Page 203 of Bona Fide

“They’re facts,” he voices softly. “Plain and simple. Everything is black and white, Rea. I knew I shouldn’t get involved with you, and I did it anyway.” His hand moves and wraps around my hip, twisting my body to face his until we’re chest to chest. “I wouldn’t change a fucking thing besides you being hurt. Everything else...I’ll never forget it.”

I pinch my eyes closed. “I’m a pretty big pain in the ass, so I guess that could be hard to forget.” A deep chuckle sounds from his chest, and I snuggle closer to him, inviting his scent and heat to seep into me. “Wade?”

“Mhm?”

“Thank you.” He kisses the top of my head. A simple sentiment, but it means everything in one easy and ordinary way. I assassinated this man with my own style and he’s here, protecting me, easing away my worry, and trying to give me forgiveness when I didn’t earn it. I’d feel better if he’d just take a baseball bat to all my shit.

“How long are you here?”

“I don’t remember you asking so many questions before,” he grumbles.

I smile into his chest. “How long?”

“Tonight.”

My eyes widen, and my head shoots up to him. “Only—you’re going back to the White House?” I see the outline of his head nod, and it turns my stomach. He’s going back to put all the fires out in his life—alone.

I push myself closer to his face, pressing a kiss underneath his chin, the roughness of his stubble contrasting my lips.

“What are you doing?” he presses. “Go to sleep.” My hand reaches out to curve around the fine edges of his features.

“Just saying goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” He hauls me closer, forcing me to accept the fact that he doesn’t want to talk. He just wants to be here—with me. Where even in the darkness, it’s just the two of us.

Like it’s always been.

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