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“Why did you run?” I ask, the words coming out harder than I intended.
“I heard you,” she seethes, anger and tears shining bright in her eyes. I never want her to look at me like that again.
“Heard me say what, exactly?”
“That I was just a distraction. That I was a target and you were keeping me in your sights.”
She spits the words out at me and my heart sinks. The little spitfire is angrier than she’s ever been, and that includes the first time she realized I wasn’t going to untie her from her bed. More than that, however, she’s absolutely devastated. I crushed her spirit and for that, I don’t know if I will ever forgive myself.
“I didn’t mean it. You haven’t been a target. Not for a while now. I was never going to turn you in, angel.”
“I don’t believe you,” she says, her chin wobbling. God, I want to pull her into my arms, but I don’t think she’d appreciate my touch right now.
“I was ready to negotiate for your freedom. I would have paid any price to have you safe and by my side.”
“Why?” Her eyes go soft, but then they narrow into slits. My girl wants to believe me but I’ve cut her deep. I broke her trust.
“Why do I want you by my side?”
“Yes. No. I...why now? Why not before your boss called, huh? What did he say that made you suddenly decide it’s okay to be with me?”
“They found the other woman. She was in New York this whole time. You’re not in any danger.”
“That’s not the point!” she yells. I deserve her wrath, though it’s her tears that gut me. “You slept with me,” she continues, her voice thick with emotion. I can see her heart shattering before my eyes and I hate myself for doing this to her, for not telling her sooner how I feel about her. “I...I gave myself to you and I thought it meant something. I thought it was special. I thought…”
Her voice breaks as the first tear falls.
“Please, angel, don’t cry,” I beg.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore!” she shouts. Good. Anger, I can deal with. Tears? Not so much.
"I'm sorry, Keyera," I try again. "You're right, it's not my place to boss you around anymore. But I'm hoping…" I blow out a breath and bear my heart to the only woman I've ever loved. "I'm hoping you'll let me stick around and prove to you how much you mean to me. I'm hoping you'll let me plead for your forgiveness every day for the rest of our lives. I don't trust anyone, angel. But I do trust you. You have to believe that."
Tears fall freely down her blotchy red cheeks and I can see that she’s torn.
“What do you mean, for the rest of our lives?” Keyera whispers, tentative hope shining through all that pain and sadness.
“I need you, angel. I love you. I love you so much. Please don’t leave me. Give me another chance to show you that you’re it for me. Let me prove just how much I need you.”
“You love me?” she whispers and I nod, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face.
“I had no idea I was capable of love, but Keyera, my angel, I must have saved all of it for you. You’re mine.” She glares at me, though there’s a sparkle in her eyes. “If you’ll have me,” I add, relieved when she huffs out a little laugh.
“Is that the first time you’ve humbly asked for anything?” she teases, though her voice is still scratchy from crying. I cup her cheek in one hand, wiping her tears away and getting a better look at my beautiful angel.
“Maybe, but it won’t be the last,” I murmur, leaning in to kiss her forehead, nose, and cheeks. I take her left hand in mine and lift it up, kissing her ring finger. Keyera gasps and darts her eyes from my eyes to my lips, where they are pressed to her skin. “When you’re ready, of course,” I whisper, setting her hand down and cupping the back of her neck. “I want it all with you, but I can wait. As long as I have you by my side, angel. Say you won’t leave me again. Say I get to keep you.”
Keyera doesn’t say anything for a few moments. My heart is in my throat and I feel like I might pass out. Finally, she breaks out into a radiant smile, taking my breath away.
“You can keep me,” she whispers onto my lips before kissing me soundly.
I sink into her hot little mouth, though I let her take control this time. Her tongue tangles with mine, stroking, teasing, driving me up the fucking wall with need.
When we finally break apart for air, we're both panting. "Thank fuck," I breathe out, resting my forehead on hers. "Because we need to get out of here, angel. You're safe with me, I promise," I assure her when she goes stiff in my arms. "But we need to lay low for a while. I was thinking Hawaii. Have you ever been?"
“What about my car? And all my stuff?” she asks as I pull out of the gas station. She doesn’t seem all that concerned about it, which warms me up. Keyera trusts that I’ll take care of the details. She’s right, of course.
“I’ll get you new stuff. And a new car. Whatever you want.”
