Page 189 (1/2)

He shook his head “I can’t do that Not until you hear what I came to say”

“It doesn’t work like that anyone It ended when you left” The pent-up anger I felt was undeniable “You walked out of here that day, knowing you had what you needed And it wasn’tback You left me to be arrested and hu I ever worked for could have been destroyed because of you I al lared “That’s what I have to say That’s what I need you to hear”

“Fuck I hear you I do Every word I was on a plane to Dubai an hour ago I shouldn’t even be here, but I got off the plane and I came here To see you”

“Why? Do you think Greer has o She’s now an administrative assistant with absolutely no security clearance You need to choose a differenthere for you to steal”

“I don’t care about Greer I came here because of you”

My shoulders shook “Stop lying”

“It’s not a lie” His voice was dark and calm

“You had me And you lost me”

“Don’t say that,” he coaxed “Don’t ever say that”

I looked at him One tear fell before another “Is this what you needed to see? My tears How you have drained me of every emotion You have destroyedfor you? Did you want to see the wreckage you left behind?”

“Damn it, Em No No”

His lips crushed ainst hiainst his body The hard kiss blistered my lips He breathed desperately and I reacted with instinct With the memory of his scent, his touch My hands clasped around his neck as his tongue twined againstat the corners ofuntil I ulped for air I clung to him I was starved for him For his body There was a thirst I craved that the wine hadn’t touched There was a need for him that work couldn’t erase There was a hollow hole that couldn’t be filled no matter how many miles I ran None of it could do forkiss could restore

“I love you I came back because I love you,” he whispered “I couldn’t fly to Dubai and leave you on the other side of the world”

I staggered backward, trying to catchto break away froun I shouldn’t have given in like that I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, but my skin was already seared with his mark

“What are you trying to do?” I stared at hile you can with ive a damn where I am”