Page 126 of Bleeding Hearts Duet

Chapter Eleven

Brighton

When I got back out to the car, Ryland was waiting for me inside. The divider was up, and I couldn’t see Ted, which was probably for the best. He’d obviously tricked me.

I had no idea how Ryland had even gotten there, but he looked pissed. It didn’t take me long to figure out why.

“Please tell me you aren’t seriously living in that place Ted picked you up.”

I ignored the harshness of his tone and gave him a weak smile.

“Ryland, what are you doing with Norma?”

I knew this was the last thing he wanted to talk about, but it needed to be said.

“I’m trying to help her.” He sighed. “Isn’t that obvious?”

“But why?” I asked. “The last time we spoke, you wanted her dead.”

He actually winced at my words, and it surprised me.

“That was before,” he stated. “Before the… before I almost killed you.”

He couldn’t look at me when he said it, and that same familiar urge to comfort him was there inside of me. I ignored it. Because he was right. He had almost killed me. And if I hadn’t been there that night, I didn’t know if he would have killed Brayden or not.

“I appreciate what you’re doing, Ryland,” I said. “I really do. But I’m sure you can understand how it’s difficult to believe you can just go from wanting someone dead to helping her overnight.”

“I don’t have any ulterior motives,” he assured me. “I only want what’s best for you, Brighton.”

“But what about your family?” I asked. “What about your revenge?”

He reached towards me, clasping my face in his palms. I didn’t stop him this time. I needed to hear what he had to say.

“I didn’t think there was anything I could ever want more than my revenge,” he murmured. “But then I had you.”

I bit my lip as frustration and pain warred inside of me. I wasn’t too proud to admit I was weak. When it came to Ryland, I probably always would be. But I couldn’t stand seeing him so lost. So broken. “You know this doesn’t change anything between us,” I whispered.

“Maybe not today,” he said. “But…”

“Not ever, Ryland,” I cut him off.

He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer, his breath skating across my lips. “I’m not letting you go, baby girl. You need to accept that.”

I had to close my eyes and take a breath to gather my thoughts. It was the wrong choice because instead, I caught a whiff of his cologne. The scent that I used to associate with comfort. I just wanted to lean into him. To feel his warmth and let him wrap his arms around me. To pretend like the past had never happened and none of the memories that hurt so much ever existed.

But I couldn’t.

“I’m not taking you back,” I insisted. “You need to accept that.”

My words set something off inside of him, and before I even realized what was happening, he pulled me into his lap and crushed my lips against his.

It had been so long since I’d felt them against me. Felt the fire inside of me that only Ryland could stoke. He was like gasoline, and the only thing left to do was combust. So I kissed him back. I gave into his frantic touches and savored them while I could.

His fingers drifted up my thighs, pushing the material of my dress up. And then his palm was rubbing me over my panties. Before my brain could catch up to what was happening, I rocked my hips against him.

It was wrong to lead him on. So, so, wrong.

But I missed this. I missed him. I wanted to allow myself to be weak, just for a few moments. That’s what I told myself while I surrendered.

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