Page 145 of Stolen Moments

“I-I don’t understand.”

“I know. That’s the problem, baby doll. You don’t understand.”

But I’m going to make you.

She places her hand on her popped hip and narrows her eyes at me. “I understand perfectly clear—”

“The fuck you do. You completely misunderstood what I was trying to tell you outside. You thought I was trying to give you closure or some shit. Closure, my ass. We will never be over, Emery.”

“It’s been months, Mason.”

She crosses her arms again, and it takes everything in me to keep my eyes on her face and not stare at her chest as she arches her back, giving me the perfect view of her perky tits.

Focus.

“So?” I shrug, getting my thoughts back on track. “Look at Jace and Rylann. It took them years. Look how happy they are now.”

I gesture toward the door. Toward the marriage that just took place. A marriage that might never have happened if it wasn’t for a fuck-ton of hard work and forgiveness. All of which I am willing to do the lion’s share of.

Walking away from Emery again is out of the question.

“That’s different.” She rolls her eyes at me.

It makes me want to bend her sassy ass over the sink and spank her cheeks raw, leaving my handprint on her skin before I fuck the brat right out of her.

Fuck, I need to cool it.

“How is that different?” I ask, bringing the conversation back to where I need it. “I made a mistake, but instead of it taking years to fix, I’m here now.” I drop to my knees in front of her.

She gasps, gripping her chest. “What are you doing?”

“Showing you how serious I am. I will stay on my knees forever if I have to. You will have to drag my dead body away before I walk away from you again. Do you hear me?”

She nods, tentatively, so I continue.

“If you had let me finish, you’d know that I was two seconds away from doing this,” I huff, pointing to the ground. “And begging you for another chance. I can’t live without you. You’re it for me. We are not done, nor will we ever be done. You are mine, and I am yours. I will prove it to you.”

“But—”

“But nothing. I am going to show you every day that I am here to stay. That I choose you, no matter what. I let you down before, but I won’t be making the same mistake twice.” I run my hand over my jaw, debating my next words. “This is not how I wanted to tell you for the first time, but fuck it. I’m not wasting any more time. I love you, Emery. Without you, my life doesn’t work. I need you more than the air I breathe. I love you, just the way you are, no conditions, no expectations. Just you.” I grab her hips and pull her to me, resting my face on her stomach.

Her fingers twine through my hair as her knees give out. Only this time, I catch her. I will always catch her. She can guaran-fucking-tee I’m going to be by her side, holding her up, supporting her from here on out.

My knees begin to ache from kneeling on the tile floor. One foot at a time, I pull myself up to a stand, never letting Emery go, keeping her body flush to mine in an embrace that rivals a straitjacket.

“I thought—” She sobs against my chest.

“I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you spend the night thinking we were over. I tried to tell you, but then dinner and time kept slipping away from me.”

Her breaths pick up speed as her eyes flicker between mine, searching for the truth.

“You left me,” she whimpers, her heartbreak clear.

Her words crack my ribcage wide open like an ax to a log. It doesn’t escape my notice that she doesn’t say “I love you” back. While it hurts, I understand. I need to earn those words. Down to my soul, I know she loves me. She’s just afraid to let me in again.

“I know, baby. Fuck. I don’t know what else to say, but I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” I squeeze her tighter, breathing in her sweet scent as she cries into my chest. “I’m here, and I’m never letting you go again. I swear it. I love you so fucking much. I will never forgive myself for breaking your heart, but I promise I will make it up to you. Every day for the rest of our lives if you let me.”

She looks up at me with those sad topaz eyes, almost destroying me with her next words. “I don’t know if I can do it all again.”

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