Page 83 of The Marine

“Okay,” I reply, and he kisses me with so much passion I almost pass out.

From happiness.

But this is temporary, so I catch myself and stop from going down a rabbit hole I won’t be able to climb out of.

“Scrambled eggs. Muesli. Orange juice.” He nods at the counter.

Damn health-conscious Marine. He always ate better than me and worked out every day. Then again, there’s no way he gets a body like that from eating pancakes and drinking sodas.

“After last night, I need coffee and waffles.” I pout.

He shakes his head and slaps my bottom. “See you tonight, sweetheart.”

I lean back on the doorframe again and watch him stride through the house.

Strong.

Tall.

Sexy.

He could be mine forever if I chose him. I know that. Not in an arrogant way. Aidan and I were made for each other. We have loved each other for an entire lifetime. Yet I’m going to let him go so some other lucky woman can have him.

But that’s what victims do, isn’t it? We don’t believe we are worthy. We let people manipulate us. People like our mothers.

How can I lose her?

I can’t.

But I can leave Kael and one day fall in love again. Tears prickle my eyes as I realize that man will never be Aidan.

Being back in his arms has ripped open the wound I thought I had healed. At least some of it. All those feelings and unfulfilled dreams.

All the pain.

I see it in his eyes, even though he fights to hide it from me. His determination is not lost on me.

But he doesn’t understand what’s at stake.

And part of me wants him to yell at me.

Why isn’t he mad?

Why doesn’t he hate me?

Why didn’t he fight for me? I know why. Mom pushed him away, and I never fought for him, either.

I remember the day Kael asked me out. Aidan said he was going to meet me at the park. I sat talking to Kael on the park bench while waiting. He had a puppy, and the damn thing kept licking my knees.

An hour later, my heart was aching, and I knew Aidan wasn’t going to show up.

“Hey, we’re going to go for a walk and get ice cream. Do you want to come?” Kael asked, and I’m sure he knew I was upset.

Fighting back tears, I bit my lip and nodded.

I think I said yes to distract myself from the rejection and pain. I mean, Kael is a good-looking man, so it wasn’t a hard decision, but I’d wanted to see Aidan so badly.

I felt the last chance for us dissolve the moment I walked away from the park bench that day.

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