Page 167 of Tainted Romance

She inhaled sharply, and I could feel her need for me. She was pulling on everything inside me, wanting to please her, needing to please her, but she hadn’t agreed yet.

‘Say yes, sweetheart,’I said into her mind and slowly licked her mark, knowing how sensitive it was to be touched.

“Yes.”

I smiled and pulled back. “Now that is settled, how’s your headache?”

She frowned. “Gone.”

“So is mine.”

“You’ve had a headache?”

“Yeah, and I’m starting to think it was yours to begin with.” All day I had dealt with this headache, and I should have realized it was hers. It only got worse every time I reached for her.

“Sorry.” She looked extremely guilty. “I don’t know how I feel about you feeling my pain. Or reading my thoughts for that matter.”

“Stop looking so guilty. I don’t mind.” I kissed her forehead. “And I love that I can read your thoughts.”

“Could you read them last night?” She wouldn’t look me in the eye.

“No.” I looked at her a bit longer. There was a reason behind her question. “Should I have been?”

She shook her head. “Nothing you would want to know.” She pushed herself up. Sitting in the middle of the bed.

I knew instantly. “Something happened with him, didn’t it?” There was a reason why he was looking so smug when he looked at me earlier. I thought it was because he had the upper hand again, knowing where she was. It was only now that she asked if I had been in her head, that something was off.

She wasn’t going to tell me.

I reached into her thoughts, only to hear her chanting lyrics over and over. She was doing that on purpose.

“Allie, tell me what happened.”

She groaned. “It’s like you both want me to pick between you!” She dropped back on the bed. “You are both pulling me in opposite directions.”

“So, he wants you to what? Turn your back on me?” I never fucking liked him. Why couldn’t he just focus on his mate!

Allie was covering her face with her hand. “I thought he just wanted me because I was safe. Now I don’t know.”

It was going to kill me to ask, but I knew I had to. “Well, what do you want?” If she really wanted him, I’d somehow… fuck it… there was no way I could let her go.

“He thinks I’m making a mistake with you.” She sat up, sighing. “Like we could never work.”

“That’s what he thinks. What do you think?”

“I think he knows me, and he knows me very well. He is right in saying I’m making a mistake.”

And there was the truth. She saw me as a fucking mistake.

“Because I know you. You mightn’t know me very well, but I know you. I know Zane Harris. You can’t do a commitment like this. I’m setting myself up for heartbreak.” She blew out. “I’m such an idiot.”

My hand went to her face. “I’m not going to hurt you.” I looked into her eyes, seeing her feelings. She really thought I was going to.

“History would tell me otherwise.”

“The past is just that, Allie. I can’t turn back time and make it up to you.” I ran my thumb over her bottom lip. She looked so scared. “But I will try anyway.” Somehow, I’ll make it up to her. Everything I did. I’ll make it up to her.

Her phone started vibrating and she pulled her eyes from mine. She didn’t answer it.

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