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“Is that why you took the promotion?” His gaze flicked away from mine. “So you’d feel like you were good enough for me?”
His breath ghosted across my cheek with his harsh exhale, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. I understood him. I never should’ve doubted what I knew.
He wasn’t working with my father. He hadn’t told me about their conversation or the promotion because he was embarrassed. My father had shamed him into believing he was less than like he always did to me. And he felt guilt for taking a promotion he didn’t think he’d earned.
“Adam, I want you.” I pressed onto my toes, bringing my lips to his as I spoke. “Underboss or assassin or orphan. I’ve only ever wanted you.”
The breath shuttered in his chest as he dropped his hand, pulling me close. He crushed us together, stroking down my spine. “I love you. You’ve always been good enough for me. The only thing I’ve ever wanted was to be loved. I’m never going to leave you. Tell me you know that.”
“I know.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. My body relaxed into his touch. “I just want to give you everything. I want you to be happy.”
“I’m only ever happy with you,” I whispered. “You’re all I ever needed.”
35
Adam
The pressure in my chest eased as I held Ariella close. I thought I was going to lose her all over again. For the same stupid reasons, secrets, and lies.
“I just wish you would’ve told me about it all.” I pulled her closer as she sighed. Trying to heal what I hadn’t meant to hurt.
“I should’ve.” I stroked her silky hair, doing what I could to soothe us both. “I won’t keep anything from you again.”
Britney had fucked me up. For years, I believed Ariella had left me because I wasn’t good enough. Because she’d fallen in line with her father.
I’d internalized that. It had become a part of my DNA. So when I’d heard Gio say it, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her. I didn’t want her to start believing it, too.
I never imagined she would think the worst. Believe that I could possibly work with that piece of shit. But like me, our break up seven years ago had embedded in her soul.
She thought I betrayed her, only to discover the betrayal came from somewhere else. It was going to take a long time for either of us to trust again. To believe this would work.
“I’m sorry for questioning you.” She tilted her head up until I could see those honey eyes I loved. “I guess we need to get better at this part. The trust thing.”
I smiled softly as I cupped her cheeks. “It takes time, nightling.”
Especially for people like us. We’d been broken when we met, and then the world managed to destroy us more. All we knew of love was each other. We didn’t have examples. No parents or past relationships. We were it.
But there was one thing we were good at. One thing that could make us forget this fight. Help us work out the emotions that churned under the surface.
I crashed our mouths together. My tongue plunged inside, swallowing her gasp of surprise. Her fingers clawed at my chest as I devoured her.
I’d never get enough of her sweet taste. Of the way she fit against me. The sounds she made. Each one was carved on my heart, but I still wanted more.
I dropped my hands to her ass, shifting her dress up until only her panties separated us. Ariella moaned as I slipped my fingers under the elastic until I felt her warm, slick flesh. A low growl left me as I felt how ready she was. She arched her back as I circled her entrance.
A groan rumbled through my chest as I sank two fingers inside her. She was so wet and tight. Fucking perfect.
“Did it turn you on to fight with me?” I sank my teeth into her bottom lip, making her pussy clench around me. “Or is this your way of apologizing?”
“I—.” She moaned as I dragged my fingers along her walls. Her legs shook as she clung to me like she’d fall if I didn’t hold her up. “I- I’m not sure.”
The breath stuttered from her lungs as I pumped into her faster. My other hand dug into her plump ass, squeezing hard enough her skin turned white.
“It’s confusing, isn’t it?” I raked my teeth along her neck, feeling her pulse jump. “Wanting someone you’ve hated for so long.”
Her head shot up until I had those mesmerizing eyes on me again. “I don’t hate you.”
She ran her hands up my chest until they brushed through the stubble on my jaw. Her touch made me feel weak. Like she could destroy me with the wrong word. She had no idea how much power she held over me. How my world revolved around her.
