Page 343 of My Sweet Dollie, You Have to Love Me
“And I want you to stay with me.”
“Still? Even after last night?”
There’s a twitch of the muscles in Ambrose’s jaw as I stare up at him. “You didn’t do anything but protect yourself.”
“But it hurt you.”
His eyes roll closed, hiding the pretty green, and his hand moves along my arm. “I can handle things hurting me, but not hurting you.”
Does he realize I feel the same? That’s why I let Shane touch me, rather than cry or scream, or even stay where I wanted, in a room that wasn’t mine, because I didn’t want Ambrose fighting and getting arrested again.
I didn’t want to lose him.
Changing the subject, I ask, “You’re paying Nyx to fix the yard, right?”
“Yeah. I got paid two days ago. Are you gonna ask for a new pair of slippers?”
I laugh, a small, weak laugh, but a real one. “No. I want to ask him to change the locks, but I don’t have another baking gig lined up. I guess I could ask Valaria. But I might get luckier if you do it.” My eyes drop to his inner arm and the tattoo he hasn’t bothered hiding today.
He tracks my movements, that little green symbol of luck holding us both prisoner.
“I’m sorry you found out the way you did.” He’s the first to look away as he holds out his hand. “I should have told you, not sprang a random angry text.”
With no hesitation, I take it, feeling over soft scars while his other hand still dances over my shoulder.
“I’ve known for ages.”
“You have?”
I stumble as he reels back on the bed and away from me, any farther and he’d fall straight off the edge. With a tight grip, I grapple with the bed shirt that would just rip open and not save him if he were to fall.
“Annabelle?” he asks, steadying himself.
“What about Annabelle?” I question.
“She didn’t tell you?”
“No, but she’s been holding my secrets, too. She must be ready to burst. I did figure she knew something, but not that you were Lucky.”
“Don’t be mad at her. I should have told you.”
“It’s okay.” I slump back into his hold. “I’m not mad at either of you. I saw the tattoo the morning after you had your nightmare. It shocked me for like a minute and then… I don’t know. I just remembered how much I missed both versions of you. And it made so much sense that you are the same person.”
“I kissed you as Lucky. That shouldn’t have happened without you knowing who I was,” he croaks out.
“I’m not mad about that, either, or about last night.” I gaze up at him. “In truth, I didn’t want you to stop. I’d have gone the whole way if we were alone.”
His large Adam’s apple bobs, disrupting the scars on his throat. I place the softest kiss there, then another on his mouth. My hands move to his face, preventing him from pulling awayagain, because if he does, I just won’t cope. My sleeves tickle his face, and through our kiss, I feel his lips lift.
“I remember these pajamas. You always wore them odd.”
“I still am.”
“Yeah, but you look cute.”
“I do? Like a unicorn. Because I’m truly one of a kind?”
“Exactly.”
