Page 130 of Split You Open

“You,” I interrupt softly, twisting my hands together in my lap. “I wanted you, Ledger. I didn’t ask for all of this. Now that I have it, I’m terrified. Maybe you’re right—maybe I had nothing before all of this. But now I could lose everything and that’s worse than having nothing.”

I choke on a sob as it wells up and a rogue tear rolls down my cheek.

Ledger’s jaw ticks.

When he moves to place the glass of water down, the motion is stiff. He steps closer and reaches out. Despite how slow he moves, I expect a biting grip just like before. Except, instead, Ledger wraps his fingers around the front of my throat and he simply holds me.

“You will be safe again,” he promises as his eyes darken. “And I won’t let you lose any of the men that live under this roof. They’re my responsibility too. They’re my—” he hesitates as his scowl deepens in thought. “They’re my family, Blair. It was never supposed to get like this. I’ll make it up to you.”

It’s not an apology, but it’s something.

I nod. Feeling a little self-conscious, I begin to slide off the island, ready to pull back on my pants. Ledger’s hand on my neck holds me in place.

“I’m not done,” he growls between clenched teeth.

What more is there to say? I wait, bracing myself for another shoe to drop.

What I don’t expect is for Ledger to bend down and press his lips against mine. His beard tickles, but I like it. Electricity zips through me, giving me a jolt of life.

Holy shit—Ledger Porter is kissing me!

The words, loud in my head, are nearly drowned out by the hard drumming of my heart.

I’m not sure why but this means so much more than what we’d just done together. Maybe it’s because this is a childhood dream coming true or a prayer answered. I never once believed I’d have this moment.

My stomach drops but not in dread. The feeling is like free falling and it leaves me breathless.

I hold absolutely still in case I spook him.

Ledger pulls away, his eyes hooded as he stares at me. “Even before you kissed me, you were always mine to look after. But after that kiss? You completely and utterly shattered the illusion that you were a child needing to be looked after. You staked a claim that flipped my world around. I accept that claim, Blair. I’m yours.”

Shock keeps me stiff and still.

Staring up at Ledger, I search for any signs that he could be toying with me. All I see in those forest green eyes is a burning sincerity. It burns brighter than the insanity that had twinkled in them just moments ago which seems snuffed out now.

My heart thunders in my chest.

“Yours,” he growls through clenched teeth, as if sensing my skepticism.

“What about Dad?”

“Fuck him.”

“What about⁠—”

“Fuck all of the excuses I’ve ever had,” he interrupts. His thumb slides up and down my neck and I shiver in response. “But you’ve now seen how I can and will get. I wasn’t lying about that. You make me feral.”

My body aches all over—I definitely know what to expect for any future spontaneous passionate moments with Ledger.

“I can handle it.”

His eyes trace the tracks of my tears from moments ago. “You’ll have to because now that I’ve had you, I’ll never be satisfied with anything less. Got it?”

Well, shit.

My body starts to tremble again as a new wave of emotions surges forward.

Ledger notices right away. “Blair…”