“I’m sorry,” he utters after a few silent seconds. The anguish in his voice has me sneaking a glance at him. “I never want to upset you. I love you,” he says, his eyes pinned on my face.
I press my lips together, my chest tight at the intensity behind his words.
“But you don’t want me to have friends,” I whisper.
“Brad’s not your friend,” he snaps.
It’s funny. I liked how I was the one person who could make him lose control. Knowing that I can bring this beautiful strong man to his knees. But all that knowledge does to me now is tear at my heart and make me feel like I can’t breathe.
“Princess,” he pleads, reaching for me.
I step away, and the way his face crumples is as if someone ripped the air from his lungs.
He loves me.
He loves me and he just wants to protect me.
We stare at one another, the air swirling in the confined space until it’s cloying. We’re two people who’ve fallen so deeply for one another that we’re vulnerable. I’ve taken Denver’s strength, and I’ve poked holes in it, one after another.
I’ve opened him up.
But I’m no longer sure that’s a good thing.
He holds my gaze and steps toward me again. And this time, I’m too weak to refuse him. Because the truth is that I want him more than anything. I love him more than anything.
I need him to beokay, more than anything.
His arms have barely opened before I’m throwing myself into them, jumping up and locking my legs around his waist.
I crash my lips to his.
“Sinclair,” he groans, diving into my kiss like he needs it. Like he can’t survive without it.
Then he’s in control, kissing me with all the power and skill that I love about him.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” I gasp as I take control back, meeting his kiss with my own—harder, deeper, more desperate one.
“Fuck, neither do I,” he rasps.
He devours my mouth, swallowing down each pant, sliding his tongue over mine and holding me as close as he possibly can.
I offer everything I have to him, begging him to take it.
“Denver,” I moan as he pushes me back against the wall of the elevator.
“You belong with me,” he hisses. “And I don’t want to fight with you, but Iwillkill men like Brad if they come near you in a way that they shouldn’t.”
“No,” I pant.
“Yes,” he growls, pressing another bruising kiss to my lips. “I will doanythingfor you, and the sooner you understand that, the better.”
He reaches out and pulls the emergency stop lever and the elevator comes to a halt.
“What are you doing?” I gasp.
He keeps his lips hovering over mine. “We’re not going anywhere until you understand that as much as I would fucking die for you, I will also kill for you. I won’t apologize for feeling that way.”
I search his eyes, my gaze catching on the gold flecks in them. They’re like bright flames now, dancing amongst the vivid green.
