Page 245 of Hate Mates

Her jaw tightens, and she fists her hands at her sides, unwilling to touch me. “Youkissedher.”

The sheer agony in her voice slices at my chest because Iknowhow I would have felt if I had been the one to walk in onherkissing someone else—I’d be sitting in prison right now for killing the fucking bastard.

I tighten my grip on her face, forcing her to keep looking at me even if she wants to pull away. “Ihadto. It was the only way they were going to talk in front of her—if they believed she was with me and could be trusted. But that’sallit was. Do you understand? It was anact.”

A single tear escapes from her shimmering eyes and rolls down her cheek, over my thumb. “The way you hate me isn’t.”

I freeze. “Hate you?”

Her tears completely spill over now. “I’m not blind or stupid, Will. I’ve seen the way you look at me. How angry you are?—”

“Christ, Emilia, I don’t fucking hate you.” I fight through the emotion clogging my throat. “I hate the fact that you wouldn’t let me explain, that you immediately believed the worst, that you didn’ttrustme, that you said you should have ‘expected something like that from me’ when I never gave you any reason not to trust me in our entire lives. I hated how much that fucking hurt.”

And finally saying the words now feels like a ten-thousand-pound weight has instantly been lifted from my chest.

“I only love three things in this world, Em—my parents, the water, andyou. That’s never going to change. Ithasn’tchanged.”

Her bottom lip quivers. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

“Shit.” She squeezes her eyes closed, forcing more tears to cascade down her already-streaked cheeks. “And what aboutthoseguys?”

I release a heavy sigh. “I will call Cassie and update her. She was supposed to be here for this meeting but got hung up elsewhere. Rocky has been using middlemen to take the deliveries until now. They couldn’t pin it directly on him without more. When I do get this shipment and make the delivery—directlyinto his fucking hands—this will all be over. He and his crew will be arrested. And that’s all I want, for it to be over so that it’ll be safe for you.”

“What about you?”

That fact that she cares draws my lips into a grin. “I can take care of myself.”

Her perfect lips twitch into a partial grin. “But I’m the better shot.”

“You always were.” I search her eyes, looking for any signs that the woman who once looked at me with so much love and trust is returning. “So…do you believe me?”

I want her so badly to say, “Yes.” After all this time of her believing the lie, Ineedher toseethe truth and know it hasalwaysbeen her and alwayswillbe.

She stares into my eyes for what feels like an eternity, or maybe it only seems that way because she’s avoided doing it for so damn long and I’ve missed seeing them so much.

Finally, Emilia nods slightly. She leans into my hand and sags against me, pressing her body fully to mine. “Yes…I believe you.”

“Thank fucking Christ because I’ve missed you so much, Trouble.”

I wrap one arm around her waist and use the other to guide her mouth to mine so I can crush my lips to hers. Holding hersteady, I devour her, tangling my tongue with her own, tasting her and craving even more.

All the things I’ve been missing and longing for are in my hands now.

I kiss her like my life depends on it because I finally feel I’m getting it back. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel to return to what we once had—to what was meant to be.

Since the first time I laid eyes on her when Rion and Gabby brought her home from the hospital, I fell in love. I may have only been three, but Iknew.From my best friend to the love of my life—Emilia hasalwaysbeen the one.

She moans against my mouth, and my cock hardens between us, pressing into her belly, throbbing with the need to take her again. To claim her. To prove to both of us that we can finally put the demons of the past where they belong.

Every single part of me needs her.

I need to get closer.

I needmore.

I need Emilia.

---