Page 100 of Cash

“All of it.” To punctuate his meaning, he twisted his fingers still inside me. “This is mine. I won’t give you up. I won’t let you take yourself away from me. I’ll chase you down.” He pulled his fingers free.

He used my gasp to his advantage and brought his hand up and painted my release on my lips before he licked it off. “Those are mine. Mouth and orgasm, I own both.”

Cash dropped his hand and pressed his palm over the left side of my chest. “This is mine.”

The area under his palm started thumping so fast I was in danger of passing out.

“And this…” he leaned forward and brushed his lips over my temple. “Is mine.”

Fear saturated.

“Scared?” he had the nerve to ask.

Bastard.

I clamped my mouth shut and worked on erecting those walls that were failing me.

“I’ll tell you a secret,” he whispered. “So am I. Scared out of my skull. But I’m more afraid of losing you. All I need you to do is stick with me and I’ll see us through.”

Stick with him.

Stick.

I didn’t know how.

But I was starting to think that for Cash, I would learn.

And that was my most terrifying thought ever.

Scarier than agreeing to be Cara’s Godmother. More frightening than when the worst happened and I had to step up and become the guardian of a six-year-old.

I’d gone from a woman with nothing to lose, to someone with everything to lose when Cara came into my life. Add in Cash and everything grew exponentially.

“I can’t⁠—”

“You can. We can. Together we’re stronger than any fear. Together we can break the cycle. Together we can learn how to love. Together we can teach Cara.”

Together.

We.

My brain was screaming to shove him away and say no.

My heart was telling me none of this was real—I was unlovable, incapable of giving it.

But my soul was keening—wailing actually—bawling and howling for me to reach out and take what Cash was offering.

Yearning to belong to him, to a family, to be safe.

“I…” My denial died in my throat. “I…” The second time I tried, the lie wouldn’t roll off my tongue.

“Shh,” he gently quieted me. “You don’t have to say or do anything. I’ve got this.”

He had this.

Cash did.

Since I was powerless to speak, I nodded.