Lustful Hearts
Chapter 122: Family At Lаѕt - P3

He lowered me onto the bed and Ruby jumped out of my arms, now skipping around the bed in excitement. He hovered over me before placing a soft, sweet kiss against my lips.

I pulled back slightly in confusion. "Joel, we can hardly do anything with Ruby here."

He smiled at my words. "I didn't bring you here for that."

"You didn't?" I asked frowning, feeling suddenly deflated.

"Are you disappointed?" He chuckled looking at my face.

"Kind of."

He kissed his way along my jaw as his lips nuzzled against my ear. "Baby, I will rock your world later, but now I just want to hold you."

My face dropped at his words. "Are you okay?"

He manoeuvred himself so he was now lying beside me. "I think so, I just need this time out to lay back and let it all soak in."

"Do you want to be on your own? We can leave you in peace." I made to move away, but he grabbed me, pulling me down beside him.

"No, I need you here with me, Iz. You are the calm in my storm. You bring me so much relief just having you here. I need you baby, stay with me."

"Joel, there is no other place I want to be." I snuggled into his chest while his fingers soothingly stroked my hair. Ruby eventually settled down, flopping down beside us as Joel gently curled his arm around her. "This is what I need, both my girls."

I smiled, kissing his jaw, placing my cheek on his chest once more. Ruby let out a small yawn before she softly sighed. There was nowhere else I wanted to be.

***

I awoke to complete darkness and an empty bed, the cold sheet sat pooled beside me. Ruby was still curled up in her basket, snuggled into her teddy as I crept out the room in search of Joel.

The faint glow streamed out into the hallway, I crept through to replace Joel curled up on the sofa with a picture frame in his hand.

The crumpled paper that sat beside him was enough to indicate it was the gift Joan had handed to him earlier.

"Hey, I was wondering where you'd gone," I said, sitting down slowly trying to gauge his reaction. I didn't want to think I was intruding a private moment.

His sad eyes flicked up to mine as I watched a lowly tear roll down his cheek. "I opened Joan's gift." He smiled softly before handing me the frame.

I gasped the moment I saw it. It was beautiful. It was a picture of Joel who must have been about a year old in his mother's arms.

His small hand was placed lovingly against her cheek while they both stared deep into each other's eyes, their smiles conveying the true love they held inside. Just one picture spoke a thousand words.

I could tell from Joel's tears that the picture had done its job in making him believe that his mother's love for him truly did run deep.

"Joel, it's perfect, are you okay?" I asked, looking concerned.

His fingers laced with mine, manoeuvring me over onto his lap. "It's just been so overwhelming but yes, I feel much lighter, like this weight I've carried around for so long has slowly evaporated. It's almost like I'm free of the past."

He smiled, and I could no longer see the guilt that always seemed present in his eyes the moment his mother was brought up.

"The guilt should never have been put on you in the first place. I guess it was your dad's way of turning his grief into hatred. I hate him for doing that to you." I despised the man and was only grateful that he was now no longer a part of our lives.

"Iz, he lost the love of his life, he should have been mad."

My eyes widened at his words.

"Yes, but to put the blame on you? He should have been mad at the fact that life can be cruel and that sometimes bad things happen. Not place all the blame on his baby boy, to let you carry that around for the last eighteen years.

Look at this picture, how much love

you can feel in that one shot. God, Joel, she loved you with all her heart. Please take all the good things from today, keep them in mind when the darker days come and you feel the need to sink back into your old ways. rold Just remember how we att love you so very much."

He leaned in and pulled me in close. "I know, Iz, today has shown me a lot. I guess the warped view I had inside my head was just something I'd got conditioned to over the years. The things he would say and the looks he would give me. I've never seen such hatred in one person's eyes."

"You only have to look at the photograph to see how much she loved you, that's what a parent does. You have this as a reminder. We'll hang it up tomorrow so it will take pride of place.

"What did I do to deserve you?" he asked, looking bewildered as I smiled.

"I think I should be saying the same myself. You are my life, Joel. You complete me in ways I never thought possible and every moment we share is just an added bonus."

"You complete me too, the light to my dark, you give me hope when it feels like all is lost." He ran his thumb along my lower lip, his touch sending shivers throughout me. I stopped his thumb mid-stroke and placed a soft kiss on the end.

"You'll never be lost without me; I'll always guide you safely home."

He smiled, and I pressed my lips against his as his tongue gently slipped inside and twirled with mine. We dropped down onto the sofa, our bodies melded together as we lost ourselves in the moment. Well, until the door creaked.

My eyes immediately snapped open. "Oh my god, Joel, what the hell was that? Please tell me this house isn't haunted."

He bit his lip like he was reluctant to answer. "I don't know, Iz. I heard something the other night, and I didn't want to say."

"Oh my god, what?" I asked, as my fingers curled around his T-shirt. A level of fear ran down my spine, I would literally cry if a ghost were to reveal it self right now.

I s uealed the moment I felt

something brush against my back. I

turned around slowly, almost

hesitant to look, only to replace a pair of brown eyes peering at me. "Ruby,

you scared me half to death She

barked almost in amusement as Joel chuckled lifting her up. Content

"That's my girl, Rubes." He gave her a playful tickle, and I pursed my lips in disapproval.

"Don't encourage her."

"We are partners in crime, me and Rubes, aren't we girl?" He laughed when she barked in reply.

Traitor.

"I had no chance, did I?" I huffed. I'd known from the start where her loyalties lay.

"What's that?" He looked confused by my words.

"She was always destined to be a daddy's girl from the start."

He turned her so she was facing him, brown eyes staring into blue. "Are you Daddy's girl, Rubes?" Without hesitation, she barked again in confirmation.

"See I'm outnumbered." I huffed, while Joel smiled hard.

"I can't help it if I'm popular."

I rolled my eyes. "When are you not?"

He pulled me in closer, his eyes scanning my face and frowned at the look of insecurity I wore.

"There's only two girls I need in my life, and they're both right here," he soothed, running his fingers across my cheek so I leaned into his touch.

"Promise?"

His fingers stopped at my words. "With all my heart."

I grabbed his hand, placing a soft kiss against his skin. "Well then, let's go to bed." I stood up, picking up the frame, walking over to place it on the table.

Joel came up behind me, his arms drawing me in tight. "It's perfect," he whispered. We both stared in wonder at the picture that had done so much in helping to heal old wounds.

"It is."

It was a perfect end to a perfect day.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐