Page 36 of Four Love (Ever and Always 2)

The thought of losing them wouldn’t make her do and say stupid shit if she didn’t care a hell of a lot. Unfortunately, it might be tough to convince Lorenzo of the truth when she’d done the one thing that would prove otherwise to him.

He stood at the edge of the yard, shirtless, chest as bare and raw as his emotions while he stared at the slight ripples crossing the surface of the modest pool in their backyard. It wasn’t big but it was pretty, with an irregular shape and a succulent garden border that surrounded it and an entertainment area holding a grill, a table and chairs, and a pergola, which shaded a comfortable day bed. The guys had slaved over the outdoor space to transform it into an oasis in the middle of the city.

It hadn’t been quite hot enough before now for them to enjoy it, but she was looking forward to the rest of spring and cookouts and the refreshment the cool water would bring during the steamiest days of their future.

If she could fix what she had broken by reassuring the man she’d inadvertently injured with her insecurity and fears. Holly neared Lorenzo, approaching slowly. He didn’t turn to face her.

“I’m sorry, Lorenzo.”

“Oh, you’re still here? Need me to call a cab?” he asked, deadpan. As if he didn’t give a shit one way or the other.

Okay, fine. She’d let him have that one jab.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily.” She took a deep breath, then admitted, “I got scared. Just for a minute. What you need to understand is that I would have been back, even if Trent and Owen hadn’t been there to stop me from messing things up entirely. I’ll always come back to you.”

She stepped closer and reached way up to lay her hand on the knotted muscles at his shoulder. Damn, he was tense.

He shrugged her off. Her stomach did flip-flops. What if she’d broken his trust one time too many?

“What are you going to do if Trent goes away?” His question was strangled, as if he could barely force it out. “Losing him for years will be bad enough. If you go with him, if we’re not enough to keep you on our own—”

“Don’t even say that.” Holly couldn’t bear the thought of Trent surrounded by concrete and steel instead of their loving arms.

“I don’t want to. I don’t even want to think it. But it could happen!” He whirled then, slicing his hands through the air between them. “And then what?”

“Then we ride it out together.” She opened her arms, and though he didn’t step into them, neither did he evade her when she advanced, putting them around him and hugging him tight. “I might need a moment to breathe every once in a while, but nothing can take me away from you. Or Owen. With or without Trent, I want you.”

Air whooshed out of him, ruffling her hair. “You do?”

“Yeah, turns out I’m a hot guy hoarder. What can I say?” She smiled wryly as she peeked up at him. “Of course, that means I want him and Owen too. But that doesn’t dictate what I feel for you. Lorenzo, I love you. You know that, right?”

His head canted to one side, making his gorgeous onyx hair shift in the sunlight until it seemed almost blue. He stared down into her wide-open eyes for the space of a ragged breath, and then two. “What did you say?”

“You heard me.” Why wasn’t he saying it back?

“Say it again.” He held onto her, his fingers flexing where moments before they’d been limp and defeated.

This time she didn’t second guess, and she certainly didn’t backtrack or run. She shouted up to the sky, “I love Lorenzo! You hear me, universe? I love him. And Owen. And Trent. So fuck you if you think you’re going to break us apart. It’s not happening.I love them!”

When she opened her eyes, panting, emotion pouring out of her as if she’d ripped the scab off a not-quite-healed sore, Lorenzo was grinning.

“What?” she asked. Her face burned and not from the desert sun.

“You’re adorable as fuck when you get riled up.” He took her into his arms and lifted her so that her toes dangled several inches off the ground.

“Hey. What are you doing?” She squirmed, but he squashed her attempts to escape. Instead, he strode through the crushed red rocks and pinned her against the back fence. It surprised her, yeah. But scared her? Never. Not in his arms.

“I’m going to show you that you’re mine. Ours.” He leaned into her. “You’re not going anywhere, are you? Not today, and not ever.”

His body screened her, shielded her, from anyone who might have been peeking into the yard. That was good, so they couldn’t see the way her body responded instantly to his dominance. Her nipples drew tight and she would swear she got wet in record time. “I said I wasn’t.”

“Good. Because Holly, whether it’s smart or not…” Lorenzo bit her neck, inspiring her to raise her legs and wrap them around his waist. “I love you too. Damn you.”

“I’ll take that.” She arched against him, wishing it were possible to get even closer than they already were. The explosive tension of the confrontation in the kitchen, the fear, the anxiety, all of it required an outlet, and she was pretty sure he’d be willing to provide it for her.

“Yes, you will.” He reached down and encircled her wrists with his fingers before pinning her arms beside her head. “See, even if you had run, I would have chased you. My ex might have left me, but I let her go because I knew deep down, it wasn’t meant to be. With you… No, I’d fight for you.”

“You would?” She should probably be appalled by his barbarism. But she’d be lying if she said it didn’t make her want him more. To be claimed by him in such a way that it erased her fear that they could be torn apart.

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