Page 21 of Sins of a Rebel

“Tysin, you know if you ever need or want someone to talk to, you can always talk to me. Right?”

He slowly blinks his eyes open and nods. The change was so subtle that if I weren’t soaking in every move and look on his face, I might’ve missed it.

My heart aches thinking about the source of the pain, memories of the anger-fueled words spewed at him full of hatred, and the young boy on the receiving end not understanding how someone who is supposed to love him could treat him the way she does.

I wish I could go back to those memories and wrap my arms around him and tell him not to believe his mother.

He sighs heavily and closes his eyes, and my chest tightens as the sorrow sweeps through me. I don’t know how to break through the wall Tysin has built right before my eyes.

I slip my arms around him, pressing my body to his. He shudders beneath me, drawing in a sharp breath before his hands slowly brush over my sides and hold me to him.

“I love you, Tysin.”

The words are out of my mouth before I have a chance to think them through. His body tenses, and I bite down on my lower lip, fighting off the urge to take the words back as the fear of rejection stings.

I don’t, though, because regardless of the harsh reality of him not returning my feelings, I want him to know he deserves and is worthy of love.

“I don’t remember the last time someone told me they loved me.”

His voice cracks and I pull back, staring down at him just as another flash of lightning hits, illuminating the room.

Tears prick my eyes and my lip trembles. I release a slow breath, blinking through them, not wanting to let my emotions take hold of me. He’s opening up, and I’m afraid if he sees it, it may force the wall he’s slowly lowered for me back up. Words fail me when our eyes connect.

“Hey.” He reaches his hand out, slipping it into my hair to pull me toward him. “Don’t be upset. Please.”

I shake my head, leaning into his palm, and let my eyes flutter closed. “I’ve loved you since I was a teenager. For as long as I’ve known you, Tysin. You deserve to know you’re loved.”

His throat bobs as he swallows, and I lean in, my mouth crashing down on his. He moans just before his tongue brushes against my lips. I open up to him, desperately needing more.

He sits up, and I follow him, tangling my arms around his neck to hold him to me. When he pulls back, breaking us apart, his eyes darken.

“Kyla”—he breathes harshly—“I’ll never deserve you. I’m no good for you, and it’s only a matter of time before I break your heart.”

I shake my head. I don’t believe him.

“You’re wrong.”

He chuckles. “Kyla—”

“Tysin, no. Even if you’re right and you break my heart, it doesn’t change how I feel about you. You may think you don’t deserve to be loved. You may not believe me when I tell you I love you, but you’re wrong.”

His nostrils flare, and his chest heaves. He shakes his head, and the move grates against my nerves.

I grab his chin in my fingers, forcing him to look at me. “You’re wrong.”

“Then show me.”

He grips my hips and moves to flip me on my back, pinning me against the couch. He reaches for my hands, holding them in one hand above my head. My legs are still wrapped around his waist, but I tighten my ankles around his back, forcing his body against me.

He squeezes his eyes shut, grinding his hips against my center, and I roll my eyes back, breathlessly whispering his name.

It’s as if it were the permission he was waiting for, leaning in to attack my neck.

“I want you to fuck me…” I beg. “Please.”

I drag my fingers through his hair, holding him close to me. I grind my pussy against his hard length, feeling him through the thin material of his shorts.

He pulls back, reaching for the hem of my shirt. I sit up enough for him to pull it over my head, and he tosses it absentmindedly on the floor.

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