Page 84 of Wicked

“I’m worse. I’m a complication you don’t need. The simple path is the one of least resistance for making your dreams come true. I won’t be mad if you choose your dreams over me.”

“Why choose when I can have both?”

“Ryker.” Her eyes tear up. Her small arms encircle my neck. I pitch forward and lick up her tears.

“Baby, you’re all I want.”

I close my eyes. Soft kisses on my eyelids. A sigh of contentment edges from between my teeth. I continue professing what I feel for her, my eyes opening to take all of her in, from her long onyx hair, equally dark brows, clear blue eyes, and a mouth set in a perpetual pout that never fails to get me hot down there.

“If I had to choose between you and playing ball professionally, I’d pick you in a heartbeat. Playing in the NFL is temporary. Us? We’re solid. Long term.”

“How’d you get so wise?” she murmurs over my mouth.

“From a girl with a shit ton of complications. You could have picked the simple path, too. Could have given up as soon as those bastards took you and did godawful things to your body. Instead, you chose to fight. To not give up on life. Then you went further when you let those kids into your life. Brought them as much joy and laughter as they brought you.”

I cup her face. Strum my thumb over the elegant arch of her cheek. Kiss her beautiful lips. Smooth my mouth over her equally beautiful freckles along her bottom lip. Her fingers weave in my hair. Her breath whispers warm over my ear.

“Are you saying I’m normal?”

So much hope in her voice, taking me back to that damn hotel room where we made love for the first time.

I want it to be you who brings me back from the trauma of those days. I want to be normal again, Ryker.

How can you be after everything you went through?

I won’t know until I try.

She already succeeded long before I showed up in her life.

“Had I not known of your past, I’d say you’re the most normal girl I know.”

“Really?” Her clear blue eyes shine.

“The truth.”

“Ryker, you . . . I love you.”

“I love you too. Now spill the rest so we can get on with it.”

She smiles. “Get on with it?”

“Worshipping your body from head to toe.”

“While making sure I have no other marks, right?”

“You’re onto me, babe.”

God, when that bastard drew his gun and pointed it at Harper’s head, I’d nearly lost it. Pete and his guys had to strongarm me. For as big as I am, that took half the guys on his team of a dozen.

In the melee, Pete’s words calmed me down. One word from Pete and the sniper would take the kill shot. But Harper surprised us all and took that POS down, sparing his life, removing another stain of death from her soul.

Her palms settle on my chest. She leans back. Her eyes search my face.

“From the beginning?”

“Before you do, I have a confession.”

“You hired a private investigator to look into my past. Is that what you wanted to tell me?”

---