Page 110 of Trouble

Cupping her jaw, I brush my thumb against her cheek. “You’re wonderful.”

She closes her eyes and presses her lips to mine. They’re warm and soft and exactly what I need.

Cursing myself and my stupid feelings, the need to leave, I press my thumb to her lip and pull back. “Don’t think you need to keep yourself from him because I’m not there.” I turn and survey the front of the house. “You don’t have to call me to ask for permission.”

She bites down on my finger, the move meant to draw my attention back to her face. “Call me when you get home?”

Nodding, I press my lips to hers, hoping like hell this isn’t the last time I get to taste her.

Track 16

VULNERABLE

CHAPTER 46

Melina

I swallowthe lump in my throat as I climb the porch steps. I never thought I was a jealous person, but I’m beginning to think I’ve been wrong all this time. Cade is leaving before we’ve defined what this relationship is. Without a label, I can’t expect him to twiddle his thumbs while he travels with his team.

And I won’t ask him to commit himself to us.He has to want us. Choose us. Decide that Declan and I are enough. But for that to happen, Declan needs to fucking show up, and today, he didn’t.

For as much as I defended him tonight, Cade had every right to be upset. Declan should have been there, and if he absolutely couldn’t, then he should have given us a real explanation.

He had to have seen the hurt on Cade’s face when he shrugged him off, saying that tonight just wasn’t good for him. He had to know he was crushing the person he so obviously loves.

And people say women cause unnecessary drama. God, these men are infuriating.

Declan’s car is in the driveway, but I’m still startled when I find him sitting in the darkened living room.

Just the sight of him boils my blood, though my tone is cold as I ask, “What are you doing here?”

Declan eyes me warily, jaw tight. Like he expects my anger, even welcomes it. And he says absolutely nothing.

My frustration ignites, turning into blazing anger.

“Infuriatingly stupid man,” I mutter, striding past him, heading straight for my bedroom.

I slam the door, giving in to the urge to make a show of my anger. But as I fall against the cool, solid wood and tip my head back, my breaths coming out unevenly, my anger bubbles over.

I fling the door open and storm back into the living room. “You know what? I’m not doing this,” I say, propping my hands on my hips and glaring down at the man on the couch.

He looks up at me wearing an expression that almost looks like relief. Like he wants me to yell. Like he’d rather I curse him out than walk away.

And god if that doesn’t break me.

My heart cracks in two, and I deflate. My anger remains, but it’s turned down to a simmer.

This man has been patient with me since the moment I met him. He’s protected me and gone out of his comfort zonefor me. The least I can do is give him my words.

“With Jason?—”

“Don’t compare what we have to what you had with him.” His jaw is rigid, and gone is the softness in his eyes from only seconds ago.

I square my shoulders and heave a deep breath, centering myself. “Then let me talk. Because he didn’t.”

Nostrils flaring, he fists his hands in his lap, focus fixed on me, waiting.

I round the coffee table and drop one knee to the cushion beside him. With my hands on his chest, I straddle him. Then I pull him in close and hold him tight. “I want to start this conversation as your safe place,” I say, my lips brushing his ear, “Because you’ve become mine.”

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