. You deserve to be happy, and you deserve to feel whole, and I won’t let anyone, not even your mom, take this away from us.”

“There’s nothing I want more than you,

You are always going to be mine.” My lips turn upward at his hint of possessiveness. “So, if you think I’m going to let anyone treat the man I love with anything less than the respect he deserves, and then think I’m still keeping them around?” He clicks his tongue. “Then maybe you’re underestimating how much I love you.”

“I love you more than my past,” he says. “I love you more than the obstacles the present has thrown in our way. Because you’re my future. And I’m going to love you forever because you’re my always.”