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“I hate you,” I sob into his chest. I hate him, but I hate myself more.
“I know, but I’ll die doing everything I can to fix that,” he says into my hair. “I’ve never stopped loving you, my Chloe. Never.”
* * *
Gregor
I’m not going to lie. Having Chloe in my arms feels just like coming home. I’ve waited for this day impatiently. It couldn’t feel any better. Yet, her sobs are wrecking me.
Each deep cry from her tears a hole right through my chest. This is what I left behind. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t think it would be this gut wrenching.
Chloe is weeping like a woman who has lost so much. Indeed, I feel the same way about our love, but I feel her sorrow so deeply. It’s in every hitched breath, in each tremble of her body, and the tight grasp she has on my shirt.
I vowed when I decided to come for her that I would fix it. Now, that oath is like the air I need to keep breathing. I couldn’t hate myself more for doing this to her.
I don’t believe I deserve this woman in my arms, but I need her. I can’t see my life without her, not for another minute. It’s the reason I cling to her, even as she tries to pull away from my embrace.
I tighten my arm around her waist and continue to rub soothing circles against her back. She drops her hand from her tight hold on me.
I know I’m losing her. I sigh heavily, bracing myself for the fight ahead of me, no matter how long it may be.
“You promised,” she gasps out through a hitched sob.
“I know. It is and will always be the only time I ever lie to you,” I reply.
“Bullshit,” she snorts.
I look down at her, narrowing my eyes. Chloe tries to remain defiant, but it only lasts a few seconds, before she turns her eyes away from me, while she sucks her plump bottom lip into her mouth. I reach for her chin, lifting her face to me.
Her brows wrinkle, her lip releases from her mouth as it begins to tremble. She refuses to give me eye contact, so I wait. I’ve waited this long for her; I’ll wait an eternity.
Her lips begin to move as she finally lifts her eyes and accepts my silent command. I want to know when I’ve ever lied to her. I’ve omitted details about my life, but I’ve never lied to her.
“I thought your name was Brodi,” she scoffs. “I’ve always been a fool for you. The laughs you must have had at my expense.”
“First, let me remind you of something. Watch your mouth, I’ll allow your tone, because I know you’re hurting,” I reply tightly.
“Fuck you,” she hisses. “You have to be kidding me. You walk out of my life for seven years and you expect… what? What do you expect? I’m not that same girl. What we had… it’s gone.”
“We will never be over,” I bite out. “I made decisions that were best for us. I’ve never lied to you about anything, other than promising I would stay out of your life.
“I expect for you to be angry. I expect for you to need time, but I also expect to work for your heart again. I expect to do everything in my power to show you I’m the man you need.”
“I don’t need a man,” she hisses at me.
I cup the back of her neck, drawing her to me as I bend to be within inches of her sweet lips. Her chest heaves, but she doesn’t resist me. It’s just the opposite. She melts into my hold.
I know it’s against her will. I can see the frustration on her face. Her mind might want to rebel against me, but her body has a memory of its own. It knows me. I’d put money on it, her body craves mine as much as I crave hers.
“You’re right, you don’t need a man. You need me. The only man you will ever need. The only man you were ever meant to be with. Fight me all you want, Chloe. All the signs are there. You feel it. I can see you do,” I breathe against her parted lips.
However, before I can take her soft mouth with mine, she rips away from my hold. I watch as she backs away, placing a gap between us. I mentally chide myself for pushing too hard, too soon. I can see the wariness in her eyes. I also see so much scorn.
“How can I need someone who I don’t even know?” She shakes her head as if saying the words to herself.
“You know me better than anyone does. We know each other better than any two people can know each other. From the beginning, we’ve been able to finish each other’s thoughts. None of that has changed just because of a little distance,” I reply.
More tears stream down her cheeks as she laughs like a madwoman. The laugh comes from deep within. It’s throaty and sexy, but I push that thought to the back of my mind.
