Page 78 of Timelessly Ours

And I’ll be ready for it. I’ll welcome it.

I know that now.

Because this afternoon, in my most guarded of moments—when the only thing on my mind was protection—his touch, his arms around me, calmed me.

I have no doubt about it now. I belong in his arms.

And I’m not giving up without a fight. Even if it’s a fight against my own demons.

Finding the downstairs completely shut down, I frown and check the time.

Dammit. I waited too long. He’s gone to bed.

It’s not like I can go knocking on his door. But then I hear something in the backyard. A gentle hum and the sound of water splashing.

I step out tentatively and find him in the hot tub. The sight of his bare chest again seizes my breath. His eyes are closed and I wonder if I should quietly step back into the house, given how downhill this went for us last time.

“You’re up,” he says as he opens his eyes. “Thought you’d gone to bed by now.”

I don’t say anything. This is the chance I’d been waiting for all night. And now that it’s here—I can't speak.

He starts to get up. “I’ll leave you alone.”

“No, please. I’d much rather you stay.” I glance around. “It’s…dark,” I point out, completely full of it. Nicole Kane might be afraid of a few things…the dark isn’t one of them.

He raises a brow. “You’re afraid of the dark.” It’s almost a question but comes off as more of a statement.

I scrunch my nose and shake my head, letting him in on my secret.

I want you to stay.

He smirks. “How does it fit?”

It’s like he’s asking me to strip for him, so I draw closer and untie my robe, letting it fall off my shoulders.

A low grunt comes from his throat and he shifts in his seat.

I settle a few feet from him, but closer than I was last time. “Are you feeling any better?”

“Getting there,” he says, and moves a towel on the deck revealing a box of chocolates.

I smile. “Am I…interrupting your therapy session?”

“You’re right on time. Although I’m cheating today. There are only sweet ones in this box.”

“Are they any good?”

He looks up at me, daring me to play.

I sigh. “Coach…I have too many confessions and I don’t think you have enough chocolates.”

His eyes roam my body and he growls. “Certainly not enough for the both of us.”

I inch closer. “Do you want to start?”

“That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly.”

“I don’t want a gentleman,” I say with confidence.

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