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"Wherever you want," he said softly "However you want I’ive"

She leaned her forehead into his chest, resting it there as she si about him The way he felt His scent The thud of his heartbeat How safe she felt in his arotten that dao

"I told you that I needed to be there today And why I needed to be there I told you the truth I just didn’t tell you the other reason it was so important for me to be there," she ad for his reaction, wondering if he’d be angry because he’d been nothing but honest and blunt with her Brutally so at times

To her surprise, he swept her up into his arms in an effortless motion and carried her to the couch He turned his back and then simply sat down, her cradled on his lap as he leaned back, pulling her with hi to be co to be in ," Wade said

Then he si her shoulder underneath his so that the top of her head was nestled under the line of his jaw, pressed to the side of his neck

The fact that his body language, the tone of his voice, hadn’t registered the slightest change after her confession that she’d kept so e ahead and not fear his reaction

When had his approval become so important to her? When had it ever mattered to her whether she pissed hi with the abrupt about-face their relationship had experienced and, in the back of herworry that when this was over and she was no longer in danger, things would go back to the way they’d been before when they practiced reluctant tolerance of one another for the sake of theiran ungrateful, childish bitch than he was of being an overbearing asshole She’d never even thanked hi her life Instead she’d avoided him when at all possible, and when avoidance wasn’t a possibility, she’d been snarky, sarcastic and purposely needled hiiven it little thought But now it ate at her Her actions, her behavior and her treat to share, baby?" Wade asked, interrupting her self-castigation "Not that I’ you, but you’re obviously upset, and from what I saw and heard, you have cause to be"

"You watched it?" she asked in a low voice

"Yeah Hated that I couldn’t be there watching overin to the broadcast"

She curled her fingers into his shirt, wanting, needing to just hold on to hithen my mental barriers And when I told you how he manipulated my mind, you asked if he could still do that And I said no"

He gave her a co squeeze

"But I didn’t know that for certain," she whispered shakily "How could I? I had once thought to have Gracie try to read my mind to see if I could successfully shut her out, but Thoht he would never be a threat to ain and if I asked that of Gracie then I would have had to explain things I’d never shared with anyone and never intended to, so I just let it go but kept working at it In a way, I think it was a part ofprocess I eak and easily , and I hatedtime I still do at times," she ad steps towhat I considered a weakness gave me back some of the power I’d lost It made me feel protected whether it was true or coave you even a measure of security, ave you back anything that bastard took from you, then not only is it real, but it obviously provided soives a shit if it can be scientifically proven? You and I have both witnessed the extraordinary More than once and in more than one person Do you think Ramie’s, Ari’s or Gracie’s abilities could ever be scientifically proven? Do you think there is a way to measure their abilities? Ever reproduce them in a lab or an experihtening into a ball, wadding his shirt in her grasp, pulling it taut across his chest

Wade went still and then he gently pried her hand fro her fro her so she straddled his lap facing hi together in a mixture of confusion and concern

"I purposely positioned myself in front of the podium so Thomas would see me Because I knew that when he saw me, he would attempt to manipulate me He would want to reestablish o anywhere with him And I had to know, before this h to block him I was so afraid, Wade," she ad myself so I didn’t have to admit hoeak and powerless I was"

The ache in her head, the residual effects of Tho it She went silent and leaned in to Wade, resting her forehead against his lips, needing that contact, needing the soothing coave so readily

His hand went to the back of her head and gentlyher moan at the brief respite froave her another fewhow much she needed them Just a few to collect herself before she continued Finally, she lifted her head and aze, suddenly bereft and hollow at the loss of that contact

"So he tried," Wade said griun his ridiculous spiel, but I knew the instant he noticed me I felt his eyes onon her ar the chill away as he rubbed up and down