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“Aidan.”
At her shaky voice, he lowered his hand, stared into her teary eyes, and added, “Her death gutted me. Yes, losing Lily was the worst thing I’ve ever been through.” He looked to his feet, forcing the words out of his tight throat. “But to add to that, I suffered because I had failed her. I should have been there. I should have protected her the night of the car accident.”
Aidan sensed Cora approaching before her hand pressed gently against his arm. “How could you have? It was an accident.”
“I couldn’t. That is the logical answer.” A painful tightness formed in his chest as he lifted his head. He gazed into her crystal clear eyes and scanned over her splotchy skin. “The Dom in me didn’t like that answer. It went against everything I believe in and all the morals that define me as a Dom.” Her touch on his arm carried warmth into his icy veins. “Do you understand that?”
Cora regarded him and then gave a small nod. “Actually, that makes a lot of sense. It would be like a submissive craving to submit but being unable to.”
Of course she understood. He’d done exactly that to her. He wouldn’t spend his time regretting that. He would do his best to ensure she never felt that way again. He raised his hand, brushing his finger against her cheek. “Then there was you …” He slid his thumb across her lip, which parted under his touch. “You changed everything. Your submission not only brought me happiness, but it healed the part of me that craves control.”
She leaned into his touch, a slow smile rising to her face. “You gave me something, too, you know.”
He hesitated, grasping her chin. “What did I give you?”
A tear escape her eye. “Hope.”
Aidan shut his eyes, overwhelmed by this woman. For all they’d been through that one answer told him all he needed to know. Cora’s love held no restraints. It didn’t matter what they’d been through. It didn’t matter that he’d hurt her. She broke because he rejected her. Now that he welcomed her, Cora could forgive him.
To be okay and feel safe, she needed him.
He undeniably needed her, too.
If only he’d realized that a lot sooner.
Aidan forced all the negativity for what he’d done away. Pain and regret had destroyed him for too long. Cora deserved the good parts of him. She’d dealt enough with his pain. He swiped away the moisture on her cheek, reveling in her soft skin. “All of this has been fear. It’s weakness. I didn’t want to fail you.” He swallowed the thick emotion, hiding nothing from the one woman who had given all of herself. “But I did anyway, didn’t I?”
Her chin trembled. “You did.”
“I know an apology can never say enough to overcome what I’ve done to you, but I am sorry, Cora. I’m sorry that I made you hide and feel as though you couldn’t tell me the truth. That is all on me.”
From this night forward, he never wanted to see the hurt he witnessed in her puffy red eyes now. He slid both hands up her neck, cupping her face. “I’m sorry I let you walk away at the cemetery. I should have tugged you back in my arms and told you all this then.”
In classic Cora style, her mouth down-turned, spilling more tears from her eyes. “I don’t need you to be sorry, Aidan. I need you to do better.”
Didn’t that sum it up?
His pulse quickened and his muscles tensed, under the spell she’d woven over him. “It’s not that I never cared about you. Our connection, Cora”—he shook his head, consumed by the heady emotion swirling within him—“it was all so real it blindsided me.” He caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, forcing out what he should’ve admitted a long time ago. “But I had to accept my weaknesses and my failures. As a Dom …”
“That’s hard to do,” she offered.
“Extremely hard.” He watched her furtively, gripping her face tight. “I’m sorry you’ve struggled these past weeks. I wish it didn’t have to be that way, but I needed to be ready before we talked.” He leaned down close, looking her head-on. “You don’t need to hear words. You needed to see that I’m ready for this.” He hesitated, allowing her a moment to process before he added, “I didn’t want to make you a promise I couldn’t keep.”
She held his stare with strong contact, not blinking. “What promise?”
Consumed by her soul—a soul he’d never hurt again, he drew in a long breath before he said, “My promise of a fresh start. A promise that I will take care of you in the same manner you’ve taken care of me for the last two years.” He brushed more tears away and smiled gently. “I can’t live without you, Cora, of that I’m sure.”
Her breath hitched. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
“That’s not quite what I expected you to say.” He frowned.
She smirked. “It’s about time you freaking said how much you need me and how incredible wonderful I am.”
Aidan chuckled. Of course, Cora wouldn’t focus on any part of his pain, wouldn’t make him relive it. She already knew his demons and understood them. She did what she always did—made his life a little easier and a whole lot better. “You always knew, did you?”
He gaze sparkled. “Guess I need to remind you what I’ve told you before.” She took his hands and lifted her chin, exposing her long neck calling for his tongue to lick it. “I see you.” She winked. “Flaws included.”
He dragged his finger up her neck, studying her slight shiver. “But you love me anyway?”
