Page 74 of Don't Break My Heart
Then he’s striding toward me. My heart kicks up a beat, and I don’t know what to do with my hands. Or any other part of my body for that matter. Oh God, what is wrong with me?
He stops just a few feet from me. “Your stalking escalating?”
I purse my lips. “Who’s the girl?”
His lips twitch at the side, unable to hide his smile. “Are you jealous, Sloane?”
I cross my arms over my chest protectively. “No,” I huff. “What is there to be jealous over? She looks about as much fun as a cold, rainy day.”
His eyes dance with amusement. “She’s my gran’s carer, no one for you to worry about.”
“Oh.” My shoulders relax. I didn’t even realize I was tensing every fucking muscle in my body. I feel my cheeks glow with embarrassment.I didn’t think I was the possessive type, but seeing him talk to another girl really had me on edge. I stare at him, not sure what to say next, and he watches me back looking just as lost for words.
He places his hands in his pockets casually.
My eyes roam all the way down his body. Man, he looks hot today in a pair of blue jeans and a T-shirt, his sandy-blond hair hanging longer over to one side in that way that makes me want to run my fingers through it.
“I had a call yesterday from Commissioner Sedgwick. I have a feeling you had something to do with it.”
I bite into my lip, nervously chewing the dried skin. “Why would you think that?”
“Just a hunch.” He shrugs, his eyes lighting up. “She offered me my job back, said no further investigation will be pursued. I would have thought it was out of her hands, but maybe not when you know the right kind of people.”
I tilt my head, watching him, wondering if I did the right thing or not. He doesn’t look as happy about it as I thought he would. “Are you going to take it?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“You should. From what I saw, you are a good detective, and this town needs someone with your passion and dedication to the job.”
He takes a step closer to me, his eyes running down the length of me then back up to my face in a way that sends butterflies all the way through my body. “Is that right?”
“You’re a good person, Reef, your life should never have been turned upside down for me.”
In one quick move his hands are on me, and I’m pinned to my car, one of his hands tangled in my hair, the other at my waist. He sucks in a harsh breath like he’s trying to control himself. Then his eyes meetmine and I see the hurt and pain I caused him, but there is something else there as well. Desire? Love? I don’t fucking know, but with his hold on me, it makes my body light up all over. “I would have gone to the end of the earth for you, wildcat. Given it all up, because a job is nothing compared to you.”
I suck in a shaky breath, trying to get my racing heart under control. “I never wanted you to give anything up for me.”
“It doesn’t matter, I would do it again in a heartbeat just to make sure you’re safe.” His lips hover just in front of mine, and man, do I want him to just put me out of my misery and kiss me, but he doesn’t.
“Thank you,” I whisper, knowing there are never going to be any words that can tell him how much I appreciate what he has given up for me. He moves to pull away, but I don’t give him the chance and crash my lips with his, kissing him because I can’t go another day without this man’s lips on mine. I don’t know how to fix things between us, all I know is how I feel about him and that I can’t be without him anymore.
He deepens the kiss, his hand in my hair tugging me even closer to him. Gripping me firmly, plunging his tongue inside my mouth possessively. And fuck, it’s everything I need.
When we eventually pull back, I’m panting and breathless, staring up at him in a daze. I run a hand down the side of his freshly shaven jaw. “I hate that you think I was being selfish, but maybe you’re right. I wasn’t thinking about any of you and the sacrifices you had made for me. Sometimes I get focused on what I want and I forget how my actions affect the people around me. I’m sorry.”
“What you wanted to do was noble, Sloane, but if we’d let you stay in Italy you wouldn’t have had the chance to make the change you wanted to. We had no power there and were out of options to keepyou safe. I know the way we got you out of there was fucked up, but even you have to see how stubborn you are. We did it for you.”
“I know, I can see that now. But Reef, next time you come to me, let me have my meltdown and then force me to see reason. I might be stubborn, but I’m not stupid, and when you all keep me in the dark, you make it more dangerous. I need you all to treat me like your equal.”
“I’m sorry, Sloane, everything in Italy got out of hand so quickly. It was like every day was worse than the last. I have never felt so out of control in my life, and I know Onyx felt the same.”
“And Orlando gave you all a way out and you took it? I get it, I guess.”
“Sloane, it was my plan, not Orlando’s. I found a loophole in the contract. If you and Orlando weren’t married anymore, you would automatically forfeit your right to the inheritance. He wasn’t sure, but we all knew it was the only way Valentine would leave you alone. We had to make sure you had nothing he wanted.”
I knew he was getting desperate to come home, I could see it in his eyes. He was skittish, but I never could have imagined he was the one behind their betrayal. “So, you let him drug me and tie me to that chair?”
His eyes lock with mine, a seriousness flashing in them. “No, that part was all Orlando. How fucking crazy do you think I am?”
