Page 113 of If You Dare

Aneesa wraps me in a sudden hug, nearly knocking over the bowl of popcorn.

If there’s anything I’ve learned this semester, it’s that you can’t undo what’s already been done. You just have to learn from it and do better from now on.

I’ll always regret pushing Chloe in that pool. But I also know there’s a chance she would’ve jumped in all on her own. There’s a good chance she would’ve survived if Trey hadn’t drugged her.

I know Chloe forgave me long ago for what I did that night, and I’m finally forgiving myself.

* * *

“So now thatyou’ve nursed me back to health, I can finally tell you what I went to the locker room to say to you that day.”

Wes pauses his delicious massage of my foot and I nearly groan in protest. “What’s that?”

“I was going to offer to leave campus if that would make you happy.”

Wes tips his head back and laughs. “Good one, baby. You’re not going fucking anywhere.”

I beam at him. “Then I’m pretty sure I’ve recovered enough for a proper reunion.”

“Yeah?” He grins and scoops me onto his lap like an eager puppy, making me giggle.

Despite his impatience, his kiss is tender and slow. His lips parting mine gently, the perfect fit.

When his tongue sweeps into my mouth, I moan. I grind against his cock, already hard for me, and now I’m the impatient one.

But Wes continues taking his time with me. His hands stay soft on my neck until they sweep into my hair and massage my scalp. I groan. “I could get used to this.”

A smirk plays across his lips, still pressed against my own. “Good. Because this is the rest of your life, little flower.”

I lift a teasing brow, even as my heart stutters. “The rest of my life, huh? Isn’t it a little soon to be talking about marriage?”

His playful smirk turns serious. “I told you, Violet. You’re mine. You’re not getting rid of me now.”

I crash my lips against his and thread my fingers through his hair. Exactly the words I wanted to hear. Needed to hear.

Wes lays me on the couch with heartbreaking tenderness. “Is this okay?” Concern in those startling blue eyes.

Maybe when I’m further in my recovery—physically and mentally—he’ll be able to wrap his belt around my throat again. Or his hand. Make me crawl to him. Beg. Maybe even chase me through the woods again. Someday, I’ll admit to him I liked it a lot more than I let on.

But for now, this is exactly what I want.

“Perfect,” I whisper.

His mouth is on mine again until he kisses from my chin up my jaw and down my neck. Every kiss, every brush of his hands against my skin, sends shivers down my spine.

I’ve had him so many times before, but this time is different. Because I know I have every part of Wes now. Not just his tongue and fingers and cock, but his heart too.

The warmth from his mouth on my neck vanishes when he peers down at me. “You’re everything to me, Violet. No one else will touch you, and no one will even think about hurting you with me around.” He grabs my hand and sets it against his chest, over his heart. “You have me. All of me. As long as you want me, I’m yours. I’d burn down every inch of this world if you asked me to.”

I grin at him. “That’s a very kind offer, but I’d like to continue living in this world with you for a long, long time if that’s all right with you.”

“Couldn’t ask for anything better,” he murmurs.

I pull him down to me in another kiss. We stay like that for a while until his hand starts inching up my shirt.

He slips it tenderly over my head and unclasps my bra, taking it off slowly.

When my torso is bare before him, he admires me for a few moments. Not touching yet, just staring. “I am so fucking lucky,” he breathes, enunciating every word.

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