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A sob broke free froripped his ring

"I’er," I said a few one through, and I will never forget you or e had, but I can’t lose him too There is a man who loves me and who loved you, ayou--and now it’s tiers to my lips, I shakily pressed them to the stone and whispered, "I’ll always love you, Benjamin Craft, but it’s tis, I stood up and sloalked back to my car The drive was smoother and not nearly as rushed as the drive to the cemetery, but I needed the tio

When I was sure I was done crying, I wiped my face and took some deep breaths as I sat outside the place where I knew I needed to be And just before I got out of my car, I unclasped the necklace I’d worn every day for the past two years and set Ben’s ring down in one ofout of my car, I walked up to the door of the warehouse and unlocked it I could have called hi--I should have But I would’ve started explaining why I was co that could be said over the phone, and I kneake by the loudout ofas I e roo furiously on a piece in front of hi--the picture was ofwhat he’d seen on ht, and I hated that I’d zoned out and fallen back into a place where I wasn’t sure of anything

Jagger hung his head, one hand rip the back of his neck as he stood there in front of the drawing Dropping the charcoal in his other hand, he looked up and started using his fingers to continue creating as in his mind, and a small smile crossed my face when I saw the streak of black on the back of his neck

When I was halfway down the hall, his body suddenly straightened and he slowly looked over his shoulder to where I was standing Shock crossed his face, but not soon enough that I didn’t see the pain and fear that had been there seconds before He turned to facethe stereo until the music abruptly cut off

"What are you--what tied and shook my head "Umlate? I don’t know"

"Are you okay?" he asked as he closed the distance between us, and ot a better look at his charcoal-streaked face

Lifting my hands to wipe thereen eyes "You have a little soh so it didn’t hurt, but tight enough that I could feel the way his body was vibrating "Why are you here, Grey?"

My sht, it was clear Brushing ain, I lockedthe right decision Jagger already knew I loved him, but this--it was different, and he would know "I love you, Jagger Easton"

His worried face softened "I love you too"

"I needed to tell you that I’m in love with you, and I’m ready"

A lopsided smile pulled at his lips as he bent his head lower "Yeah?" he asked when his forehead rested against ," I whispered Looking directly into his green eyes, I hooked ers inside the top of his jeans before slowly unbuttoning the with you"

"Don’t do this foraway froaze locked with his the entire time

With shaky hands, I moved the thin straps of my top off ger’s eyes as I turned the corner to the hall leading out to theup to his loft before he grabbed ainst my stomach as the other trailed up my arm to my bare shoulder His lips pressed to the base ofhand moved over my brsts and slowly pulled the shirt down to free them

"If you need to stop--"

"I won’t," I assured hi my shirt down the rest of the way, I pushed it past e hands explored ainst his bare chest and wondered briefly when he’d taken his shirt off; then hts were only on his lips and hands One of his hands slid down to cup h my thin shorts, and I er," I whiainst the sensitive skin ofcharcoal all over you"

"I don’t care"

A soft laugh ruh his chest as he pushedme Never once did his hands and lips leave some part of my body, and the ascent that should have taken seconds ended up taking a few minutes