Page 123 of Worth Every Game

Her eyes soften and some of my tension fades away. “I always told you she was a red flag.”

“You did.”

Silence engulfs us, but it's not uncomfortable this time. “I spoke to Robert Lloyd this morning,” Elly says finally.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. He still wants to meet. He’s really enthusiastic. I think he believes in me.”

“Of course he does. You’re the whole package.”

She blushes, her eyes dipping away from me for a second, and the air feels alive, as though all our unspoken feelings are quietly buzzing between us.

“About that song… the games.” I huff a breath, not knowing exactly how to put this. “Was it really all so painful? Wasn’t it worth it?”

She holds my gaze longer than is comfortable before she admits, “Yeah. It was worth it. You’re worth every game.”

A warming, fuzzy sensation expands beneath my sternum. “Does that mean you might want to… stay and play?” I ask, quoting her song. “Because I’d like that. I’d fucking love that, in fact. I’d love you to stay and play and never leave, actually.”

So much for not telling her how I really feel.

“Even if it kills me?” she asks, half a smile on her mouth, but when I answer, I’m deadly serious.

“To be honest, if it kills you, then I’m dying too. I feel like I can’t fucking breathe without you, and I’ve loathed every second of being separated from you. It’s been agony. Not a day has gone by when I haven’t thought of you. Wondering what you’re doing, what you’re wearing. If your feet are bare, or you’re wearing those stupid pink slippers. I have ached with missing you. I don’t want any more of those seemingly insignificant moments of your life to pass without me being there by your side, because, to me, nothing is insignificant. It’s all precious. I want to be there when you wake up, and when you fall asleep, and every fucking second in between. So, yes. Please stay. I’m asking you…beggingyou, not to leave.”

Her eyes are full of intense emotion when she says, “Yes, please.”

I don’t dare breathe in case I’ve misunderstood, and for a few seconds, I tune into the thump-thump of my heartbeat. “You want to stay?”

“Yes. I want to stay with you—be with you—and be happy and successful and let all the shit slide right off.” A grin splits her pretty pink mouth. “I’m ready for that. I’m ready to let all the good stuff in. Really ready this time.”

My heart explodes and before I can stop myself, I’m hauling her against me and kissing her, relishing her familiar taste and the feel of her tongue against mine as I wind my fingers into the curls I’ve missed so much.

“Fuck, I love you,” I say, breaking my lips from hers. “Don’t leave me again. No more messing around.”

“No more games?” she breathes.

“Only if you want to.”

She laughs, I laugh, we kiss, each swallowing the sound of the other. It’s messy. It’s perfect. I’m awash with gratitude that this wonderful woman is giving me a second chance.

“I want to. I always want to when it comes to you,” she says. “But no more photos.”

“Okay.” I kiss her again, then whisper against her mouth. “There’s something you should know though.”

“What?”

“I burnt all my condoms.”

She laughs. “I don’t care.” Our lips meet again, and the kiss is sensuous and frantic and calming all at once. “I love you,” she says, when we break apart. “I never stopped loving you. Not for a single second. Even when I hated you, I still loved you.”

I close my eyes and press my forehead to hers. Has anything ever felt as good as having Elly back in my arms? I don’t feel worthy of it. Of her. She’s far too good for me, but I’ll take it because this woman is embedded deep in my soul, and without her, I’m broken.

“But you can’t ever lie to me again,” Elly adds.

“I won’t. I promise. I love you. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, and I never will. You’ve changed my life, El. You’ve changedme. Being with you was the most wonderful experience I’ve ever had, and I swear I will never do anything to jeopardise that again. I’ll devote myself to your happiness. Your wellbeing. Your safety. I’ll—”

She presses a finger to my lips. “I get it, Lansen. You love me, and you’re sorry.” She kisses me hard on the mouth. “I forgive you, with my whole heart. Now… fuck me, before I change my mind.”

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