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"I’nant and furious How dare he tell her what she was thinking? But… dammit She couldn’t deny that there was so After all, it had been her who said that she didn’t want this relationship and that she wasn’t ready He’d been onboard with that because his life was full He didn’t have room for love

It’d made him the perfect man for her

The proble for hi that fact fro that to herself as well She’d told hione ahead and done the exact opposite She’d been the one givingthis all up

Her experiences had changed her In fact, they had row up to be someone more independent, more sure of herself That had been so difficult for Aaron to accept that he’d tried to change her back It had cut right to the bone

And yet here she was, trying to change Hud God She gasped at the pain of it and pressed a hand to her heart

She felt Hud slip an arm around her and lead her to a chair He crouched in front of her with his hands on her knees, staring into her face "What just happened?"

She shook her head "I’e what you want, what you need" She squeezed her eyes shut, horrified at herself

"Bay Bay, look at me," he said, a quiet demand

She opened her eyes, a little aot her

"You didn’t try to change me, you simply told me how you felt," he said

"Under the influence," she reminded him

"It was still the truth," he said cal You were open That’s the way it’s supposed to be between two people who are--"

"Sleeping together?"

"It’s a little h he looked a little surprised to hear hih, half sob escape her, and she slapped a hand over her ers, unable to help herself

"A hell of a lot" He was gracious in defeat, standing and offering her his hand, pulling her to her feet and straight into his arms

His kiss, deep and full of emotion, sealed the deal No, he didn’t say the three little words I love you, but she didn’t need them Words weren’t needed in moments like this, especially as he carried her to his suite, where he kicked the door shut and hit the lock

"Be sure," he said quietly, letting her slide slowly down his body until her feet touched the floor, looking into her eyes, his own dark and intense and serious

She wrapped her ar up to slide around the back of his neck, pulling hily, crushing her to hi his face in her neck "Bailey," he whispered "You deserve better"