Page 95 of Love Me Boldly

He just kept running his hand through the ends of my hair, his head tilted to the side, soaking in every disgusting word, every mention of the pain I had for the last several months, and all the things it could end up being.

When I was done, he didn’t ask questions. He moved even closer to me and wrapped me in his arms.

“Don’t,” I rasped, my face pressed to his chest before I knew what he was doing.

“Shut up and let someone hold you,” he murmured in my ear, and I barked out a laugh.

“You’re such an ass.”

“I know.” His lips were curled into a smile. I could feel them against my hair. “I think you like it.”

For the first time since I’d met him, I lost the words to argue.

He was wrong to think I liked him. I one hundred percent did. That was what was always so terrifying about him to me. But he’d been right, too. I looked at everyone like they were one bad thing away from leaving.

He looked at people and assumed they’d bring something good to my life.

I had enough therapy in the first couple of years I had Jonah, encouraged to go talk to someone by Trina to help me work through the stress and fear and worry and changes I was dealing with, to know he was right.

Maybe it was time to let the remaining walls I had turn to ash.

Maybe it was time to start thinking of my future differently. Maybe I didn’t have to be afraid of dying or abandoning Jonah and leaving him with Caroline.

Maybe, just maybe…

“Maybe I’ll be okay,” I whispered against Graham’s chest. They were more for me, to voice hope in something instead of fearing the destruction.

Still, Graham’s arm tightened around me, his lips against my temple as he declared, “Damn straight you will be.”

For the first time, I didn’t think about pulling away. I didn’t mentally set up blocks, and I didn’t try to tell myself all the reasons why I should be staying away from him, why this wouldn’t or couldn’t work.

Instead, I lifted my head, chin pressed to his chest, and met his rich, dark gaze. “So what now?”

There was a pause where he looked at me, brows knitted close together.

His hands went to the sides of my neck, back into my hair, and his arrogant smirk appeared right before he whispered, “This.”

And then his lips brushed against mine, stealing all sense and defenses and refusals before I could conjure any.

“Oh,” I whispered, right before he strengthened the kiss. His lips pressed against mine, nibbled at my bottom lip. My heart raced and my blood warmed, and I could do nothing but kiss him back, sinking into howgoodthis felt.

There was no fear, no hesitation. The only thing I felt for the first time in a very long time was that this wasright.

Being with Graham brought me peace and laughter and comfort. He allowed me to be. He was gentle while confident, he was patient while protective.

If I would have ever taken the time to dream of my perfect man, doodle him in diaries when I was a little girl, or consider what I wanted all those years ago when I made that vision board with Tracey, I would have drawn this man.

Maybe after all these years, it was time to stop trying to protect myself from all my fears and let Graham start battling them with me.

* * *

He will still cuppingboth sides of my neck, fingers pressed into my scalp when he finally pulled back from my lips. “This might be the very first time I’ve ever gotten to see you, the real you, without you hiding anything from me.”

My lips shook as I tried to smile.

“I like it, Holly. It makes you even more beautiful than I already thought you were.”

My eyes fell closed, and I bit my bottom lip. “I feel like we still have a lot to work through. You live in…”

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