Page 44 of Stay for Me

“Never,” I promised, reading her fear like an open book.

“I-I’m scared to death of them,” she rasped, her voice cracking as her breath hit my neck. “Please, Mags.”

Please, Mags.

Please, Mags.

Please, Mags.

Please, Mags.

Please, Mags.

Please, Mags.

Two words. Two little words, and I was ready to give her the world. Two little words and I was ready to be hers. Forever. I looked up to the sky above, trying to hold onto my sanity as her power over me threatened to take it.

I was not allowed to be hers. I could never be hers, and she could never be mine. Even though my mind knew I would never be hers, my body knew different—-my heart knew different.

Hell, my fucking soul knew different.

Focus, Mags.

Focus, Mags.

Focus, Mags.

Focus, Mags.

Focus, Mags.

Focus, Mags.

“Hey,” I called softly, turning away from the horse. “Look at me.” When she didn’t, I tipped my chin down, getting further into in her space as my arms tightened around her, my fingers pressing into the flesh of her leg.

She didn’t move, crying softly into my shirt, her shoulders shaking.

God fucking damn—

“Firefly, beautiful, look at me.” The words came out as a plea, a forbidden, unforgivable plea.

Diana’s head snapped up then, her eyes wet with tears as emotions swirled within them. Our faces were inches apart now, and I could practically taste the mint on her breath.

“Mags,” she whispered.

The sound of my name on her lips was a fairytale in and of itself, the happy ending that years ago, was so out of reach, it damn neared insanity. Everything I wanted to say was on the tip of my tongue and the need to claim her mouth, to find out if she tasted at sweet as she sounded—

A truck engine rumbled behind me and my neck twisted to find Kings’ shit box coming down the lane, dusting flying behind it. I looked back to down to Diana, taking in her honey golden hair and the blush blooming brightly on her cheeks.

I wanted to damn her for being so beautiful, and yet, I could only damn myself for being in awe the beauty she’d given me.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” I said, meaning it. Scaring her was the last thing I meant to do. It was the last thing I ever wanted to do on this Earth. Women like Diana didn’t deserved to be scared and preyed on.

They deserved to be worshiped.

“Mags, I—”

“Gonna put you down now, Ms. Harper,” I said, clearing my throat and ignoring the flash of pain in her eyes.

---