Page 201 of Innocent Intentions

My heart stops. He’s narrating our story.

“When she witnessed something she shouldn’t have seen, he had no choice. But deep down, even if she hadn’t, he still would’ve kept her. She was his other half. The part of him he hadn’t known was missing.”

I can feel his eyes on me.

“So, he took her. And to this day, he still doesn’t regret it.

He never will.

She fought. Of course she did. Every sassy comment, every act of rebellion, every ounce of resistance, they just made him fall harder for his spitfire.”

I laugh through the lump in my throat.

“He learned everything about her. When he found her hidden passion, her audiobooks, he was brought to his knees. He came like a teenager the first time he heard her voice whispering sin in his ears.”

My face burns.

“He saw her sleeping in his bed and knew it wasn’t his anymore. It was theirs. Their room. Their home. Their life.

Even her lazy, sorry excuse for a guard dog stole his heart.

Hell, he was even jealous of that damn dog. Because the dog made her smile in ways he couldn’t. Not yet.

The dog and she were a mischievous pair. He saw when they would run his guards around, making them fetch balls purely for her amusement.”

I cover my mouth, eyes wide. How did he even know that?

“He couldn’t help himself. Couldn’t stay away. He watched her constantly. Security feeds on every screen. He still does. He can’t concentrate if he can’t see her.”

“What–” I whisper.

“Shhh,” he murmurs.

“She barged into his life like a hurricane. Spit on him. Defied him. Seduced him with every step, even though she didn’t mean to.

He did everything he could to get her to choose to stay. To choose him. To choose them. He changed for her. Became better for her.

And when he professed his love to her, he didn’t know how she’d react. But he couldn’t contain it. He wouldn’t hide it any longer. He loved her, and she needed to accept it.

When she told him she loved him too, it was the greatest moment of his life.

Her love is his most prized possession.”

Tears well in my eyes.

“Then, he lost her. He lost his everything. He’d never been so scared. He would’ve burned the world to ash to get her back. And once she was back where she belonged, beside him, he swore he’d earn her forgiveness. Earn her love. Earn her.”

I reach for his hand and grip it tightly.

“Now? Now, he’s her whole world. She was always his. She just didn’t know it then. But she’ll never forget it now, he’ll never let her.”

The screen fades. Soft music begins to play.

I turn to him. “Matty, I–”

“Shhh,” he whispers.

Then he stands.

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