Page 22 of Coffee Shop Cupid
I shook my head. “You-you didn’t do anything.” I took a deep breath. “It’s me.”
“Oh…” he leaned forward and rested his head in his hands, then stood. “I… guess… that I’ll leave you alone then. I hope to see you in the shop again though. We saved your cupcake until we decided it was probably stale. But I’ll make them again when you come back.”
He took a step away.
Don’t leave…
Another step.
Please, don’t leave.
He took three more steps until I found my voice.
“Don’t go,” I whispered.
He stopped, but didn’t return either.
The breeze rustled the bare branches above us, and deepened the chill in the air. But it was also the only sound.
“I can’t play games, Tristan,” he finally admitted. “I know it makes no sense. I barely know you, but every instinct I have tells me that you’re important. I may be an alpha, but I’m not strong enough to watch you run over and over. It’ll break me.”
I started crying. I’d been so determined to protect both of us, that I hadn’t thought about how things looked from his perspective. “I’m sorry…”
He rushed back, sat, and pulled me into his arms, holding me close.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” I said, over and over, burying my face against his chest.
I didn’t want to hurt him. Everything was just so wrong. Why couldn't I have met him first? Then we would have had a chance.
He held me quietly until my tears started to subside. Then his hand slid underneath my chin, and he lifted until our eyes met.
“I wish I understood,” he whispered, sliding his hand up to cup my cheek and wiping away a stray tear with his thumb.
How could I tell him?
I shivered as his hand moved down my face, and the same thumb traced my lips. Everything in me wanted it, and my eyes fluttered shut as I leaned into the touch.
“May I kiss you?” he murmured.
Say no, say no.
“Yes,” I breathed.
His hand traced along my jaw to my neck so that he could angle me properly. His breath fanned across my face.
I wanted this.
His fingers skimmed my severed bond mark, and the world froze.
Neither of us moved as his fingers remained where they had stopped.
He knew, yet he only knew half of why I couldn’t be with him.
I forced myself to turn, to try to leave.
Chase reached across with his free hand, grabbing my hand, his other hand remaining on my severed bond.
“Don’t go,” he said.
