Page 87 of Only for Love

She hesitates. “Why?”

“Because I am coming for you, baby.”

“Grayson, this… you and me. I had some time to think, and I believe in us. I want us. And I have to trust you to get that. Your voicemail said you’d explain, and I’m scared whatever you have to say isn’t enough.”

“It is.” I need to say something that proves she can trust me. That she can give herself to me. Again. Forever. In the middle of my hotel room, I fall to my knees, terrified that what I need to say won’t come to me. I close my eyes and—thank fuck—I can see her face.

“She’s your fiancé?”

Crazie Mazie and her fuckin’ fiancé line.“No. Not at all. It’s not like that. I’ll put her on the phone—”

“Were you engaged to her?”

“No. She’s only a friend. Just like one of the guys. I swear.”

“Gray?” Her mistrusting voice sounds broken. “I’m… I—”

My heart’s pounding. “I was yours the day we met. Before I knew how deep I loved you, I knew you were my friend. My…person. The face I was supposed to see every day. The voice I was supposed to hear every night. If there’s one thing that you need to know it’s… Ems, I was made for you.”

I die waiting as each second passes.

“I’m waitressing at the Delightful Diner. On till four in the morning.” She sniffles. “This is hard, figuring us out.”

On until four in the morning? My insides are strung tight. “I swear I thought you were in college. I thought it. Believed it.” My words break. “That everything was perfect for you without me. College, classes, fun, parties. Far away from the hell that I was living every day.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I didn’t know you were killing yourself with work. I didn’t know you're raising our daughter. So help me God, had I known, there is no military force on earth that would’ve kept me from you.”

She sniffles, and I would absorb her pain if I could. I’d do anything to make this right for her.

“Grayson,” she whispers. “I still want the fairytale.”

“Good. Because it’s coming for you.”

***

Emma

Delightful Diner’s door chimes, and I turn around, knowing it’s Grayson. There’s something about his presence that, even before I see him, makes me react to him. It’s as if the air shimmers, and the pressure increases. My skin tingles, and my nerves fire.

Our eyes lock as the diner lulls. Every eye is on him. Everyone in this stinking county thinks they know our story. He ignores them, and his fiery emerald eyes focus on me like lasers, pinning me with a fierce hunger and desire, with alpha possession and domination. It’s so real and so palpable I’m not sure how I’m still standing.

“Hi,” I whisper though there are twenty feet between us, and bacon and eggs are sizzling in the background.

Grayson’s boots echo on the floor. The confidence in his stride makes my mouth drop. With each step forward, I think he’ll slow down, that he’ll stop this…charge.But no.

His arm wraps around me. Hard. The other hand tangles in my hair, threading fingers into the tight bun. He pulls me to his mouth, holding me to his chest. His full lips take mine as though he’s underwater, and I’m his oxygen.

Instantly, I’m drowning in need for him, moaning into his mouth. His fingers tighten against my scalp, and the arm supporting my weight has me off my feet and onto a counter barstool.

He tears back, his breathing harsh as mine. His lips hover close to mine, his green eyes brighter than I can remember ever seeing, and he growls, “I love you.”

My breaths stutter past my lips, which tickle against his, and I nod because there aren’t words to express how much I love him.

His possessive hold doesn’t care that eyes are on us. “And I’m sorry for this, what I’ve put you through. Middle of the night waitressing and raising our baby alone.”

Our baby. I want to die hearing that, but I only melt closer to him. “Gray…”

“Ask me anything.”

“Are you sleeping with her?”

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