Page 23 of Breaker

She nodded, dark hair sliding forward to hide her face. Gently, I reached out to tuck the silky strands behind her ear, letting my fingers linger against her cool skin for just a moment. A shaky breath escaped her lips.

“I’m s-sorry, Breaker,” she whispered, voice cracking on my name. “I don’t… I didn’t m-mean to shut you out. It’s just…”

Her slender fingers twisted anxiously in her lap and I fought the urge to cover them with my own, to still their restless movement. I waited, giving her time to gather her thoughts, her courage.

When Juniper finally met my gaze, those striking gray eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I’m scared,” she confessed, the words coming out in a rush. “Of m-messing this up. What this is with you.”

“Oh, sweetheart. That’s not going to happen.”

As I held her gaze, willing her to feel the truth behind my words, a tear slipped free to trail down her cheek. Catching it with my thumb, I marveled at the softness of her skin, so at odds with the hard world that had left its marks on her, inside and out.

In that moment, with Juniper looking up at me full of vulnerability and trust, I knew I’d burn the whole damn world down to keep her safe. To make her feel cherished and wanted. And no matter how long it took, I’d convince her that she was here to stay. I didn’t know what had brought on this burst of insecurity. I’d thought we’d been making progress, now I wondered where it went wrong.

I sensed a shift in the air between us, a crackling tension that had my heart beating faster. Juniper’s eyes searched mine, a silent question in their depths that I wasn’t sure I had the answer to. Not yet. But I knew I wanted to find out.

Slowly, giving her time to pull away, I lifted my other hand to cradle her face, my fingers sliding into the silk of her hair. She let out a shaky breath, her eyelids fluttering closed for a moment before she met my gaze once more.

“Breaker…” My name was a whisper on her lips, a plea and a prayer all at once.

“It’s just us, Juni. Call me Teller. If anyone has that right, it’s you.”

“Teller,” she said softly, her cheeks flushing.

I leaned in, resting my forehead against hers, our breath mingling in the scant space between us. I wanted to kiss her, to taste the sweetness of her mouth and show her just how much she meant to me. But I knew it was too soon. She was too fragile, too unsure.

So I contented myself with holding her close, offering her the strength and comfort of my presence. And when she finally pulled back, a tentative smile curving her lips, I knew I’d made the right choice.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her hand coming up to cover mine where it still rested against her cheek.

I smiled back, my thumb brushing over her skin in a gentle caress. “Anytime, sweetheart. “

We stayed like that for a long moment, lost in each other’s eyes, the rest of the world falling away. And as I looked at Juniper, seeing the hope and the trust shining in her gaze, I knew that whatever this was between us, it was just the beginning.

The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready to walk it with her, to face whatever challenges came our way. Because in the end, all that mattered was keeping her safe, making her happy.

Juniper’s eyes darted away from mine. “I…” she began, her voice so soft I had to strain to hear it. “I don’t know how to say this.”

I stayed silent, giving her the space she needed to gather her thoughts. My heart ached for her, for the vulnerability I saw etched into every line of her face.

She took a shaky breath, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment before she forced them open again. “You’ve been so kind to me, Breaker.”

“Teller,” I corrected.

“Teller. You’ve been so patient. And I don’t want to ruin that. I’ve never been in a relationship.”

“You could never ruin anything, sweetheart. Just talk to me. Tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours. If you have concerns, then we can talk about them. Or if you need more space, tell me. I’m letting you set the pace.”

A faint blush stained her cheeks at my words, and she ducked her head, hiding behind the curtain of her hair. “The way you make me feel is… terrifying. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

My breath caught in my throat, my heart stuttering in my chest. I’d suspected, hoped, that she might feel something for me, but to hear her say it out loud…

“Juni…” There was so much I wanted to say, and yet I couldn’t seem to find the words.

“I know it’s stupid,” she rushed on, the words tumbling out in a nervous jumble. “You’re so strong and brave and kind, and I’m just… me. Broken and scared and --”

“Stop.” My voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “Don’t you ever talk about yourself like that. You’re incredible, Juniper. You’re sweet and caring and so damn strong. Anyone would be lucky to have you in their life.I’mlucky, and I damn well know it.”

She stared at me, her eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. “You really mean that?”

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