Page 122 of At the Edge of Surrender

“I am ten steps away.” Playfulness ridged that sexpot mouth that was tweaking up in a smile.

And fuck me, I thought it might be me who glowed at the sight of it.

“Think we both know what would happen if I came to your door, Emery, and I’m still not sure you’re ready for that.”

A blush rushed to her cheeks. That lush fall of blonde rolling down her shoulders, the thin straps of what appeared to be a satiny tank barely visible under them.

Her attention dipped away for a beat before she peered back at me.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for you. I think we both know letting anything happen between us would be a terrible idea.”

“Sorry to break it to you, Little Warrior, but I’m pretty sure it’s already happened.”

Emery stared at me through the screen, sincerity woven in her words. “And I’m pretty sure whatever that is will destroy me in the end.”

“If I wreck you, I promise you, it’s going to be in the best way possible.”

Couldn’t stop my voice from going raspy with greed.

Toffee eyes widened, all those warm, autumn colors swirling with need and uncertainty.

“I’m not someone who goes for the temporary.” Her admission came out choppy.

“And what is it you go for?” So what if I was pushing her. Trying to get under all those hard, brittle layers where she kept herself protected.

She shifted on her bed, skin so pretty against the rich plum color of her comforter.

“I think you already know I don’t go for anything.” She bit it out, though it sounded a whole lot sadder than mad.

“You want to tell me about that?” I kept it soft and encouraging while my insides roiled with a fury so hot it was amazing I didn’t storm in there and ask for a name.

Hunt down the motherfucker and show him what it was really like to fear.

Heartache suddenly gushed out of her.

Tragedy.

Something so deep and ugly that I was nearly suffocating on it. Instinct screamed at me to get up and go.

Do what I did best.

Maim and fucking kill.

But there was something entirely different than retribution and reprisal staring back at me right then. Something more than the vengeance I sought for random names.

This was Emery.

Emery.

This woman who’d come into my life and changed everything.

Even in the muted light, I could see the moisture blear her eyes. Torment fermented in the depths.

“I was so ignorant,” she suddenly admitted. She reached up andswiped a tear that got free. “Believed myself indestructible, I guess. Like everything was perfect in my safe little bubble, and no one could touch it. I mean, you always hear the horror stories, right? But until it happens to you, it’s never truly real.”

Her eyes squeezed closed like she was trying to shield herself from the memory.

From whatever affliction had struck her down.

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