“I’m sorry,” I say, barely above a whisper.
“You didn’t lose my trust,” he says, stepping forward and placing my hand over his heart. “You… me… I don’t know where we go from here, but I care about you, Angel. More than I realized, which is why this is so fucking confusing to me. Can we go back to how things were?”
My face must fall, because his eyes widen.
“I mean, can we start over? I don’t want to give up on…”
“Us?”
He nods.
“And my training? That won’t be a problem? I still need it. It gives me options, Garrett.”
“You mean in deciding to continue working with the kids versus helping out Langdon?”
I bite my lower lip, debating how I can explain this in a way he’ll understand.
He drags a thumb against my lower lip until I stop biting. “It’s okay, my angel, you don’t have to explain. Just be careful. Whatever you choose to do, be careful. I won’t survive losing you. I just… I have to know you’re safe, even if you leave here… If you leave me.”
Poor Garrett. I don’t know what to say to him, to give him that sense of security he needs. But I can give him back the control that seems to center him. “Do you really want me to stay in your cabin?”
“Yes.”
“On the bed, beside you? Or will you be on the floor again?” I hold my breath, then realize I’m doing it again. Pressuring him. “Either is fine,” I add quickly. “I just need to know.”
The corners of his lips turn up on the brink of a smile. “I know where I want to be, but I’m not sure where I should be.”
“And where do you stand on taking advice from a woman?”
“All for it. Except when it comes to mushrooms. Tried that once. Didn’t care for it.”
I tip up on my toes and brush my lips against his. “I say we try sharing your bed and see how it goes. If I’m too beastly or hog the covers, you can kick me out of your bed and your cabin. But I have one request, Garrett.”
“Anything, darlin’.”
“Don’t kick me out of your heart. That’s a loss I don’t think I’d survive, not after losing my pack.”
His forehead rests against mine. “Are you sure about this, Angel? What if I’m no good for you?”
“I don’t think that’s possible. But if you think I’m more trouble than I’m worth?—”
“I like trouble.”
“No you don’t.”
“You’re right. But I’ll put up with anything if it means holding onto you as long as I can.”
“That sounds like you’re accepting my offer, shifter.”
“Depends. I’m still not sure where we stand on this mushroom issue. Are you going to threaten me with mushrooms every time I step out of line?”
“Would you prefer I spank you?”
“Oh, darlin’, don’t tease about that. I’m already getting hard.”
“I’m not sure I see the problem.”
He kisses me full on my lips, holding my face steady while we take our time. It’s even better than our first kiss.
