Page 46 of Worth Risking It

“I mean, I know, but…” She bobbed her head, stroking her fingers over my knuckles on her knee. Gradually bringing her sight to mine, she whispered, “No one sees your soul like I do. No one understands who you really are.

“Milo was raised with all the advantages, he gets whatever he wants. Me and you, we had to be guarded and hide ourselves. Somehow, I got through a crack in your wall, and now I see how you really are. That…doesn’t happen too often with people like us.”

I searched her features, my pulse racing.

“Milo can find a hundred different women to replace me. You need me more than he does. I’m not stupid, Wyatt, I know what we have, you’ll never let yourself have this with someone else because you never meant to have it with me.”

Heaving a sigh, I tugged her to my lap, positioning her knees on either side of me. Slouching lower to be more comfortable, I cupped her cheeks, brushing my thumbs back and forth.

She was tracing lines on my tattoos, avoiding my gaze again. “You never meant to let me in, or anyone. Now that I am, I have to protect you, Wyatt. I…I-I know how scary it is,” she whispered, flitting her attention to me through her lashes.

“Terrifying,” I muttered.

“And not just because of Milo, because of how much there is to lose. You need me more than him, so if I could choose, I would pick you in a heartbeat.”

“How the hell did you see through all my bullshit and break me open, kitten?”

Her chin quivered, her head tilting. “Do you believe in karma? I mean, did you and I do something in a previous life that we are being punished for it now? Why did we have to meet like this? Why did we have to fall in love, knowing we can never do anything about it?”

“I dunno. I ask myself that same question a lot. Milo is going to treat you good. You’re going to be happy with him.”

Her head bobbed as she sniffled repeatedly. “I know. I love him very much.” Her features contorted with the threat of a sob. “And it makes me feel so slimy when I’m with him, happy and excited about our future because I know it hurts you.”

“Hey, hey, kitten. Look at me.”

Her chocolatey brown eyes fluttered my way.

“So long as you still love me, I completely understand. This whole situation sucks, I get it. It’s hard, it’s scary, and…painful. But it is what it is, Chazzy. You and me? We don’t get to pick our lives, we only get to choose how we handle the cards dealt to us.

“I know you love Milo. I’ve always known that. A piece of you loves me, too, and so long as that piece sticks around, I’m a happy man. I don’t need the world to know. I don’t need to parade you around on my arm for everyone to see.”

Holding her wrists, I pressed her palms over my heart and flashed a weak smile. “Here, is all that counts. These moments with you, that’s what matters. I’m happy, Chazzy. It’s not ideal, but I’ll take whatever I can with you.”

She sighed and bent forward, brushing her lips to mine. Tangling my fingers in her hair, I tipped my head to roll my tongue along hers, blood rushing to my groin to harden my cock.

A moan poured into my mouth when she felt it, her hips grinding into my lap to encourage it further. Her hands darting between her thighs, she turned the kiss frantic, fumbling with my belt. My cellphone vibrated in my pocket, and she squealed, snatching her arms to her chest. Giggling, she blushed, covering a cheek.

“That scared the hell out of me. Like, the second I touch you, boom, you vibrate.”

Chuckling, I held her hip and shifted my weight, forcing her to one knee so I could dig out the phone. Glimpsing at the screen, I was about to dismiss it and toss it aside, when my heart sank.

Ice rolled through my veins, my breath ceasing altogether. Shaking, my thumb tapped the screen, opened the 911 text, and tapped the icon to call my brother.

“What’s wrong?”

Ignoring Chastity, I already knew before Jonas answered.

“Hey,” he grumbled. “Uh…M-Meyers…is dead.”

My lids slowly closed; my insides hollowed out. Chastity, picking up on my mood change, cupped my cheek, forcing me to look at her. Gazing into her eyes, I saw a similar fate for myself waiting around a not so distant corner.

“How?”

“Car accident but…”

“But we both know differently.”

“Yeah,” he croaked. Coughing, he added, “No one knows but me and you, everyone thinks it was a legit accident.”