Page 78 of Pit

I follow him into the living room, and he sits down, pulling me to join him on the couch. “I’ve never done this before,” he admits. “I’ve never wanted to. But I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“Same.”

“I thought space would make you realise I was no good. That maybe your feelings were down to being held captive. But you kept texting me and sharing your good days with me, and it made me realise I want to be a part of those days too.”

“I want that too,” I agree.

“You say that now,” he says, guiding my legs to rest over his and placing his hand over my knee, “but I’ll be unbearably suffocating, Te. I don’t know how to be anything else. I’m jealous and possessive. A walking red flag.”

“In case you didn’t know, I tend to ignore red flags,” I say with a small laugh.

“Which is why I’m doing the rational thinking for us both. I mean, what the fuck would we tell people when they ask how we met?”

“It’s none of their business?” I suggest.

He groans, letting his head fall back against the couch so he’s staring at the ceiling. “Help me out here, Tessa. Give me the reasons to walk away. I mean, fuck, I’ve killed people.”

I mull over his words. He killed them for me. It’s extreme, crazy even, but the way I feel for him outweighs everything else. My heart aches. I don’t want him to walk away again. “Because I think I love you,” I almost whisper. His head shoots upright, and he stares at me wide-eyed. I instantly regret it and bury my face in my hands. “Oh god, it’s too soon, isn’t it? Sorry. I’m rushing ahead of myself.”

He tugs my hands away. “Say it again.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and stare him in the eyes. I’m embarrassed, but the fire in his gaze burns brighter, so I repeat it. “I love you.”

He inhales sharply as a range of emotions pass over his face. Then he surprises me by pulling me onto his lap so I’m sitting over him. “Again,” he whispers, cupping my face in his hands.

“I love you.”

He presses his lips to mine, his mouth slowly working wonders as he kisses me until my toes curl. When he finally pulls back slightly, he says, “I love you too.”

I gasp. “You do?” He nods, and relief floods me. I kiss him again, and I feel his erection pressing against me.

“Sorry,” he mutters when we break apart again.

“It’s fine,” I reassure him, but he looks away like he’s ashamed.

“Go upstairs and get into bed. I’ll check on Chance and be up shortly.”

“You’re staying?” I ask, smiling.

“We’re never gonna be apart again,” he tells me, stroking his hand down my cheek.

Pit

I wake with a start and stare into the eyes of Chance. His tongue darts out, and he licks my nose. I groan, rolling onto my back. “Tessa, why is there a dog between us?” I murmur sleepily.

Her head pops up over Chance, and she smiles. “Good morning.”

“The dog?” I ask again.

She giggles, climbing over the dog and lying over me with her legs either side of mine. We’d done well last night to sleep in the same bed and not touch. She’s not ready for that, and I insisted she wear full pyjamas while I remained in my jeans and T-shirt. But now, as she presses against me, I’m struggling to control my cock as it rises between us. “Tessa,” I mutter in warning.

She looks up innocently. “It’s just a cuddle,” she says, smirking.

“You’re not ready,” I remind her.

“How do you know?” she argues. It’s the same thing she said last night as I held her in my arms until she’d fallen to sleep.

“I just know.” She sighs heavily, and I smile to myself, tracing my fingers up and down her back. “We need to go see Axel today.”

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