Page 65 of The Rogue and His Flower

I wrap my arms around myself, trying and failing to seek comfort in my own arms. “All I’ve ever wanted was to be loved,” I admit shakily.

Dalton stops pacing and stares at the floor, his face contorted with regret before he eventually lifts his turbulent gaze to meet mine. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have…” he swallows hard. “I never would’ve pushed things so far had I known. I let my own demons get the better of me. I was wrong.I’m sorry.”

“Demons?” I question, my heart heavy with pain, wanting to focus on something else. Anything else. He refuses to answer,casting his gaze away. “Dalton, I need to understand,” I insist. “What’s going on with you?”

“It’s nothing compared to what you’ve been through. Daisy, why have you never said anything? Why hasn’t Drix? Fuck!”

“Tell me what hurts you Dalton,please,” I beg.

He palms his face as if he wants to hide, but I reach for him, my fingers curling around his wrists as I drag his hands away.

“My father is a cold man, emotionless, and my mother left without a backward glance when I was just a kid. I’ve not had very good role models when it comes to affection, kindness,fucking love,” he eventually admits, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Dalton…” I begin, but he shakes his head.

“I was jealous when I saw how at ease you were with Riley, how he made you smile and laugh because it only served to highlight what I lack,” he explains.

“And what’s that?” I ask softly.

“The ability to emotionally connect,” he replies, rubbing at the centre of his chest. “I can’t seem to get beyond the physical to anything deeper. Sure, I can pretend, but deep down I’m incapable, Daisy. I can’t offer a deeper, more meaningful relationship because I don’t know how.I don’t know how to love,” he adds, agony scoring deep grooves between his brows. He drops his head, his long fingers raking through his hair. I step towards him, my cheeks damp with tears, his confession stirring up a mix of emotions within me.

“Daisy?”

My head snaps around to see Drix striding towards us both. He takes one look at the tears streaming down my face and reacts.

“You motherfucker!” he yells, lifting his arm, about to throw a punch, but I step in front of Dalton, shaking my head.

“No. It isn’t what you think,” I say, pressing my hands against Drix’s chest, forcing him backwards.

“You’re crying, Daisy. He’s obviously upset you,” Drix argues, his whole body trembling with rage. “He’s supposed to be looking after you. I fucking warned him!”

“Let him hit me. I deserve it for how I’ve behaved tonight,” Dalton says, his voice low, broken sounding.

“No!” I argue, throwing a look over my shoulder at Dalton. “Go wait in the car. I need to speak with Drix alone.”

“You’d better get out of here right the fuck now, or so help me,” Drix warns.

“I’ll take your punishment, Drix,” Dalton says, stepping around me, but I turn to face him, placing my hands on his chest this time, forcing him backwards.

“Dalton, just go and wait for me in the car,” I insist, hating that their relationship has come to this, hating how crestfallen he looks, how agony bleeds across his features.

“No.”

“Please, for me?” I beg, my hand coasting up his chest, cupping his face. “We’ll talk more, just give us a moment, okay?”

“Alright, I’ll go,” Dalton agrees after a moment, his voice barely audible as he locks eyes with me. I see the shame in them, the pain and anguish.

“Go,” I urge him.

Nodding, he turns on his heel and heads towards the car. As the door slams shut behind him, I turn back to Drix. “I need you to understand something, Drix.”

“Please do not make excuses for him. Iknowwhat he’s like.”

“I agree, you do, so you also know that he has his own issues, things that up until a moment ago,Ididn’t even see the truth of,” I retort.

“That’s why you’re crying?” he asks, frowning as he flicks his gaze to the man he once called his best friend.

“I’m also upset because I told him a few things about me too.”

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