“No.”
‘Then why do you think I would?”
At that he turned and looked into her eyes. “I haven’t trusted anyone other than those guys in a long, long time.”
“Then it’s time you did.” She reached out and touched him, placing her palms above the barrier of his arms, onto his chest. Fingers spread wide, she gently pushed on him as if she were trying to push her way into his head. “You have to decide if I’m worth the risk. If you can believe in me.”
She ached for him to believe in her. In himself. In them.
He didn’t take his eyes off her. His chest rose and fell quickly, like he was running. Or panicking.
“I’m afraid,” he finally admitted in a rough whisper. “I’m afraid that one day I’ll wake up and you won’t want me anymore.”
His heart pounded beneath her palm. A light sheen of sweat gleamed on his forehead. Dani’s heart broke for him all over again. Because she knew that had happened to him once already. Because she understood that fear herself.
But admitting it? Baring his soul to her like this? That took such courage. Such trust. It was so precious. And she had to go so carefully.
Swallowing hard, she lifted her hand, gently framing his face. “Your mom was so, so wrong.”
He closed his eyes, turning his cheek into her palm. Instinctively she stroked her fingers against his rough stubble.
“I’m so sorry you were hurt like that.” She rose up on tiptoe as tears filled her eyes. “I wish I could take it away.”
She wished she could carry that pain for him. But she could promise him better.
“I’ll never hurt you like that,” she whispered, willing him to hear her sincerity. Her love. “I know you find that hard to believe right now. But it’s true. I won’t let you down. I won’t leave you.”
He suddenly moved, wrapping his arms around her so quickly and so tightly she lost her breath.
“You’d better mean it. I can’t let you go. I’m so sorry.” His arms crushed as he lifted her clean off her feet and hauled her close.
Heavenly close.
“I want you so much.” He muttered fast, rough, emotional in her ear. “But I want you to be free, to make your own choices. Be here for as long as you needed me. That’s all I want. To be here for as long as you want me. I don’t want you to feel pinned down.”
She wriggled her arms free and wound them round his neck and clung tight. Sheer relief had rendered her legs useless anyway.
He wanted her. He just didn’t want to hinder her or hold her back from making her own choices.
He was her choice. Maybe now he’d know it.
She smiled, understanding at last that he’d already given his heart to her. That he wanted to do and be what she wanted. Just as she wanted to do and be what he wanted. What he needed.
“I’ll make my choices. I can waitress, study part-time... I can work hard.” She wanted to. She’d make a go of it all.
“I know.” He smiled back at her.
She showered his face with tiny kisses until his arms loosened. Until his breathing quickened again, for an altogether different reason.
She pulled back, so filled with joy her blood hummed. “And sometimes,” she peered up into his face with a sassy look. “I like it when you pin me down.”
His intensity finally broke into that gorgeous smile.
Enraptured she kissed him hard on the mouth. Hard, hot and hungry.
“I’m going to need you for a long, long time,” she assured him breathlessly, tracing her hands over his tight bunched muscles. “I’m going to need you forever.”
He looked at her, his bottomless eyes filled with an emotion that sent her heart soaring.
“Dani,” he breathed into her mouth—into her soul. “I’m going to love you forever.”
THE END