"I know." The words rushed out. "I know you wouldn't. That's not—I didn't mean—" She was shaking now, horrified at herself, at the automatic response her body had learned from Vince all those years ago.
Shane hadn't moved. Hadn't reached for her. He’d laid his hands carefully flat on his thighs, giving her space.
"It kills me to see you in so much pain," he said quietly.
April stared at him, not believing what she was hearing. Not anger. Not accusations. Just... grief. For her.
"You thought I was going to slap you for denying me something. For telling me no." Shane's voice was rough with emotion. "You're one of the strongest people I know, April. And the thought of you keeping yourself under lock and key out of fear—fear of being hit by someone who supposedly cares about you—" He shook his head. "That kills me."
"Shane—"
"I just want you to be happy." He said it so simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That's all I've ever wanted. Even when you weren't mine to want it for."
April's heart cracked open then. She looked at this man who'd seen her at her worst, who knew all her mistakes, who'd watched her flinch away from him and hadn't gotten angry. Who just wanted her to be happy.
"There is no doubt in my mind that you could hold up the entire sky by yourself if you had to," Shane said. "But I'm here to tell you—you don't have to do it anymore. Not because you can't, but because you shouldn't have to. Not all alone. Not as long as I'm in your life." He finally, carefully, reached for her hand. "I'm not here to tell you you're weak. I'm here to help you be strong."
A sob broke free from April's throat. Shane pulled her close, and she went—collapsing into him, letting him hold her while she finally, finally let herself feel all of it—including the desperate hope that maybe she didn't have to carry everything alone anymore.
"I've got you," Shane murmured into her hair. "I've got you, baby. I'm not going anywhere."
“It’s okay to let go,” he whispered in April’s ear. “I know how you are, April. I know how you carry the weight of the world—of your family, or your business, of the whole world—on your shoulders. You think no one can help you carry it, but I can. I can, April. I’m not the scared, cowed boy I was. I’m a man who’s never forgotten you. Who’s wanted you for so damn long. Who would do anything for you. Let me have it, April.”
“Have what?”
“Have everything you’re carrying right now. All your responsibility. All your fear. All your anger. Give it to me. Give it to me, and all I’m gonna give back to you is my strength. My?—”
“Don’t say it, Shane.”
“Don’t say what? That I love you?”
“No.”
SEVENTEEN
No.
Shane felt her body stiffen under his hands. Stiffen—then go lax.
“Too bad. You’re gonna hear it from me over and over. I love you, April. I never stopped loving you. All those nights I worried about where you were. The nights I burned for you, longing to feel you under me, to fill you with my cock and feel you pulse around it as I gave you orgasm after orgasm. To feel you let go and thrash, to know you were powerless—willingly powerless under me—because you trusted me. Trusted that I’d have your back. That I’d catch you and hold you safe in my arms. Always. Always, April.” He drew in a ragged breath. “So let me have it all,now.”
April turned in his arms, her chest heaving, heart pounding. Her face was a mask of intense emotion. Was it anger? Lust? Maybe both.
“Give it to me. All of it. I’m done asking, April. I’m demanding.”
“Shane,” she breathed. Then her lips crashed against his, her body pressed against his chest as he pulled her in tightly. She tasted as good as he remembered—no, years of pent-up desiremade her taste better. Better than his memories, better than his filthiest dreams of her.
“That’s right, baby,” he growled against her mouth. “Let me have you. Let me carry you.”
“I hated you, Shane. Hated you for what you did.”
“Good. I deserved it. Give me your rage.”
April nipped at his lips. She gripped his back, then dug her nails in. Shane gasped at the pleasurable pain of it as his endorphins kicked in. She needed to let herself go and know she was still safe, still loved. But he realized he also needed her anger—her fury—to make things right in his head.
“Tell me what you need, April,” he growled.
“Not you,” she said before she plunged her tongue into his mouth, making him groan. He ran his hands down her back to her ass and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed herself against his hard cock. She ground against him while making the sexiest sounds he’d ever heard.
