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"But you didn’t--"
"It’s what’s on my record I’m considered a sexual predator, whether I like it not, whether I forced you or not And let’s not forget the murder part I killed two people" When she winced, I went on, pushing harder "With my bare hands There’s no technicality about that I killed theedto be that innocent boy you fell in love with" Shakinghere for you any longer, City"
She sniffed and wiped at her face as her eyes filled with tears "See, I listen to everything you say, but all I heard was you calling ain And yet, here you stand, and II just can’t believe you’re really here It’s really you, yet you keep pushing lanced away, unable to watch the tears glistening from her cheeks I wouldn’t be able to watchmy willpower "Don’t do this"
Her shoulders shuddered and her throat shifted as she sed "But I don’t know if I can stop" Her voice was soft, raspy Tormented
I had to shut this shit down--now--before she brokeclue," I snapped "My entire fah school diplooddamn criminal record under my belt I don’t have a need or desire to reled up with you once ruined ain I just want to put it all behindthe rest ofin tears I had to be the biggest bastard ever The urge to yank her intoto hold her and apologize
Why did I still have to feel that all-consuht breath When I exhaled, I kneas going to reach for her and apologize But she nodded
"I know you said you’ve changed, and you’re not the same Knox I can see that forin your heart I knohat’s deep inside you I don’t think a person’s core--their true nature--can change this o Even though I knew I’d never be able to lie to her, I still tried "Well, I disagree"
"My heart hasn’t changed" Her voice broke, and rew up and tried to ht here" She pummeled her chest with her fist "This is still the same, and since the moment you ran into me in the woodsit has beaten for you"
Fuuuuuck I fistedwith the need to reach for her
I needed to tune her out, resist, but she kept talking, and I just kept soaking it in
"I can’t live like this any without you is like an open wound that bleeds and festers every day It hurts and it’sme away" She set her hands on my chest and pushed me "You can’t hate me that much if you can react the way you did when I told Asher that joke?"
I blew out a breath, wanting out of this conversation almost as much as I wanted to crawl out of my own skin and just besomeone else "I didn’t say I ever hated you"
"So you love aze to her, I could do nothing but stare into her penetrating eyes Panic filledher directly, afraid to show just how much this slip of a woman intimidated me
She moved even closer "All you have to do is say you don’t love ht now, and walk out I’ll never bother you again"
This was olden opportunity to save her fro o red as I bit out, "Goddamn you"
Her lips fluttered up with accomplishment "I love you, too," she said si powerful and painful jarred through"I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you I’ve tried Believe et over you I tried to ht about was you"