Page 86 of The Ruthless and the Strong

Perfect for me.

Mason’s words came to me then. Telling me not to let her go. I was trying to do just that, only the tighter I held onto her, the more it felt like she was slipping out of my grasp.

She pulled away far too quickly, and I took in her dark green eyes, the flushness on the soft pale skin of her cheeks, and her swollen lips.

I groaned, and unable to help myself, leaned down and kissed her once more.

“Fuck. How am I supposed to let you go?” I whispered, mostly to myself. I cupped her cheek in my hand and she looked up at me with those big green eyes and I was lost to her.

“Don’t let me go,” she whispered.

I shook my head. “I shouldn’t be selfish with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you deserve better.”

She let out a slight scoff, and before I knew what was happening, she was pushing me off her with those little hands of hers. I looked down in amusement and she rolled her eyes. After the second push, I let off and laid down on my front in the bed beside her, burying my face in her chest.

I could feel her sitting up on the bed before she ran one hand down my back. “We should talk,”she said, poking me with a finger.

I turned my head and took her in. “Not exactly the way I was imagining my night to go.”

She winked at me. “Later.”

I grinned. “That’s my girl.”

She shook her head in exasperation, but I could tell by the slight curve of her lips in the corner that she was amused. I moved my weight to my elbow and propped myself up until our faces were only an inch apart. She looked down at my lips several times. I closed the distance and placed a chaste kiss on her lips before pulling back and sitting up on the bed.

“Okay, sweetheart. Talk to me.”

“Was what Mason said true?”

That wiped away any lingering amusement I might have with her. I let out a deep breath and said, “Do you really want to bring back the past?”

“Yes? Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because I would want this to be a two-way street. I’ve given you time to sort through your feelings about the divorce, but I still don’t know much about it or what happened. I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t curious.”

She bit her bottom lip, and I grabbed her hand, moving it up to my lips and kissing the back of it. “Take all the time you need. We don’t have to talk about this until you’re ready, but to be honest, I don’t think I can open up to you without having it returned in some way.” She opened her mouth and I shook my head. “No, this isn’t an ultimatum. This isn’t me trying to win one over you. This is me trying to protect myself. Can you understand that?”

Because as much as I hated to admit it, Lizzie had the power to hurt me more than anyone in this world. I didn’t want to be the only vulnerable one in this relationship.

“Then can I ask you something?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you really feel like you don’t deserve me?”

“I think you’re too good for anyone, but least of all me.”

“Didn’t we have a similar conversation before?”

“We have?” I moved a red strand of her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. She moved her hand up and grabbed my wrist, holding me there.

“The higher you put me on the pedestal, the harder I’ll fall.”

I shook my head. “Not possible, sweetheart.”

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