Page 110 of Sold to Her Enemy

“That you’ll take care of me, and we’ll be together.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted? What we both wanted for years?”

She reaches for her glass of red wine and takes a sip. “My father wanted me to be safe, so I’m going to be a vet.”

“I’m not going to stand in your way of that,” I say, reaching over to squeeze her thigh.

“What if you resent the time I spend working? You go from hating me to loving me just like that.”

“Mckenna, it’s not fast. I have always loved you, and I tried to protect you. You’re the one who didn’t call.”

She bites her lip, shaking her head.

“I hate Ava’s meddling. I hate that your father’s decisions affected my life and my father’s legacy.”

“My father has a legacy, too. I don’t know if you can separate the hate you feel for my father from me.” She puts down her glass. Her green eyes are somber as she glances at me.

I curl my fist, breathing through my nose. I want to go back to piling orgasms on her and having her sleep on the floor, if not in my bed.

But the clock is ticking down.

“Mckenna, I love you.”

Her face drains of color.

Maybe I should have waited to say those words to her.

She pushes back her chair.

“I…Adrian.”

“It’s true.” I get up from my chair and take her hand in mine. “I want to love you and protect you. I want to buy you more dresses than you could ever need.”

She chokes out a sob. “Do you know how many times I daydreamed about you loving me? How many times I wished I could tune out Ava’s threats and throw myself at you?”

“A lot?” I smirk.

“Adrian, it’s not funny. This is so complicated.”

“It isn’t. I love you. That’s all that matters.”

I take her hand and put it over my heart. “I have wanted to say those words to you for a very long time. I love you, Mckenna, and I will spend every day of my life showing you how much I love you. If you want to train and ride horses, I’ll buy you twenty. If you want to be a clown, I’ll buy you a circus tent. If you want to sit on the couch all day and eat chocolates, I’ll keep you supplied.”

“Adrian, how can you be so sure?”

“Because of how I feel.” I back her against the wall.

I slide my hand against her soft cheek. “I’m tired of being dragged down by the actions of our parents, hellion. We can make a new life. Together.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

Her eyes dart everywhere but my face.

“Don’t say a word, Mckenna. I have to take you back to Club Lust. You have to get checked in to fulfill the contract. But then you turn around and come back to me. We start a new life together.”

“That easy?” Her eyes are wide and filled with tears unshed.

“That easy,” I say as I pull her in against my chest, wrap my arms around her, and hold her. I want to memorize how she feels in my arms right now, but I can’t think of her not returning to me this evening.

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