Page 54 of No Broken Promises

“What do you think she was doing down there this whole time?” Remy nods toward the open door. “Rose.”

“Talking to Danny. I hung his dog tags next to the picture you have up, in case Nox wants to talk to him. She probably saw them.”

Understanding dawns on his face, followed by silence so heavy it presses down on my chest and makes it hard to take a deep breath.

“I need to tell you the truth. If you hate me at the end, I won’t stop you from leaving Birch.” He clears his throat like there’s ash sitting right there. “Without me, I mean.”

His words cut like the sharpest of blades, leaving me numb at first and then in an agonizing amount of pain.

Can’t he see that I don’t want to leave? Not when I’ve seen perfection in a living moment between us only a minute before.

I open my mouth to tell him as much, but he beats me to it.

“I don’t have an answer as to why I hurt you as much as I did, Parker. I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me until the day you die. I was young, and I was afraid of losing you. Terrified that you’d love me and I’d love you and you’d give up everything that you deserved to have in life. For nothing. I know that’s not good enough, but it’s the only answer I have. One day, maybe, I’ll be able to give you something more. Something better.”

“I should hate you, Jeremy Vale Townsend.” The words hurt, even as I say them. “I have every right to do so, like you said.”

His face fills with regret and doubt, mixed with fear and confusion. Every emotion that I could have sworn he was incapable of, even a year before, wars for control over his face.

“I don’t, though.”

Those eyes, the same ones that have always seen straight through me, that always know every single secret I’ve ever tried to keep. They dart to mine, imploring me to continue.

“I never stopped…”

I just am not sure I can say the words.

“Say it, Parker.” His throaty growl vibrates down my body and into my toes. “Say the words.”

I shake my head, unable to do it.

“Fine.” Remy smiles down at me. “I’ll go first.”

He wraps his hands around my neck, pulling me until our bodies are flush and he is staring down at me.

Right when I think he’ll say it, that he’ll finally tell me how he feels, he smiles mischievously.

“On second thought, maybe I’ll coerce you into telling me.”

When his lips press against mine, I think that will be the end of it.

I am wrong. Very, very wrong.

22

PARKER

The bed bounces underneath us as Remy comes down hard while he kisses me. The grunt that leaves my lips is swallowed by his tongue pressing against my own.

While I wrap my arms around his neck, he is busy pulling my leggings down and off. Once he is done, I pull my shirt over my head and unsnap the bra behind my back. Remy’s eyes never leave my body as he strips, causing me to bite my lip in anticipation. The promise in his eyes is almost too much.

“You gave in first,” I tease him because there is nothing else I can do. I either tease him or break down into tears, and I don’t want that. “I win the game.”

“What’s been happening between us since you started staying with me was never a game, Parker.” His throaty growl makes the skin on my arms prickle and my nipples harden under his scrutiny. “It's been fate, our destiny, since day one. You're both my torture and my salvation all rolled into one.”

He doesn't waste any more time with words, and I'm so thankful for that. His hands are telling me more than any words possibly can at this moment. I’ve been hungry for his touch, his kisses, the entire time I’ve been sleeping in his house.

But other than those few stolen kisses, Remy hasn’t pushed me for more. He hasn’t so much as touched me in any way that's inappropriate. I want more. I've wanted more this whole time, and now that I have him, I don't want to stop.

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