Page 69 of Make You Love Me
“Although I didn’t like to admit it then, you were important to me. I cared about you.”
“And now?” I ask, not giving two shits if it’s too soon or too bold. I need to know.
Her face is unreadable when her gaze rises to mine. I wonder what she’s thinking, what she’ll say, or if she’ll do what she always does and evade the question. I don’t notice her inching closer until she’s standing between my legs and placing my hand on her waist. My heart takes off as she frames my face and lowers her head. Her breath is hot on my lips, and I want nothing more than to taste her again. Feel her pressed against me in sweet surrender. I want her.
“Does this answer your question?” she purrs into my ear, her fingers combing through my hair and down to cup the back of my neck. My hand tightens around her thin waist.
“I think I need more information.”
A soft moan flutters in her throat, pushing me over the edge.
“God, I—”
With a peck to my forehead, she steps back and collects the remaining ax from the floor. “Sorry.” Her shoulders pop up in fake sympathy. “You said no to first date kisses, and friends don’t do that.”
I watch her, my mouth gaping open, as she aims the ax at the target and sends it flying. It lands just to the right of the red center mark.
“That was for me.”
The comment snaps me out of my trance. “You?”
“For all the times I stood in my own way.”
“You are good at that,” I tease, missing her warmth against me. “You hit the target. Does that mean you’re going to stop? Getting in your own way, I mean.”
“I want to.”
“And I want to help.”
Her eyes shimmer with wetness again, and I’m mesmerized by this new vulnerable side. “Are you sure? Even after—”
“Even then. That’s what friends are for, right?”
Her lips pucker slightly as she considers the question, and it takes no time at all for me to decide that I fuckin’ hate the friend zone.
???
Later that night, we go our separate ways. Nora to the couch and me to the bedroom. But ever since the living room lamp switched off hours ago, I haven’t been able to get what happened between us out of my mind. The feel of her body close to mine. Her warm breath on my skin. The unexpected tears and confessions. Her request to start anew.
There’s no doubt I want that more than anything. I don’t care that she can’t have my children. I don’t care about her lies or past. She’s mine. Always will be. But she’ll need to come to this conclusion on her own.
The more I press, the more bricks she’ll install around that stubborn heart of hers. And that’s okay. She can construct all the fortresses she thinks she needs to protect herself. I know her tactics and weaknesses better than she does, and I’m not afraid to fight for what I want. With unlimited artillery and close proximity on my side, I’ll be sitting in the shadows, waiting for the right opportunity to destroy her walls once and for all.
???
“What are you doing?” Nora asks, sitting up, still half asleep, with pillow creases bright red on her face.
“Making breakfast. What’s it look like I’m doing?”
“Moving around on your own, and potentially hurting yourself again.” She rises to stretch and the long sleeve pajama top rises above her navel, exposing more skin than I can handle.
All night I tried to get that flat stomach out of my thoughts to no avail. And now, she’s taunting me with it. The spatula tumbles out of my hand and rattles against the skillet.
“Case in point,” she mumbles, snatching the plastic kitchen utensil from the appliance. “You’re going to burn your one good arm.”
“I can disassemble, reassemble, and accurately shoot a rifle,” I protest. “I believe I can handle a simple skillet.”
“Not today, apparently.”
