Page 31 of Rectify

Aedan rolled to his side and turned her to face him. “I’m sorry for losing my temper with you.”

“You had every right.”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t the right time. I should have been more understanding. I should have?—”

She clasped the back of his head and pulled him down, pressing her lips against his, breathing in his scent. How often had she longed for just one more kiss? If she’d known that kiss at the airport would be their last, she’d have savored it, memorized it. Like she was doing now.

Aedan ran his tongue over the seam of her mouth. She parted her lips, letting him in. Their tongues clashed, dueled, then danced together. Excitement exploded through her as her pussy throbbed with need. Reaching down, he cupped one breast. She moaned, pressing up against him.

“Aedan,” she groaned as he pressed kisses down her neck. “Dios mío, what you do to me.”

He leaned up on one elbow, breathing heavily, devouring her with his gaze. “This isn’t the right time.”

“Yes, it is,” she countered. “I need you.”

Aedan shook his head, moving away. “I’d be taking advantage of you.”

“You’re not taking advantage of me. Please don’t leave.” Screw her pride. It had messed things up for her so many times.

“Christ, woman, you think I want to walk away? That I don’t want to fuck you? You’re not thinking clearly right now.”

“Aedan, you know how difficult it is for me to ask for what I need. I’m scared of opening myself up for hurt.” She needed to start opening up more. Natalya knew that leaning on someonedidn’t make her weak or vulnerable, so long as she leaned on the right person.

“God, Natalya. You’re ripping me to pieces.”

“Don’t you think I know the timing is crazy? I don’t know where my son is! I don’t know if he’s scared or hurt or crying for me. I feel so out of control because I can’t do anything to find him.”

“What do you want, Natalya? Do you want sex so you can forget everything else? Is that it?” he asked.

She stared at him in bewilderment. “Forget? I can’t forget. I want you because . . . because—actually, forget it.”

She couldn’t do it. She wasn’t strong enough.

“Natalya.” He placed his fingers under her chin, raising her head so she couldn’t hide. “You don’t have to tell me. But one day, you are going to have to let someone in if you are ever going to be truly happy. I do hope you find that someone.”

He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

“What if I want that someone to be you?” she asked quietly as he started sliding off the bed.

Freezing, he sat there for a long moment as she held her breath anxiously.

“Natalya . . . ” He turned, and she knew from the look on his face that he was about to kindly brush her off.

She sat up. “I want you because I want to feel something other than fear or grief or helplessness. I want you because when I’m with you, I feel safe and secure, like everything is going to be all right,” she sobbed.

“Lovely . . . ” He moved closer, his face screwed up into a mask of pain.

“I want you because I have never stopped wanting you.” She swiped angrily at her cheeks. She was so sick of crying, damn it.

“Shh.” He ran his thumb over her cheek.

“No, I don’t want your sympathy or your pity. What I want is your touch, your fire. I want you to take me. I know it won’t mean anything. And I don’t expect anything more. But, please, don’t reject me.”

“Christ, Natalya, I’m not rejecting you. I’m not. But you need to give me time to think about this. It’s been a hell of a day, and I can’t just forget everything that easily. I need time to think about this. I’m sorry.”

Getting up, he moved to the door and opened it before letting himself out. The door closed with a soft click behind him. She kind of wished he’d slammed it. Then she would have something to be mad at him for.

But this was all on her. She’d been the one to break them. She couldn’t blame him now if he wasn’t interested in putting them back together.

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