“Is that what you think about? Meeting someone else, starting a family with them?” he asks, his voice rough with emotion that I’m not sure he really wants me to hear.
“What? No. Not at all. I don’t want anyone else. I don’t want?—”
“So why do you think I do?” he asks, his brow wrinkled.
“B-because you’re Everett Donnelly. You’ll get bored with me and?—”
My words are cut off as he steps into my body, forcing me to move back until my ass hits the vanity I was sitting at. His fingers grip my jaw, holding me exactly where he wants me.
“Do I give you the impression that I’m bored with you?” he rasps.
I swallow before folding my lips between my teeth and shaking my head.
“No. And do you know why?”
“No,” I squeak, my temperature soaring with his proximity.
“Because I’m not. Not once since I met you have I been bored by you. I lo…I like having you here. I like coming home and knowing that you’ll be here. And I fucking hate when I come home and you’re not. It feels cold and empty without you.”
“Oh,” I breathe.
“Yeah. Oh. There have only ever been a handful of people in my life I truly look forward to hanging out with. And I can assure you that there has only ever been one woman on that short list, and she’s my sister. But you…fuck, Bea.” He lifts his free hand and taps his temple. “You’re in here. You’ve always been in here.”
My heart slams against my ribs.
“You make me think about things I’ve never even considered wanting before. You’ve given me things that I didn’t think Ineeded in my life. But here you are, throwing everything I thought I knew about myself and my life into fucking chaos, and do you know what?” I shake my head again, scared to speak in case he stops talking. “I’m fucking here for it.” His hands suddenly drop to my thighs, and he sweeps me from my feet, setting my ass on the vanity and stepping between my legs. His eyes frantically search mine as his giant palm wraps around the side of my neck, his thumb caressing my cheek before his forehead presses against mine. “I’m here for all of it.”
I stare into his dark eyes, seeing nothing but raw honesty reflected back at me.
His minty breath tickles over my face. His full lips are right there for the taking. Every single inch of me screams at me to do it. To take what I’ve been craving since the last time we kissed.
It would be so easy. Too fucking easy.
But that’s just the problem—because while diving into this would be easy, the end will be heart shattering, and I can’t push that aside.
It’s fake.
Everything between you is fake.
He only wants you because you’re here, and he’s not allowed anyone else.
All these stupid thoughts continue to spiral through my head despite the hard evidence that none of it is true staring me dead in the eyes.
“I’ll give you anything, sweetheart,” he murmurs, no doubt able to feel my racing pulse against his palm. “All you’ve got to do is say it, and I’m there.”
Kiss me.
The words dance right on the tip of my tongue, but they refuse to break free.
Forcing my eyes to close, I sever the connection between us.
“We’re going to be late,” I mutter.
“Y-yeah. You’re right. Now isn’t the time.” Coldness rushes over me as he takes a step back.
With my head down, it’s impossible to miss the larger-than-average bulge in his pants.
Desire rushes through me, and my grip on the counter tightens until my knuckles turn white.
