Page 81 of Beautifully Wounded

“But it might make you stop looking at me like you did outside.”

A deep growl rumbles in his chest, and before I know what’s happening, Ringo’s big hands are cupping my face, his forehead pressed to mine, bringing us so incredibly close.

“Nothing will make me stop wanting you, Angel. Not even the fact I probably shouldn’t, given everything you’ve been through.”

With a shaky hand, I reach up and press it to his chest, right over his strong pec. He hisses in a breath, his hand coming to rest overmine as he speaks. “You’re trembling so much. You don’t have to touch me, Angel.”

“I-I want to. I just.” I shake my head, which breaks the intimacy of his forehead pressing to mine, and I want to slap myself because I really loved having him that close, feeling the heat of his breath over my lips.

“You just what?” he asks, and my eyes drop to his chest as shame laces my words.

“I can’t get the images out of my head. The memories. Every time I feel… something, it’s like a swarm of bees honing in on me to attack. They just come at me from out of nowhere.”

Ringo’s breathing deepens, even as he urges my head back up so I have no choice but to look at him.

“I’m no counsellor or psychologist, but I hear talking can help. I promise nothing you say will change the way I feel about you.”

I stare into his stormy eyes for a long beat, wanting to open up to him, but still scared that when I do, it will change everything.

“Will you do something for me first? Before I tell you?” I ask, and he nods quickly.

“Of course. Anything.”

Can I really do it? Ask him for what I really want? What I really need right now?

It takes me a moment to work up the courage, and even though I want to squeeze my eyes shut so I can’t see his reaction, I force myself to witness it all.

“Will you kiss me?”

19

Did I hear her right? She wants me to kiss her?

Fuck, I wasn’t expecting those words but I’m glad she said them.

“I’d love to kiss you, Angel, but why do you want me to kiss you now before you tell me?”

I study those big doe eyes glassed over with intense emotion, wishing I could see into her soul. Her pink tongue darting out to lick her lips draws my attention, and I watch as she wets them, perhaps in anticipation, which has me distracted until she speaks.

“Because I’m scared it will be the only chance I’ll get to feel the kiss of a real man.”

Fuck. A real man? She thinksI’ma real man?

I’m a man, yes, butnot a good one. Maybe I should tell her in detail about all the bad shit I’ve done. Maybe that will help to remind her who she’s talking to right now.

Yet I can’t bring myself to do it.

Selfishly, I want to shield her from that darkness. I want to pretend I’m a better man than I am, but fuck, if she asks me, I’ll tell her the truth. I have a feeling I’d do just about anything for her, which once again is a really fucking weird notion. I’ve known her for a whole what? Five days?

Fuck.

Did I ever feel this way with Kylie?

Just thinking about my dead ex feels wrong while I’m with Abbey, so I push all thoughts of her away and concentrate on what Abbey said. She’s scared that kissing me now will be the only chance she’ll get to kiss a real man.

“You don’t think I’ll want to kiss you afterwards?”

She shakes her head.

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