Flawless Prize

JULIET

He crosses his arms.“All right. Speak.”

I take a deep breath. “You need to stop doing this. Coming after me, than pulling away. It’s not fair to me.”

He nods. “You’re right. You need to stay away from me. For good.”

“No.”

My voice is so hard, his eyes immediately flash to mine. “What?”

“You heard me.” I meet his eyes head-on. Standing my ground. “I know, you keep talking about putting me in danger. You want to protect me. But I don’t need your protection, and I sure as hell don’t need you deciding what’s best for me,” I tell him. “I choose you. Us. You can’t control how I feel. I love you, and I choose you. I won’t let you shut me out. Not again.”

Caleb runs a hand through his hair, looking ragged. “It’s over, Juliet,” he says, but I swear, his voice wavers. “You can’t keep coming around me like this.”

“Why not?” I challenge him. “If it really was over, if you really felt nothing for me, it wouldn’t matter than I’m here. it wouldn’t matter if I did this,” I add, reaching out and laying my palm on his chest.

He recoils like he’s been burned. But the gesture fills me with hope—and determination.

I still affect him. I still matter.

“You’re pushing me away, but you don’t get to make that decision for the both of us!” I exclaim, all my emotions bubbling to the surface. It’s scary as hell to put all my feelings on the line like this, but I have no other choice. Not if I want a life with him. Not if I want him to understand.

“We’ve been through so much. I refuse to let it end like this,” I continue. “Because of fear, your fear, that something will happen to me? No. I won’t let it happen. It’s stupid. Things happen all the time! Life is dangerous no matter what I do. Even without your secrets,” I exclaim. “I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. If the price of having you is not being hidden away in a bubble, then so be it. It’s worth it. You’re worth it. So it’s up to you to decide now, am I worth it too?”

I finally pause, heart pounding in my chest. What will he say? I’ve stated my piece, but at the end of the day, love takes two. If he can’t step up and make this work, than all my determination and bravery won’t bridge the gap between us.

I can’t make him love me the way I need.

Caleb stands there a moment, not saying a word. Then he takes a step closer.

My body tightens, just from his nearness.

His form looms, the air of dominance sending a shiver down my spine and stiffening my nipples. I can see everything he feels for me, burning in his eyes, the love and lust and fear.

But which will win?

When he finally speaks, there's a war raging in his gaze. “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done it to protect you, Juliet… You have to understand.”

His voice is hoarse. Barely controlling the emotions in conflict beneath the surface.

“I do.” I gulp. “And I know things are dangerous, but it’s my decision to make. Being with you… That’s my choice too. And I love you. That’s all that matters to me. And the rest of it? I don’t care. The uncertainty, the potential danger and the risk. It’s all worth it as long as I get to be by your side at the end of this.”

“You don’t mean that.” Caleb searches my face, looking desperate. A dying man in the desert who can’t believe the oasis isn’t a mirage.

“I do.” I move towards him. “It’s you. It’s only ever been you.”

Will only ever be you.

Because I know it in my bones, Caleb Sterling is the love of my life, and nobody will ever come close.

“Juliet…” This time, my name is a whisper. A prayer.

“You love me too,” I say, determined. “I know you do.”

“But the risk…”

“We can face it, together.” I reach for him and take his hands in mine. “Caleb, this is what I want. I know you want to keep me safe, but the safest place in the world for me is at your side. Where I belong.”