Page 51 of Inevitable

Bash let out a deep breath, his bright green gaze a storm of emotions. “Because he knows I'll do whatever it takes to protect you…that I'd do anything for you.”

I was so floored by his words that I couldn't hold back any longer. I leaned in to capture his lips with mine, but Bash pulled back at the last second.

“M, don't…please,” he said, putting some space between us. That was all it took to break my resolve.

I said nothing as I spun on my heel, going to grab my jacket and leave, officially done with the conversation. However, I didn't get far before Bash made a grab for my arm and yanked me to a stop.

“M, wait! Don't go!” he begged, but I was in no mood to listen.

“No, I'm done. I can't do this tonight. You keep pulling away from me, but I know you feel it. Something has changed with us and I feel like I'm going fucking crazy!” I snapped, tugging my arm free and looking at him with wide, pleading eyes.

“You're not crazy…”

“Then tell me you feel it. Tell me you feel this between us!” I felt near manic, wanting so desperately to draw out what he was truly feeling, but repeatedly hitting the wall he had erected around himself.

“I'm just feeling messed up in the head, that's all…” he sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face.

“God, stop fucking lying, Bash! You know how you feel, you just don't want to admit it!”

“There's nothing to admit, M,” Bash grunted, looking more pained than frustrated now.

“Why won't you give in for me? You are willing to roll over for your dad and choose fucking Ainsley, but you won't give in for me—“

“M, that's not what—“ he tried to interject, but I kept going, desperation and anxiety fueling my words.

“I mean, why am I never enough?? Jesus Bash, I only ever wanted you to want me back!”

“I DO fucking want you!” Bash exclaimed, his words halting me in my tracks and stopping my heart. “I want you like an itch so deep in my bones it can never be scratched. But I can'tchooseyou!”

His voice was racked with agony and defeat, a sheen of tears covering his eyes that almost brought me to my knees. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It had to be a trick, but I couldn't stop the flicker of hope that reignited within me, sparking to life after everything I had done to extinguish it.

“Why?…What is so wrong with choosing me?” I wondered aloud, tears threatening to choke my voice. “I don't understand…if you want me, then why won't you choose me?”

Bash's face displayed every bit of the struggle that was raging inside him. There was something he was holding back from me, and I needed him to help me understand. I couldn't walk away from this, not now.

“You don't get it,” he started softly, his voice thick with tears, “if I did that, it'd be the most selfish thing I could do. I don't have the luxury of being selfish…” he trailed off as the first of my tears started to fall, and he reached out to cup my face. His thumbs soothingly wiped away my tears, and he gave me a sad smile. “But God, if I could? I'd choose you, Micah. In a hundred lifetimes, a thousand different realities, I would always choose you.”

The thin cord holding me back from him snapped at his last word and I pressed up slowly to connect my lips with his. Our lips gently brushed together, little sparks firing off at the contact and I let out a soft moan. Too soon, Bash pulled away slowly but held my gaze, breathing fast as though the sweet kiss had stolen the air from his lungs. “Micah…” My name falling from his lips was the sweetest aphrodisiac.

“You want me? Then choose me…just for tonight.” I whispered, my eyes pleading for him not to walk away again.

“Micah…that's not fair to you,” Bash breathed out, but he kept shifting his gaze between my eyes and my mouth, conflicted to the core.

“I don't care right now…I want you, Bash. You can't take this away from me again, please…I'm begging you to choose me,” I cried softly, my hands digging into his hips, afraid to loosen my grip. When I could see how close he was to losing the fight in his head, I reached up to touch my lips to his again, just a whisper of my skin on his. He shuddered from the touch, and I knew I almost had him.

“Please, Bash…choose me. Take me. Love me.”

He let out a growl, and his lips reclaimed mine in a searing kiss. His lips were soft and firm against mine, his tongue making the journey across the seam of my mouth to find a way inside. I opened for him willingly, tasting his tongue as it gently flicked against my own.

Our bodies were crushed together as if we could fuse our very souls if we only got closer. My head swam from the lack of air, but I would have gladly given him every ounce of breath in my lungs for him to never stop kissing me. His hands trailed from my jaw to run through my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss more. He broke off the contact for a split second to gasp in some air. “God, Micah baby…what are you doing to me?” he whispered in a tortured voice, not allowing me to answer before taking control of my mouth again.

The sensations he was eliciting had my brain overflowing with images from the very first night we gave into this electric chemistry. Bash might not remember how passionately we came together, but I did. My body would never forget how it felt to unravel for him, how every touch was pure magic. It was incredible, but tonight I wanted more.

I itched to get closer, to immerse myself in every bit of his frantic desire. I wanted him imprinted on my flesh. I wanted him to infiltrate every cell in my body so I would never again be without him. I wanted all of him.

“Bash,” I gasped out as his lips trailed down my jaw onto my throat, sucking at the junction between my neck and shoulders. I moaned at the sensation, hoping it would leave a mark. “Fuck, Bash…I need you…” I whimpered, clawing furiously at his clothes.

“Hold on, baby,” he panted as he slid his hands down to the backs of my thighs to hoist me in the air. My legs wrapped around his waist on instinct, and I dove back in for his lips.

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