His finger presses to my lips, stopping me.
“No.”
His eyes hold mine.
“What do you want?”
Everything inside me breaks.
“I want you.”
Something shifts in him.
His hand tightens in my hair as he pulls me closer, tilting my head up.
“But Dex, I can’t stay. He’ll find me and ruin you, and I can’t have that. I could never live with myself if he hurt you, so I need to…”
His hand moves to my face, firm this time, stopping me.
“Stay.”
“You’re so stubborn. I won’t let him hurt you.”
“Stay.”
My chest cracks open.
“I can’t…”
He steps into me, closing the distance completely, his forehead pressing against mine.
“You don’t get to walk away now, Tinker. Not after this. Not after you carved your way into me.”
His voice drops.
“It’ll break me.”
My breath stutters as I search his eyes, already knowing he means every word.
“Tell me you won’t leave me,” he murmurs, his nose brushing mine, breath warm against my lips.
“Dex, I…”
“Tinker, do you want to be with me?”
“What do you mean? He’s going to find us and…”
“Tinker,” he cuts in, his voice firm but steady. “Answer me. Do you want to be with me?”
I don’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
Something in him shifts.
“Good girl.”
“But I can’t stay, I have to go because…”
