Page 105 of Dirty Temptation

“What if I hurt you?” She stops a foot in front of me.

“Then I’ll hurt. I’ve got big shoulders, baby. You’re worth it.” I cup her cheek and stare into her pretty chocolate brown eyes. “So fucking worth it.”

Molly does that little hiccup and covers her mouth with her hand.

When her eyes drop to the floor, I take her wrist slowly. “Hey.”

She looks back at me, eyes filled with tears, and I know mine aren’t dry.

“Molly, will you accept this rose and be my girlfriend?” I rasp. “And let me love you while you learn to trust a man who would never fucking hurt you, for as long as you’ll let me?”

I can see the trepidation swirling in her eyes. Along with love which she isn’t ready to acknowledge.

“What about Harlow?” Molly asks.

I smile.

“Harlow is my friend. She wants to meet you.” I hope like hell that doesn’t scare her away. “We were finished long ago, baby. I should’ve told you, I just never expected to feel like this. To fall so damn hard and fast.”

She bites her lip, but I see the smile.

I wait, feeling like I’m standing on the edge of my life waiting to fall.

“I don’tnotlove you,” she whispers.

I lean in. “What was that?”

She slaps my chest. “Give me time, Atlas. But... I think I might also...”

“Love me?” I grin, inches from her mouth.

Her eyes sparkle playfully with love.

She might not be able to say it out loud yet, but she will.

She fucking will.

I’m going to do everything in my power to make this woman feel safe and happy and loved every damn day.

When she says it, it’ll be the happiest day of my life. Right after this one.

I wrap my arms around her, tugging her against my chest where she belongs and drop my mouth to hers. Molly scrunches my shirt in her hands as I plow my tongue inside.

God I missed her.

God I miss how she tastes.

Now I can show her that I love her and that she’s mine. Her kiss tells me she loves me even when her words can’t.

Yet.

“Close enough, baby. Now will you please come home with me.”

“I’m scared, Atlas.”

You and me both baby.

“Be scared with me. I’m not going to let you fall. I promise.”

---