Page 242 of Pretty Little Lies

And I have to believe it because the alternative is a dark and cold place, where my demons drag me in and I can’t escape.

Technically don’t want to.

Because, based on old realities and new ones, I can’t lose two women I’ve loved. I’m not built like that. And the rejection that she might give me today might send me reeling to that said place.

This was my last chance.

My last opportunity for her to listen to me.

And I’ll literally die inside if she shoves me away as if I meant nothing. There’s no one in the world besides my boys who I’ve ever felt safe and sound with. Bay Astor is that star in the sky that came down and granted me every wish of mine. She’s legit heaven wrapped in an ass for days and a pussy I lose myself in each and every time.

I told her I would take care of her sisters, even if I had to beat the shit out of Torin to give me the information.

I could…if she’d just give me the time.

Miracle worker isn’t in my signature line of shit I can pull out of my ass, but I would move hell and Earth to grab her what she needs.

High Enoughby K. Flay blares off a speaker somewhere as I locate a pair of thick thighs underneath the Chevy Nova Bay drove before she flipped the thing.

I swear to God, my heart never leapt out of its place so quickly before when I saw it toss in the air. I’ve never run so fast. The simple reality that she could’ve been seriously hurt slamming into my brain over and over again with each placement of my feet as I sprinted toward her that night.

I’ve never felt so helpless and anxious but, thankfully, found her unharmed.

Now, I’m alert.

Of literally everything.

The way her tight jeans leave nothing to my imagination. It’s no matter how many times I’ve seen her naked, I’m still panting to see every inch. I still crave to slide between her legs andgreedily bury my mouth over her sweet cunt just to drown in everything that passes by between us.

And shit has.

I’m not that delusional to have imagined it. I could feel it in her kiss last night. I could see it in her eyes when she looked at me. It was everywhere, in black and white—us.

Those beautiful blue eyes glued on to me when I was balls deep inside her and you can’t fake lust. And I sure as hell noticed how much she wanted me near. How much she desired more. The way her lips parted, her tongue driving inside my mouth to taste and devour me.

She’s mine.

I said it before, and I’ll say it as many fuckin’ times as she needs so that it finally sinks. She may not be as close to being in love with me as I am indefinitely her, but I know that she cares.

And if she does as much as I think she does, she won’t be signing what I’ve just thrown on the hood of her dad’s car.

Leaning over, I grip both sides of the roller seat that she’s currently laying on and pull her out from underneath the car. Bay immediately goes on high alert, her foot coming up to propel her supposed attacker away when those blues latch onto me.

I see the sigh of relief leave her chest as she peers up. The ghost of a smile playing over her lips, but it disappears just as quickly, and I know she’s attempting to push me away. That she believes she has limited options.

But I’m one.

I’ll be anything and everything she needs while we sort out this whole mess with Judah and Torin, literally drowning in bourbon at all hours of the day and night.

“Hey, McQueen,” I extend a hand to help her up. “Fixin’ up your pop’s ride?”

She gives me a curt nod, and I hate that she hesitates for a second before taking my hand. “Yeah.”

Getting to her feet, Bay swipes a few pieces of hair away from her forehead. The stains of grease and dirt sit along her cheek and jaw and my fingers itch to rub it all over her while I drive her into the side of her pop’s ride and remind her all over again why she belongs to me.

“I was summoned here to give you this.” I point at the manila envelope on her father’s ride. “One of Emilio’s sick jokes.”

Bay’s blue eyes follow my gaze. “What is this?”

---