Page 285 of By His Rule

She might not believe the words, or be brave enough to do anything with them, but I feel better for saying them.

“I came for you, you know. I practically knocked your door down trying to get to you. I think your neighbors hate me, by the way.”

I glance over just in time to catch the small smile that appears on her lips.

“I begged Tate to tell me where you were. That woman is stubborn as fuck,” I say with a laugh.

“She’s good people,” Lorelei says, her voice so quiet it barely carries over the sound of the ocean filling the air around us.

“She is, if she’s keeping your secret. When you’re the one who wants information, she’s annoying as hell.”

“How did you find me if Tate didn’t?—”

“After stalking you on Instagram and finding Wilder’s post, I convinced Thomas to give me the master key to your apartment. I searched until I found your iPad and then their address. And here I am.”

“Here you are,” she mutters.

My heart drops when she pulls her hand from mine and gets to her feet again. I sit there for a moment, watching as she moves closer to the ocean.

She stares out at the horizon silently, and it does nothing to soothe the unease I can’t shake.

Climbing to my feet, I move closer to her—as close as I can without touching her.

“I want you, Lorelei,” I confess. “You drive me crazy, and I know I do the same to you. We’re different, I get that. Really fucking different. But I love that. I love that you’re not the same as every other woman I’ve met. You challenge me, surprise me. You fight me. Fuck, do you fight me. But it wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t.

“Since you started at Callahan, I look forward to coming into work in the mornings in a way I never have before. And not only that, but I’m better for it. I know I’m overbearing and controlling, and generally just an asshole, but I need you to know that I trust you. I always have.

“I don’t care where you come from, Lorelei. I don’t care that you weren’t privately educated or have fancy vacations every year. Do you know what I do care about, though?” I ask, reaching for her arm and spinning her around to face me.

“I care that you do everything you can to give your brothers the best chance at a future. I care that you dropped everything the moment Wilder was hurt so that you could be here to support him.

“I love how fiercely you love them, and how fiercely they love you in return.I love that you’ve taken hold of every opportunity that’s come your way to try and better your life.I love that you call me out on my bullshit and make me look at things in a whole new light.”

Reaching out, I cup her jaw, my eyes holding her watery ones so she has little choice but to really hear what I’m saying.

“I love your smile. I love the wicked things that come from these lips,” I say, dragging my thumb across her bottom one.

“I love—” A tear splashes against my knuckles, and my words falter.

“Kian,” she whispers brokenly as her entire body trembles.

Leaning forward, I press my brow against hers.

“I love…falling in love with you.”

All the air rushes from her lungs, tickling over my face as more tears spill free.

“I know all the reasons why you don’t think we work. But I think you’re forgetting the most important thing…” Her eyes search mine, waiting for what I have to say. “Despite all of that, Temptress, we work. We make sense. And you know it just as much as I do. You just need to be brave enough to take a chance on me. On us.”

My fingers wrap around her throat. Her pulse pounds against them, giving away how she’s feeling right now.

Silence rings out between us. Only the sound of the crashing waves can be heard as the cool evening ocean breeze blows around us.

She doesn’t say anything for the longest time, but she wants to. I can see it in her eyes. What I don’t know is if I’ve said enough. If she’s brave enough to take the next step with me.

Sucking her bottom lip into her mouth, she chews on it for a moment before fucking sucking in a deep breath, ready to speak.

“I’m really mad at you,” she finally says.

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