Page 56 of With this Ring

“They won’t.” It was a total fucking lie. And Damien was right to caution him.

His history with Sasha was beyond complicated. She’d witnessed the good and the bad between him and Adriana. And Sasha had been the only person with a front-row seat for their ugly divorce. He’d never forget the sight of her that day—the stricken way she’d looked at him, tears falling down her cheeks.

And yet…

He could no longer fight his need for her.

Until she’d come to work at Hawkeye, she’d strictly been his wife’s little sister.

Then one day, she’d left the workout room after an intensely physical training session. Her chest had been heaving from the exertion, and she was glowing from sweat. Even though she was wearing a sports bra, her nipples had been hard. And she’d been grinning.

Light from a nearby window had played with her hair, and he’d nearly been brought to his knees.

She was absolutely fucking beautiful and totally unaware of it.

Not seeming to care who was around, she’d run to him and thrown her arms around his neck and thanked him for helping her get the job.

She’d pressed herself against him, and pulling away from her had taken every bit of his self-control.

“You’re welcome,” he’d told her before pivoting and striding away, telling himself she was a new recruit and his former sister-in-law, not to mention a junior employee. She was totally off limits.

But most of all, he’d needed to hide his erection.

His attempts at nobility had been somewhat successful…until the night at the wedding.

All his baser needs flared, and he’d been helpless to stop them. A taste wasn’t enough. In that instant, he’d been determined to take what was his. After him, she wouldn’t want anyone else. Why should he suffer alone? She was the only one he had ever obsessed over. If that made him an asshole, he didn’t care.

Realizing Damien was staring at him, he shook his head, trying to pick up the thread of the conversation. “I won’t turn my back on her.”

“You know people who can help her. Protect her. Without the complications.”

“Fuck that.”

Regarding Gregorio, Damien fell silent. “So that’s the way of it.”

“Yeah.”

“Understood.” He nodded tightly. “Tell me what you need from me.”

“Hope to resolve it quickly. If I need Wolfe to cover, I’ll let him know.” He shrugged. “And you.”

“See that you do.”

Without another word, Gregorio left the office.

He managed to avoid other people as he made his way through the Den and headed back out into the night—and back to Sasha.

As he walked, Damien’s warning reverberated in his head,

His friend was right. Pursuing something serious with Sasha was risky, maybe even foolish. The fallout with Adriana and her family would be hell. And if he failed Sasha, hurt her in any way… He’d never forgive himself.

But letting her go was impossible.

Consequences could get fucked. He wanted her. Needed her. He’d do whatever it took to protect her and keep her.

Resolved, he let himself back into the cottage.

Sasha was still sleeping peacefully, her face relaxed, vulnerable in the dim light.

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