Page 148 of Snared Rider

“No, you didn’t.”

“Uh, yeah, I did.”

“Logan, no.”

“I threw myself into the firing line to protect you.” This is true. He did. It’s not the first time either. For as long as I can remember, Logan has put himself between me and danger.

Even so, I roll my eyes. “I was nowhere near danger until you flung me right into its trajectory.”

“Bollocks.”

I arch my brow. “Bollocks?”

“Yeah, bollocks. I saved you. That has to earn me some brownie points.”

Now, I’m thinking about shooting him myself. “Are you serious?”

His expression is unapologetic.

“Yep.”

“Logan—”

His lips brush over mine again and whatever comeback was on my tongue dissipates as I melt into him. When he pulls back I’m a breathless, panting mess.

“You can’t just keep kissing me into silence,” I tell him, even though I’m sure he can.

“It’s so effective though.”

Uh… what?

“You’re lucky you’re hurt,” I warn.

He grins a dimpled smile and I forget that I’m supposed to be mad at him.

Lord.

I’m only human and this man is beautiful.

“See, I knew my girl was in there somewhere. You buried her pretty deep beneath all that corporate shit. But she’s there.”

I flush at his words. “I’m still me, Logan. I’ve always been me.”

“No, you’ve been a shadow of you. And that’s my fault. I’m going to fix it so you might as well sit back and let me do it.”

I frown. “But—”

“No buts,” he says, his finger moving to cover my mouth. “I’m not going to give up, so you might as well just let me do my thing.”

I sigh when he pulls his finger away. “You really are stubborn.”

“Yeah, but so are you. I’m not asking you to declare your undying love for me—although that would be nice. I’m just asking for a chance to show you I can be what you need me to be. Fuck, I’m not even asking. I’m doing it whether you want it or not.” His hand slips over mine, his callused palm warm against my skin. “Sitting on that floor, glass in my back, all I was thinking was how things could have turned out differently. What if it had been a bullet? What if it had hit a couple of inches to the side, what if…”

He sighs, “I don’t want to ever look back on my life and have regrets, Beth. And not giving you my all would be a regret.”

I take a steadying breath. “You were everything to me. Everything. And you took that away without explanation.” He starts to speak, to defend himself but I hold up my hand. “You’ve had your say. It’s my turn now.” To my surprise he clamps his mouth shut and watches my face as I collect my thoughts.

“I understand why you did what you did. I do. I know it came from a good place. But what you did crushed me, Logan. Should I have forgiven and moved on? Probably, but it’s hard to move on from a man you thought would be your life. So yeah, I was mad. I was pissed, in fact. I still am.

---