Chapter Ten
“Idon’t know why you’dwant me, but I’d love for you to be mine,” Morgan mumbled.
“Sweetheart, you have to work past the idea that no one wants you. It's simply not true.”
Looking back up at him from under her lashes, she offered him a tiny smile. “I know I need therapy. It's just that I’ve been afraid to bring up all those awful memories.”
“That’s understandable, but it could be useful. I’ve even thought about it for myself.”
“Why, what happened to you?” Morgan couldn't picture any harm coming to this sweet, quiet man without it making her sad.
Ryder leaned back, resting his arm along the back of the chair. “My parents died when I was sixteen. I ended up in foster care, which is not all it’s cracked up to be. The house parents tried, but I was torn up over losing both my parents, my home and neighborhood, and all my friends. It felt like I was plucked from one reality and dropped into another one without warning.”
Morgan reached out and touched his hand. Her heart throbbed in her chest. “It sounds awful.”
“I don't talk about it a whole lot. It’s too painful. So, I can see why you would struggle with talking about what happened to you. Especially since your parents tried to force you to accept it as though it wasn't a big deal.”
“They were afraid of the negative press. Honestly, my mother vilified me every time a reporter tried to ask what happened. The guy was practically sainted over the mistreatment he suffered from me, their slutty daughter who was obviously asking for it.” She took a deep breath to steady her churning stomach. “Luckily, the jury saw that he’d hurt me. I wish he’d gotten more time. I worry that he’ll come looking for me, or that he’s done this to others. That he still does it right now and I can’t stop him.”
“Look, Shorty, it’s not your job to worry about what he is or isn't doing. You pressed charges, which is all you can do. You used your voice to ensure what he did wasn't kept a secret.”
"It never feels like enough, though." Sniffing, she said, "You're right, you know. I have no experience with respectful men. I mean, Owen is extremely respectful, but I'm related to him."
"You've never had a guy who was both interested in you and respectful toward you."
"Exactly. You don't brush aside my worries or insecurities."
"They're valid." He leaned forward, staring in her eyes. "I don't want you to be ruled by them, that's all."
"I knew I needed to take charge of my own life. It was too easy to let my parents manipulate me. Going along with their every whim seemed simpler than fighting back. Fighting back all the time grew exhausting, but then they felt like they won."
"And it exacerbated your misery."
"Yeah." The way he understood her made warmth spread through her chest. "You get me."
"I don't know if I do, entirely, but I'm trying."
His face was closer to her now, and she studied the handsomeness of it. "Is the, uh, no sex thing still a rule?"
She watched the color of his eyes deepen, sparkling at her from across the table as he grinned. "Maybe not entirely."
"What is the rule, exactly?" she whispered.
"Well." Standing, Ryder moved over to her chair. Craning her neck to see him, she nearly drooled at the image her brain conjured of his naked body standing before her. "I didn't want to have sex before marriage."
"Right." Her brain nearly shut off when he kneeled.
"But with you . . ." Ryder trailed his fingers through the hair at her temple, smoothing it behind her ear. "I might bend a little."
"H-how little?" She cleared her throat.
He tilted his head. "There's something about you that makes me want to throw everything out the window."
"Don't break your rules for me." She shook her head, opening her mouth to continue, when he interrupted her.
"Don't you dare say it's because you're not worth it."
She snapped her mouth shut again. "It's more that I want to help you keep what's important to you. You made the rule for a reason."
