“No,” he repeated. He wrapped his arms around me and I fought against him. “No, I won’t let you go. Not now. Not ever, Morgan.” His voice was so soft, so tender, that if I hadn’t just seen him in the arms of another woman, I would have been weak in the knees.
“I knew better than to give my heart to a soccer player. I read the articles. I knew what kind of man you were, but I didn’t listen to my instincts. I feel like such an idiot.” Tears started to build but I refused to let them fall. There was no way I’d let Lucas see me cry.
“Listen to me, Morgan, Marla and I slept together—”
“You asshole!” I screeched, beating my fists against his chest. “If you don’t let me go I’ll knee you in the junk then you won’t be using it for a good long time, you slut!”
“Morgan, calm the fuck down and let me speak.”
“Why should I, you dickhead?”
“Because I fucking love you and I don’t want you thinking the worst of me. Everyone thinks the worst of me. But not you! Never you!” he shouted.
I stopped struggling. “Don’t you dare. You’re not allowed to say that. Not now.”
He cupped my cheeks and held me still, so I had nowhere to look but in his eyes. They were wet. Was he crying?
I didn’t care. Let him sob.
Faithless jerk.
“I slept with Marla a long time ago. I was drunk. I was new to the team. I made a bad decision that I have regretted every day since. I was an awful person. I did awful things to people I cared about. Until I met you. You’ve changed me, Morgan Carter. You’ve made me a better man. Because I want to be everything you deserve.” He rubbed my skin with his thumbs. “Don’t you understand? I can’t even look at anyone else because you’re all I see. I love you.” He kissed my unyielding lips. “I love you,” he whispered, his voice cracking.
“Does Craig know about you and Marla?” I asked him. I’d table the declaration of love for the moment. I wasn’t ready to forgive him.
Not yet.
Lucas looked ashamed. “No. He doesn’t. I’ve wanted to tell him a hundred times but I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it.”
“Don’t you think he has a right to know what kind of woman he’s married to? What sort of friend are you?”
“The worst kind,” he answered sadly. “I’m a coward. I didn’t want Craig to hate me. Even if that’s exactly what I deserve.”
“You need to tell him, Lucas. Craig seems like a decent guy. He deserves better than Marla, that’s for sure. If you want to be better, then do better.” Lucas nodded.
“You’re right. I will tell him. But I can’t during the season. It will mess up his game. It will screw up the team—”
“And that’s more important than being honest?” I asked.
“No. It’s not.” His voice broke and he let me go. “I’ll tell him soon, Morgan. I promise.”
“Good.” I wiped away tears I hadn’t realized were falling. “I’d like you take me home now, Lucas.”
“You’re going to leave me aren’t you?” His eyes were frightened. I hadn’t realized the power I had over him. The power to break him. It was a heady sensation. But it brought me no pleasure.
Because I loved him.
“Please don’t leave me, Morgan.” He sounded so, so sad.
My shoulders sagged and I felt my anger seep out of me. “I’m not going to leave you, Lucas. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. My heart won’t let me.”
“Why?” he asked. I could see the hope there.
“Because I love you too,” I admitted, giving him the words he so freely gave to me.
“Say it again,” he begged.
“I love you.”
