“No.”
“But I do.”
She met his eyes. “You scare me in a different way.”
“How?”
She swallowed. “You matter.”
Wyatt’s mouth opened without sound.
“I didn’t know what safe was like,” she whispered. “Not like this. Not without conditions.”
His throat worked. “You don’t have to prove anything with me.”
“I know.”
He put his head against hers so that their breaths mingled. “Then stay.”
She looked up at him.He’s not demanding; he’s asking.That vulnerability nearly undid her.
“Stay,” he repeated, softer.
“Yes.”
His hands slid to her waist, firm but not claiming. “I don’t know how to build something without bracing for it to leave,” he admitted.
“You don’t have to brace with me. It’s going to take a little while for me to believe you’ll stay, too.”
He kissed her then. A slow joining as his mouth moved against hers with intention. Her hands slid around his neck as she leaned into his space without hesitation. He deepened the kiss, fingers tightening at her waist. Letty moaned as he ended the kiss, and when he pulled back, his voice was rougher. “I don’t want him anywhere near you.”
“He won’t be.”
“I mean ever.”
She studied him. “That’s not something you will always be able to control.”
“I know.”
“But you want to.”
“Yes.”
She offered a half-smile. “You’re possessive.”
“I’m invested.”
The correction mattered to her heart. She brushed her thumb along his jaw. “You’re allowed to be.”
His eyes darkened at that. “I’m not losing you to a man who thinks he can make things the way he sees them.”
“You won’t.” Letty paused. “I trusted him once,” she whispered. “But…”
His grip tightened just barely. “You never have to doubt me.”
She laid her hand on his chest feeling his steady heartbeat against her palm. “I know. He’s picked the wrong people to try to manipulate.”
He kissed her again as his hand slid up her back, fingers splayed wide, grounding her against him. “Let’s go back to the safe house. I want to be alone with you.”
