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“What do you want me to say?”
“Something other than okay.”
I refused to lift my gaze to his. The second I broke I’d lose myself to his spell.
“Would you rather I say I don’t forgive you?” It took all my effort to keep the quiver of tears from my question.
“It’s better than no real response.”
“Fine, then let me add.” I shoved him in the chest. “You’re a fucking coward for not talking to me. I should hate you for what you did.”
“But you don’t.” He grabbed my wrist before I punched him in the gut.
I clenched my eyes tight, refusing to cry anymore for this man. “I don’t know what I feel. Go away.”
I wanted to run as far away from this man as possible. I’d worked so hard to overcome all the feelings of rejection and betrayal. I’d started picking up the pieces. Why had he come back? Couldn’t he see there was no going back?
I couldn’t allow us to go back.
“Look at me, Sophia,” the command in his voice awoke the burning deep inside of me, and without thought, my eyes met his emerald ones.
The shock of staring up at him, seeing the emotions, the man up close again tugged at my heart.
He seemed so different and yet the same. The unkempt beard now covered his jaw. It was a look that sharply contrasted with the well-groomed one he usually maintained. And the shadows under his eyes told me he’d slept as little as I had.
Was he thinner?
“You look like shit,” I blurted out before I realized what was coming out of my mouth.
“Well, I didn’t have you around to keep me in line.”
“I don’t have that kind of power over you, Mr. Pierce.”
“You’re the only woman who has any power over me, ever.”
“Not falling for that line.” I tugged at the arm in his grasp. “Or anything in that realm.”
We’d been in a similar situation to this. Damon had questioned my innocence and broken my trust in him. Then he’d used words to convince me he loved me.
No. My foolish self wanted to believe Damon loved me and projected it upon him.
God, my thoughts were a jumbled mess, and nothing made sense.
Logically, I knew he cared for me, but love. That was the thing I questioned. Was he even capable of it? Especially after he threw what we had away?
“Don’t you dare try to convince yourself it was a lie.” He pulled me toward him, bringing his face to mine. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“You know jack shit about me.”
“I know you better than anyone else on this goddamned earth.” The vehemence in his response gave me the urge to punch him.
“Keep dreaming. I don’t even know who I am myself. How the fuck could you know me?” I shoved at him with my free hand, and he spun me, pinning me against the wall. “I hate you. I hate you.”
“Do you? Do you really?”
“Yes,” I shouted the lie as tears streamed down my cheeks.
He dropped his forehead to mine. “That’s too bad. Because I love you. And I’m sorry I didn’t give you the words sooner.”
