Page 29 of Fighting the Odds

“I’m sorry, baby. I was just saying I needed to wait until you were eighteen, and now I’m practically forcing myself on you.” He panics and starts to move me off his lap.

Gripping his arms tightly and squeezing my thighs, I stop him. When he finally stops, I cradle his face with my hands and look him straight in the eyes.

“Look at me, Cyrus Donaldson. I want this just as much as you. If I’m sure of one thing in my life, it’s that you are it for me, too. You could have run when you found out about everything. But you didn’t. Instead, you stuck by my side and I will be forever grateful for that. I want you to be my first. To replace a black memory that got stolen from me when my choice was taken with something that I didn’t choose. Something good—memorable even.”

He doesn’t answer. He just stares at me with half-lidded eyes.

“Are you sure, Sierra? I can wait. We don’t have to rush.”

God, he’s the perfect man.

“How about we just see what happens? No pressure. I’m not even sure that once we start, the memories won’t flood back in, causing me to freeze up. I fear it’ll be your breaking point and you’ll run as fast as you can away from me.”

A lone tear slides down my cheek and he reaches up, swiping it with the pad of his thumb.

“Nothing could ever make me run from you. You are mine forever, Sierra Jones. What’s it going to take to get it through that head of yours? But I do think we need to pause here.”

My face drops and my stomach churns. He says he wants me, but he’s stopping when I’m willing and wanting to give him everything.

I go to move off of him, fighting back the tears. I’m not going to let them fall in front of him. I was a fool.

He grips me tightly, his fingers digging into my skin, causing me to wince.

“Fuck, I’m sorry, baby. I just couldn’t let you have those thoughts.” He releases his hold slightly, but not fully letting go.

“What thoughts?” My voice trembles.

“Don’t play stupid, Sierra. I’m not stopping because I don’t want you.”

“Then why?” I need to know his reasoning.

“Because I don’t have a condom. I wasn’t expecting this and I don’t carry them on me. As much as I want to take you bare, to feel your walls clamping down on my cock without a barrier, I won’t risk you getting pregnant.”

Fuck, this man really is perfect!

Could I love him any more?

“I love you too, Sierra. Whoever said love at first sight was a myth is a damn fool. They’ve never met you.”

I really need to stop saying things out loud that should stay in my head.

Wait! He said he loves me!

Chapter 15

Braxton

Zander’s been fidgety the whole ride home. Ever since he sent that last message to Sierra. I don’t know what he said to her, but something doesn’t feel right. I keep glancing over at him, but he won’t look at me. And when I check the rear-view mirror, Colt looks like someone’s punched him in the stomach.

When we get home, we need to have a brother meeting. We need to be on the same page and it’s time we got everything out in the open. Zander and I both know we want to pursue Sierra. But it’s time for Colton to get his head out of his ass. And even if he doesn’t want a relationship with her, he needs to accept that we do.

In a last second decision, I pull into the parking lot of the pharmacy and turn off the jeep. I don’t want to wait until we get home.

“What the hell, man? What are we doing here?” Colton barks from the back seat.

I shift in my seat so I can look at Zander and him at the same time. Zander mimics me, but I can tell something is bothering him.

“I decided I didn’t want to wait to discuss this. Let’s put everything on the table. No secrets. I know Zan and I want to date Sierra, even if we share her. What do you want, Colt?”

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