Page 55 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

She arched up and kissed him. He wrapped her up tight and took the kiss to dizzying levels. It was blissful and desperate and she never wanted it to end.

The kiss slowed down, and he rested his forehead against hers.

“I should barely know you, but I have no idea how I’ll live without you,” he said.

Autumn’s throat was thick with tears. She didn’t know how to respond.

“I don’t understand why you can’t stay with me,” he said, straightening and staring down at her. “But I want you to know that no matter when you’re ready, no matter how far away you go, I will be here waiting for you. I love you, and these past few days with you have proven to me that no other woman is the right one for me. It will always be you.”

Autumn pulled from his embrace and backed away. It was too much. “You can’t mean that. I’m a warrior, a trained killer. I killed three men tonight, shot the guy right next to you who was going to cut out your tongue, almost killed Benjamin in cold blood. I’m not the right woman for you.”

“You are a warrior and a protector. You’re not cold blooded; you only kill to protect and right wrongs. You are exactly the woman I want by my side.” The words were intense and his gaze even more so.

“Jarom.” He couldn’t mean it. She didn’t dare let herself latch onto him not rejecting her but understanding and still wanting her. She searched for some way to reason with him. “You can’t just … waste away your life waiting for me.”

“Try me.” He gave her an infuriating smirk.

“Oh, Jarom.” She swallowed and wanted to cry. “Don’t do this. Please. We had a fling just like you said in the beginning.”

Jarom growled low in his throat. He crossed the steps she’d taken, wrapped her up, bent low, and kissed her very, very thoroughly. She soared to another dimension in his arms. No pain or loneliness could reach her here. She was loved completely and exactly where she should be.

He pulled back and said, “This is no fling. I love you, Autumn Cardon, and Iwill never stop.”

The tears raced down her face then. She loved him and wanted him to love her forever. Selfish. A killer. A mess. That’s what she was. The sooner she got away from him, the better. Jarom could get some distance from the situation, see it clearly, and realize he didn’t truly love her.

Autumn yanked herself away from him and ran for the car. Slamming herself inside, she ignored Paul’s penetrating stare and looked back to the porch. Jarom didn’t move as they drove away. He loved her. He’d never stop. He’d wait for her, waste his life away. She hated that and absolutely loved it at the same time.

Paul didn’t say anything until they climbed out of the taxi and into the plane. He shut the door to the plane and whirled on her. “What has happened to you?”

“I fell in love, all right? You fell in love with Shay and I was nice about it.”

He smiled. “You were nice about it, and I’m thrilled you fell in love. The problem is, why are you here, with me, instead of with your love?”

“I have a job. You’re not with your love.” She flung herself into a recliner. She was going to try that desperation praying again, this time praying she could forget Jarom and he could forget her. She touched her lips. Maybe not possible from her end.

“Who I’ll return to as soon as possible. So do your job, then get back to Jarom.” He eyed her perceptively. He knew she wasn’t going back.

“Not happening. Please. Let’s go.”

Paul stalked to her, bent down and placed his hands on the armrest. “Autumn. If you love Jarom and he loves you, no jobmatters. He’ll support you, but the way you left … you broke his heart.”

He was right and there was nothing to say about it. “I can’t be with him, all right? I’m a broken mess that nobody should love. How could I ever be worthy of Jarom Love?”

Paul’s eyes widened. He straightened and stared down at her. “Autumn. You obviously can’t see what Jarom sees when he looks at you, but I do. You’re more than worthy. You’re the woman he wants to be with, the woman he loves. If you can accept his love and trust him, he’ll help you heal and show you how worthy you are.”

She blinked, but more tears raced down her face. Paul didn’t move. Could she ever believe his words? Jarom had made her feel safe, valued, protected, loved. She craved all of that, but mostly she craved him. She’d let her iron melt, but could she stand by his side? What about her work and his media image and a hundred other obstacles? What about when he realized how cold and damaged she was and dumped her? Yet he’d seen men die around him tonight from her shots and he didn’t blame her.

Finally, after several long minutes, Paul arched a brow. “Do I need to get a driver to take you back to Mr. Love’s home?”

“No.” She let out a heavy breath. “I need time to process, and Aiden has a job for me.”

“Will you at least not close the door on the situation? Give Jarom a chance to love and lift you?”

She shrugged, not promising him anything, not even meeting his eyes.

Paul knew her well enough to know she wasn’t going to bend. He finally walked to the cockpit and shut the door.

Autumn curled into the seat and let the tears come.

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