Page 46 of Rejected Pretend Mate

"And I didn't want to force you into anything, I didn't want to do either. I saw what it had done to your brother and how hurt you were. I saw how it left you when your brother left. And I didn't want that, April. God, you have no idea how hard it was to make that decision. To leave you when I knew you were hurting already."

She swallowed, and I expected her to start yelling. I was waiting for it. I deserved it. She should scream at me and punch me for never telling her the truth.

"Then…" She shook her head. "But you… you've been with all of these women."

"For sexual release," I said. "I've been with a lot of women. Yes, but I have never wanted them like I have wanted you, April. I never imagined a future or children. I never imagined any of it with them. I have never loved any of them."

I watched her face drop, and I braced myself for her to hit me. I deserved it.

"You're an asshole," she snapped, her eyes narrowing at me, tears blooming once more. "Why would you tell me?! All those years ago, you should have told me! If you loved me, you would have."

"Because, it was…"

"I had a right to know," she growled at me. She shoved a hand on my chest. "You should have told me. If you really cared about me, you would have."

"April, you were sixteen! And we…god…our relationship was secret. We weren't sleeping together and bringing up that subject... How could I bring up that subject when you were so young?"

"We talked about everything," she snapped. "Everything, and yet you were afraid to bring that up? I could have gone with you!"

I frowned. "April, I was afraid. I was terrified! I figured if I did, I'd lose you. Any decision I made felt like the wrong decision. If I took you, I’d be responsible for you in every way possible when I couldn’t even look after myself. I figured if youwere there…you at least had a roof over your head, and the alpha promised you wouldn’t be forced into a relationship. You could go to college and travel. I didn’t know what would happen if you were with me….for all I knew, I was throwing my own life away.”

She went quiet for a moment, wiping at her eyes. I reached a hand up, cupping her face. "I'm sorry. I really am, but it was the right option. I did it for us. I didn't want you to end up hurt."

"But we lost all of that time," she whispered softly. "You left me, and I had to settle for someone else. Someone who didn't love me didn't care for me like you did. Maybe you saved yourself from pain but didn't save me, Weslie. You left me just like my brother in the hands of people that didn't care about me."

I felt guilt hit me hard, and I tightened my hold on her. "I'm sorry," I whispered, leaning my forehead against hers. "I'm sorry."

"If you had just told me," she repeated. "We could have figured something out. We could have left together."

I pressed her forehead against mine. "I thought I was doing what was best. I figured you would find someone that would treat you well. Or you would explore like you wanted and live out every dream you had."

She sniffled. "I loved you too, you know. I cried for weeks when you left. And I had to act like nothing was wrong because no one knew about us. My grades slipped, and I got depressed. I fell into Ivan's arms because I thought he cared about me. He found me at my lowest, and it wasn't because of you."

I stared into her eyes, and she stared back at me. I inhaled slowly. "You loved me? Do you not anymore?" I asked, afraid to hear her answer.

She remained silent for a moment, swallowing slowly and shaking her head. "No, I still love you. I never stopped loving you. No matter how hard I tried, even when I made vows and married Ivan, I still loved you and only you."

I felt like my heart stopped beating. She loved me—she still loved me—which meant there was no reason to act fake, no reason to hold back. If she loved me, I would accept her. I was going to keep her.

I kissed her softly, feeling her shake in my hands. I knew they were happy tears as she leaned back. "Weslie, we're in the hallway. Anyone can walk into the house and see us."

I grabbed the doorknob next to us. I was not sure where it led, but it was somewhere. I pulled it open, took her inside with me, and shut the door behind us.

It was a closet, and it was filled with coats, but I ignored them. I pulled her closer and kissed her once more. Her mouth pressed tightly against mine, her tongue sliding over mine. She tasted amazing, and I couldn't get enough of her.

She moaned softly as I pushed her against the wall, pulling her legs up and had her straggle me. I pinned her waist against mine, devouring her mouth.

"Oh god," she panted as I started to grind into her. My cock jerked to attention as her hands wrapped around my shoulders, holding onto me tightly. "This is a bad idea."

I nodded. "It's a terrible idea. This is Wendy and Ayden's house. It's their closet." I grabbed her chin, tilting her head up. "And if you want to stop, we stop."

She shook her head. "Don't stop."

"I love you," I said, kissing her deeply. I felt her bite onto my lower lip, and I groaned, grinding hard against her.

She panted, and I pulled at her dress, hiking it up to her hips. I could see she was wearing a thong, the same shade as her dress. I smirked, sliding my hand over her, finding her soaking wet.

"Fuck, you're soaking wet."

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