She turns away for a second, like she can’t quite look at me while she says the next part. “And that terrifies me, Liam. Because I don’t know if it’s real for you too, or if I was just your best move. Some way to clean up the mess, tie the clans together, and look good while doing it.”
My chest tightens. She’s not yelling anymore. That almost makes it worse.
“You keep calling me your wife like that means something. And part of me wants to believe it does. But the rest of me?” She shrugs, makes a bitter little sound in the back of her throat. “The rest of me still doesn’t knowwhyyou wanted to go ahead with this marriage. I know you want to impress your father.”
My breath leaves my chest in a slow, deliberate exhale. “Jesus, Taryn…”
“I’m falling for you,” she says, voice cracking. “And I didn’t want to. I didn’t plan to. That’s why I tried to move the money—because if this all blows up in my face, I need to know I can walk away.”
I close the distance between us, sit next to her. “You can’t walk away.”
Her eyes narrow. “Excuse me?”
“I mean—you could. I’m not locking the door. But the idea of you leaving, of having to wake up without you? It fucking gutted me. You disappeared to Elizabeth’s, and I couldn’t sleep. I tried not to come after you, but I lost my goddamn mind. I kept thinking, this is it. I pushed her too far. I don’t even remember what stupid thing I said to Ryan that did it, and she’s gone. And the worst part? I didn’t even blame you.”
Her expression shifts, softens. “You didn’t?”
“No. Because I handled this all wrong. I was trying tofixthings. Trying to protect you. I know how upset you were about that money. I didn’t want you reminded of it. That had nothing to do with my father and everything to do with wanting to keep you from getting hurt again.”
She swallows. “So what now?”
I reach my hand out. “Come here.”
She hesitates.
“Honest to Christ, beauty—”
She chuckles, shaking her head. “No need to manhandle me again. I’m coming.” She scoots toward me, and I pull her onto my lap.
I press her head to my shoulder, my voice rough. “I didn’t miss what you said, you know. About falling for me. I need you to know I’ll catch you.”
She puts her arms around my neck, snuggles closer. “I don’t need to be caught, baby. What I need is for you to behonestwith me. I need choices. Options.”
I squeeze her tight. I goddamn love when she calls me baby. “I’m fucking free-falling here, Taryn. How’s that for honesty?”
She lets out a broken laugh and fists her hand in the towel still slung around my neck. “Ihatehow much I needed to hear that.”
“I hate how long it took me to say it.”
We sit there for a moment, just breathing, the space between us finally quiet.
Then she tilts her head up, lips barely brushing mine. “I’m still mad at you.”
“I know.” I kiss her anyway. “You can be mad. Just don’t leave. Because I’ll find you, beauty. You wanted honesty, so I need you to know that too. I’ll always find you.”
TARYN
I should be asleep. That would be the sane thing to do after the night we’ve had, after the mud and the shower and all the shouting at each other—and the way I basically cracked open my ribcage and let him look inside.
But instead, I’m lying here in the dark, curled against Liam like my body already made a decision my brain is still catching up to. His arm is wrapped around me, strong and tight, like he’s afraid to let go, even in sleep. And maybe I am too.
I told him I was falling. That somewhere between the fear and the fury, I started wanting this. Wantinghim. And he didn’t flinch. He didn’t joke. He pulled me close and said he’d always find me if I ran.
And now I can’t stop thinking about how good it feels to be found. How tired I am of planning my escape. I tilt my face up enough to look at him in the soft, blue-gray light bleeding through the curtains. His eyes are already on me, patient and unreadable in the way that makes me want to read him more. He doesn’t move, doesn’t push—not even a heartbeat of pressure. Just waits.
I don’t even realize I’m leaning in until our foreheads touch, and I breathe him in like I’ve needed to for days.
To my surprise, Liam doesn’t hurry the kiss. His lips ghost over mine, slowly. His thumb strokes my cheek as he cups my head in his big hand. I get lost in the sensation. Peace. Understanding. Connection.
