Page 176 of His Boys to Protect

“He's fine,” Ward insisted, nearly closing the distance between them. He reached out and framed Skylar's face with those big, warm, strong hands of his. “Sky? He's okay. He's safe. I promise. We got to him in time.”

Skylar let out a shuddering breath and hugged himself tighter.

“He saw your phone had appeared at the airport,” Ward went on. “He was bound and determined to go down there and question them, find out where you went.”

Skylar winced as tears formed on his eyelashes.

“He never accepted that you were gone for good,” Ward continued. “He never stopped trying to figure out a way to find you. He did what I should have done. I should have tried to come after you the minute I found out you'd left.”

“Ward–”

“I should have done so many things,” Ward continued. “Starting with this.” He moved in closer and crouched down,putting them at eye level, then held Skylar's gaze, unblinking. “I love you.”

Skylar froze, staring at the man. His knees buckled, but Ward caught him, holding him steady until he managed to stand again. “What?”

“I love you,” Ward repeated insistently. “I should have told you that every day. A hundred times a day. But I was afraid. Afraid to say it, and to not hear it in return. Afraid I'd make you feel smothered or trapped.”

Skylar shook his head. “I never–” He broke off, too choked up with emotion to speak.

“You've endured so much. You've been through hell, and you deserved to be free. I wanted you to be free more than anything. I wanted that for you. And if I ever did or said something that made you feel even the least bit controlled or confined, I never would have forgiven myself. But I went too far the opposite way, didn't I? I was afraid to hold on too hard, so I didn't hold on hard enough.”

Skylar choked out a sob. “I thought you didn't want me. Or Charlie. Not really. I mean, I thought you did, but it was so easy for you to let Charlie leave–”

“It wasn't,” Ward swore, taking Skylar's hands and holding them tight. “It killed me, having to drop him off and come back home without him every time. And when we got back to find you gone–”

“Wait,” Skylar interrupted him. “'We?'”

“Yeah. We were about an hour out when Charlie changed his mind. He said he wished he could stay forever.”

Skylar gasped.

“But you know he hates the apartment,” Ward continued. “So I told him we could look for a new place. All three of us. We could pick a place together where we're all comfortable and happy. I wish you could have seen his face, Sky. He was soexcited. We turned right back around. Couldn't wait to get home and tell you. But you were gone.”

Skylar curled in on himself.Oh fuck. If he'd just delayed a few minutes—if he'd hesitated even a little bit—Ward and Charlie would have returned before he'd gotten a chance to leave, and everything might have been different. He pulled his hands free and covered his eyes. “This is all my fault.”

“No, it's not,” Ward murmured, pulling Skylar's hands away from his face. “It's mine. I am so sorry, sweetheart. You deserve to be loved. To have a home. Family. Safety. And I should have made it clear that was what I wanted, too. I'm sorry I failed you.”

Skylar shook his head. “You saved me. You took me away from here. I was so grateful–”

“But you wanted more.”

Skylar nodded. “And I was afraid to ask for it. I don't deserve it.” Skylar swallowed hard, desperately clinging to Ward's hands. “I'll never be free of my past. How could you possibly want me, knowing what I am? I didn't want you to have to explain me or make excuses or–” He broke off with another sob.

“Sky? I want you. And I'm not afraid to explain you. We can tell people as much or as little as you want. That's up to you. Whether we tell the truth or make up a lie, that's your choice. And whatever you decide, I will support it one hundred percent.”

Skylar grimaced. “I just don't want you to ever be ashamed of me.”

“I could never be ashamed of you. Sky? I'd beproudto call you mine. I mean it. You're brave and strong. A survivor. You're beautiful and smart and so incredibly caring. I admire the hell out of you. I will gladly tell the whole world that you're mine, if you'll let me.”

Skylar sniffed. “Wh-What do you mean?”

Ward swallowed hard, but he held Skylar's gaze as he lowered himself to one knee.

Skylar froze, his eyes going wide.No way. Was this really happening? This couldn't be real. He had to be dreaming.

Ward gave his hands a gentle squeeze. “Marry me.”

Skylar gasped.

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