Page 121 of Whispered Promises

“I know. Hurting you was the worst part of all of this. But I panicked. I couldn’t see how I wouldn’t end up getting hurt. I was so used to…not being enough. There was always a way I wasn’t meeting expectations. I wasn’t clever enough in school, I wasn’t in a fancy career, I wasn’t earning enough, being serious enough, romantic enough. It was just never enough,” I trail off, feeling the air disperse from my lungs as I show her the shameful, lacking parts of my soul.

Sucking in a long inhale, I meet her eyes; the frustration bleeds out of me as I see the tremble of her chin and the watery sheen in her eyes.

“I hate that you had all that, that you felt like that.” She sniffles and chews on her lip, then pushes back her shoulders. “But you made me feel like that. You made me feel as if I wasn’t enough.”

My heart crashes into the pit of my stomach at the pain in her voice. I hadn’t realised how much damage I’d caused her.

“No, Rosy. That…” My throat closes, my voice cracking as anguish guts me. “That’s so far from how I feel about you. You’re everything, and it’s my fault for making you doubt that.”

Every inhale’s harder. My chest constricts as her wide eyes shine with unshed tears. I frantically rack my brain for the words I need, but there aren’t any. If I want her to trust me, she doesn’t need my words; she needs me to show up.

A tear escapes, sliding a lonely trail down her face, and I know I need to at least try for something.

“There’s no hesitancy within me about us anymore, honeybee. Without a doubt, stepping back has been the worst mistake I’ve ever made. Not being with you hurts more than any heartbreak I’ve ever had before.”

Her breath hitches and more tears flow, the tiny beads escaping and sliding down her quivering chin. Unable to watch her cry and worried she might leave, I step forward and cup her shoulders softly.

“You don’t have to make any promises back, and if you’re unsure at any time, then you can call it quits. But I’m in this now. I know I can’t make this decision for you; fuck, it would be easier if I could.” A deprecating laugh chokes out of me. “But I’m here asking you to give me a chance, and I’ll show you I’m all in—every single undeserving part of me. I’ll be better at showing you how much I want this.”

Her teary eyes widen at my words. “You’re not undeserving,” she whispers.

Hope flickers in my chest. In this moment, I’m so grateful for the world in creating Rosy’s beautiful, giant heart. Even now, when she’s got tears falling down her breathtaking face, she’s still selfless.

She scrunches her eyes shut, brows furrowing as she sucks her lower lip, nibbling on it.

Fuck me. This is torture. But I know I need to give her the chance to think it over.

FIFTY

MAX

“Okay.”

The air freezes in my lungs as she nods. Her eyes flutter open, and even with her tear-streaked face and her nose all pink, the small smile she gives me is devastatingly beautiful.

“I want to give things a try.”

Darting forward, my lips finally meet hers, feeling their salty softness beneath mine. I hold back the urge to groan against her warmth. Gently I move my mouth against hers, afraid that if I give in to my desperation, she’ll pull away.

Breathing her in, my fingers flex around her shoulders, sliding up to cup the nape of her neck as her sweet, fruity scent invades me. She’s tentative at first, then her hands grasp at the fabric across my chest, clinging to me like she doesn’t want me to ever leave. My pulse flutters wildly, and as she sighs softly, I swallow the sound eagerly, wanting to keep every piece of her.

Moving from her lips, I scatter kisses along her jaw, across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, then continue on her other side.

“I’ve imagined this so much, honeybee. Having your lips pressed against mine, tasting you. It’s been agonising. We’re going to have to stay like this for the next week so I can make up for lost time.”

Her laughter caresses my neck, and a shiver slides down my spine as I continue kissing along her jaw, down to her ear.

My cock hardens in my jeans at her gasp. “I’m a parched man, Rosy. Starved. Only your lips can satisfy me.”

Her laughter is throaty, but it stutters when I lick a hot trail up her neck.

“I don’t think that’s how it works, Max.”

“It definitely is.”

She pushes against my shoulders, pulling back, and terror tears through me. Has she changed her mind?

“I know it’s stupid, but I can’t just switch off the hurt. Even though nothing you did was to intentionally hurt me…it’s still there. I need you to understand that. I can’t cut off those emotions, even if I have feelings for you too.”