Page 67 of Aching for His Discretion

He stepped closer, his captivating, manipulative eyes holding concern and regret.

“That’s why I’m trying to apologize,” he said, trying to justify why he followed me to another state and found my parents’ home. For a man like him, I didn’t second guess how he found me, though it slightly concerned me with how fast he did. I turned as I went for the doorknob, only for him to put the flowers down on the grass and place his hand over mine.

“Tesoro, please,” he muttered, and I shook my head as I pulled away from him and crossed my arms.

“You don’t get to call me that anymore,” I whispered, and he sighed heavily.

“Teegan… There is absolutely nothing I can say to make what I’ve done disappear. And I am sorry for what I put you through. You are my everything,la mia vita, il mio cuore, la mia anima…everything. I’m a better man when I am with you, Teegan. You make me a better person just by being there. And I know I should have been honest and should not have forced you to stay… but I felt hopeless… out of options,” he said sincerely.

I looked over to him as he placed his hand fully in mine. I looked down at our intertwined hands and part of me began to oddly feel warm inside.

Teegan...

“I begin to lose myself without you… I can’t eat, sleep, think. I couldn’t let you go,” he admitted, and I looked up at him slowly.

Teegan.

“I know I do horrible things… things I know that will never be forgiven. But I only do what I do to help other people. I… take care of people that hurt other people. That boy,Tesoro,”he said, trying to control his anger as he placed his hand on the side of my face and looked deeper into my eyes. I subconsciously leaned into his hand, and he glanced at the gesture momentarily.

“I did what I needed to do to keep you safe. I only wanted to protect you, sweet girl. Everything I do and will ever do... is for you. Silly, I know, but I had to keep you safe…”

He placed both hands on my face, and I bit my lip as he rubbed his thumbs over my cheeks.

TEEGAN!!!

“Come back to me, Tesoro. Hmmm? I don’t want this little fight to keep us apart. I will learn to do better for you…for us.”

Teegan. He is manipulating you. That is what he does. Say no and go inside. He’s minimizing the effect of the situation and showing you that he only did this for your sake.

He kills people, Teegan.

He hurts people.

He hurt you.

“I—” I said softly, and he continued looking down at me with his warm and safe gaze.

He’s getting into your head. He’s manipulating you. He’s lying. He’s—

“Okay,” I whispered, and he let out a dark and alluring smile, pulling me closer as he placed a kiss on my lips. Wrapping my arms around his neck as he lowered his hands to my waist, I felt myself relax in his hold. For once… my thoughts were quiet. At ease. And I felt the relief, passion, and possession in his kiss,which kept me aching for more.

Pulling away, I bit my lip as he closed his eyes in relief, resting his head against mine.

“Thank you for giving me another chance, Tesoro—” he began, but I cut him off as I spoke.

“You have to let Alec go,” I whispered boldly.

After a silent, heart-pounding moment, his eyes opened and darkened slightly as I continued warily.

“His father is worried, and so is everyone else on campus. I know he mistreated me… but I don’t want him hurt.”

He pulled away and remained silent as I looked up at him. His expression was unreadable, but it was clear he was contemplating his following words.

“Oh… I hope we didn’t interrupt anything,” I heard behind me, and I sighed as I closed my eyes.

Looking over my shoulder, my mother and father stood by the door, waiting patiently. We were quiet for most of our talk, so I assumed they didn’t hear much of anything at all... But afterrealizing Levi and I were way too close for my father’s growing anger, I quickly pulled away from him.

“Are you going to introduce us to your friend, Teegan?” my mother asked suggestively with a wide smile, and I bit my lip as I looked over at Levi, who picked up the flowers from the grass.

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