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I realized then that Tanner was just like Trigger and the other dogs he had saved. He was built to fight and destroy but it didn’t mean it was all that he was. Just like the pit bulls and every other dog out there, with the right person, those dogs were loyal, loving, and beautiful. Just like Tanner was with me. There was something about him from the very beginning that I didn’t realize I needed until now. He just needed that gentle, loving touch like the dog who died in his arms.
Tanner looked at me then.
My breath caught in my throat.
So much pain and heartache swam behind his dark eyes. He had been shoved aside by so many, shunned by society and had a bad reputation just like pit bulls.
I cupped his cheek, running my thumb over his bottom lip.
Nothing else was said as we sat there staring at each other.
He leaned toward me, placed the softest peck on my forehead, and pulled me into his arms. His hands ran up my back, hugging me tight.
“I’m here, Tanner,” I whispered, running my fingers through the hair at his nape. “I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
A shuddered breath left him. “Promise?”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Yes, I promise, baby,” I told him, my voice cracking.
He grabbed my hands, bringing them up to his mouth. His shook, indicating the vulnerability rushing through him. I knew that I had been the only one he ever let see this side of him. It didn’t matter to me what he had done before. He was a survivor. Even though he felt like a monster, maybe to some he was, but to me, he was my monster. I didn’t need a hero. I needed a man who would fight for me, protect me, and love me. I was always partial to the villains in movies and books. Most of the time, they were just misunderstood much like the man sitting in front of me.
“Tanner?”
His deep blue eyes met mine, holding so many questions.
“I…” I braced myself. “I think I’m falling in love with you. Maybe it’s not love. But it’s definitely feelings I’ve never felt before. I know this is fast but I—”
In a quick move, he cupped the back of my head, holding it in place. “Say that again.”
“This is fast?” I repeated, staring at him with wide eyes.
“No.” His nostrils flared. “The part before that.”
“I think I’m falling in love with you. In fact…” I gave him a small smile. “I know I have.”
He let out a slow breath. “I think I’ve been in love with you from the moment I almost died in your backyard.”
“What?” I gasped. “Are you serious?”
“I saw you. You were breathtaking. I watched you with a glass of wine in your hand. You looked like something was wrong, but I never asked once we finally met. I should have asked. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
“That’s okay.” I cupped his cheek. “Nothing was wrong really. The twins had ruined my night and made me leave the club early. But I’m glad they did. Who knows what would have happened to you if I hadn’t been home.” I paused. “You were brought to me for a reason.”
“No, you were given tomefor a reason.” He kissed my nose. “I’ve never been in love. I wasn’t even looking for it. Because I knew that people didn’t do it for me. I just wasn’t interested. And then we met, and I couldn’t focus on anything but having you near me. Not just for sex. That’s an added bonus but it wasn’t what I was thinking of. I just needed to touch you. Hold you. Be with you. You calmed me, baby. You still do.”
I ran my fingers through his dark hair.
“You keep me sane. You’re the only one who has seen this side of me.” He lifted his hand. It shook, trembling in tune with the anxiety I knew rushed through him.
I grabbed his hand and brought it up to my mouth, placing a soft peck on his palm. “Thank you for trusting me enough to show me this side of you.”
“I don’t know how this happened. This probably means a war as well. This…what we have, is dangerous, Busy. You deserve so much more than my run-down body and broken soul.” Tanner cupped my face, placing the softest peck on my mouth.
My eyes fluttered closed, embracing the feeling of being this close to him. “This might be dangerous like you say.” I looked him square in the eye. “But it doesn’t mean that it’s not meant to be. When my dad finds out, he’ll see reason. Everyone will.” I looked at the man who hadn’t left my side from the moment I saved his life. Besides the time he was in the basement and I was in a different part of the house or working or at my parents’ place, we were always together.
“You deserve more.”
I huffed. “You keep telling me that but I’m never going to believe you, Tanner.”
