Page 217 of Silver Elite

“I…I wanted to show you that you can trust me. I wanted to show you…me.” The lump of emotion in my throat is liable to choke me. “I wanted you to see what I am.”

“I see exactly what you are, Daisy. I always have.”

I barely have time to bask in that before he’s kissing me. We don’t even make it to the bedroom. Our clothes are ripped away. We start off on the couch but it’s too small for us, and with a hiss of frustration Cross pulls me onto the floor, falling back on his elbows, eyes gleaming as I settle astride him.

I pull him free, giving a slow, thorough stroke that makes him curse. Then I sink down on him, and we both groan.

“Best feeling in the world,” he mumbles.

Time seems to stand still, my surroundings fading away until there’s only the two of us. It’s always been that way. The two of us.

He reaches up to cup my breasts. Squeezing. Toying with my nipples. I shiver. Then shiver harder when those strong hands travel downward. He runs his fingers over my newly healed thigh, and it feels weird to…well, feel. There’d been no sensation there for so long that it’s like discovering a new erogenous zone. The unfamiliar sensations are delicious.

“I didn’t know about the ambush.”

It’s probably the worst time to say it, but I can’t stop the words from popping out of my mouth.

“I believe you,” Cross says, then thrusts upward and fills me so deep I gasp.

His eyes grow hazy with pleasure as he watches me ride his cock. My own pleasure rises at the sight of his pulse hammering in the base of his throat, at the feel of his hands roaming my body. His lips on my nipple when I curl over him, losing control of the rhythm.

Release finds us within seconds of each other. I moan against his neck, and he groans against mine, giving one last thrust while I feel him throbbing inside me. We’re both breathing hard when I roll off him. We’re too lazy and sated to move. We lie on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.

“I love you,” he says.

I press my lips together to suppress the smile that’s tickling my lips.

“I’ve loved you since I was eight years old. And I’m still adjusting to all of this. Trying to merge the two of you. Daisy. Wren.” Regret thickens his voice. “I’m sorry I lashed out after we lost Tyler. Sutler. Jones. They were my responsibility. I was pissed at myself, not you. Travis is right. I led them into a trap.”

“You didn’t know.”

“I would have if I hadn’t been so distracted.”

“By me.” My heart sinks.

“Yes, but that’s not your fault. It’s not your fault you’ve been Daisy all along, or…” His voice grows even hoarser. “Or that now that I know the truth, I’ve never been more fucking terrified in my life.”

“Terrified?” Frowning, I sit up. My hair has grown so long since I got here that it falls like a curtain over my breasts. “Terrified of what?”

“Of what I feel for you.” His gaze seeks out mine, holding me captive. “You’re in my soul, Wren. I take a breath and feel you in my chest. You’re inside of me. You have been since I was a kid, and the thought of losing you…”

My throat is entirely constricted, but somehow I manage to whisper, “You’re not going to lose me.”

“You make it very hard to keep you safe.”

“You don’t need to keep me safe.”

“You’re reckless. You would’ve raced into that burning depot if I hadn’t stopped you.”

“He was my friend—”

“Your life is more important to me,” Cross interrupts. “Don’t you get that? Sutler was a good guy, but his life is irrelevant compared to yours. Yours is the only life that matters. I will rip anyone’s throat out, burn the entire fucking world down, if it means keeping you safe and—”

“I love you, too.”

He stops, a grin playing on his lips. “I know.”

Cocky bastard. I’ve never said those three words to anyone before, and here he is taking them for granted.

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