He groans low, raw, tortured and pulls me even closer.
But he doesn’t kiss me.
His forehead presses to mine, his hands sliding to cradle my jaw like I’m something he’s terrified of losing.
“Tell me what you feel right now,” he murmurs.
I swallow.“Warm.”
His thumbs stroke my cheeks.
“What else?”
“Safe,” I breathe.
He inhales sharply.
“And?”he pushes, voice rough.
I look into his eyes, and something inside me clicks into place a memory slamming into me so hard I gasp.
A doorway.Dim light.His arms around me.My hands gripping the front of his shirt.My voice whispering,Don’t fall in love with me.
And his answering whisper rough, painful, true, “Too late, sunshine.”
The memory hits like lightning.
My breath shatters.
His eyes widen.“What just happened?”
“I,” Tears blur my vision.“I remember.”
“What?”he demands.
“You,” I choke out.“Holding me.Kissing me.Me telling you not to fall in love and you,” I pause.
He’s frozen.
“You said it was too late,” I whisper.
Ledger looks like I just punched the air from his lungs.“You didn’t push me away.I begged you not to fall in love with me.Over and over, I put the wall up between us.Even though I had already fallen for you.”
For a full five seconds, he says nothing.Then he drags me into him, not gentle now, not hesitant, but desperate, arms wrapping around my back, pulling me into his chest like he’s reclaiming something that was stolen.
My breath leaves me in a rush.
He buries his face in my neck for one long, shuddering moment.I grip his shirt in both hands, anchoring myself to him.When he finally pulls back, his eyes are wet, jaw clenched hard.
“Kelly,” he whispers, “you remembered me.”
“Yes,” I breathe, cupping his cheek.“I did.I do.”
Lightning flashes again, illuminating his expression, this mix of relief, fear, hunger, and something deeper.Something I’m not ready to name but feel down to my bones.
Then his phone buzzes violently.The sound rips the moment apart.
Ledger stands instantly, every inch of him shifting from vulnerable man to lethal protector.“What?”he snaps into the phone.“Talk.”
