Page 69 (1/2)

And yet… There was so all, but which continued to hold her back

“Nik?” Damen quietly prompted, concern etched on his devilishly handsoeous blue eyes

Ah, that was it

Oh, my God

There it was—she suddenly knehat made her reticent

The pain in his gorgeous blue eyes

The pain he felt for her…on her behalf Always

“Jesus, Damen,” she whispered as tears instantly pooled in her own eyes and crested the ri about me devastates you”

“Nik,” he repeated And gave a slight shake of his head—as though to deny her stately

“You listen and you e, albeit quavering, breath “You agonize Over everything I share with you”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know,” he softly, though veheood, bad, horrific… They’re a part of you, Nik In some ways, they define and shape you In other ways… They push you and co different—to thrive in a different capacity All of it is fascinating and disconcerting at the same time, yes But Nikki…”

His hands very gently, very tenderly cupped her wet cheeks

He stared into herbreadth and depth of emotion within you that it e was so solid, so cohesive, so—”

“Don’t say perfect,” she whispered “Because there’s no such thing Every relationship has its bumps and bruises”

“One of yours was Conner’s career” He didn’t pose that as a question, because he’d already discerned this to be true, by way of her own confessions