Page 4 of The Vow Thief
“Fine,” I said, turning toward the kitchen before he could see my anger crashing.“I’ll think about it.”
I knew he was smiling just a little. I didn’t want to admit that part of me also wanted to smile.
I felt the air before his arms slid around me from behind. His chest pressed warm against my back, his breath at my ear, making me shiver.
“You belong in my arms, Sarah,” he murmured.“Give in to me. I’m not giving up on you. On us.”
His lips brushed the curve of my neck, slow and deliberate, trailing toward my shoulder. Spreading heat across my skin, sinking straight to my core. God, I wanted him.
My own body felt like an enemy in that moment, as I remembered his touch, his body. And for a second, I gave in and leaned back into his hold anyway.
“Stop it, Matt. You aren’t playing fair.”
“I never will, Sarah,” he said, his voice low and certain.“I’m sorry, baby. Please let me in. I want you back. Forever.”
My hands found his, where they rested over my stomach. For a moment, I just held them there, not ready to pull away.
Chapter 2 - Pain with No Edges
Sarah's POV
I stood there in his arms, his heartbeat a steady thrum against my spine. It would be so easy to fall again, to let his voice and his certainty drown out the noise in my head.
But the noise never stopped.
Had he held Lily this way? Whispered into her skin, traced her with the same patience? Was Lily the reason his hands knew exactly how to melt me?
The thought burned. I turned in his arms, and his mouth caught mine before I could pull away. The kiss was deep, sure, the kind of kiss that pulled years of memories to the surface. I clutched his shirt, dragging him closer until I thought my heart would break free and swallow us whole.
He pulled away just enough to breathe against my lips.“I’m done asking permission to love you.”
Something inside my brain pulled tight. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to forget everything.
But the question was already clawing its way up.
“Did you kiss her like this?” The words came out harshly.
Matt froze. His eyes searched mine, confusion giving way to something heavier.
“Tell me, Matt. Did you touch her the way you touch me? Did you make her moan the way you make me?”
His expression fractured. He stepped back an inch, and I felt the loss instantly.“Sarah… don’t do this."
I heard the plea in his voice, but I couldn't stop tearing holes in the fragile peace between us. If he told me, I'd finally know. If he didn’t, would I ever trust him again?
“I need to know,” I whispered.“Every time you touch me, I wonder. Was it the same with her? Was it better?”
He shook his head slowly, as if my words were dragging him under.“I will not give you details that poison us both. I’ve told you the truth. I regret her. I regret everything about it. I love you. That has to be enough.”
I wanted to scream that it wasn’t enough, yet every nerve in my body ached to collapse into him and let it be everything.
The fire crackled in the hearth, a sharp break in the silence that swelled around us.
I loved him. God, I loved him. But love was not trust. And tonight, love was not enough.
“I can’t, Matt.” Tears welled in my eyes.“It’s all I think about. The faces you make when you come. You touching her, your hands all over her body. All of that… for her. It was mine. Unadulterated, until it wasn’t. I feel like a fool. Was I foolish to believe you would be faithful? I feel stupid, Matt.”
He stared at me, speechless.
