Page 56 of His Virgin Angel

“Yes.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“Do you try not to kill them?”

“Don’t ask me that, Piper. This is my world, and I know no different.”

She licked her lips, and he saw her look away. “I had no idea what you did for a living. No idea at all.”

“It’s all I’ve ever known.”

“I get it. Well, I don’t completely get it, but even as I think of you being this person, I can’t stop remembering how nice you were to me. You didn’t have to remember me, or bring me back that book. You certainly didn’t have to do what you’ve done. Allowing me to bring my brother up in a home that doesn’t have violence, or where I’m afraid that one boyfriend may be too strong for me to fend off. You did all of that for me, and you didn’t even know me.”

“You’re an angel, Piper. It’s not a line. It’s not something that I’ve spent ages trying to figure out. That day on the steps, I wasn’t in pain, I wasn’t hurting. I was impatient, and you sat beside me even though I was a stranger, and gave me a book to help me feel better. No one is like that anymore. I wanted to tell you the truth about who I was so many times, but I didn’t want you to lose your love in the world. I wanted it to remain precious, untainted, loved.”

“Jack, you can’t control everything.”

“I wanted to for you.”

She stepped up close to him, and he breathed in her lemony scent. “Drake asked me to either end it with you, or give you a chance.”

The last thing he wanted to do was end it. There was more between them. “I’ll accept whatever you decide.”

“I love you, Jack. You are my white knight in not so shining armor.” She cupped his cheek, and his whole world stood still. He was waiting for her to end it, to stop being his woman, and move on. Jack couldn’t blame her. He would spend the rest of his life making her happy. “I can’t leave you,” she said.

“What?”

“I love you too damn much, and I can’t leave. I don’t want to leave, but you can’t keep me in the dark anymore. You have to trust me. Tell me the truth, and try not to kill anyone.”

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close, holding her as tightly as he could.

“You’re hurting me, Jack.”

“I will do whatever you need me to do.”

“All I need is for you to be honest with me, to love me, and to accept whatever craziness I have.”

“Baby, I love you with all my heart. I didn’t even think I had one, but with you, I do.”

“Good, now kiss me.”

His lips slammed down on hers, and she moaned. For an entire month he’d been dying inside, and with Piper back in his arms, he could finally breathe again.

“I would have told you all of that if you’d come to the restaurant at least once in the past few weeks,” she said when he broke the kiss.

“I didn’t want you to think I was trying to manipulate you. You asked for space, and I gave it to you.”

“Never stopped you before.”

“Before I didn’t have anything to lose. This time, I had you to lose, and I didn’t want to. I’d gladly lose everything else in my life, but not you. Never you.” He stroked her cheek, marveling at how she made him feel. “I’ve never known anything like this. I never want anyone else but you, for the rest of my life.”

“For the rest of your life. My brother may want to renegotiate the terms. He also believes you suck.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve not been around, and you promised him toys, which you have yet to deliver.”

He took her hand, leading her across the apartment toward the bedrooms. He opened the door that was two down from his bedroom. There was Brian’s bedroom.

“You did this?”

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