Page 109 of Claim to Fame

She sat bolt upright, looking around her apartment, but the words—in Ethan’s own voice and not the British accept of Slade Hardcastle—had come from her earbuds.

“Two months ago, I recorded those words, and I had an idea. What if, like the dragon duke, I could convince you to surrender your body and heart to my keeping? How I would reward you,” he groaned, the sound conjuring memories of his lips and hands on her skin.

Her breath caught in her chest, lungs burning, her nose stinging.

“But, like the dragon duke, I miscalculated. I didn’t realize I would also be surrendering my heart to you. I have lent my voice to some of the greatest love stories, but I didn’t know how to love you the way you deserved, how to stand in the storm without trying to stop it. For so long that is what I’ve been good at—putting up barriers, being in control. And this storm…it made me feel out of control like I never have before.”

A tear slid down Hannah’s cheek and she dashed it away, focused on the ragged exhale on the recording.

“It’s no excuse for hurting you. You once said you wanted to know all the parts of me, even the messy, sordid parts. This is the messiest part, sweetheart, but it’s a part of me you never should have had to know.

“Six weeks, two days, seven hours, and ten minutes ago I made the worst mistake of my life when I let you go. You gave me your heart and I didn’t protect it, and I will regret it every day for as long as I live. I regretted it before the door even closed behind you. But I was so deep in the mess, I couldn’t see a way out.

“I’m sorry, Hannah. I am so sorry for all the ways I’ve hurt you. For all the ways I let you down. I have spent the last six weeks cleaning up the mess and building a stronger foundation so the next time we are caught in a storm, I will know how to stand in it with you. If you’ll let me.”

Hannah got to her feet and ran to her bedroom, still listening as she tugged the suitcase out of her closet and began throwing things in. She had to go back. Her throat burned with all the things she needed to say to him, things she wanted to say in person.

In the living room, someone knocked on her door, but she didn’t have time to tell another delivery driver he had the wrong apartment, not when she had a life to start.

The recording continued playing. “I promise, this time, I’ll keep your heart safe. I’m sure I will make mistakes, but I promise I will never again run or give up or hide from you. Or from myself. I surrender my heart to your keeping, Hannah. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said, as though he could hear her.

Another knock. “Hannah?”

She ripped the earbuds from her ears and then froze, listening.

Was that…?

“Hannah, please.”

It was.

She tore through her apartment and flung open her front door. Ethan stood in her hallway, his hair a mess and his clothing rumpled. One corner of his mouth quirked up despite the sadness in his eyes. “Hey, city girl.”

She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of him as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Hey, now, don’t cry,” he murmured, cradling her against him and pressing his lips to her hair. “Fuck, Hannah, I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you,” she choked out.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“I know. I got your message.”

He slid a knuckle beneath her chin and tilted her face up towards him so she could see the brief happiness flash across his face before it was replaced by the tortured look in his eyes. “I meant every word. Please give me another chance. I know I don’t deserve it but—”

She kissed him, her hands tangling in his shirt, as she pulled him closer. A groan rumbled in his throat as she deepened the kiss, licking into his mouth. When they broke apart, he dragged his lips over her cheekbones, settling on her temple.

“I love you,” he said, the words deep and jagged, roughened by everything that came before.

“I love you.” Some of the pain melted from his eyes, replaced by a fragile hope. She smoothed her thumb over the crease between his brows. “You’re making your worried face.”

He caught her wrist and pressed his lips to the sensitive skin on the inside. “How can you forgive me so easily?”

“Did you not want me to?”

He huffed out a laugh. “It’s not that.”

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