Page 57 of The One for Me
“Here’s where my story gets worse, it was Ellie’s parents.”
I get to my feet, hand clenching my stomach in horror. Ellie has talked about losing her parents and how terrible it was. It was what set her life on the course that landed her with an abusive husband.
“Please tell me this is some kind of joke. That you’re fucking with me or something because . . .”
“It’s not a joke. It’s why the four of us left and never returned. We never spoke to my father again.”
“I came and checked on him! I went with Sydney to your mother’s grave and brought him eggs or helped with the cows. I didn’t know that he did that! I thought that . . . I don’t know, I thought you’d want me to make sure he was at least okay, but . . . God, he killed Ellie’s parents!”
Sean gets to his feet. “You didn’t know.”
A tear slips from my lashes, gliding against my skin. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He brushes away the wetness under my eye. “Because I was ashamed. I hated him. Hated that we were weak. Hated that we were so afraid of what he’d do and how it would look. I couldn’t tell you, Dev. But now, now that I want a future with you. Now that I see that I’m falling in love with you . . .”
Damn him. I grip his wrist, pulling it away. “Stop telling me you’re falling in love with me.”
“Stop pretending you’re not feeling the same.” I release a shaky breath and try to twist away, but he grabs me, pulling me to his chest. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re . . .”
He’s not wrong.
He’s so not wrong.
I’m so incredibly screwed.
“I’m what?”
The words are right there. They’re so close I can taste them. I could tell him everything, confess that my feelings for him are so strong that it’s scary. If I were brave like him, I would admit it and everything else. But I’m not brave. I’m a scared, broken liar.
Sean lifts my chin, forcing me to stare into those green eyes. “I’ll say it to you, and then, if you feel the same, you don’t have to speak, just kiss me. Okay?”
My heart is pounding. I open my mouth, but he puts a finger over it.
“Just kiss me if I’m the one for you because, Devney, you’re the one for me.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sean
Iwait for her to move. I don’t so much as twitch a muscle as I pray she won’t push me away.
I know she’s scared. I see it in her coffee-colored eyes, but I will protect her. I’ll do everything to make her see that I won’t let her down.
Her chest rises and falls as she moves closer.
She lifts onto her toes, eyes never leaving mine, and touches her lips to mine.
All the burden of the past fades away and hope begins to spread. We have a lot to deal with, but right now, none of it matters. The only thing that exists is us.
My arms tighten as I take over the kiss. I need her. I need her to heal me, make me live again, because I’ve been only half alive.
“Devney.” I sigh her name and then kiss her harder.
Her fingers tangle in my hair, clenching just a bit, but it only turns me on more. Our tongues slide against each other in a battle of wills.
I have never wanted a woman as much as I want her right now.
