Page 76 of Lunar Desires
“Hi,” he said.
I took him gently by the waist, losing myself in the magnificence of his eyes. With one look, he enchanted me, peeling away my layers, exposing me to his mercy.
You’re the one…
You’re really the one…
“I’m in love with you,” I blurted, immediately hit by a jolt of surprise.
Man, talk about bad timing!
“Sorry!” I backed off. “We’re… Shit. Shit. Shit. I should’ve waited. This isn’t the time for this, but I just wanted you to know.”
Rejection would come next. A whole speech consisting of, “That’s sweet, but after you tried leaving me, I think, well, it’d be best to shut this nonsense down.”
Unworthy trash…
Here came the self-flagellation again, thrown at me like paint. Splatter, splatter, screwing up my equilibrium.
Riley smiled, cocking his head to the side. “Why did you leave the mansion?”
One step closer to rejection. I’d opened my heart and my mouth, turning myself into a fool.
“I…” I stuffed my hands into my pockets, shame heating my face. “Because I didn’t think myself worthy of you. That I’d ruin your life, turn it to shit. Especially after your uncle used me to hurt you.” I couldn’t meet those eyes anymore, fragile in his presence. “I thought it would be best for you, but it ended up causing chaos.”
“It did.”
Shit. He hated me. He might have held my hands and kissed my cheek but really he was disgusted, waiting for the right time to cast me adrift.
Man, I couldn’t blame him.
An iron fist closed around my heart.
What if I fell to my knees, begging his forgiveness? But the words would only crystallize in my throat.
This is the end.
I’m not built for love.
“Drake?”
I kept my eyes on the carpet. “Yes?”
Killing blow, any second. Oh, shit. I’d been given the gift of him, and I’d blown it.
“I’m in love with you, too.”
His words hit me like a truck, so hard my knees buckled. I went down onto the floor.
“What happened!” He came down with me, taking my hands. “Drake? Are you okay?”
Body a riot of happiness and surprise, I lifted my head. “Did you really just say that?”
His face of light and softness brightened, freeing my heart from the cruel crush.
“I did,” he answered. “And I meant it.” Lunar rays seemed to shimmer in his eyes. “I’ve fallen for you. Hard. Mega hard. I just wanted to know why you left. And…” He shuffled closer. “And I know this is easier for me to say than for you to believe, but you are worthy of love. You’re incredible. Didn’t I already say you were a fabulous man?”
Man, his words were honey. “You did.”
