Page 83 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

My gaze drops to her hand on my arm. Without thinking, I turn my palm upward, clasping her fingers in mine. She inhales sharply at the contact but doesn't pull away.

"I care about you." The truth rises from somewhere I thought I'd locked down, rusted hinges groaning in protest. "Which means I'm already compromised. It would tear me apart if anything happened to you because I failed to do my job."

Londyn stares at our joined hands with an intensity that makes my heart lose its rhythm. Her fingers are slender against mine, warm and alive.

"I understand," she says slowly. "Wunmi was such a horrible tragedy, and I feel awful that you went through that. I really can't speak to what happened since I wasn't there. All I can say is that I still have faith in you. It seems I have more faith than you have in yourself."

"How could you, knowing about—"

"You saved me from Marcus, didn't you? You spotted the men following me. Since you care about me, you'll be more focused, if anything. Because it matters more."

"Unless I'm so focused on you that I don't notice the environment."

She blushes as she squeezes my hand. "I trust you. You saved my coworker, and your company says you're their top security. You've protected so many other people and saved their lives.Even if you think you're distracted, I have complete trust that you'll keep me safe."

Her logic is twisted but somehow irresistible. And with her eyes gazing into mine, I'm getting swayed from my previous determination to keep my distance. She's pulling me in.

"Londyn." Her name comes out as a warning again. A last defense. A last hope that my walls stop me from doing what I know I shouldn't.

"Sean." Her words are shaky. "I've never felt this safe with anyone. I've never felt such a… such a strong interest in any man. Forgive me if it makes me a bit crazy." Her mouth curves in a self-deprecating smile. "I did warn you when we met. I'm crazy."

I can't help but smile at that, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. My heart is back to racing, but for a different reason. She's making the weight of my mistakes feel lighter.

Such an amazing woman, which means I'm completely screwed.

"Fuck, you make me crazy too."

Her eyes widen, lips parting in surprise. "Really?"

"You didn't get that the other night? I was losing my mind over there not being able to—"

The blush that spreads from her cheeks down to her chest is captivating. "Not able to what?" she asks in a breathy voice that's a jolt to my gut.

Things are quickly spiraling beyond where I'm able to control them.

Who am I kidding? I've already lost control because that's the effect she has on me.

I let out a single word: "Touch."

She bites her lower lip in a way that nearly stops my heart. "You can touch now."

The words rattle my brain. My pulse thunders in my ears. This isn't what I came here for. I came to apologize and reinforce boundaries, not tear them down completely. But she keeps pulling me deeper into her world, wrapping herself around my thoughts until there's no space left for anything else.

No woman has ever done this to me. I'm questioning everything I thought I knew about myself, about what I want, about what's right.

Before I can sort through the chaos, she lifts my hand and guides it to her cheek. Her skin is impossibly soft beneath my calloused fingertips. She leans into the touch, eyes fluttering closed for the briefest moment, and something inside me detonates every wall, leaving only rubble and a path forward.

I give in. Just a little, letting myself sway closer as I cup her cheeks.

Our foreheads touch, and I feel her trembling slightly beneath my hands. But she doesn't pull away.

"What are we doing?" I ask.

"I don't know." A small smile plays at the corners of her mouth. "But it feels good, doesn't it?"

Neither of us moves. The moment stretches, fragile and perfect and dangerous. One wrong move and everything shatters, especially the careful balance I keep trying to create.

"Sean," her name is a sigh that falls from her gorgeous mouth.

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