Page 44 of Make You Want Me

I nod, releasing a heavy breath, because I know he’s right, but I’ve never been the one who needed convincing. She is.

“Thanks Colt…now get back to your girl.”?

He gives me a devious grin and shuts the door between us.?

Opening my door, Emerson jumps up in bed, and her reaction makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up until I see her body relax, realizing it's me.?

My stomach swirls with nausea at the thought of a young, scared Emerson not knowing who was coming into her room and having no control over it. It makes me want to go on a torture rampage, wishing each of them could experience all the fear and pain they caused her.?

“What are you doing here?’ She tugs my comforter up, trying to hide the fact she’s not only in my bed but in my t-shirt too. It’s then I notice her eyes are puffy.?

I sit down beside her on the bed, swiping my finger under her eye, confirming they are slightly moist.?

“Because I need to set some shit straight.” I kick my shoes off. “Now, why have you been crying?”?

“I haven?—”?

“Nuh uh… Don’t try to lie to me right now. I want the truth.”?

She tilts her head down, breaking eye contact. Emerson toys with my sheets until I place my hand on top of hers.?

“I thought you were with her,” she whispers, and I’ve never seen her look so vulnerable.?

My anger dissipates, pulling her into me. “Sonny, as far as I’m concerned, my dick and my heart are spoken for.”?

I tuck a piece of blondish-blue hair behind her ear. “I barely even spoke two words to that girl.”?

When her eyes meet mine, I know she believes me.?

Two seconds later, she’s giving me whiplash, standing abruptly from the bed as she pulls at the long strands of her hair.?

“Ughhhh, I hate this… I hate being this person.” She paces the room with a huff. I sit still, trying to determine how badly her next words are going to hurt.?

“Lennox, I have barely managed to sleep this week…and you know why?” She levels me with a stare, and I shake my head.?

“Because I’ve become so weak and dependent on you, it’s sickening. I can’t even do anything without thinking of you…wanting you to be there…wanting to tell you about it.”?

I move to stand, wanting to embrace her and tell her I know exactly how she feels, but she holds up her hand and backs away, creating more space between us.?

“And then I become the most self-conscious version of myself, and I know you wouldn’t do that to me…but since you’re not technically mine, you have every right to fuck around.” She closes her eyes, shaking her head. “Which is also thanks to no one but me.”?

Not letting her stop me this time, I stand in front of her, bringing her body flush to mine.?

“That’s where you are wrong.” Emerson's head tips up, studying my face.?

“I am yours…and have been since the very second I saw you hitting that tree all those years ago.”?

Emotion floods her eyes, and I kiss the tear that slides down her cheek.?

“Lennox…” I place my finger over her lips, shaking my head.

“Don’t tell me all the reasons you don’t want this. First, let me ask you something.”?She swallows roughly, as I wipe away another escaped tear.

“I know your demons instill fear. But what scares you more… letting yourself love someone you know you can trust, someone who would never do anything to hurt you? Or letting that person go, because you can’t move past those fears and embrace that love?”?

Emerson’s gaze travels every inch of my face, like the words I just spoke are written all over it. She runs her fingertips over the scar on my eyebrow, down to my lips, tracing an outline where she’s kissed them hundreds of times.?

“I don’t think I could ever let you go.” This time, her whispered admission brings me to my knees, burying my face into her embrace.?

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