Page 98 of Chosen Road

I slowly shifted my palm towards his groin, noting the rapidly growing bulge. I stretched out my pinky finger and stroked him through his jeans.

“Amber,” he rumbled. “Hold off.”

Power rushed through me at the evidence of my effect on this powerful man.

“You sure?” I asked throatily as I stroked him again.

He barked out a laugh and slid me a dark look. “I’m not even sure about my own name right now.”

I laughed and slid my hand back down to a more respectable place on his thigh as we pulled into the parking lot.

With his hand at the small of my back, he steered me quickly down the path and inside my condo. He shrugged off his coat and helped me with mine then went to his knees to pull my new boots off.

The sight of him kneeling before me thrilled me. In the bedroom, he took charge, no matter if he was on his knees or on his back, but there was never a time that I felt less than worshipped. He slowly got to his feet and faced me.

Uncharacteristically, he stilled, allowing me to take the lead. I reached for his hand and led him to my bedroom.

Reflected in his eyes were a dozen shades of hesitation and trepidation.

I stepped closer and rested my palms over his big chest. A shudder wracked his big body, and he dropped his head to press his forehead gently to mine.

My big bear of a man was scared.

Chapter 31: It’s Just Me

Amber

“Gus, you’re shaking. It’s just me.”

“Just you,” he scoffed. “You’re just fucking everything, Amber.”

I smiled at him, loving his words, my bruised, fragile heart soaking them up for maybe the first time.

“I’m afraid,” he admitted. “I don’t want you to regret me.

I cupped his face in both of my palms and stared into those grey-blue eyes I dreamed of every night before I went to sleep. “Not once have I ever regretted you.”

I leaned forward to give him what he would not take, softly pressing my mouth to his.

The moment our lips met, I froze.

Gus’s body jerked, and he stilled.

My eyes opened and stared into his as my heart swelled with grief at his betrayal. My shaking hands held his lips to mine.

He waited, his breath held, his fingers digging painfully into my ribs as I breathed through the unexpected agony.

Desire battled despair and faith fought fear. The exhilaration of homecoming mixed with the pain of separation. The joy of connection met the pain of betrayal and hope overcame hell as I breathed deep, accepting in that moment what could not be changed, and vowing to do better.

A single tear escaped the corner of his eye as he witnessed my battle.

I swept it away with my thumb, tilted my head, and opened my mouth under his.

He shuddered against me, and I pushed up to my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around his neck, dug my fingers into his hair, and licked into his mouth.

He broke. His arms came around my back and he hauled me up against his chest, one hand cupping the back of my head as he plundered my mouth.

Ah, yes. Home. Only him. Always him.Hishands roughly handling,hismouth tasting and taking,hisbody pressed hard against me,hisheart beating for me, only for me, his love: my salvation.

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