Page 69 of Inside the Wicked

“Then just kiss me. Kiss me like you want to fight for us no matter what we’ve done or might have to do. Because I’m goingto fight for you, Rhett Kaiser. Even if you try to get rid of me, I’ll fightyouif I have to.”

“So damn stubborn,” he mutters, then his lips crash with mine, and every burden is lost in the heat of what burns between us.

More than ever before, I feel the threads of us entwining. If he left, neither of us would survive it.

Rhett pulls me to him, and I moan into his mouth when his hand trails up my spine under my tank top. “We can’t work,” he says, but he doesn’t stop his assault. “I can’t ever be seen with you, and you deserve someone you can be open and honest with.”

We end up by the couch, and his arm hooks around me to lower us.

“I deserve you,” I say, becoming breathless at the press of his body over mine, sinking us into the couch.

But something strikes alarm in my mind. It comes sudden and terrifying. It tangles this beautiful desire for Rhett with something dark and ugly, and my breath turns labored not through want, but panic.

“Stop,” I rasp, laying a hand on his chest.

Rhett eases off me immediately, sitting beside me, and I push myself up, clutching the blanket to my chest. I scrunch my eyes shut, trying to dispel the wicked thoughts of Micah’s body caging me in instead.

“What happened to you in that room?” Rhett asks.

I can’t look at him. His voice is chillingly calm, trying to be gentle and patient, but it’s like he’s simmering to erupt and kill someone.

“I think I need a while longer too,” I confess.

I think he’s going to leave with the stretch of silence. How can two damaged people ever hope to mend each other? What if there isn’t enough glue and tape and we’re both fucked anyway?

“Can I hold you?” he asks softly.

My lip wobbles, and I nod, shuffling over until I’m lying across his lap.

I say, “I don’t care if you’re my secret forever and my parents have to believe I’ve become celibate.”

Rhett gives a soft chuckle. “You’re prepared enough, at least.”

I’m confused for a few seconds, then heat crawls up my skin as I push off him. His devious look as he tries to appear innocent widens my eyes a fraction more.

He says, “In my defense, I was looking for your pajamas.”

I shift until I’m straddling him. “Everyone knows the top nightstand drawer is off-limits.”

“On the contrary, I think I’ll be visiting that particular drawer very soon.”

My desire doesn’t just come back—it rushes between my legs, and my knees tighten around him subconsciously. Rhett’s hand slips over my bare thighs slowly, watching for my every flicker of reaction before his palms curve over my ass.

“To join or watch me?” I say with an edge of seduction.

“Both.” He squeezes my ass. “When you’re ready.”

I want to say I am. My body certainly agrees. But I’m afraid I could ruin it all if the thoughts of Micah come back. I just need a little time. It’s still so raw and fresh in my mind, and Ihopeall I need is a few more days, maybe weeks. I can’t let that bastard break off that piece of me and win by keeping it. I’m determined to get it back.

“Soon,” I say, kissing him. “Very soon.”

“We’ll have all the time in the world.”

“Promise?”

He stalls, rethinking his words. “I can’t. Tomorrow is a promise to no one. But until my last day, I’m wholly yours.”

CHAPTER 28

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