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He spun me around, his eyes wild, and his breathing accelerated. My eyes caught with his, and I swallowed the threatening tears before quickly looking away. I tugged against his hold, but I couldn’t get loose.
“What the fuck is going on, Tori? Why are you ignoring me?”
His shoulders were tense as he towered over me, making me feel small. I had always loved feeling that way with him, but this time was different. Not only did I feel small, I felt terrible. I was the issue—a big problem waiting to rock his life like my father did.
“Let me go,” I whispered, trying again to tug my arm from his grasp.
“No.”
The word was final. He wasn’t about to hear an argument. Like, it was impossible for him to release me. The word cracked, edged with aggravation and pain. It was too much.
“Koah, please,” I begged, still avoiding his gaze.
Then he moved closer, his scent invading my senses. I breathed him in, taking him as deep as I could so I could hold on to him.
“Baby, what’s going on?” His voice softened, making my knees feel weak and unable to hold the weight of my entire fucking life.
I had only been in his presence a matter of seconds, and already he was shaking my resolve.
Why was I so fucking weak?
“I can’t …” I choked, unable to finish my sentence.
He pulled me into him, cupping my cheek and forcing me to look him in the face. His thumb captured a tear as it drifted down my cheek.
“Just let me go,” I requested again. “It’s what I want. Please.”
His hard body shivered, and he shook his head, understanding I meant more than letting go of me physically. “Tori?”
I looked up to see the heartbreak in his eyes, but I kept pushing forward.
“Please,” I begged once more.
His palm warmed my cheek before he moved his fingers into my hair and pulled my forehead to his. He clenched his eyes closed and exhaled. “I can’t. Ask me for anything else, and I’ll give it to you, but I won’t let you go.”
The grief in his voice stabbed through my soul, stinging and torturing me.
“I can’t do this, Koah. We can’t do this.” I shook my head, again attempting to pull away.
I had no explanation for him—no reason for my sudden need to be away from him, but he didn’t ask for one. Instead, he pulled me into his arms and held me against his chest. The action sent me over the edge, and I burst into tears, crying into his shirt.
He rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head. “Did something happen? Did I do something?” His voice was broken and uncertain.
I shook my head, keeping my face buried in his chest.
“Then tell me what’s going on. Talk to me, baby.”
I squeezed my eyes closed and exhaled, racking my brain with anything that would make Koah release me.
“I’m scared,” I whispered, licking a lone tear from my top lip.
He pulled back and captured my face in his hands. “Of me?”
“Of this,” I said, motioning to the space between us. “I need to focus on Gracie. Since this thing with you started, I’ve let things fall to the back burner. Important things. She and I are a mess, and I need to focus.”
It was the only thing I could think of—the only reason that made an ounce of sense.
With his thumb, he swiped away another tear, his eyes red and watery.
