Page 55 of Make You Mine

He helped me up, then pulled me down next to him on the bed, wrapping me in his arms and kissing the top of my head.

“Fuck, sweetheart. You’re so goddamn perfect.” His gravelly, undone exhalation sent goosebumps dancing across the skin of my neck where his words hit warm and true.

We hadn’t gone all the way, but what did that matter when it felt like I’d just given him part of my heart?

Caution was smart.

Waiting was wise.

What had I done?

My heart still wasn’t fixed from the last time it broke, and he wanted to start something real with me.

He pulled me closer, and I let out a small sigh, snuggling into his embrace. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, wishing it could last forever.

But my mind, ever restless, refused to let me be. Doubts and fears crept in, reminding me of the times I had been hurt before.

He seemed to sense my unease. His hand gently stroked my back, and he pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. “You’re safe here,” he murmured. “With me, you’ll always be safe.”

“I know,” I whispered. Rationally, I knew he was telling me the truth. But that deep place in my heart, the one that held onto all the hurt in my life, pushed his words away.

“Hey.” His soft voice lifted me out of my spiraling thoughts, and I pulled back to look at him. “Come closer. It’s okay.”

I wanted to believe that this time could be different, but deep down, I couldn’t—not yet. At least I knew enough to realize that these feelings had nothing to do with Ren. The fear of rejection loomed large in my heart. My thoughts were a mess, weaving in and out of my hopes and fears.

Oh, how I wanted this time to be different. I didn’t want this chance to end up like the others, and I’d end up gutted and hollow.

Was I ready to be real with Ren?

I wanted to be.

But could I be with him without hurting or driving him away when it seemed as if no matter how hard I tried with someone, I never seemed to be enough?

Chapter17

Ren

My heart had run away from my brain.

No, that wasn’t it.

My dick had taken control of everything, and all logic had been lost.

Everything felt confusing and tangled. My emotions were in a whirlwind. Sometimes it seemed like I couldn’t differentiate between real and pretend.

It had been about a week since my time with Piper. We’d seen each other each morning before I left for work.

We shared quiet conversations and stolen moments, yet my insecurities lingered like shadows, whispering doubts into my mind.

Despite our daily interactions, I found myself pulling back a little bit, afraid that she would break things off if I pushed her too hard for more.

I knew my feelings for her were real, but I’d trapped myself in a labyrinth of my own making. I needed clarity, but my body was driven by desires that overshadowed reason, and I was stuck in a tug-of-war between my heart, head, and primal instincts. If I didn’t get my shit together, it would tear me apart along with any possibility I had to be with her.

Each moment with her felt more real than the last, pulling me deeper into a space where I almost didn’t know how to act around her.

We needed to talk, that much was clear. But I didn’t want to scare her off. She’d been through a lot and was still stuck in a terrible situation.

I wished Paige hadn’t suggested we pretend to date each other. I should have said no and asked her out the proper way. Then maybe this would be real right now. Then maybe I’d spend my nights with her, naked, buried inside of her sweet little body instead of alone in my bed, wondering what I should do.