“That’s no excuse.Christ.” He rakes his fingers through his hair, his features gentling.“You shouldn’t have carried that alone.You could’ve told me.I would’ve held some of it for you.”
“You were dealing with enough.”
“Give me some credit, darling.I’m built to handle the heavy stuff.”
“You’re right.I’m sorry.”
“Do you want to talk about it?About Gavin’s death?”
I flinch.“No.”
“How did he die?”
“Jag.”My chest constricts.“Jag killed him.”
“How do you know?”His face goes pale and feral all at once.
“It’s always him, Wolf.It’s what he does.”
“So that’s it?You’re leaving me because you think he’s coming for me next?”
“I’m trying to protect you.”My voice cracks.“Not ruin your life.Not drag you into mine.”
“Protect me?”He stands abruptly, anger blasting off him.“I’ve survived things that would snap most people in half.Stop trying to guard me like I’m fragile.”
“Not fragile.”I lift my chin.“But you’re not invincible.And Jag—”
“He would never kill me!”
“He killed Gavin!”I stand, too, breath shaking.“Gavin was his lover.He knew Gavin had fallen for him, and he killed him anyway.What do you think he’ll do to you once he realizes you—” I bite down on my trembling lip.
“Once he realizes what?”He presses into my space, the air between us boiling.
I look down at the phone in his hand then back at him.“Once he realizes you want himandme.”
“That’s not—” His eyes flash with hurt, anger, and possession all tangled together.“That’smyproblem, not yours.”
“Dammit, Wolf.”
“You want to leave me?Then give me a reason that isn’t Jag.”
I open my mouth.
Nothing comes out.
Because I don’t have another reason.Not one that holds up.
He sees it, feels it, and makes a wicked growling sound that vibrates my bones, terrifying in its certainty.“Then you’re not leaving.”
“You can’t keep me here.”I cross my arms.
“No.”He puts his face in mine, his breath hot on my lips.“But I can be very persuasive.”
“Why?”I retreat, dropping my head in my hands before meeting his feral blue eyes.“Why are you fighting so hard for me?You can have anyone you want.Men, women, whoever.I’m not your fairy tale princess.I’m a disaster.I can barely keep my life from setting itself on fire.”
He stares at me like I’m speaking a foreign language.
“I’m a fucked-up mess.”My hands fly to my hair, tugging at the roots.“A messy, unwanted orphan who aged out of the system.No parents.No friends.I’m in no place to be good for anyone.I need to get my shit together before I even think about being with someone.”
