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“You heard me, Bellua. You want to end this grudge between us? You want to stop pretending that we hate each other? You want…” I can’t even say it.
But my cheeks flush even hotter, and Brooks chuckles. In a lot of ways, I’m an experienced woman who knows exactly how to make a man cry out in pleasure and beg for me. But in other ways, I’m just a scared, innocent sixteen-year-old all over again, in love with three guys who will never love her back.
“You started this, and the only way to end it is to get on your knees and beg me to forgive you.”
Brooks’s jaw clenches. I expect him to turn around and storm out. Because this is a game to him. We’re playing chicken, and I just made the winning move. He can’t beat me. Hewon’t—
I gasp as he sinks to his knees in front of me.
Brooks Bellua is on his knees forme.
“Lily Dean, from the moment you climbed over our fence in your daisy sundress, I knew that my one job on this planet was to protect you. You and Jackson and Orion. The three of you matter more to me than myself. Sometimes, it’s easier to protect people if they hate you, if they want nothing to do with you.
“You wanted a kiss on your sixteenth birthday, and instead, I left you. Because I thought it was for the best. I came back to Haddenwood at prom because I couldn’t bear the thought of that werewolf anywhere near you. I thought that I was no good for you, that I would bring down evil on you, when you deserve only happiness and light.
“You want to know how often I’ve thought of you all these years? The answer is every second of every day. I tried to drown it in the work and in booze and in nameless, faceless women, but the truth is that when I close my eyes at night, it’s you I see.
“It’s our one perfect kiss that lingers on my lips—a kiss that I stole from a girl who was too young and too naïve to know that the real monster was right in front of her. I think about you so much that when you showed up here, it almost wasn’t a surprise because I’m so used to seeing you everywhere I go.
“I did everything wrong. I’m the one who messed up. I never should have left you. I should have held on to you so tight that you couldn’t breathe. You’re so much braver and stronger than I ever gave you credit for, but I wish you didn’t have to be so brave and strong. I wish you didn’t have to suffer any of this. Iwish—” His voice cracks.
“But I can’t change any of it. I fucked up. I’d give up my Mustang if I could change that, but no one will take it. And if you never forgive me, I will still be here, loving you imperfectly, watching over you, and beating the shit out of any monsters who try to mess with you.
“And if you’ll let me, I’ll remain by your side. I’ll fight for you, over and over, until every last monster is gone from this earth. If I have to, I’ll fall on my sword for you. Only for you.”
“Brooks…” Tears pool in the corners of my eyes.
“I mean every word.” He throws his hands up in the air. “Is that sufficient?”
“Nearly.” I grab my phone from the nightstand and snap a couple of pictures. Mmmm, these will make the perfect screensaver. “Now we’re good, Bellua.”
“That’s interesting.” A slow smile spreads across his face. “Because I still have a lot of groveling to do.”
Before I know what’s happening, Brooks has crawled to the edge of the bed and lifted up the corner of the duvet. I yelp as his warm hand closes around my ankle.
He pushes my legs apart. One hand sweeps up the bunched hem of my baggy sweatshirt. The other tugs down my leggings and then tosses them aside.
Brooks breathes hard as he takes in the sight of my lacy thong.
“Little Lily Dean,” he murmurs. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the woman you’ve become.”
“Tell me about these dreams,” I murmur as he trails his fingers over the backs of my knees and my thigh before he cups one hand under the curve of my ass.
This is really happening.
“Another time.” His voice is dark as he lays a trail of kisses down my leg that draws a whimper from my lips. “But I’ll give you a hint—in my next one, you’re going to be naked for me.”
Brooks grabs the lace between his fingers and tears them—literallytears them—off me, exposing my aching pussy.
“Hey, that was very expensive lace!”
“Maybe so, but right here is the real treasure.”
I start to tell him that is a fucking ridiculous line, but he buries his face between my legs.
The pleasure slams into me from the moment he drags his tongue from my slick entrance to my clit. I am on fire for this man. My heart may remember all the shit he’s put me through, but my body is a traitorous bitch because she is ready to prostrate herself before Brooks Bellua and his magical tongue.
He pins my thigh in place with one hand, while the other lifts my ass, angling me so that he has me exactly where he wants me. All the while that wicked tongue of his attacks my clit like he’s waging war against it, and I am ready and willing to be conquered.
