Page 58 of True North

No. Of course not.

I open my mouth to respond.

He goes to break away. I grip his jaw. “No, we’re not doin’ this. This bit where every time I need a minute, it reads as a failure. It’s part of who I am. It takes me a while with this stuff. These feelings. Was the same at the dance. I need you to be patient, please?”

I can see the way he is trying to protect himself. And hell, I don’t blame him. Not one bit. I did run. I broke his damn heart. And that’s one thing I will never forgive myself for. Not ever.

“I won’t hurt you again, Harry. I’ll break my own heart before yours. That much I can tell you.”

His chin wobbles. He shakes his head.

He’s not getting it.

“I can’t take what I did back. But Icanmake it up to you.”

“Lou—” He presses his forehead to mine. His jaw clenches as he growls through a choked-up breath. “I ain’t worried about me. And you have nothin’ to make up for.”

Then why is he shaking his head?

“But I thought—” I start.

“No. Don’t you dare break that big heart of yours. I’ll take whatever you give me.” His lips push to my own. My hands wander into his hair. Heat sinks in my belly. We have always been fire on fire. His lips trail my neck, and I tilt my head back, drowning in his touch. My panties are wet with need for this man.

“How about we start again. You and me on the ranch. We make a go of it. Find out what happens when we give in to this thing.”

I suck in a ragged breath. “Harry...”

His head pops up. “Yeah, darlin’?”

“Are you serious?”

“Well, you do own part of it.” He chuckles.

With a soft laugh, I grab his face, pulling his mouth to mine. I let it hover shy of touching. “I do.”

He quirks an eyebrow but doesn’t miss a beat. “Well, as the new owner of a ranch, it’s only proper you come out to inspect. And maybe, as the new owner, you should be stayin’ out there, too.”

“Is that a fact? And where will I sleep?” I nip his bottom lip.

“Anywhere you want. I hear the barn is cozy in the winter.”

I cackle, slapping his shoulder. He dips, kissing me hard.

Hungry.

I open for him, desperate to have him everywhere I can. He tastes like chocolate and that definitive Harry scent. All woodsy and manly. The ache in my heart from his earlier words drops to my core, lighting a fire. Sending my center liquid. I ache for him all over as I let my hands wander over his toned body, his neck, the valleys and peaks of his chest. Over his hard stomach, only stopping when I hit the button of his jeans.

“God above, Louisa, you have no idea how much I have wanted this. How long I waited...” His lips trail kisses down my neck, dusting pecks over my collarbones before hot kisses land on the top of each breast. I gasp at the sensation of his mouth on me.

God, we really do go from zero to one hundred.

It’s like neither of us have any control over this.

The thread strung tight between us has a life of its own. One growing bigger and more beautiful every day we spend together. I can only imagine what it would look like, feel like, after years of being with this man.

ChapterFifteen

HARRY

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