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"How close are you, Eliza?" he asked hoarsely "I want you with me, baby Alith me"

"Close," she choked out "Please don’t stop, Wade Please"

He pressed his lips between her shoulder blades and whispered against her skin "You’ll never have to ask ive you"

As brutal and co leisurely, prolonging both their releases And when it ca like Eliza had ever experienced in her life It was so beautiful and heartrending that she couldn’t have spoken if she wanted

Wade lowered his body to hers, following her down flat on the bed He rolled to his side so she didn’t bear his weight, still embedded deeply within her He wrapped his arainst his thudding chest He buried his face in her neck and re ret Tears streaked down her cheeks as she clutched at the arms wrapped firmly around her

"Eliza?"

Wade sounded worried and unsure He lifted one hand to wipe at her cheek

"Baby, what is it? Did I hurt you?"

She shook her headinto a million pieces

"Oh God, Wade What have I done? I can’t let you fight my battles for me I can’t risk you I can’t lose you It would destroy htened around her and he kissed her temple "And you don’t think it would destroy me if I lost you?"

SEVENTEEN

WADE woke, instinctively knowing that Eliza was no longer asleep beside hi up, distance between them on the bed, her knees drawn to her chest, a pensive expression hts not pleasant judging by the slight frown and the sorrow in her eyes

He shifted quietly so as not to disturb her and then sat up, closing the distance as he scooted toward her, not wanting any space between the her side to his chest She surprised hih that told hihts were not happy ones

"What are you thinking?" he asked quietly, brushing a kiss over the top of her head

"What a otten you into," she said in a low tone filled with regret

"I don’t re you a choice," he said dryly