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I pour my heart out, hoping to prove that I can deal with whatever baggage he thinks is too much for me. After sharing how he felt about me, the least he could do is let me decide if I can handle it.
“I’m so sorry, Elle.” His voice is strained as he hangs his head. Hearing him call me Elle confuses me even more.
“I’ve denied my feelings just as much, Connor. But I won’t deny how much it hurts to watch you fight against being with me.”
He remains silent as if he’s struggling to find the right words. However, I lose my patience and grab my things.
“Where are you goin’?”
I walk out of the kitchen, ignoring him. He doesn’t want to be reasonable, then I won’t bother anymore. I’m not going to beg him to be with me.
“Elizabeth,” he barks out. “I drove you.”
I shrug. The bar is only a half-mile away. I can grab a ride to the ranch from whoever’s working tonight.
“At least let me take you home,” he pleads. Before I can open the front door, he slams his palm against it. “Don’t go,” he whispers.
I make no effort to move. “I don’t want to play these games anymore,” I tell him. “I quit.”
“What?” His voice grows louder.
Finally, I face him with a nod. “Grandma Bishop will hire me on as the family vet until I find something more steady. Probably out of town, though. That way, you won’t have to see me or be honest about your feelings.”
“I was being honest tonight,” he states.
“Oh right. You just won’t do anything about it. Got it. Now let me leave.”
“No.”
“Connor,” I force out between gritted teeth. “Do not hold me hostage unless you’re actually going to—”
He grabs my chin, bringing my lips merely inches from his. The sudden movement cuts off my words, and I’m left breathlessly waiting for him to speak.
“You want me?”
“Yes,” I whisper, swallowing hard as I meet his intense eyes. “All of you.”
His expression softens, and for the first time, I see the vulnerability in his eyes. “Alright, then you can have me. Just don’t break me. I couldn’t handle that again.”
I blink in surprise. “Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?”
“If you’d given me more than a couple of seconds to respond before you stormed off, I would’ve.”
Guilt floods through me, but I had to leave. The air between us was so thick, it was choking me.
“When you didn’t react, I felt foolish.”
“I apologize for making you second-guess my intentions. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this. But if my options are risking my heart or losing you for good, I pick the former.”
Finally.
It’s as if I can actually see his walls crashing to the ground.
“Connor.”
“Yes?”
“Kiss me.”
Chapter Eighteen
Connor
For the first time in years, I pour my soul out to a woman and risk everything—my heart, career, and reputation.
But I can’t keep pushing her away, especially now that we’ve confessed our true feelings. If I don’t get over my insecurities and give us a chance, I’ll lose her for good. I’m not willing to accept that.
“Connor.”
“Yes?”
“Kiss me.”
In one quick movement, I close the gap between us and cup her face. When my mouth collides with hers, everything around us stops.
Tasting Elle is something I’ve often fantasized about but to actually feel her lips against mine is better than I could’ve ever imagined. But it’s not enough.
I want to touch every inch of her and claim her as mine. Our tongues brush together, and I tilt her head back so I can sink deeper inside. She moans, and my dick grows harder as Elle clings to me.
With her hands around my neck, I trail my fingers down her body. Every part of her is hot to the touch, and I love how soft her skin feels. As I press her into the door, I know she feels how hard I am for her.
There’s no denying she wants me as badly as I want her. The way she fearlessly put herself out there has me craving every inch of her.
“Fuck, you’re addicting,” I breathlessly admit.
“I want you,” she mutters as I kiss along her jawline.
“You have me,” I remind her. “All of me.”
I pull back and stare into her seductive eyes. She bites down on her lower lip and rubs her hand against my groin.
“Take me to your room.” Her demanding tone has me nearly bursting at the seams. Without hesitation, I palm her ass and lift her until her legs wrap around me. Though my cock is painfully hard, there’s no way I’m rushing this. I’ve wanted her for too long not to take my sweet time and devour her the way she deserves.
“I like you complacent,” she muses in my ear, and a smirk touches my lips.
“Don’t test me, Elizabeth.”
