Page 61 of Hothead

“There’s a lot to fucking say, angel.”

He took comfort in the fact that she wasn’t hiding from him. Not like the day she left. He could see every single emotion flicker on her beautiful face. Sadness, anger, pain, all before switching back to rage.

“No, Luke.” She wrenched her arm, freeing her from his hold. “I don’t wanna hear it. I’m not some box to check off to make you feel less guilty about your dead brother. I do just fine on my own. So go home, Luke.”

What the hell is she talking about?

Which is what he asked next. Her reply only confusing him more.

“I’m talking about the letter, Luke. You know, the one Marco left you? I’m not some fucking charity case. I don’t need you or your friends. I’ve done just fine without you for thirty years, and I’ll do fine for another thirty.”

Keys went to the front door next and a moment later she was pushing open the crimson wood. As soon as she took a step inside, he followed, not giving her a chance to slam the door in his face. They weren’t done.

“Hey!” Bella protested as she shoved at his chest. “I mean it, Luke. We’re done. Go home.”

“We’re not done, sweetheart. Not until you tell me what the fuck you’re talking about. Are you seriously telling me you left because of something you read in that letter?”

Her eyes were all over him. Searching his face. Looking for something. He let her look. She could do what she wanted if it meant she wasn’t trying to push him out the door.

She stayed quiet, even as she launched her shopping bag onto the bedside table and collapsed down onto the mattress. When her head dropped into her hands, he was moving. Dropping to his knees before her, wrapping his own hands around hers.

“Angel,” he soothed, “Please, talk to me. Help me understand what happened.”

Luke was trying his best to think back to what was in the letter. He remembered Marco had written a few lines about Bella. Something about her being his best friend and asking Luke to look out for her. Could that be what she was talking about? If he was honest, the part of the letter he’d been focused on and had found himself re-reading over and over again was the part about how they shared the same mother.

Her hands dropped and watery eyes met his. “You really don’t know?”

“I really don’t know,” he confirmed. “That letter, Bella, he ... he wanted me to know that we weren’t half brothers like I thought. My mom was his mom. All this time I thought my dad was just some guy who got my mom pregnant, I had no idea that they were together. That at some point they were a family.”

Bella’s eyes widened; she’d obviously not read that part. He realized then that he should have told her. That was the reason he’d been struggling. He regretted that now. She deserved to know everything.

“But ... but Marco asked you to look after me. Form a bond. Make your friends and their girlfriends be my friends too.”He did? Fuck. Yeah, he did.It was all coming back now.

“You honestly think that’s what this was?” He let his hands cup her face as he looked into her. A small nod gave him his answer and tore at his heart. “Sweetheart, I would never.” His nose nudged hers as he took a deep inhale of berries. “This is real. I think deep down you know that. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have run.”

“He told you to form a bond with me—introduce me to your friends, their girlfriends ...” She trailed off.

“Think about it, angel.Reallythink about it. In the four weeks you’ve known me, do I strike you as the kind of guy to spend time with someone if I didn’t want to? And if you think for one second I have any kind of control over Libby, Cat, and Rachel, then you obviously don’t know them well enough.”

She needed to believe him. Believe that this was real.Theywere real.

Pulling back slightly, their eyes met, and his heart raced. It was time. He had to tell her. It was now or never.

“You made me promise not to fall in love with you, Bella,” he said softly, “but I broke that promise, angel.” Moisture pooled in her eyes as their heavy breaths echoed around the room. “I fell. And I fell hard. I love you, Bella.” When she didn’t reply, he said it again. “Did you hear me, sweetheart? I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Those tears that had been threatening to spill just moments ago, finally broke free, a steady stream trickling down rosy cheeks. Using his shaky hands, he began thumbing them away.

“You can’t.” She sniffed. “You don’t mean that.”

Enough talking. She wasn’t listening. He needed to show her. Launching forward, his mouth took hers, opening her to him and swiping inside until the taste of sweet berries tingled his tongue. Urgency laced every movement as he greedily feasted on her. In turn, her own hands came to his head, impatient fingers raking through his hair and tugging him closer.

Pushing up from the carpet, he eased Bella back, lowering her onto the bed and positioning himself above her. He only broke their connection once, to tell her “I love you,” before letting his weight hit his elbows as he kissed her again. Hard.

Swallowing each other’s moans, they kissed until both their bodies shook. It was only when Bella’s hands went to the hem of his shirt, that he let go of her lips. She was yanking up the material, letting her fingers skim over his stomach, leaving scorch marks all over his skin as fire raged within.

Helping her lift the shirt over his head, he lost her mouth, but used it as an opportunity to tell her “I love you” again. It was okay that she wasn’t replying. She didn’t need to. She just needed to hear it. He’d say it over and over again until she believed him. No matter how long it took.

Her expert fingers unbuttoning his jeans and pulling down the zipper was her only answer. One he’d happily take. She was pushing down his pants and boxers next, freeing him, before flipping them over until she was on top.

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